Salzkammergut
Grow your Austrian Synapse! Between lakes, mountains and history

Crystal-clear lakes, mountains and meadows, living craftsmanship and culture – the Salzkammergut shows just how closely connected people and nature are here.

The Salzkammergut is a feast for the senses. Turquoise bathing lakes, Alpine pastures, rock faces and the beauty of the mountain landscape inspire fresh perspectives and new trains of thought. A journey to the Salzkammergut leaves a mark: in Bad Ischl, echoes of imperial culture remain, while Hallstatt shines as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its millennia-old salt mines. On Lake Traunsee, Lake Wolfgangsee and Lake Attersee, you paddle through morning mist, take the cable car up to the Dachstein experience or cycle from lake shores to mountain peaks – always accompanied by shimmering water and clear mountain air. In between, you can choose from mountain huts, viewing platforms, palace fisheries and stages where culture unfolds up close.

Each season brings its own appeal: leisurely summer days by the lake, colourful autumn trails, quiet winter views and a spring scented with mountain air. Anyone who comes here takes away more than photos. These are experiences that shape you. Moments like these connect in the mind like new synapses – turning the Salzkammergut into an inner place you return to again and again. Austria stays with you.

Quick info about the Salzkammergut
Location:between Upper Austria, SalzburgerLand and Styria
Regions:8
Lakes:76
Ski resorts:7
Deepest lake: Traunsee 191 m
Highest mountain:Dachstein 2.995 m
Arrival
Events

The SalzkammergutCard is available in summer and winter with 25% discounts on popular attractions, sights and various activities.

Das Salzkammergut aus allen Perspektiven

Top highlights

Dachstein West ski region: High-Alpine family ski area

Bad Ischl: Between mountain vista and imperial city

Salzwelten: Salt mine adventure

Viewing platform "5 fingers": Dachstein Krippenstein

Schafberg Cable Car: Austria’s steepest cogwheel cable car

Breakfast on a wooden boat: on the Ausseerland lakes

Ausseerland Salzkammergut: Boat trips Grundlsee & Toplitzsee

Schlossfischerei Fuschl: A lakeside stop at Lake Fuschl

Grünau im Almtal: Mountaineering village, Almsee & wildlife

Activities in the Salzkammergut

Top events

Unique places to stay

Family Hotel: Sommerhof in Gosau

Hotel Weisses Rössl on Lake Wolfgangsee: 4*sup

Hotel Cortisen on Lake Wolfgangsee: 4*sup

Brunnwirt on Lake Fuschl: 4*

Villa Seilern Vital Resort in Bad Ischl: 4*sup

Seehotel “Das Traunsee” on Lake Traunsee: 4*sup

Schlosshotel Mondsee in Mondsee: 4*sup

Hotel Die Wasnerin in Bad Aussee: 4*sup

Salzkammergut

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

Whether it’s craftsmanship, festivals or traditional knowledge of nature – intangible cultural heritage lives through the people who shape and pass it on. In the Salzkammergut, 14 such traditions are already recognised, from the Goisern Perchtenlauf to historic log rafting and Liebstatt Sunday in Gmunden. They show how closely culture and everyday life are intertwined here, and how knowledge is carried forward through generations. This keeps the practices that define the community alive and offers fresh perspectives on both history and the present.

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

FAQs

The Salzkammergut is a unique region with more than 70 lakes, UNESCO World Heritage status and a rich cultural history. It spans three provinces – Upper Austria, the SalzburgerLand and Styria – and offers both outstanding natural experiences and cultural highlights.

The region is easy to reach by car, train and bus. Salzburg and Linz are the nearest airports. Bad Ischl serves as the central transport hub.

Absolutely! The region offers swimming lakes, adventure pools, family attractions and child-friendly hiking trails. In winter, the Dachstein West ski area in Gosau is a great choice for families.

The Salzkammergut, one of Austria's most picturesque destinations, is home to eight holiday regions spread across Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria. These regions include:

Bad Ischl, with its imperial heritage, also holds the title of European Capital of Culture 2024.

The turquoise Attersee, a beloved spot for swimming, is the largest lake in the Salzkammergut. Sailors particularly enjoy its unique “Rosenwind” – a northeast breeze said to have once carried the scent of roses cultivated in local gardens across the lake.

The Salzkammergut is rich in historical towns brimming with charm and history:

  • Bad Ischl: Once the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Sisi, this imperial town shines with its grand architecture and its role as the European Capital of Culture 2024.

  • Gmunden: Nestled by Lake Traunsee, it boasts a charming old town, the famous Gmundner ceramics, and the scenic Ort Castle on land and lake.

  • Hallstatt: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this picturesque town, squeezed between the mountains and Lake Hallstatt, is home to the world’s oldest salt mine.

  • St. Wolfgang: Known for its traditional timber-framed houses, centuries-old pilgrimage church, and the magical Wolfgangsee Advent market.

  • Lakes: Pristine lakes like Wolfgangsee, Attersee, Traunsee, and Fuschlsee invite you to swim, sail, paddleboard, or simply relax by their shores or on a boat.

  • Hiking: Explore trails through the mountains with stunning views and over 70 mountain lakes, from the Dachstein to the Postalm.

  • Cultural highlights: Visit the imperial town of Bad Ischl or the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt, with its fascinating prehistoric salt mining history.

  • Winter activities: Ski in Dachstein West, Feuerkogel, or Loser, and enjoy cross-country skiing on the Postalm, Austria’s largest alpine pasture. There are also snowshoeing, winter hiking, and ski touring routes through snowy forests and alpine landscapes.

  • Relaxation: After a day in the snow, unwind at thermal spas such as the EurothermenResort in Bad Ischl.

Whether you seek outdoor adventures, cultural exploration, or moments of tranquillity, the Salzkammergut has it all.

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