Austria’s Lake District is known in German as Salzkammergut, meaning “the salt domain of the Holy Roman Empire princes.” Rich in “white gold” (salt), the region was controlled by the Habsburg emperors for centuries.
Salzkammergut is located in northwestern Austria and stretches over a large area within three of Austria’s federal states – SalzburgerLand, Styria, and Upper Austria. The main part of the Lake District is in Upper Austria and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. The largest city right next to the Lake District is Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace. Other cities in the area include Linz and Gmunden.
The clear and beautiful lakes of Salzkammergut are surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Alps, giving them a particularly picturesque appearance. The central mountain range of the area is called Dachstein, offering a variety of wonderful outdoor activities. Charming small villages with an authentic Austrian atmosphere surround the lakes, offering a peaceful and relaxed setting.
Many of the lakes are suitable for swimming, boating, and various water sports. Organized beaches can be found around the lakes—some with an entrance fee and others free to access. Even during the hot summer months, the water remains relatively cool, making a swim especially refreshing.
Accommodation in Austria’s Lake District
Please note!
It’s possible that our recommended accommodations are already booked… but don’t worry! These aren’t the only places worth staying in Austria’s Lake District. There are many excellent places in central locations near the best lakes. To help you find another great place available for your travel dates, you can check directly on our customized search engine Booking.com. We’ve already applied all the important filters (central location, view, rating, type, facilities, etc.) so that the narrowed list includes only suitable places for your trip to Austria’s Lake District (Salzkammergut).
Click here for the search engine customized for excellent accommodations in Austria’s Lake District.
Main Attractions throughout the Lake District
On the map below, you can see the main places in the Lake District. Most of the beautiful lakes are not far from each other by car, so you can enjoy the best of this area without too much effort.
What Can You Do at Each of the Lakes Shown on the Map?
Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee) in SalzburgerLand
A wonderful lake combining great nature with stunning mountain views. At the lake, you can enjoy a variety of water sports activities such as windsurfing, water skiing, wakeboarding, diving, and more. If you don’t want to get wet, you can take a relaxing boat trip along the lake. Around the lake, you can go hiking on marked trails and pass through charming villages and towns like St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang. Read more information about the lake and its surrounding towns in the extended article.
Lake Fuschl (Fuschlsee) in SalzburgerLand
Located just a 20-minute drive east of Salzburg. This is the clearest lake in the entire region and attracts many tourists, especially during the summer months. You can swim in the lake. Read more information about the lake in the extended article.
The Town of Bad Aussee in Styria
Surrounding the town are five beautiful lakes—such as Altausseer See and Toplitzsee. Toplitzsee is especially famous for its mysterious history, including legends of hidden Nazi treasure and the discovery of forged British banknotes from the Operation Bernhard at the bottom of the lake.
The town is also home to a large medical spa. Read more information about the town in the extended article.
Lake Grundlsee in Styria
The largest lake in the state of Styria and the heart of the lake region of this state. It is a charming and quiet place with many free bathing beaches. The water is clear and its temperature in summer is not very cold. Around the lake there are hiking trails, lovely mountain scenery and historical sites. Read detailed information about Lake Grundlsee – the pearl of the state of Styria.
Lake Hallstatt (Hallstätter See) in Upper Austria
One of the most visited lakes in Austria, especially thanks to the picturesque village of Hallstatt located nearby, and the oldest salt mine in the world. The lake is surrounded by impressive mountain peaks and wonderful nature. To the south of the lake is the Dachstein mountain range, home to the famous “5 Fingers” observation platform, as well as a giant ice cave and a stalactite cave.
Lake Traun (Traunsee) in Upper Austria
A large and very deep lake with a variety of fun summer activities. On the northern shore of the lake is the town of Gmunden, and around it, there are various hiking trails, swimming options, and wonderful viewpoints. The lake is on the eastern side of the Lake District and is the closest to Vienna. Read more information about the lake in the extended article.
Lake Atter (Attersee) in Upper Austria
This is the largest lake in the Lake District. The large lake attracts many surfers due to the constant wind blowing there. The lake also serves as an important source for fishing and transporting goods. You can swim in the lake and boat on it with electric boats or large excursion boats. Read more information about the lake in the extended article.
MondSeeLand region in Upper Austria
Surrounds the town of Mondsee and includes two quiet and beautiful lakes – Lake Mond (Mondsee) and Lake Irr (Irrsee). Read more information about the area in the extended article.
Bad Ischl in Upper Austria
A spa town in the heart of the Lake District. For centuries, the town was the favorite place of the emperors of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The town has a luxurious spa and a magnificent villa that served as the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph and his family. Read more information about the town and the spa in the extended article.
Gosau Lakes (Gosauseen) in Upper Austria
- The three lakes are: Vorderer Gosausee, Gosaulacke, Hinteren Gosausee
The Gosau Valley is not far from the picturesque village of Hallstatt. In the heart of the valley, there are three impressive lakes. The lake waters are very cold and incredibly clear, and the water quality is like regular drinking water. These lakes are a wonderful place for particularly spectacular photos! Read more information about the lakes in the extended article.
Planning to Rent a Car for Your Trip?
We recommend booking a rental car for your trip as early as possible! Especially if you need a large family car. You can save time and compare prices between a variety of rental companies in Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Memmingen, etc., using the Rentalcars.com search engine.
You can read more about driving in Austria and discounted car rental here.
Interactive Map of the Lake District
An excellent way to plan your trip to the area, and also to enhance your trip during your stay, is the interactive map offered by the region’s tourism office. You can navigate between the different activity areas and find information about restaurants, attractions, and more! Link to Map.
The Salzkammergut Discount Card
In the Salzkammergut holiday regions, you can enjoy discounts of up to 30% at about 120 different attractions. To get the discounts, all you need is the regional discount card (Salzkammergut Erlebnis-Card). There is a Winter and Summer Card available.
If you are planning to stay in this area for more than 3 nights, you can get the card for free. If you are only visiting, you can purchase the card for €4.90 per person.
Children under 15 do not need to purchase a card and enjoy the discounts if one of their parents has the card. The cards are personal and non-transferable. The attractions included in the card are detailed here.
Additional Essential Information for Your Trip
- The official website of the Lake District.
- Overview of recommended accommodations in the Lake Distric.
Map:
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