Hallstatt & Wolfgangsee: A Scenic Lakeside Getaway

Take our itinerary for a long weekend in Austria and discover the beauty of Hallstatt and the Wolfgangsee area. Mountains, lakes and beautiful towns.

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Weekend getaway
Number of days

3 days

Transport

By car

Pace

Medium pace

Difficulty

Low difficulty

Season

Spring - autumn

Suitable for

For everyone

Budget

$$

Visited places

11 places

Austria is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. You can reach the border within a few hours by car and you don’t have to go far to find beautiful places or experiences in our “southern” neighbour. This is exemplified by our itinerary, which takes us together to Hallstatt and especially the Wolfgangsee area. Beautiful lakes, high mountains, good food and many experiences await us.

Hallstatt and the Wolfgangsee area are only about 1.5 – 2 hours by car from the Czech border. This popular area basically starts at Traunsee Lake, which leads southwards towards the village of Bad Ischl, which serves as a signpost between the first and second day in our itinerary. The starting point for our 3-day itinerary, however, will be the aforementioned Wolfgangsee, as most of the activities take place in its surroundings.

So let’s explore more of Austria’s beauty together!

Car rental

This itinerary can be done by private car with accommodation in a hotel or apartment, the alternative is a motorhome.

Campiri

With the code TRVL1500 you get a discount of 1 500 CZK on your reservation

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Accommodation

The most suitable accommodation is in the vicinity of Lake Wolfgangsee. The lake is a great starting point for the second and third day and is also close to the places we will visit together on the first day. We can recommend these accommodations (both of which also serve as campsites for motorhomes).

Das Franzl - Bett & Brot

Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut • $$

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<p>Útulné ubytování nedaleko jezera Wolfgangsee, které nabízí prostorné pokoje, různé typy zajímavých glampingů i možnost parkování s karavanem. Ubytování je jen zhruba 800 metrů od jezera a je tak dobrým výchozím bodem pro procházky i výlety po okolí.</p>

Seehotel Berau

Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut • $$

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<p>Hotel a kemp přímo na břehu krásného jezera Wolfgangsee v Rakousku. Nabízí velké množství různých typů ubytování i dvě restaurace. My můžeme vřele doporučit italskou s označením Hias Pizza & Event.</p>

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Day 1

Arrival in the area and visit to Hallstatt

The first day of this itinerary is reserved for your travel and you probably start at the Linz-Salzburg motorway, where our first stops await us.

The very first and “voluntary” one is the town of Gmundem.

1

Gmunden

Gmunden, Austria

Gmundem is a district town located on the northern shore of the giant Traunsee lake, basically exactly halfway between Linz and Salzburg.

1.3 km (3 mins)

Before we leave Gmunden, we stop at its famous landmark. This is the island castle Ort, which not only offers a beautiful view of a large part of the lake, the surrounding mountains, but also the town.

You can park near the castle itself, there are plenty of places, even for caravans.

Parkplatz Toskanapark

Gmunden

Type

Official parking

Paid

Yes

Overnight parking

Allowed

Restrictions

Velké parkoviště nedaleko známého zámku Schloss Ort na břehu Traunsee v Gmundenu. Zaparkovat zde můžete jak osobní automobil, tak i obytný vůz.

2

Schloss Ort

Gmunden

Schloss Ort is a castle on an island in the middle of Lake Traunsee, located in the Austrian town of Gmunden. The castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will captivate everyone, especially with its unique location and Renaissance architecture. The Ort Castle is not only a historical monument, but also a lively cultural centre, with numerous concerts, theatre performances and festivals throughout the year, attracting visitors from all over the world.

The castle itself is easily reached by a 120-metre-long bridge and you can walk around the castle, or rather the island, in a few minutes. It’s more of an island. However, you can see not only the castle, but also the nearby town of Gmundem or the already mentioned Traunsee Lake. The castle can be accessed for a small fee from Easter until the end of October.

In addition to the castle, we recommend a stroll through the adjacent gardens; it won’t take more than an hour and, especially in fine weather, you can enjoy the beautiful atmosphere on the shores of one of Austria’s largest lakes. And that’s only about 2 hours from the Czech border.

52.4 km (52 mins)

The next stop will be Hallstatt. Hallstatt is a truly charming place, but it is a very common tourist destination – so the streets of this little town fill up quickly. In addition to the walk through the town itself, for a legendary view of the photogenic church, we recommend a visit to the Skywalk lookout.

Parking P1 Hallstatt

Hallstatt

Type

Official parking

Paid

Yes

Overnight parking

Allowed

Restrictions

One of the many paid car parks near the centre of Hallstatt.

3

Hallstatt

Hallstatt

Hallstatt is a picturesque and charming town situated in the heart of the Austrian Alps, on the shores of Lake Hallstätter See. Its incredibly romantic setting is due to its historical significance and unique architecture. The town is known for its narrow streets, ancient houses with flowers on the balconies and the church. It is the one that is the big landmark of the town and if you have seen any photos from here, it was probably with this church. Hallstatt is also home to a fascinating archaeological site where the remains of a prehistoric settlement have been discovered, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status.

In addition to its history and architecture, Hallstatt is surrounded by beautiful countryside that attracts outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy hiking in the Alps, water activities on the lake or simply enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of the surrounding countryside. Overall, Hallstatt combines a rich history with stunning nature, making it one of the most picturesque and interesting places in Austria.

In addition to visiting the town of Hallstatt itself, we also recommend visiting the Hallstatt Skywalk or the nearby salt mine.

The viewpoint can be reached directly from the centre of Hallstatt via the Salzbergbahn cable car. It leads to the summit of the same name, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the whole area even without the platform.

4

Hallstatt Skywalk

Hallstatt

The Hallstatt Skywalk is a stunning viewing platform located at an altitude above the town of Hallstatt in the Austrian Alps. This architectural gem provides visitors with stunning views of the entire area and is a popular spot for photography. The Skywalk is located on top of the Salzberg hill and provides a panoramic view of the Hallstätter See lake, surrounded by high mountains, and of course the historic centre of Hallstatt. The combination of imposing architecture and beautiful surroundings makes the Hallstatt Skywalk an unforgettable experience.

For visitors who want to enjoy an even more intense experience, there is also the option of climbing up to the viewing terrace with a transparent bottom, which allows you to see right under your feet into the steep rock cliffs. This daring structure adds adventure to an already fascinating experience and attracts adventurous visitors looking for an unforgettable view of one of Austria’s most beautiful places.

After visiting the viewpoint above Hallstatt, we slowly start to return towards Bad Ischl. Specifically, we will visit the accommodation near Wolfgangsee, which will be our starting point for days 2 and 3.

Both of our featured accommodations are not only close to the lake, but also offer parking for RVs and the former even offers stylish glamping.

40.0 km (58 mins)

Das Franzl – Bett & Brot

Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut • $$

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Cosy accommodation near Lake Wolfgangsee, offering spacious rooms, various types of interesting glamping and caravan parking. The accommodation is only about 800 metres from the lake, making it a good starting point for walks and hikes in the surrounding area.

Seehotel Berau

Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut • $$

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Hotel and campsite right on the shores of the beautiful Wolfgangsee Lake in Austria. It offers a large variety of accommodation types and two restaurants. We can highly recommend the Italian one called Hias Pizza & Event.

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Hallstatt & Wolfgangsee: A Scenic Lakeside Getaway () je jedním z itinerářů, které Retkee nabízí. Každý itinerář nabízí přehledný popis jednotlivých dní, včetně interaktivní mapy či praktických informací. Kromě itinerářů Retkee nabízí i blog , podrobné průvodce destinacemi , například Island , Norsko či Madeira .

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