5 day trips from Salzburg, the most spectacular landscapes and experiences

Salzburg It is a beautiful city, but if you are going to visit it I recommend that you write down these excursions that are well worth it. I'll tell you more, in my opinion, these are essential visits.

If you have 3 days to visit Salzburg, dedicate at least a day to one of them, although the ideal would be to extend the trip a little longer so you can do at least two. And now you'll see why.

If you go to travel to Salzburg, first of all I leave you here the article we have on the blog with the essentials of the city

• • What to see in Salzburg: A guide to visiting the city of the Sound of Music

But besides the city, there are several top places nearby, and I'm going to tell you about them here.

This is the visit to the Lakes area near Salzburg, the best thing to see

Just a few kilometers from Salzburg, there is what for me is the most spectacular landscape in the area.

I'll tell you more, and here I'll get involved. I liked this place as much as, if not more than, the city of Salzburg.

It is true that I am passionate about Alpine landscapes and this visit allows you to see how impressive these mountains are, without the need for a long route.

It only takes 20 minutes by public transport or by Uber or similar, and you get to a mosaic of blue lakes and green mountains across traditional wooden houses.

For this visit I would recommend spending the night and two days, but it could be done in one.

I would separate this visit into two parts: although there are many lakes nearby, I recommend visiting Lake Fuschl (Fuschlsee) el Lake Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee)

But the lakes are not just for seeing, there are several things you can do from there that I'm going to tell you about now:

Lake Fuschlsee and climb to Ellmaustein, hiking with breathtaking views

The lake Fuschlsee It is the first one you find going from the beautiful Austrian city and it is only a few 25 km east of Salzburg, In route to St. Gilgen and the Wolfgangsee, which is the second part of the visit I am proposing to you.

By bus you arrive with the 150 line from Salzburg Central Station to “Fuschl am See” (journey time ~40 min).

It's one of the cleanest lakes in Austria and has that turquoise hue that looks like something out of a movie.

The small town of Fuschl by the lake It is the ideal starting point for exploring the surroundings.

From there several trails start, but the most famous is the one that leads to Ellmaustein, a natural viewpoint with 360° panoramas over the lake and the mountains of the Salzkammergut.

It's not a visit for everyone, I warn you; in fact, while climbing, I often regretted taking the route.

It's a trail with a brutal 350-meter gradient in a very short distance, in which you spend about an hour and a half climbing a very vertical mountain, but when you reach the end you have the reward.

The trail ascends through forests to a rocky ridge with panoramic benches.

At the top, the Ellmaustein viewpoint (1.004 m) offers an incredible view of the Lake Fuschl, the Mondsee and the hills that separate Salzburg from the Alpine heartland.

(I.e. Wolfgangsee Lake and the Schafbergbahn mountain railway

A little further east, past the Fuschlsee is the other large lake, the Lake Wolfgang . It is the most famous in the region. Its deep blue waters are surrounded by charming towns such as St Gilgen, St Wolfgang y strobl.

This place has become one of my favorite corners of the world.

From Salzburg you can easily reach St Gilgen, ideal starting point to explore the lake by boat and climb to the heights of the Schafberg, the mountain that dominates the entire area.

The boat ride is already impressive, but when you get to the funicular, the real fantasy of the visit begins.

From the town of St Wolfgang, part of the historical Schafbergbahn cogwheel railway, inaugurated in 1893 and considered one of the oldest and most beautiful mountain railways in Austria.

It is 5,8 km to the summit (1.732 m) which takes about 35 minutes, with a maximum gradient of 26%. It's only open from May to October, and the round-trip price is approximately €48 for adults / €24 for children.

The train slowly ascends through alpine meadows and forests until it reaches the Schafbergspitze station, just below the summit.

From there, the views are some of the most impressive in Austria.

Can be seen seven lakes (Wolfgangsee, Mondsee, Attersee, Fuschlsee, Irrsee, Traunsee and Krottensee), in addition to the Salzkammergut Alps stretching towards the horizon.

At the top there is a panoramic restaurant where we ate very well by the way and short trails to walk or photograph the sunrise if you spend the night in the small Hotel Schafbergspitze, the highest in the Salzkammergut.

Ice caves of Eisriesenwelt, in Werfen

Just 40 kilometers south of Salzburg, between mountains and cliffs, there is a place that seems to be taken from a fantasy film, the Ice Caves, “World of the Ice Giants”.

With its frozen passageways, ice cathedrals, and absolute silence, it is one of the most impressive natural experiences I have had in Austria and a must-see for any nature-loving traveler.

The Eisriesenwelt is located in the massif Tennengebirge, near the town of Throw, and is recognized as the largest ice cave in the world.

Its underground network extends for more than 42 kilometers, although only the first section (about 1 kilometer) is open to the public.

It was officially discovered in 1879 by the explorer Anton Posselt, but for centuries the inhabitants of the region believed it was a gateway to the underworld.

Today we know that ice formations are created when cold winter air is trapped inside the cave, freezing moisture that seeps from the rocks.

What is the visit to the Werfen Ice Cave like?

The visit is an authentic one alpine adventureThe tour starts at the Werfen Visitor Center, from where you ascend by road and then by path to the lower station of the cable car.

Tras un short trip on the aerial cable car, there is a walk of about 20 minutes along a panoramic path to the mouth of the cave, located more than 1.600 meters.

Once inside, the guide lights the way with carbide lamps and gas lanterns; there is no electric light along the way, which accentuates the magical and mysterious feeling of the surroundings.

for a few 75 minutes, you go through tunnels, ramps and stairs that lead to natural chambers such as the great ice wall, the ice cathedral or the palace and tower full of blue reflections.

🔥 Tip: Inside the cave the temperature is around 0 ° C, even in the middle of summer. Wear warm clothing, gloves, and shoes with good traction.

Werfen Ice Cave opening hours and ticket prices

They can only be visited from May to the end of October (closed in winter) from 8:30 a.m. to 15:00 p.m.

The visit lasts between 3 and 4 hours (ascent, route, and return) and costs 38 euros (children, 21 euros), which includes the cable car and admission.

🚶‍♀️ Extra tip: Access includes slopes and stairs (approximately 700 steps in total). It is not recommended for people with reduced mobility or respiratory problems.

Hallein Salt Mines

One of the most interesting visits that can be made near Salzburg due to its importance in the history of the city, are the salt mines, which are the reason for the historical wealth of the city of Salzburg.

Although there are two salt mines that can be reached from Salzburg, those in Hallein These are the ones I recommend visiting.

If you have visited the Wieliczka Salt Mines in Poland near Krakow, you'll know where the visit is headed. Although I warn you that there are differences

The tour includes electric train, wooden slides between different levels, Boat tour through an underground lake, historical galleries and an explanation of the evolution from Celtic times to modern mining.

The Hallein salt mines They are only about 19 km from Salzburg. The site also offers free parking and is easy to reach by public transport or local tourist routes.

Hallstatt, the most beautiful village near Salzburg

One of the most iconic destinations near Salzburg is the village of Hallstatt, a spectacular village surrounded by mountains at the foot of the lake. Highly recommended for a day trip.

Although I warn you, getting there isn't easy unless you have your own car. Using public transport, you'll need a full day to visit.

It is one of the most beautiful villages in Austria, although if I give you my personal opinion, I think that in recent years it has become so crowded that the experience of the visit has lost a bit of its charm.

Although social media portrays it as a unique town, it's often disappointing if you have high expectations, as the most beautiful thing about it is the view from afar.

If you are doing one road trip through Austria It is a must-see stop from one of its viewpoints.