Salzburg Lakes Area

Travel Guide

A wooden house on stilts by a calm river, surrounded by lush greenery and a large building in the background.
A church with a clock tower, a sculpture of a bird, and a person walking.
A house by a lake with mountains in the background.
A lakeside park with a wooden dock, a fountain, benches, and a boat house labeled 'BOOTE'.
A lakeside scene with boats docked, a mountain in the background, and a building with a sign.

Relax beside some of the dozens of lakes decorating this dramatic and scenic Alpine region and visit its enchanting spa villages.

The Salzburg Lakes region is a stunning district spread over the scenic, undulating terrain of the Austrian Alps. Quaint villages and spa towns adorn the pristine, bumpy landscape that engulfs the lakes of this region. Bring sports gear to use on the many lakes and mountainous slopes.

Make your way to Obertrum am See in the northern outskirts of Salzburg. Browse the stalls of the market and take a sailboat out on the picturesque lake. Visit the intriguing Einlegerhaus Museum to learn about ceramics and other historic artifacts from the region.

Bring the kids to the Abarena Theme Park in St. Gilgen in the Wolfgangsee lake area. Watch them play on the trampolines, bouncy castle, go-karts and other activities, against a stunning backdrop of verdant mountains. Ride the Schafbergbahn cog railway for excellent mountain views. See the statue of Wolfgang Mozart in Mozartplatz Square and continue the music theme in the Musikinstrument Museum.

Make your way past the various lakes and appreciate the area’s utter serenity and picturesque scenery. Among the most iconic lakes are the Mattsee and the Grabensee. Visit the charming town of Seekirchen am Wallersee and go windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing on its large lake. Make sure to see other pretty towns in the region, including Abersee, Henndorf am Wallersee and the historic town of Thalgau.

Temperatures are fairly warm in the lakeside towns in July. Ride the Summer Toboggan Run near Fuschl am See. In winter, expect wet weather, with deep snowfall on the upper slopes. Head up to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding.

Find the district in the north-central reaches of Austria. It begins in the outskirts of Salzburg, moving east in the federal states of Salzburg, Upper Austria and Styria. Fly to Salzburg Airport and rent a car to head east through the mountains and lakes of this zone.

Salzburg Lakes is a spectacular region of snowy peaks and lovely lakes.

Hotel Goldenes Schiff

Hotel Goldenes Schiff

4 out of 5
Adalbert-Stifter-Kai 3 Bad Ischl Upper Austria
$240 nightly
The price is $273 total per night from Sep 20 to Sep 21
$273 total
Sep 20 - Sep 21
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Bad Ischl. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Lehar Villa Museum and Museum of Bad ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (210 reviews)
"We had a very pleasant stay. The hotel was clean and comfortable, the room was well maintained, and the staff were friendly and helpful. The location was also very convenient. Breakfast was good with a nice selection. Overall, we were very satisfied with our stay and would happily stay here ..."

Reviewed on Aug 30, 2026

Hotel Goldenes Schiff
HOMEBOUND APARTMENTS Bad Goisern

HOMEBOUND APARTMENTS Bad Goisern

3.5 out of 5
Schmiedgasse 15 Bad Goisern Oberösterreich
$227 nightly
The price is $250 total per night from Oct 4 to Oct 5
$250 total
Oct 4 - Oct 5
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this aparthotel in Bad Goisern. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Hallstatt Lake and Hallstatt Central Square ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (177 reviews)
"I don’t usually write hotel reviews, but I felt compelled to write this one because we absolutely loved this hotel. We’ve stayed at a lot of hotels, including many high-end properties, and honestly, this hotel was nicer than many of them. The hotel was beautiful and very spacious, looked brand new, ..."

Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026

HOMEBOUND APARTMENTS Bad Goisern
Grand Elisabeth

Grand Elisabeth

4.5 out of 5
Tänzlgasse 6 Bad Ischl
$210 nightly
The price is $240 total per night from Oct 12 to Oct 13
$240 total
Oct 12 - Oct 13
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this luxury hotel in Bad Ischl. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Congress and Theatre House and Museum ...
Grand Elisabeth
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
HOMEBOUND APARTMENTS Bad Goisern

HOMEBOUND APARTMENTS Bad Goisern

3.5 out of 5
Schmiedgasse 15 Bad Goisern Oberösterreich
Stay at this aparthotel in Bad Goisern. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Hallstatt Lake and Hallstatt Central Square ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (177 reviews)
"I don’t usually write hotel reviews, but I felt compelled to write this one because we absolutely loved this hotel. We’ve stayed at a lot of hotels, including many high-end properties, and honestly, this hotel was nicer than many of them. The hotel was beautiful and very spacious, looked brand new, ..."

Reviewed on Sep 15, 2026

HOMEBOUND APARTMENTS Bad Goisern
Wolf & Schaf Apartments

Wolf & Schaf Apartments

3 out of 5
Ried 149 St. Gilgen Salzburg
Stay at this apartment in St. Gilgen. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Wolfgangsee and Schafberg Railway are located nearby.
9.6/10 Exceptional! (15 reviews)
"Super modern suite, top notch decor and finishing, kitchen was beautifully set up. Quiet location, loved the laundry facility to get caught up. The view is incredible. A nice, 20 minute walk to the small downtown area. 10 minutes (if that) to the cog train and the ferry port."

Reviewed on Jul 16, 2026

Wolf & Schaf Apartments
Haus Viasana

Haus Viasana

3 out of 5
Erbstollenstraße 1 Bad Ischl Oberösterreich
Book a stay at this golf apartment in Bad Ischl. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and cable TV channels. Popular attractions Museum of Vehicles - Technology - ...
6.4/10 (5 reviews)
"The check-in was about 8km away (which was in town and the house was out of town). When we got to the location it was not marked and we only knew it from the picture on the reservation. There was no one there which we knew but there was nothing there telling you the internet password- luckily, we ..."

Reviewed on Sep 11, 2026

Haus Viasana
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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