holiday in the Salzkammergut: dreamlike lakes and landscapes

Excursions and events in Altaussee

With its 76 lakes and impressive Alpine ranges, the Salzkammergut region is definitely one of Austria’s most beautiful regions. In summer, the region is known for its numerous natural swimming lakes and the panoramic circular routes, while in winter guests love the small, less hectic ski resorts.

das salzkammergut - ein paradiesischer Ort am Rande der Alpen

With so much unspoiled nature, it’s no surprise that parts of the Salzkammergut, among them the picturesque village of Hallstatt on the shores of Lake Hallstätter See, are a UNESCO World Heritage. Also don’t miss the historic villages of Bad Ischl, Gmunden and Bad Aussee.

Excursion destinations in and around Altaussee

The Altaussee Salt Worlds promise fun for young and old. While the older visitors learn interesting information about the mine, its origins and salt mining, children feel like real explorers. For the little ones, there are special guided tours with Sally the mine duck on request.

What makes this idyllic place so special is that people have been mining the natural salt deposits in Hallstatt for thousands of years. Until the end of the 19th century, this place could only be reached by boat or along very narrow paths. This is because there is not much space between the mountain and the lake. But that's exactly what makes Hallstatt such a delightful place: lovingly designed cottages right on the water, numerous boats and a unique panorama!

The unforgettable boat tour starts at the Grundlsee. Later it goes on to the Toplitzsee, which participants reach comfortably on foot. Did you know that this lake is over 100 meters deep? The third and last lake of the tour is Kammersee, where the Traun River rises. The silence at this place is truly magical.

The Dachstein Glacier is not only impressive from the outside, but also from the inside. In a total of three caves - the Giant Ice Cave, the Mammoth Cave and the Koppenbrüller Cave - nature fans experience fascinating excursions into spectacular worlds of ice and rock. Hikes through the caves show: Nature has produced works of art in this place that astonish every visitor.

TOP-Events

Ausseer Fasching: 14. February 2024
Narzissenfest: 30. May bis 2. June 2024
Mountainbike Trophy: 12. bis 14. July 2024
Loser Bergzeitfahren: End of September 2024
Der Altausseer Kirtag: 31. August bis 2. September 2023
Kulinarische Alm Musi Roas: October
Christmas markets: November/December
Krampus: December

Winter activities in the Salzkammergut region

When winter touches down on the Salzkammergut region, covering everything with a fluffy white blanket, the landscape turns into a magical winter wonderland. The lakes often freeze over, offering perfect opportunities for ice skating or Bavarian curling. And there’s much more to see and to do during the colder months of the year in the Salzkammergut region!

Advent in the Salzkammergut region

The Salzburger Land region is famous for its atmospheric Christmas markets. Enjoy a cup of tea or mulled wine, marvel at the hand-made artworks and soak up the festive atmosphere.

Skiing

The cottage village is located directly in the ski resort Loser Bergbahnen Altaussee with 34 km of slopes. You can expect 21 km easy/blue slopes, 12 km medium/red slopes and 1 km difficult/black slopes. After a wonderful day of skiing, you can ski right down to the resort.

Winter hiking and tobogganing

All toboggan runs at a glance:

Tobogganing directly at the resort: 7 km Loser panoramic street
Tobogganing at Zlaim in Grundlsee
Tobogganing at Grafenwiesenlift in Tauplitz

Explore the winter landscape and breathe in the crystal-clear mountain air – discover the best winter hiking trails of the Salzkammergut region!

Summer activities in the Salzkammergut region

In summer, the region spanning parts of Salzburg, Upper Austria and Styria is particularly popular. No wonder – the murmuring streams, blooming meadows, shady forests and picturesque villages are even lovelier in the warm spring or summer sunshine!

Water sports: sailing, surfing, swimming

No other region in Austria offers quite as many water sports opportunities as the Salzkammergut. Sailors particularly love Lake Attersee, the biggest lake located entirely in Austria, while windsurfers feel at home at Lake Mondsee and fans of panoramic views prefer Lake Wolfgangsee. And swimmers? They can find breathtakingly beautiful spots at all of the region’s lakes!

Walking, hiking, climbing

The region is also a great choice for hiking. For instance, there is a quick but steep tour with a short climbing passage on the Schober. The tour starts at the parking spot of Wartenfels ruin and takes about two hours. The reward? Breathtaking views of several lakes!

Another inside tip: Climb the Drachenwand rock face from Lake Mondsee! Up on the summit, you’re rewarded with impressive views of the Drachenloch (“Dragon’s Hole”) and the suddenly tiny cars and lakes below.

If you’re looking for a challenge, we recommend the via ferrata starting in St. Lorenz.
You prefer a leisurely stroll? Then why not take a walk around one of the beautiful lakes of the Salzkammergut region?

Cycling

The region is not only criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails, but also boasts great signposted bike trails. For instance, the many tours around the Salzkammergut lakes are particularly popular. At your AlpenParks Residence in Altaussee there’s even a trained hiking and bike guide who is happy to share the best spots with you.