The Salzkammergut
A lake and mountain region east of Salzburg, where you swim in summer, hike above the water and visit salt-mining towns such as Hallstatt.
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The Salzkammergut is a lake and mountain region spread across Upper Austria, Salzburg state and Styria, east of Salzburg city. The name comes from the salt that built its history. Salt has been mined at Hallstatt for thousands of years, and the trade supported the area for centuries. In the 1850s Bad Ischl became a summer seat for the Habsburg court, and the imperial villa there is now a museum.
The region suits trips built around water and walking. Summer is the season for swimming, boat rides and lakeside hikes, while late spring and early autumn are milder for longer walks. The higher areas, such as the Dachstein, are snowy in winter. Use the buses and trains that link the main towns to move between lakes. A day trip from Salzburg reaches only part of the region.
The Salzkammergut in five
- Pick one of the seven regions as your baseThe tourism board lists Attersee-Attergau, Bad Ischl, Dachstein Salzkammergut, Fuschlseeregion, Mondsee-Irrsee, Traunsee-Almtal and Wolfgangsee. They span three federal states, so choose before you book.Salzkammergut regions
- Use bus 150 or 140 from SalzburgBus 150 runs toward Bad Ischl past Fuschlsee in about 40 minutes and Strobl in about an hour. Bus 140 reaches Mondsee in about an hour, with faster motorway express services.Salzburg
- Take the railway from Attnang-PuchheimFrom Attnang-Puchheim on the Westbahn the tourism site lists Gmunden at about 15 minutes, Ebensee 38, Bad Ischl 50 to 60, Bad Goisern 1 hour 5 and Obertraun 1 hour 20.Hallstatt
- Ride the Schafberg railway on a clear dayThe SchafbergBahn runs daily from 25 April to 1 November 2026 from St. Wolfgang, in a little over 35 minutes toward the 1,783 m summit, with a view of 11 lakes.SchafbergBahn
- Check the SommerCard before paying separatelyThe 2026 Salzkammergut SommerCard lists up to 25% off at over 120 attractions. Ask your lodging whether it comes with your stay, since a discount card only pays if you visit several.
Things to do in The Salzkammergut
See all attractions in The Salzkammergut
Need to know
- Airport
- Salzburg (SZG), 0.5 to 1.5 hours by car per the tourism board
- Getting there
- Bus from Salzburg; train via Attnang-Puchheim; Vienna-Bad Ischl direct, mostly Wed-Sun
- Getting around
- Valley trains, regional buses and lake boats; a car widens options
- Best base
- Bad Ischl for rail; a lake village for swimming and boats
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 days for two lakes
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow17 rainy days10 snowy daysHigh3°Low-5°Cold, snowJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 3°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 155 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 10
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- FebruaryRain14 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh5°Low-4°Cold, snowFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- MarchRain15 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh8°Low-2°Cool, late snowMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 5
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, late snow
- AprilRain14 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh12°Low1°Mild, railway opensAprilRain
Good
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, railway opens
- MayRain20 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Green, lakes coolMayRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 192 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, lakes cool
- JuneRain18 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyRain21 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low12°Warm, lake daysJulyRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 198 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, lake days
- AugustRain18 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh23°Low12°Warm, lake daysAugustRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 211 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, lake days
- SeptemberRain16 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Clear, quieterSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, quieter
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh15°Low4°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh8°Low-1°Cool, rainNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, rain
- DecemberSnow16 rainy days8 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Advent, snowDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 8
- Days with storms
- 0
Advent, snow
Average daily high and low in Bad Ischl, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Salzkammergut
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
3
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
The Salzkammergut
01:56 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today5°2°5%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 5°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Wed6°1°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu6°3°0%Thursday: Fog. High 6°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri5°1°0%Friday: Fog. High 5°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat6°2°5%Saturday: Fog. High 6°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun7°1°8%Sunday: Fog. High 7°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 09:41 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
What's on in The Salzkammergut
Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city
Events calendarComing up
Every year
- JanMozart WeekSalzburg, a day trip
- Mar–AprSalzburg Easter FestivalSalzburg, a day trip
- Jul–AugSalzburg FestivalSalzburg, a day trip
- SepArs ElectronicaLinz, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Hallstatton the Salzkammergut railway, past Bad GoisernOne village of the Dachstein region, treated in full on its own page.Read the guide
- Salzburgbus 150 or 140, 40 to 60 minutes to the nearest lakesThe city is the western gateway and a good contrast to the lakes.Read the guide
- LinzWestbahn to Attnang-Puchheim, then lake trainsThe Danube city is the northern gateway for the Traunsee and Attersee.Read the guide
Before you go to The Salzkammergut
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Rules for The Salzkammergut, checked
Plan around The Salzkammergut
One village in the Dachstein region, with its own guide
Read the guideSalzburgThe gateway city for the western lakes
Read the guideSalzburg & SalzburgerlandCompare lakes with spas and the high road
Read the guideLinzDanube city at the northern gateway
Read the guideRail pass or ticketsWhen point-to-point tickets win
Read the guideAll of AustriaHow the lakes fit with cities and the Alps
Read the guideThe Salzkammergut FAQ
How many days do you need in the Salzkammergut?
Three to four days cover two lakes and a mountain railway or cave. A single day only works from Salzburg, and then only for one or two stops.
Can you visit the Salzkammergut without a car?
Yes. Trains serve the Salzkammergut railway, Gmunden and Attersee, and buses 150 and 140 run from Salzburg. A car helps most for Gosau and for linking lakes that have no direct service.
How do you get from Salzburg to Bad Ischl?
Bus 150 runs from Salzburg toward Bad Ischl, passing Fuschlsee in about 40 minutes and Strobl in about an hour, per the tourism board. Trains reach Bad Ischl via Attnang-Puchheim in 50 to 60 minutes beyond that junction.
Is the Salzkammergut the same as Hallstatt?
No. Hallstatt is one village in the Dachstein Salzkammergut region. The Salzkammergut spans seven tourism regions and about 2,380 square kilometers across three federal states.
When is the best time to visit the Salzkammergut?
June to September for lakes, boats and the SchafbergBahn, which runs daily from 25 April to 1 November in 2026. Autumn is quieter, and winter suits Advent and snow sports.