Golling | Waterfalls, Salzachöfen Gorge & Aqua Salza Spa

If you are traveling south from the city of Salzburg towards the Ice Cave or Hohenwerfen Castle, it is worth making a short stop to visit the beautiful waterfalls and hike along the gorge.

In this article, you can read general information about the town of Golling, the waterfalls, and the gorge.

Golling – General Information

The small town of Golling (in German, Golling an der Salzach) is located in the Hallein district, south of the city of Salzburg. Near the town, two rivers meet – the Salzach River and the Lammer River, which flow towards Salzburg. The high peaks of the Alps surround the town.

Settlement in the area began as early as the Copper Age, and during the Roman period, a trade route connecting Salzburg to Italy passed nearby. The small town has existed since the Middle Ages, and the castle overlooking the town was built in the 13th century by the Archbishop of Salzburg.

Due to its central location on the way south towards Salzburg, the town was severely damaged during the peasant revolts in the 16th century (the same peasants who completely burned down Hohenwerfen Castle). At the beginning of the 19th century, the entire region was under the control of Bavarian forces, and only after the Congress of Vienna did this region return to Austrian hands.

Many travelers do not dedicate time to visiting the small town and only focus on the waterfalls. In fact, it is a real gem. The old streets and colorful buildings of the town are definitely a sight worth seeing. You can even stay overnight in Golling. You can find a list of recommended accommodations in the town here, according to the rating on Booking.com.

Golling Waterfalls (Gollinger Wasserfall)

A short distance from the heart of Golling are spectacular waterfalls. The waterfalls drop into the valley from a height of 75 meters. The falls are divided into two levels, and their water flow is very beautiful. In general, the area of the waterfalls is quite shady and creates a special (some say romantic) atmosphere for visitors.

Near the waterfalls, there is a parking lot and ticket booths. After payment, you can quickly reach the foot of the waterfalls, just a 10-minute walk from the entrance.

You can also stop for a light meal and a rest at one of the local restaurants: Gasthof Abfalter or Landgasthof Torrenerhof.

A nice addition to the trip is the hiking trail in the Bluntautal valley. The trail starts from Torrenerhof and passes through the forest in the area to a small, hidden lake. The walk takes between two and three hours on the valley trail.

Essential Information for Your Visit

Opening times for access to the waterfalls: May 1st to October 31st, every day from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Cost:
- Adult – €5.
- Child (6-14) – €3.
- Family (2 parents + children) – €12.
- It is recommended to have cash for payment at the ticket office.
Tip: After 5:00 PM, the ticket office is usually not active, and you can enter for free.
Parking:
- Please note: Currently, parking lot P1 is closed and cannot be used.
- There are several parking lots near the entrance to the waterfalls. Parking lot P1 is right next to the ticket booths. This parking lot is free. Parking lots P2 and P3 are about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot adjacent to the entrance. These parking lots are private, and therefore parking costs money. The cost is €5 per car. You can also park near the adjacent restaurants. If you eat at one of the restaurants, parking will be free; if not, there is a fee.
Included in the Salzburgerland Card – Free entry for cardholders.
Official Website
Address: Wasserfallstraße 23, 5440 Golling an der Salzach
Map:

Salzachöfen Gorge

South of Golling, about a 10-minute drive from the waterfalls, a beautiful trail begins in a natural canyon in the heart of the mountains. The canyon was formed by the strong flow of the Salzach River. At the entrance to the trail, there are ticket booths and a parking lot, and from there you can start walking into the canyon. The trail is well-maintained and signposted, but it is worth noting that it has many stairs and several narrow passages between the rock walls.

The best part of the trail is called the Rock Dome (Dome), where you descend among the rocks until you reach a beautiful viewpoint over the river.

Another attraction in the canyon is the long zipline that passes right over the water. You can do the zipline as part of a tour in the area. More details (English).

If you wish, you can walk from Golling to the canyon. The walk takes about an hour.

Other Essential Information for Your Visit

Opening times of the trail in the canyon: May 1st to October 31st, every day from 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM (in July and August until 8:00 PM).
Cost:
- Adult – €5.
- Child (6-15) – €3.
- Family (2 parents + children) – €12.
- It is recommended to have cash for payment at the ticket office.
Included in the Salzburgerland Card – Free entry for cardholders.
Official Website
Address: Obergau 82, 5440 Golling an der Salzach
Map:

Aqua Salza Spa

After enjoyable nature trips in the Golling area, you can relax and unwind at the pampering spa located in the town. The large spa complex combines an experiential water world for the whole family with relaxation and rest in a diverse sauna world and beauty and massage treatments.

The Water World

In this part of the spa, there are activities for the whole family. There are 3 pools heated to temperatures of 28-30 degrees, as well as a jacuzzi and a toddler area with pleasant water at a temperature of 35 degrees. The indoor and outdoor pools are connected by a small channel, so you can easily and enjoyably move between the different parts of the water world. For children, there is an area with water activities and also a large slide.

Around the pools, there are seating and resting areas both indoors and outdoors. It is worth noting that in winter, the outdoor area of the spa will be closed.

The Sauna World

In a separate area from the pools, in a quieter and more relaxed place suitable for adults only, is a world of relaxation. In the sauna world, you can pamper yourself in a variety of rooms with dry saunas, wet saunas, saunas with aromatic oils, and more. Some of the saunas are located inside the building, and some are in the building’s courtyard. In this complex, there are also several pools for refreshment after sitting in the saunas, quiet rooms for sleeping or reading, a restaurant, and a bar.

Please note: You can only enter the sauna world with a towel and without a swimsuit.

In addition, it is possible to book massages or beauty treatments for a separate fee from the spa entrance fee.

Other Essential Information for Visiting the Spa

Opening Hours:
- Water World: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
- Sauna World: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- Massages: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.
Costs:
- Water World (3 hours):
  - Adult – €15.50.
  - Child (5-15) – €10.50.
  - Child (3-5) – €7.20.
  - Infant (0-2.9) – Free.
  - Family (2 adults + 2 children) – 20% discount.
- Sauna World (4 hours): Adult – €36.
One-time free entry is included with the Salzburgerland Card.
Official Website of Aqua Salza Spa
Address: Möslstraße 199, 5440 Golling an der Salzach
Map:

Other Attractions in the Golling Waterfalls Area

As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Golling Waterfalls are located south of the city of Salzburg, so you can definitely combine a visit to the city when visiting the waterfalls. Besides that, there are several other excellent attractions located not far from the waterfalls: