St. Gilgen | Best Attractions, Food & Accommodation

The village of St. Gilgen (Sankt Gilgen) is located about 24 kilometers south of the city of Salzburg, on the shores of the lovely Lake Wolfgang in the heart of Austria’s Lake District. Near the village, there are 3 other impressive and crystal-clear lakes, as well as breathtaking Alpine nature.

This quiet village at the foot of the powerful Alps and the beautiful Lake Wolfgang became an important center as early as the 18th century for the wealthy of Vienna and the surrounding area, who built luxury villas and summer holiday homes. Today, the village has about 4,000 residents and is a magnet for tourists throughout the year.

This is what the lovely St. Gilgen area looks like

 

The Story of St. Gilgen and the Connection to the Mozart Family

The ancient village of St. Gilgen was originally called Oberdrum, meaning “at the upper part of the lake”. The name St. Gilgen came from the saint St. Aegidius, who was called Gilg or Gilgian in German. Settlement in the area began in the Neolithic period, and over the years, remains of very ancient settlements have been found in this region.

The village was under the rule of dukes and emperors but did not play a particularly important role in the region, except as a transit route for pilgrims to the St. Wolfgang Church. With the construction of the regional Lake District railway at the end of the 19th century, tourists began to discover this quiet and wonderful area, and its tourist importance grew. Many wealthy people arrived in St. Gilgen and built impressive villas used during the summer months.

In 2005, the village received the nickname – Mozart’s Village – to promote tourism. Although the famous composer never actually visited the village, his grandmother worked there and his mother was born there. Mozart’s sister also moved to live in the village after her marriage. Today, there is a small museum about the Mozart family in the village.

 

Recommended Hotels in St. Gilgen

• Hotel Hollweger: A 4-star hotel with lake views, a pool, and a spa.

• Hotel-Garni Schernthaner: A pleasant boutique hotel in the center, family-friendly.

• Pension Falkensteiner: Homey hospitality with a personal atmosphere, suitable for couples.

• Seehotel Billroth: A charming hotel right by the lake, offering rooms with direct lake views, private access to the water, and an excellent breakfast.

• Hotel Kendler: A pleasant and elegant hotel in the heart of St. Gilgen with renovated rooms and excellent breakfast.

• Jugendgästehaus St. Gilgen: Simple and relatively cheap accommodation that combines a hostel and a hotel in a great location near the lake.

Don’t worry! There are more great places to stay in St. Gilgen! Click to view the extended list of accommodations we have prepared, which includes all the necessary filters so you can find a great place without too much trouble!

 

8 Recommended Attractions in and around St. Gilgen – Summer & Winter

Besides swimming in the lake during the warm summer months and strolling through the ancient, quiet streets of the village, there are enjoyable attractions for all ages.

 

1. Boat Cruise on Lake Wolfgang

The clear lake is surrounded by the powerful peaks of the Alps. You can join a ship cruise that stops at various villages along the shores, such as St. Wolfgang.

• Cost: Approximately €23 for an adult and €7 for a child for a round-trip ticket.

• Dock Address: Ischlerstraße 21, 5340 St. Gilgen.

Official Website

Purchase tickets online here

This is what the ship and the cruise look like

 

2. Electric Boat Rental for Independent Sailing

f you would like to experience the lake freely and sail as you please, you can rent electric boats by the hour at the St. Gilgen promenade. The boats are suitable for up to 5 people. One hour of sailing costs 33 Euro.

Boat rentals are available from May until the end of September on days with good weather. The rental center operates between the hours of 10:00 AM and 18:00.

• Address: Seepromenade St.Gilgen, 5340 St.Gilgen

• Phone for availability: 0043/664/5850891

Official Website

 

3. Cable Car to the Twelve Horns Summit (Zwölferhorn)

 

4. Nature Hiking Trails

In the St. Gilgen area, there are countless excellent hiking trails at various difficulty levels. These trails are recommended, but there are many other routes in the region. Fortunately, trail marking in Austria is excellent, so even if you do not find an interesting route here, you can find many more great trails in the field. These are the recommended routes:

• Zwölferhorn Rundweg – A circular route at the mountain summit (via the cable car), about an hour long, convenient and suitable for families with children and stroller users.

• Plombergstein Rundwanderweg – A high circular route with spectacular views of the lake. The route takes about two hours and is also suitable for families. Part of the trail involves a moderate incline, and at its highest point, it reaches an altitude of 830 meters above sea level. The trail starts from the heart of St. Gilgen, near the guesthouse Zur Post.

• Falkensteinwand Trail – A moderate walk along the cliff between St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang. This is the ancient route taken by pilgrims heading to the St. Wolfgang Church. The trail starts near the St. Ägidius Church in St. Gilgen. There is parking nearby. The walking duration is 3 hours.

Most of the trails are well-marked and include places to stop and refresh.

 

5. Viewpoint – Wolfgangseeblick

 

6. Mozart House

 

7. Paragliding

Official Website

 

8. Christmas Market in St. Gilgen

From November 21st to December 21st, a charming Christmas market takes place in the village with a variety of stalls, music, and a warm holiday atmosphere. The village is decorated with many ornaments and its appearance is especially wonderful. If you are planning to visit the Lake District in winter, do not miss a visit to this Christmas market.

Official Website

 

Recommended Restaurants in St. Gilgen

• Wirt am Gries: Traditional Austrian menu including schnitzel and stews.

• Brunnwind – Ihr Lokal am See: Located on the lake, offering fresh fish and great views.

• Gasthof zur Post: Classic design, known for its goulash and desserts.

• Café Nannerl: Named after Mozart’s sister, offering excellent coffee and homemade cakes.

 

Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

Here you can find more information about St. Gilgen and its surroundings.

Address: Sankt Gilgen, 5340

Map:

 

Nearby Attractions

The village is ideally located in the heart of the Lake District, making it a perfect base for reaching a variety of charming attractions and locations.

These are the places near the village of St. Gilgen:

• St. Wolfgang Village

• Attersee and Mondsee

• Salzburg City

• Bad Ischl

• Hallstatt