Trips and Attractions in the Salzburg Region

Austria is a wonderful destination for nature and landscape lovers: it features caves, cliffs, towering mountains, gorges, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and valleys. An immense variety in a small and picturesque country—when traveling through it, you feel like you are inside a postcard.

The Salzburg region is one of the smallest provinces in Austria, but also one of the most beautiful, diverse, and visited in the country. The region offers a diverse combination of attractions and styles, allowing you to travel through historic cities, well-kept towns, pastoral villages, national parks, climb mountain peaks, vacation by lakes, rivers, and forests, and explore caves and mines. It is a true paradise for hiking and sports enthusiasts.

The small size of the region and the huge variety of travel and vacation options make the Salzburg region the ideal destination for hub-and-spoke trips (star tours) in Austria. You can stay in one of the towns or villages in a central location in the Salzburg region for 7-10 days without having to change accommodation, and travel among the best attractions of the region and its surroundings, while the maximum travel time will not exceed one to two hours to the furthest attraction. You can stay and spend time in the town or village where you are staying for a day or two without having to drive at all!

The variety of attractions in the Salzburg region is huge and suits every age, budget, and pace. I have mentioned here the most successful attractions; there are many others, but time and space are too short to describe them all. I have chosen the most popular tourist sites, the most special ones, and those located in a central and convenient location near other famous tourist sites.

Details on destinations, attractions, and hotels in the city of Salzburg can be found in the article: Trip to Salzburg

Recommended Accommodation in the Salzburg Region

It is recommended to stay in the sports area of the region in the towns of Flachau Flachau and Wagrain wagrain or one of the neighboring towns.

Especially recommended holiday apartments in Flachau Flachau:

♦ Holiday apartments  Rainerhof
   Located in Flachau.  Holiday apartments for up to 9 guests. Equipped kitchen. Free bicycles for guests. Free internet and parking free.

♦ Aparthotel  Appartements Salzburgerhof
   Located in Flachau.  Holiday apartments designed for up to 8 guests. Kitchen with dining area. Free internet and parking.

♦ Aparthotel  Aparthotel Pichler 
  Aparthotel with kitchenette 3-star standard. Located 3 km from the center of Flachau. Free internet and parking free.

♦ Holiday apartments  Almdorf Almlust
   Holiday apartment resort full of attractions in Flachau. Includes kitchen in the apartments. Natural outdoor pool, spa with indoor pool. Free internet and parking.

 

Recommended apartments in the Wagrain area wagrain:

♦ Farm holiday apartments Blankgut Familie Berner
   Holiday apartments with kitchen in a farmhouse. Located 3 km from the center of Wagrain. There are apartments for up to 12 guests. Free internet and parking.

♦  Pension Mozart
    Located in Wagrain in a quiet location, next to the Mozart cable car. Free internet and parking.

♦  Pension Panorama in Wagrain. Central location in the town of Wagrain 

♦ Hotel Naturhotel Edelweiss Wagrain
   4-star hotel in Wagrain on half-board basis. Spa area with indoor pool. Children's facilities. Free internet and parking.

♦  Farm holiday apartments Eisbauer
   Holiday apartments with kitchen in a farmhouse house. Located about 13 km west of Wagrain. Apartments for 4 to 6 guests. Pool, free internet and parking.

 

Accommodation near Salzburg:

♦  Sheraton Fuschlsee-Salzburg Hotel Jagdhof
   4-star hotel, located 20 minutes east of Salzburg, overlooking the lake, private golf course, large spa, and indoor pool.

♦  Schloss Fuschl - Resort & Spa
   Five-star resort on the lake shore 20 minutes east of Salzburg.

♦  Pension Bergfried successful guesthouse south of Salzburg located in the picturesque town of Grödig about eight km south of Salzburg. 

♦  Bloberger Hof

    3-star hotel in the southern suburbs of the city (about a 15-minute drive south of the Old Town) in a pastoral location with a beautiful view. Bus station near the hotel. Rooms in various sizes including rooms suitable for 4 people. The hotel has a restaurant, parking, and free internet. Quality breakfast.  

Recommended Accommodation in Central Salzburg:

For those who still prefer their hotel to be inside the city, they can choose from the following successful hotels in the city:

♦  Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Salzburg

Luxurious 5-star hotel in a 15th-century historic building located in the heart of the Old Town on the famous Getreidegasse street. The rooms (with air conditioning!) feature classic Austrian design with many antique and unique furniture pieces. The hotel has a restaurant and bar. Free internet, private parking (for an additional fee).

♦  Hotel Garni Haus Arenberg

4-star hotel surrounded by charming private gardens within about a 15-minute walk from the center of the Old Town. The hotel offers impressive views of the nearby mountains. Free internet and parking. Some rooms have a balcony. Excellent breakfast.

♦  Hotel & Villa Auersperg

Small and elegant boutique hotel in a central and convenient 4-star location with rooms and suites in various sizes, including spacious family rooms suitable for 4 people. The hotel has a spa and bar. Free internet. Parking for an additional fee. Excellent breakfast.

 

Salzburg -  Booking Recommended Guided Tours from Viator:

♦  Guided walking tour of Old Salzburg and Mirabell Gardens - Salzburg Old Town Walking Tour, Mozart, Mirabell Gardens
Duration: 2 hours.

♦  Salt Mines Tour - Skip-The-Line Salt-Mines and Bavarian Mountains Tour from Salzburg

An experience for the whole family, landscapes, caves, miners' slides. Enter without waiting in lines. Lasts about 4 hours.

♦  Trip to Hellbrunn Palace (with trick fountains) and scenic river cruise  in the Old Town
 River Cruise to Hellbrunn, Palace & world-famous trick fountains

♦  Private tour following "The Sound of Music" (approx. 4 hours)-

 Original Sound of Music Private Custom Tour in Salzburg

♦ Combined tour of historical sites and "The Sound of Music" (approx. 4 hours):
 The Original Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg

♦  Dinner with Mozart Concert - Best of Mozart Concert and Dinner or VIP Dinner at Fortress Hohensalzburg
Proper evening attire is required for the event (no jeans, sneakers, or shorts).

♦  Scenic trip to "Eagle's Nest" - Skip-the-Line: Eagle's Nest in Berchtesgaden Tour from Salzburg
This is Hitler's famous holiday home located on a mountain peak. The trip departs from the bus station at Mirabellplatz in Salzburg and takes about 4.5 hours.  Enter without waiting in lines (you must bring a passport for the trip as you cross the border into Germany).

Mines, Caves, and Fortresses:

In Austria in general and the Salzburg region in particular, there are many mines you can visit. Among them are silver, copper, gemstone mines, and more. But the mines that symbolize the region more than any other are the salt mines, "the white gold", after which the Salzburg region is named.
The tours of the salt mines are also the most fascinating and diverse.

Salzwelten Salt Mines

In Austria, there are three successful salt mines you can tour. Two of them are adjacent to each other in the province of "Upper Austria" in the Salzkammergut lake district adjoining the Salzburg region (details below) and one is located in the heart of the Salzburg region, which I will describe first.

Salzwelten Salzburg Salt Mines

These mines are located about 15 km south of Salzburg near Hallein in Bad Dürrnberg. These are the most recommended mines to visit, both due to their central location and the attractive tour held there.
Guided tours in these mines began 300 years ago, and they are considered among the oldest mines in Central Europe.
The guided tour of the mines lasts about 70 minutes, but it is recommended to dedicate about two and a half hours to the site (including a visit to the Celtic village).
At the beginning of the tour, you receive white miner overalls worn over clothing and watch an educational video about safety rules during the tour.

Then you ride a small miner's train inside a dark tunnel deep into the mine (which has been inactive for many years). During a 400-meter ride, you descend 80 meters underground. From there, you continue with a walking tour inside the mine (walking a distance of one kilometer), during which you receive many explanations about the mine, its history, the importance of salt, etc. The explanations are given in English and German. While walking, you cross the border underground into Germany and back to Austria. The highlight of the tour, especially for children, is sliding down two steep wooden slides (formerly used by miners) deep into the mine. Toward the end of the tour, you reach an underground salt lake which you cross on a small raft-like boat. During the short cruise to the sound of quiet music, you witness a short light show. The temperature inside the mine is constant all year round: 12 degrees Celsius. It is advisable to dress warmly in warm clothes and bring comfortable walking shoes.
Near the mines, on a small hill, is a Celtic village where you can visit and see how people lived there in ancient Celtic times. At the entrance to the village is a pleasant wooden playground.

 

 

Admission is paid. The price also includes a visit to the nearby Celtic village and the Celtic Museum in Hallein.
Address: Ramsaustraße 3, 5422 Bad Dürrnberg
(at the exit to Hallein from the A-10 highway.)

Copper Mines

The Salzburg region also has several copper mines you can visit. Take into account that visiting hours are quite limited.

♦ The largest mine is Schaubergwerk Hochfeld located in the southwest of the Salzburg region. The tour duration in the historic mine is about an hour, during which you pass by a nice waterfall. The temperature in the mine is only 6 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to dress warmly and wear good walking shoes.
Admission is paid.  Address: Untersulzbach, 5741 Sulzau, Austria.  

♦ Another copper mine is Bergbaumuseum Mühlbach, considered the oldest copper mine in Europe. Located in the heart of the Salzburg region in the village of Mühlbach. Adjacent to the historic mine is a mining museum. Admission is paid.  Address: Mühlbach am Hochkönig 237, 5505 Mühlbach am Hochkönig. 

Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves

These caves are considered the largest ice caves in the world. Located near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg.
This is a network of underground tunnels and chambers with a total length of 42 km, but only the first kilometer is covered in ice and open to the public.
The caves are a national monument and admission is allowed only on a guided tour.
The caves are included in the list of the top 7 best attractions Salzburg Top 7 of the Salzburg region. In the cave, which has giant ice walls, there are also huge ice sculptures, all naturally crafted, looking like various animals and figures. The cave entrance, 20 meters wide, leads to a huge hall 18 meters high. The cave contains ice in all possible formations: giant pillars, ice stalactites and stalagmites, ice towers, ice waterfalls, and glaciers. The cave is considered a "dynamic" ice cave because the ice formations change over time. The cave has several openings through which cold air enters in winter, freezing the melting snow that dripped into the cave during the warm summer months. In summer, a cold breeze blows from the depths of the cave toward the entrance and prevents the ice from melting.

 

 

From the upper parking lot of the site (there is also a lower parking lot near the highway exit for those who do not want to drive on a winding mountain road and prefer a shuttle up to the upper parking lot, or in cases where the upper parking lot is completely full) you walk along a wide and orderly path with a moderate climb to the lower cable car station (located at an altitude of 1080 meters above sea level). There you board the cable car for a short three-minute ride to the upper cable car station (at an altitude of 1575 meters) and from there continue on foot, on a wide path with a challenging climb (at a maximum slope of 21 percent) to the cave entrance.
Before entering the cave, visitors are equipped with flashlights, and during the tour, magnesium lighting provides additional momentary illumination to spot the ice sculpture figures.
The guided tour lasts 75 minutes, but you should dedicate about 3-4 hours to the entire trip (including the cable car ride and the walk to the cave entrance). In summer, a new tour departs every six minutes. The tour inside the cave involves a climb of 134 meters. You should wear comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing (including gloves and a warm hat), even in summer, because inside the cave the temperature is below zero degrees. Not recommended for small children (under 3-4 years old), people with walking difficulties, or anyone suffering from heart or respiratory problems. For everyone else, visiting the cave and climbing to it is an extraordinary and highly recommended experience! The magnificent views outside the cave and the impressive ice sculptures inside the cave justify the effort to reach it. Photography inside the cave is prohibited.

The cave was first discovered in 1849, but was only opened for tours in 1920. Today, about 200,000 tourists visit the cave annually.
Near the upper cable car station is an alpine restaurant named Dr. Oedl-Haus, with a large panoramic terrace overlooking a magnificent view. It is recommended to have a warming soup or at least drink a hot beverage after visiting the cave. The lower cable car station also has a small restaurant.
Admission to the cave is paid. You can visit the cave in any weather. The advantage of visiting in fine weather is the wonderful view of the Salzach valley viewed from the heights of the mountain.
Address: Eishohlenstrasse 30, 5450 Werfen

Lamprechtshöhle Cave

This cave is considered one of the largest caves in Europe, with a total length of 51 km. It is the deepest cave in the world that can be toured. Only parts of it are open to the public, and comfortable wooden walking platforms have been installed in them. During the visit to the cave, you climb to a height of about 700 meters inside the mountain and reach an extremely impressive viewpoint of the illuminated cave. The tour duration in the cave is about 45 minutes.
Admission is paid. Free for children up to age 6. Half price for children and youth up to age 15. Free for Salzburg Card holders.
Nearby the cave is a successful walking path on elevated platforms along a river winding through a gorge named Seisenberg Gorge.
Address: Obsthurn 28, 5092 St. Martin - Austria, near road number B 311.

Hohenwerfen Fortress

A 900-year-old fortress located in the town of Werfen about 40 km south of Salzburg. The fortress is built on a cliff 155 meters high and offers a wonderful view of the Salzach Valley as well as the mountain ranges (Tennen and Hagen) surrounding it. The place was used in the distant past as a prison, where rulers and bishops were also imprisoned. Later (until 1987) it was used as a training facility for the Austrian police. Today this is an "adventure castle" full of attractions and events.

The fortress was also used as a filming location for many movies. Guided tours of the fortress rooms, a weapon exhibition, and an audio-visual show about the history of the place are held here. The guided tour lasts about an hour.  The most exciting attraction for families at the site is the ancient falconry center where daily flight demonstrations of falcons and other birds of prey are held. The bird show lasts about 40 minutes. Nearby is a falconry museum (the first in Austria) and a nature walking trail with explanations about birds of prey.
It is recommended to ascend to the fortress by elevator (built in 2007) and descend on foot along a nice forest walking path. The fortress also has a medieval sword shop.
Throughout the year, many events and shows are held at the site including concerts, theater performances, folklore evenings, and mystery evenings.
Admission is paid.  Address: Burgstraße 2, 5450 Werfen.

Mauterndorf Castle

This is another medieval castle located in the southeast of the Salzburg region near the province of Carinthia. The castle is built on a cliff north- west of the town of Mauterndorf and offers a beautiful panoramic view. Do not miss climbing the 44-meter-high fortified tower from which you get the most beautiful view of the town and the surrounding mountains. During your visit, you will travel back in time and relive the Middle Ages while meeting fascinating figures from the distant past. Guided tours are held at the place as well as independent tours with audio equipment (in English, Italian, and German). The castle also has a knight-themed children's playground and a museum with historical exhibits.
Admission is paid.  Address: Markt 27, 5570 Mauterndorf. 

Nature and Animal Sites:

Grossglockner

This is the highest mountain in Austria (3,797 meters). Its peak, shaped like a pyramid, is considered one of the highest peaks in the Alps. It is part of the Glockner mountain range (Glockner Gruppe), belonging to the Hohe Tauern ridge (Hohe Tauern). The road crossing the Glockner ridge is called Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, and it is considered one of the most beautiful roads in the Alps. The road was paved in 1935 along the route that served as a trade route between northern and southern Europe as early as the Middle Ages. Since its opening, about 50 million visitors have traveled on this impressive toll road. The road, 41 km long, starts in the town of Fusch at an altitude of 805 meters above sea level in the north and ends in the town of Heiligenblut in the south, at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. The highest point on the road is at Edelweißspitze, at an altitude of 2572 meters (located 27 km from the northern entrance of the road). Stopping there to admire the height and view is a must! On a clear day, you can see more than 30 mountain peaks higher than 3000 meters! On both sides of the winding road, there is magnificent scenery and snow-capped peaks even in summer.

 

During the 1500-meter ascent, you can see the vegetation change from cornfields to eternal ice fields. The road is considered one of the top 7 best attractions Salzburg Top 7 of the Salzburg region.

 

Good points along the road where it is worth stopping:

A pleasant children's playground on the theme of "Water": Piffkar is located 19.3 km from the northern entrance of the road, at an altitude of 1620 meters. Next to it is a nice walking path (about half an hour's leisurely walk) with signs and explanations on bird chirping. The location includes a building with a successful restaurant, shop, and an exhibition titled: “Tauern Pass Routes Over the Alps” about the road and its history.

 

Hochmais viewpoint is located 21.6 km from the entrance, at an altitude of 1850 meters. This is an impressive viewpoint over the Ferleiten valley and the surrounding glaciers. The place features signs with explanations about the glacier and high-altitude vegetation.

 

Alpine Nature Show Museum is located 26.3 km from the entrance, at 2260 meters. Featuring exhibits of local flora and fauna and addressing environmental ecology. The museum has a cinema with an audio-visual display.
It is advisable to travel to the Grossglockner only in good weather on a clear day when visibility is good.

Traveling the road involves a car fee (regardless of the number of passengers). The admission ticket to the road also includes free entry to all exhibitions and attractions along its entire length.

 

Memorial to the road builders killed during construction, Fuscher Törl, is located 27.4 km from the entrance at an altitude of 2428 meters. Next to it is a viewing terrace overlooking the Grossglockner, considered one of the most popular spots among photographers.

 

A small museum featuring exhibits describing the construction of the road Fuscher Lacke is located 29.3 km from the entrance at an altitude of 2262 m. Nearby is a circular walking path around a small tarn. Children will especially love the nearby playground where they become "road builders".

 

Hochtor: This is the border between the Salzburg region and Carinthia. Located 33.4 km from the entrance, at an altitude of 2503 meters. The site features a walking path of about half an hour along the alpine ridge, with signs along its entire length explaining the landscapes and sights. The path ends near a 311-meter-long tunnel. This is the best place to play in the snow (the favorite attraction for children, especially Israelis who are unaccustomed to heavy snow). The site features a natural snow slide, which usually lasts until the end of August much to the children's delight.

 

Schöneck: at an altitude of 1953 m. This is the most blooming area along the route. The site features a botanical walking path with explanations about the rich vegetation along it. In an area of 100 square meters, you will discover 140 different species of plants! Children will love the "From Egg to Butterfly" playground which tracks the developmental stages of butterflies.

Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe Visitors Centre: This is the highlight of the visit to the Grossglockner! The visitor center is located near Austria's largest glacier: the Pasterze Glacier. Here you can also see crowds of marmots and ibex. Opposite the glacier is a four-story visitor center with various diverse exhibits as well as a glass viewing floor through which you can see (without freezing) the glacier (if desired, also using binoculars at the viewpoint for free use). You can descend via a steep funicular to the glacier or reach it via a steep path. If weather permits, guided tours are held on the glacier itself.  

Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Kaprun

A real experience for snow lovers all year round! This is an eternal glacier at an altitude of 3203 meters serving as a ski resort even in summer. Even those who do not ski and just want to play in the snow will find plenty of attractions at the site.

 

The ascent to the white mountain peak is always via three different cable cars:
The first takes you up to an altitude of 1973 meters, to the Langwied station. The second takes you on a steeper slope to the Alpincenter station located at an altitude of 2452 meters, and the third and steepest of all takes you up to the Gipfelstation at an altitude of 3029 meters. Along the way is a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains and the nearby dam. The glacier area is 1.3 square kilometers and the ice depth at its deepest point reaches 60 meters! Every year the glacier slides between 3 and 8 meters down the valley and moves the ski lifts with it.

 

In spring and early summer, or after an unusually snowy winter, you will enjoy plenty of snow already at the second station. At the end of summer, or after an especially dry season, you will not encounter snow until you ascend to the top of the mountain, where ice and plenty of snow are guaranteed. If by chance snow is lacking, there is no cause for worry: the snow cannons permanently located at the site in summer will complete nature's work and your children will be able to play in the dazzling white, throw snowballs at each other, and slide on their bottoms.  

However, the site has many other options:

At the peak is a viewing terrace with a magnificent view overlooking the nearby glacier and the peak of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain. Nearby are lounge chairs where it is nice to sit on warm days and watch the magnificent scenery. At the peak is also a 362-meter-long tunnel running entirely through the glacier. Daily free guided panoramic glacier tours are held.  

A funicular will take you down to the ski area located slightly lower at an altitude of 2900 meters. There is also the highlight of the place for children and youth: the ICE ARENA ice park, where children can slide on plastic surfaces, special snow scooters, and other entertaining sliding accessories on a sloping ice surface. The ascent to the top of the surface is done via a small conveyor belt. Non-skiers can sit comfortably on lounge chairs (just like at the beach) and watch the action. Nearby you can visit an igloo featuring ice sofas and chairs covered with animal skins. You can feel like real eskimos.
Over the past three years, 30 million euros have been invested in modern technology and equipment to develop the site.
It is recommended to equip yourself with warm clothing, including gloves and hats! You should dedicate at least 3-4 hours to the site (including cable car travel times).  

There are several restaurants at the site. The two largest are located at the second and third cable car stations. The second station also has a visitor information center.  

Reservoirs and Power Station in Kaprun Alpine reservoirs in Kaprun

A fascinating and diverse tour to an alpine mountain dam with clear turquoise water and a power station generating electricity from water flow. A winning combination of wonderful nature with interesting and educational technological displays. The tour starts with a bus ride from Kesselfall Alpenhaus, a visitor center located at an altitude of 1,068 meters above sea level near the Kessel Waterfall. The bus will take you up the mountain on a road mostly passing through a tunnel carved into the rock to an altitude of 1209 meters. There you will board the largest open funicular (train climbing up the mountain) in Europe for an experiential ride up to an altitude of 1640 meters from where another bus will take you on a short ride through alpine scenery to the entrance of the first dam, Limberg dam, and continue up the mountain to an altitude of 2100 meters above sea level along the scenic route of the Wasserfallboden alpine lake until you reach the Mooserboden lake, which was also created by a man-made dam. The site features an impressive visitor center named "The Adventure World of Ice and Electricity" featuring an interactive display teaching you how to generate electricity in an eco-friendly way from the immense power of water. The place also features a glacier exhibition where you will learn a lot about alpine glaciers. You can also take a guided walking tour on the Drossen Dam. The tour, lasting about an hour, departs from the restaurant entrance on-site every hour between 10:00-17:00, during which you will learn about the construction of the dam, the history of the place, safety measures taken during construction, and visit the dam's machine room.

 

Fit hikers can set out from the visitor center for hikes up the mountain.
The site is (deservedly!) included in the list of the top 7 best attractions Salzburg Top 7 of the Salzburg region. 

Krimml Waterfalls Krimmler Wasserfalle

Considered the highest waterfalls in Europe and undoubtedly among the most beautiful and impressive on the continent. The rushing waterfalls, 380 meters high, fall in three stages: the first waterfall (the highest of all) falls 140 meters from an altitude of 1470 meters above sea level. The middle waterfall drops a height of 100 meters and the lower waterfall 140 meters. The waterfalls are located at the western end of the Salzburg region near the Tyrol region.
Visiting the waterfalls is an enjoyable hiking trip. For fit hikers, it is recommended to reach the bottom of the waterfalls and from there climb a well-maintained walking path that follows the course of the waterfalls all the way until reaching the top of the upper waterfall and then descend back down to the starting point where you parked your car. For those short on time, not fond of climbs, or accompanied by young children, it is recommended to take a taxi from the site ticket booths to drop you off at the top of the upper waterfall and from there descend leisurely along the path adjacent to the waterfall to the parking lot, located about a 20-minute leisurely walk from the bottom of the lower waterfall. At some of the viewpoints of the waterfalls, you stand so close to them that you can clearly feel the spray splashing from them. The waterfalls are located in a lush forest rich in vegetation. Near the starting point of the lovely path are many shops, stalls (including food stalls), and cafes. At the top of the second waterfall is a cafe with a terrace overlooking the view, where you can stretch your legs, rest a bit, and continue the hike. It is recommended to dedicate at least 2-3 hours to the trip to the waterfalls and their surroundings.  

 

Golling Waterfall

Waterfalls falling in two stages at a total height of 75 meters into the valley. Located about 3 km west of the town of Golling near a Gothic church. Walking duration from the parking lot to the waterfalls is about 15 minutes.

 

A short and pleasant nature trip in a central location near many family attractions and on the main road between Salzburg and the ice caves, Hohenwerfen Fortress, Carinthia, and other attractions.  

Liechtenstein Gorge Liechtenstein Gorge

A charming walking path inside a canyon along a river and waterfall in the center of the Salzburg region near the town of St. Johann im Pongau. The canyon is considered the most beautiful and deepest in the Alps. In some places along the path, the canyon walls are so high (about 300 meters) and so close to each other that you can barely spot a patch of sky. The river water is turquoise-green. While walking, you can hear the thunder of the waterfalls and spot colorful rainbows.
This is an easy walking path suitable for the whole family featuring bridges over the river and convenient, safe wooden walkways (with handrails) close to the canyon floor along the river. It is recommended to bring warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes in any weather. At the canyon entrance are two restaurants.
The path is closed to visitors in winter because walking there is extremely dangerous. One- to two-meter-high icicles hang along its entire length and the waterfalls freeze, creating walls of ice. Rocks and avalanches often fall with a loud noise into the canyon.  

Lammerklamm Gorge

Another easy-to-walk and highly suitable family trail inside a deep canyon along a flowing river. The canyon was formed about 10,000 years ago when the glacier that was there melted and the resulting volumes of water carved into the rock, creating a canyon tens of meters deep. The gorge has three main parts: the dark gorge "dark Klamm" where the passage is so narrow that it seems the rocks on both sides touch each other. The "Katarakt" – the upper part of the gorge surrounded by rock walls reaching up to a hundred meters high, and the "High bridge" - a high bridge over the river between the two sides of the canyon in an area where the gorge narrows again.
Walking duration on the path is about one to an hour and a half (for a leisurely walk).
At the trail entrance is a kiosk and a small souvenir shop. At its end is a cafe-restaurant named "Landgasthaus Cafe Lammerklause".
Located on the road between Golling and Abtenau.

The Salzburg region has several more successful and well-maintained family walking paths along gorges inside deep canyons, with the entrance to most for a modest fee, but usually free for Salzburg Card holders. A successful trip is at SALZACHOFEN, in Golling, where water action over millennia has carved an impressive high cathedral. Also in the Kaprun area, there is a nice walking path on platforms along the river and above it in a gorge named Sigmund-Thun-Klamm.

Kitzlochklamm Gorge

Kitzlochklamm gorge is one of the most beautiful and impressive gorges in the alpine region. The gorge passes between towering cliffs and vast rocks. Along the gorge is an impressive bridge that makes the canyon a very special experience for the whole family.
The walking route is stunning, including stairs and bridges running along the stream as well as a high waterfall right at the entrance to the gorge.
You should dedicate about an hour and a half to the area. Additionally, the gorge is a starting point for many hiking trails.
Admission is paid. Address: Marktstrasse 33, Taxenbach, Salzburg, Austria. 

Animal Parks

Ferleiten Wildlife & Leisure Park

A wildlife park located at an altitude of 1140 meters above sea level with 200 animals of various kinds, typical of the Alpine mountain region. Among them: many deer, ibex, and marmots. A walking path winds among the animals. A leisurely walk takes about an hour. In the middle of the park is a small lake surrounded by benches for resting and an observation tower. A new pavilion in the park deals interactively with life underwater in alpine lakes and rivers.
Nearby is an amusement park with a selection of nice rides, mostly suitable for young children, but older ones will also thoroughly enjoy some of them (for example: a boat sliding rapidly into the water on a special track). The place also has a cafe-restaurant with a large terrace and a souvenir shop.
The park is located near the starting point of the Grossglockner and fits in great before or after driving the road (depending on which direction you are coming from). Admission to the wildlife park is paid.  Address: A 5672 Fusch-Ferleiten . 

Hochalm Bird-of-Prey Station

In the Hohe Tauern National Park, on an alpine mountain peak reached by a fast cable car ride, awaits a research and breeding station for birds of prey. At the station, opened in 2007, you can learn closely about owls and other alpine birds of prey typical of the area and witness an impressive flight show where owls fly very close to your heads. At the summit are nice forest walking trails following minerals and also the opportunity for gold panning using old-fashioned methods. An alpine restaurant with a large terrace overlooking the open landscape is located on-site.
You can purchase a round-trip cable car ticket or a ticket for ascent only and descent on foot. Admission to the research station is for an additional fee. Discount for children up to age 15. Free for Salzburg Card holders.  Address: Rauriser Hochalmbahnen AG, Liftweg 5661 Rauris, Österreich. 

Gut Aiderbichl Animal Farm

A large animal farm with a huge yard whose guiding principle for its founders is that humanitarianism should not exist for humans alone. The starting point is the love of animals, rescuing animals, and protecting them. The farm is home to more than 600 domestic and farm animals including about 200 horses. This is an opportunity to meet, feed, and pet rabbits, geese, dogs, cats, cows, goats, donkeys, and pigs—all well-groomed and cared for. Every hour, a 45-minute guided tour is held on the farm (included in the admission price) which also includes a ride on a small train around the place.  The farm is located in the lake district of the Salzburg region, about 20 minutes northeast of Salzburg.
Admission is paid. Address: Filzer John Street 5 5302 Henndorf am Wallersee .

Museums:

All over the Salzburg region are scattered many small museums specializing in a particular subject. There is no comparing them in size, contents, or standard to the museums of Salzburg or other large cities, but they can definitely be combined with a visit to other sites in their surroundings and, above all, provide a successful refuge for a short while during rain and stormy weather. I will mention here those most suitable for families, but there are many others, many of them free for Salzburg Card holders.

A large, impressive, and successful museum is:

Hohe Tauern National Park Museum

A modern natural history museum (opened in summer 2007) featuring nine "nature rooms" with fascinating interactive exhibits that will teach you a lot in an experiential way about diverse natural phenomena, flora, and fauna of the Alps.
Main attractions include:
"The Eagle Flight Panorama" - a unique film making the viewer feel like they are soaring over mountain peaks and valleys, using advanced and unique filming equipment such as a gyro-stabilized camera attached to a helicopter from the outside and controlled by the cockpit.
Weather station - you can see updated weather data and meteorological maps of the entire region, from the valleys to the peak of the Grossglockner.
"Water World" - giant fish models typical of the alpine environment are displayed in a large hall with plenty of information about waterfalls, rivers, lakes, and all other immense water volumes flowing in the Hohe Tauern mountains.
"The Treasure Room" - the highlight is a 3D animation on the formation of the Hohe Tauern mountains which you can watch in a special cinema. In addition, an exhibition of the many minerals and crystals characterizing the region, some of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and their secrets.

"The Hall of Waterfalls and Avalanches" - where you can see a magnificent 270° image including sound effects that will give you the feeling of actually standing near huge waterfalls and a mountain avalanche surrounding you.
"The Glacier World" - here you can learn experientially about glaciers and how they move and even touch a giant glacier placed in the middle of the exhibition hall. Here you can also spin the "Wheel of Time" and learn about the formation and growth of glaciers and their melting.
"The Marmot World" - burrows of marmots where you can crawl (yes, there is room for parents too...) until you reach the old marmots taking their winter sleep. In the experiential "Marmot Cinema", you can witness the animals of the region, from marmots crawling in their burrows to an eagle soaring over snow-capped peaks and kids and ibex climbing cliffs.
In addition, successful exhibits of local flora and fauna, the relaxed lifestyle in the Alps, and alpine forests. The museum also has a restaurant and shop.
The place is located in the town of Mittersill, on the road between Kaprun and Zell am See to the Krimml Waterfalls and the Tyrol region.
Admission is paid. Address: 5730 Mittersill Gerlosstr. 18. 

Planetarium and Observatory Sternwarte Königsleiten

The planetarium, located at an altitude of 1600 meters, is considered the highest planetarium in Europe (listed in the Guinness Book of Records).
You can observe celestial bodies through the planetarium's powerful telescopes and see a star and laser show lasting about an hour projected onto the building's ceiling which is a giant dome 7 meters in diameter.  Guided tours (free) lasting about two to three hours are also held on the "Planetenwanderweg" space trail adjacent to the building among nine granite monuments symbolizing the solar system. Every meter on the path simulates one million kilometers in the solar system.
During the tour you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the Hohe Tauern peaks. Located at the western end of the Salzburg region west of the Krimml Waterfalls.
Admission is paid.  Address: Königsleiten 29, 5742 Wald im Pinzgau. 

FIS Landesskimuseum Ski Museum

The museum describes the history of the "white sport", including skiing, ski jumping, and snowboarding from its earliest days about five thousand years ago to the advanced technological innovations of our time. The museum is located in the beautiful mountain town of Werfenweng which features a winter ski resort and of course a successful cable car operating in summer as well.
Admission is paid. Address: Weng 138, A-5453 Werfenweng . 

VÖTTERS FAHRZEUGMUSEUM Automobile Museum

A small and successful car museum located near the center of Kaprun at the Votters Sportkristall hotel featuring 150 cars, motorcycles, and tractors all from the fifties to the seventies.  Admission is paid.  Address: Schloßstraße 474/621, 5710 Kaprun, Austria . 

Puppenwelt Obertrum Doll World

A small museum displaying 270 expressive porcelain dolls with crystal eyes. All are handmade from Gertrude Hauser's studio. Among the dolls are fairy tale characters, figures depicting village life, Heidi the mountain girl, and many others. Located north of Salzburg, in the heart of the lake district.
Admission is paid. Address: Mattigplatz 2, 5162 Obertrum am See .

Puppenstubenmuseum Dollhouse Museum

Another museum for doll and nostalgia lovers. The place houses a collection of 45 dollhouses in addition to teddy bears, dolls, and other toys.
Admission is paid. Address: A-5324 Hintersee 4.

Das Holzmuseum Wood Museum

The museum features exhibits in several buildings over a total area of 1200 square meters where you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about wood and its many uses from the distant past to the present day with an emphasis on its importance in construction, heating, and play.

The museum has a large courtyard with an experiential wooden playground, an observation tower (made of wood of course), and a forest walking path with many common and rare tree types.
In the summer months on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 13:00-16:00, various activities are held at the museum including handicrafts (such as wood painting) and sports and games (such as bowling). Located in the southeast of the Salzburg region near Carinthia.  Admission is paid.

Address: Hans-Edler-Platz 1, 8862 St. Ruprecht ob Murau. 

Pools and Lakes:

Lovers of bathing and swimming will find a very large selection of orderly and well-maintained bathing places all over the Salzburg region, including lakes, small water parks, numerous pools, and spa sites. Water temperature in the lakes is quite cold, ranging from 17 to 23 degrees Celsius in summer (there are differences between the various lakes). Some of the lakes are tiny, with an area of about half a square kilometer, and some are large. The largest lake is Lake Wolfgangsee. A successful bathing beach on the large lake is Strandbad St. Gilgen from which a wonderful view of the lake and surrounding mountains can be seen. The beach features a giant water slide straight into the lake waters as well as pools near the lake (included in the Salzburg Card). Many other lakes feature numerous facilities such as water slides, diving boards, sunbathing areas, swings, and of course orderly changing rooms. Locals bathe in these lakes with great joy, but for the average Israeli, used to the warm temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea, getting used to the cold water is a bit difficult. The "warmer" lakes with a temp of 23 degrees are: Zauchensee, Mattsee, Obertrumer See, and Ritzensee. Those who prefer warmer water can visit one of the heated pools or spa sites where water temp in the various pools ranges between 24-35 degrees. The Salzburg Card includes 46 bathing sites (at orderly lake beaches and pools) spread across all parts of the region. These water parks, usually combined with spa sites, are suitable for visits in any weather. On warm days they are a refreshing escape (Austria, like many European countries, is rather weak on air conditioning...) and on stormy and rainy days they provide a shelter and excellent alternative to nature sites, cable cars, and walking tours in towns in the rain and wind. There is nothing like sitting in a bubbling jacuzzi and watching the water-drenched Alps through glass walls.

Successful bathing sites that also include heated pools alongside water slides, massage jets, lazy rivers, and other facilities are:

 

Alpen Therme Gastein Alpine Spa

This is a modern, large spa site in a pastoral location, including six different areas over a total area of 32,000 square meters. Among its many facilities are saunas, jacuzzis, a multi-media adventure park, and a water park with a river and successful slides including an area for toddlers. You can receive (for an additional fee) massages and various health treatments. The site offers a wonderful panoramic view of the Alps. Located in the south of the Salzburg region and can serve as a wonderful and pampering ending to a nature trip day on the Grossglockner.
Admission is paid. Address: 5630 Bad Hofgastein, Austria Sen.-W.-Wilflingplatz 1

Aqua Salza Golling

A spa site divided into two areas: "Water World" and "Sauna and Fitness Paradise". Suitable mainly for families is "Water World" featuring indoor and outdoor pools (all heated with water at a temp of 30 degrees), waterfalls, a large slide, a giant jacuzzi, a water play area for toddlers, massage jets, and more. Located in Golling in the center of the Salzburg region near many tourist attractions about half an hour south of the city of Salzburg. Fits in great as a pampering end to a day visiting the ice caves, salt mines, or after an exhausting day of walking in the city of Salzburg itself.  Admission is paid. Address: 5440 Golling an der Salzach, Austria Möslstraße 199 .

The Amadé "World of Water" – Wagrain

A water park with an indoor area and sauna and an area with pools (heated) open in both summer and winter and open-air water slides active only in the summer months. The place features slides of various kinds, massage jets, a water play area for toddlers, as well as mini golf and table tennis. Located in Wagrain, in the heart of the sports area of the Salzburg region in a central and convenient location. There are many active vacation resorts nearby so you can combine sports and vacation activities at the water park without long drives.
Opening hours vary according to seasons and weather. Address: 5602 Wagrain, Austria Joseph Mohr-Weg 5.

Tauern Spa Zell am See Kaprun

A small resort with indoor and outdoor pools, current pool, water slide, saunas, toddler water play area, and mini golf.
Located in Kaprun, near the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and the Hohe Tauern nature park and the famous dam.
Admission is paid. Address: A-5710 Kaprun Tauern Spa Platz 1. 

Sports and Entertainment:

Fantaziana ERLEBNISPARK Amusement Park

A fairy tale and amusement park especially suitable for families with children up to age 10. Among the park's facilities: safari boat ride to "Elephant Rock", One Thousand and One Nights adventures with Sinbad, Wild West train ride, pirate ship, "Formula 1" children's racing track, and 3D cinema. The place hosts magic shows, jugglers, and acrobatics. This is the largest park of its kind in Austria, but does not match the standard of facilities and size of large amusement parks in neighboring countries such as Italy or Germany.  Address: Märchenweg 1 - A-5204 Strasswalchen, north-east of Salzburg.

Sinnepark Sensory Park

A charming attraction in the heart of pastoral nature, where you learn experientially how your senses work. The place features 25 stations and activities through which you will understand how eyes see, ears hear, skin feels, etc. You will encounter various optical illusions, listen to forest sounds through giant ears, touch textures of various materials hidden inside a giant 2-meter-tall wooden hand, sniff 24 different scents in the "Scent Tree" and try to guess what they are. In Leo’s Water World, you can walk in a shallow pool and test your splashing ability, walk through a waterfall and walk on a "barefoot path" with about 100 plant types including trees, alpine flowers, herbs, and more. The view from "Leo's Treehouse" is magnificent.
In summer, starting at 13:30 various activities are held on-site such as painting workshops, crafting, jewelry making, bread baking, and more. A different workshop every day.
The park is located at the middle cable car station of Leogang. It is recommended after visiting it to continue upwards by cable car to its upper station from which walking trails in magical alpine landscapes depart.
Nearby is the modern Bikepark Leogang intended for daring teenagers and adults seeking adrenaline who want to ride a challenging mountain bike trail full of surprises.
Admission to the Sensory Park is included in the cable car ticket price. Address: Leoganger Bergbahnen GmbH, Hütten 39, A-5771 Leogang.

Alpine Slides Rodelbahn

One of the favorite attractions for children in Austria, serving as a successful substitute for those lacking the thrill of roller coasters and shaking amusement rides are alpine slides, or by their German name: Rodelbahn. The principle in all of them is similar: you ascend (by some type of cable car) to a mountain peak and descend on a fast ride on a sled along a winding and long track. You can control the descent speed by a brake lever located at the front of the sled. Small children can sit with one of the parents on the same sled. In mountainous Austria, almost every winter ski resort has built an alpine slide to provide a sliding and adrenaline experience in summer too. Often the alpine slide is located adjacent to other family attractions, such as mini golf, trampolines, and swing facilities. At the website: www.rodeln.at information on all alpine slides in Austria. In the Salzburg region alone there are 32 alpine slides! Some are short and the duration of ascent to the starting point and sliding is a few minutes and some are extremely long and the total ascent and descent time can exceed half an hour. Some of the alpine slides are included in the Salzburg Card.

 

 

The most successful slides in the Salzburg region are:

Alpine Slide in Dürrnberg

Considered the longest alpine slide in Austria. Located in a central and convenient location, near the salt mines near Hallein, about 20 minutes south of the city of Salzburg. First you ascend by chairlift to the mountain top up to an altitude of 1312 meters.
The scenery viewed during the ride and at the station on the mountain is magnificent: mountains and green slopes dotted with towns and villages. Then you descend (single or double on a sled) on alpine slides all that height along a winding 2.2 km track. At the starting point of the cable car is a small cafe, where those afraid of heights can wait while drinking coffee in pastoral scenery.
Admission is paid. Discount for children aged 6-16. Family ticket available at a reduced price. Children under six can slide (free) only accompanied by an adult. You can purchase a ticket for one ride (cable car ascent + slide descent), two rides, three or five. A discounted round-trip chairlift ticket can be purchased (for those who do not want to slide down but are interested in seeing the view).  Address: 5422 Bad Dürrnberg, Weissenwäschweg 19 .

 Karkogel in Abtenau

A modern and successful slide. You ascend to the starting point on the mountain top by an enclosed cable car for 5-6 people. The length of the winding sliding track is 1980 meters. One of its attractions is sliding under bridges. The site also features a nice mini golf course, trampolines and inflatable jumping facilities, toddler play areas, and a cafe-restaurant.
Anyone looking for an additional athletic sporting experience can join the descent on scooters down the mountain. You ascend with the scooter by cable car to the starting point of the alpine slide and descend on it along a winding track down the mountain among trees and fields. Group descent accompanied by a guide only. Not recommended for back pain sufferers. Not suitable for children under 10.  Address: 5441 Abtenau Au 99.

Schnitza's Wood Park

A family amusement park built entirely of wood designed to teach about trees through play and experience. Among the facilities in the park: alpine mini golf, bowling, disk puzzle, walking path among wooden mushrooms, cow milking (made of wood of course) among the stations and walking trails are scattered large wooden animal statues. Nearby is a souvenir shop where all products sold are made of wood: wooden toys, carved wooden statues, and various decorations. In July-August, clown and magician shows are held at the place. A cute place especially suitable for toddlers.
Nearby is another nice park named "Devil's Water" Teufelswasser which is all about water. Here you walk among water mills, rivers, and streams and learn experientially and a bit wetly about various physical phenomena related to water and its flow.
Address: Schwarzacherweg 157, 5754 Saalbach, (about 20 km northwest of Zell am See).

Mount KODOK Adventure Trail

Not far from the wood park you will find an adventure trail with ten different stations, at each of which you must solve a different mystery on the way to the goal: finding the clown's magic hat which according to legend was stolen by the wicked troll. The stations are full of challenges, including a maze, treehouse climbing, ziplining, and various activities that thrill children. Along the way you will encounter various objects such as mirrors and telescopes to help you reach the desired goal. Intended for children aged 7-14. Every child must be accompanied by a parent. The starting point for the adventure trail is at the middle cable car station of Reiterkogel. The trail length is 3 km. You should dedicate about two hours to the place. This is a wonderful area full of many family attractions, such as an animal park, rope parks, mini golf, bike parks, cable cars, mountain walking trails, roller skating park, and other entertainment for which a full day is recommended. Address: A-5754 Hinterglemm, Zwölferkogelweg 208 .

Rope Parks

Alpine Center Rope and Adventure Park in Flachau

A rope park of various levels suitable for beginners who have never climbed before as well as advanced climbers. The park features a 20-meter-high "spider web" to climb on and an elevated course 9 meters high including walking on various "rope ladders" and ziplining, including sliding for 150 meters over the nearby lake. All climbers are equipped with safety gear and everything operates according to orderly safety procedures. The company operating the park also organizes many other adventurous activities in the Salzburg sports area: mountain climbing, rafting, kayaking, and adventurous cave and canyon tours. It is recommended to book activities in advance (including the rope park). Energetic teenagers will thoroughly enjoy all the activities the company offers. The rope park is intended for children aged 10 and over. Most activity is group-based. The shortest activity is two hours on the High rope course.
Address: ACS Alpincenter Salzburger Sportwelt, Wastlgasse 149, 5542 Flachau .

 

Rope parks have become a popular attraction in Austria in recent years and you can spend time at challenging and modern rope parks in other places in the region. Bauböck Outdoor tourism has built four modern parks in the country, two of them in the Salzburg region in Seeham (in the lake district north of Salzburg) and in Saalbach (near Kaprun).

"Kletterpark" Kletterpark Waldbad Anif

Another successful rope park named "Kletterpark Waldbad Anif" is located in the village of Anif, south of the city of Salzburg (not far from Hellbrunn Palace). The park has seven courses in various difficulty levels, and includes over a hundred stages, among them Tarzan swing, ziplines, and spider web-like rope climbing. The place has an area called "Children's Hill" suitable for young children starting from age three. The park is open from April to October. Operating days and hours vary according to the season.
Address: Waldbadstrasse, 5081 Anif bei Salzburg.

"Fun Pro" Extreme Sports in Flachau

Sports and adventure activities in the heart of the sports area of the Salzburg region. In summer , bike tours of various levels, skate tours, mountain walking, and zorbing; and in winter various skiing activities at all levels. You can join group activities or rent  bikes or skates and tour the surroundings independently.

Zorbing:

The activity most favored by children and teenagers is "Zorbing", another invention of the fertile New Zealand brain successfully exported to a limited number of countries including Austria. The principle is simple: you enter a giant transparent ball and roll inside it down one of Flachau's hills. There is "wet" zorbing, where the ball is filled with a little water, and "dry" zorbing without water. You can be alone in the ball or with another person. Even those who do not plan to tumble inside the ball will enjoy watching others roll down the hill inside giant balls. A rather surreal sight. Address: 5542 Flachau, Wastlgasse 340 .

 

 

Many other companies organize extreme sports activities in other areas of the Salzburg region. Two large and recommended companies are:

 

In the Zell am See - Kaprun area, Adventure Service Outdoorsports organizes rafting on the Saalach River at various levels suitable for children aged 10 and over, paragliding, mountain biking, rope park, and rock climbing. The company also organizes Segway tours and Segway rentals.
In the Golling area, Absolute Outdoors  organizes rafting, canyoning (Canyoning - the activity is suitable for children from age 8), mountain biking, and combined sports activities.  

Minigolf and Pit Pat

In many resort towns across the Salzburg region you can find successful minigolf courses as well as "Pit Pat" facilities: a nice combination of minigolf and billiards.
This is a miniature golf game on elevated tables with billiard cues. Usually 18 different tables, in various difficulty levels, with four balls differing in difficulty level. At each table you play with the required color ball.

This is an activity suitable for the whole family. Use of many minigolf and pit pat facilities in the region is free for Salzburg Card holders. In the center of the town of Flachau, both the minigolf (located near the park with a successful playground) and the pit pat facility, located in the courtyard of Hotel Gasthof Wiesneck located a short walking distance from each other, are free for card holders. Also in Werfen, near the ice caves and the famous castle, there is a high-standard minigolf facility. Address: Eishohlenstrasse 19, A-5450, Werfen. Many minigolf and pit pat facilities are located adjacent to other summer attractions, such as orderly lake beaches, pools, alpine slides, etc. 

Schmidolin's baptism of fire at the summit of Schmittenhöhe

In the Zell am See area lies the Schmitten mountain rising to an altitude of 1,965 meters above sea level. At the mountain peak you will find a great adventure for children, the Schmidolin the dragon trail. The trail includes a host of activities like trivia quizzes and questions, courage tests, and various missions. The goal of the missions is to help keep the dragon's fire alive. The trail is renewed every year, with new stations added and existing missions refreshed.
Admission to the adventure phase is included in the price of the cable car ride to the mountain peak, with the ADVENTURE-TICKET only.
Address: Schmittenstraße 119, 5700 Schmitten, Austria.

Flying Fox XXL in Leogang

You said action, you said Flying Fox XXL. A favorite attraction for extreme sports enthusiasts, where you fly from the mountain down to the valley at a speed of about 130 km/h attached to a cable over 1.6 km long and at a height of 143 meters above the ground. An unforgettable experience and mesmerizing mountain views.
The attraction is indeed popular and unforgettable, but the price is expensive.
Address: Hütten 39, 5771 Leogang, Österreich. 

Cable Cars and Trains:

In addition to all the cable cars mentioned earlier leading to glaciers, entertainment, alpine slides, caves, castles, and fortresses, mountainous Salzburg has many other cable cars of various types offering magnificent views of mountains, valleys, towns, and lakes. Usually, many walking trails depart from the upper cable car station, providing hikers with postcard views, cool and crisp mountain air (a wonderful escape from heatwaves) and encounters with alpine flora and fauna. Usually an alpine mountain restaurant awaits you at the peak, with a large terrace overlooking the landscape. The Salzburg Card entitles you to free rides on 23 of the region's cable cars! 

Cable Cars

Particularly successful cable cars offering views of the most impressive landscapes are:  

Seilbahn in St. Gilgen, "Flying Mozart" in Wagrain, and the Maria Alm chairlift Schwarzeckalmbahn Maria Alm
Riding all three is free for Salzburg Card holders.  

Bad Gastein Hanging Bridge at the summit of Stubnerkogel

A charming viewpoint from the heights of Stubnerkogel mountain, on a hanging bridge 140 m long and only one meter wide. The bridge floor is transparent and provides a unique angle on the landscapes. Only a wire mesh separates those walking on the bridge from an abyss 28 meters high...
The mountain peak can be reached by cable car and from there you can set out on short walking trails. At the peak you will also find a restaurant and a children's playroom including a ball pit, climbing wall, foosball, and more.  Address: Stubnerkogel, 5645 Bad Gastein.  

Trains

Steam train lovers will also find what they are looking for in Austria. Note that riding some of them is only during the tourist season and not part of a regular line.  

"Tschu-Tschu" Bahn 

Runs in summer in the "Pollatal" Nature Reserve every hour and reaches the town of Pollatal at the edge of the reserve. In summer, private cars are prohibited from entering the reserve, so riding the train is the best way to visit the reserve, where it is recommended to walk on foot along a nice path called "Pollatal Natural Stream Trail" along the Lieser River. The park is actually already located in Carinthia, but since it is very close to the Salzburg region, it is included in the Salzburg Card and allows free travel for card holders.  Address: A-9863 Rennweg Nr. 51 .  

Taurachbahn

A steam train running between Mauterndorf and St. Andrä at the southeast end of the Salzburg region. You can bring bicycles for free and combine a train ride with a ride in the pastoral Taurach Valley. Address: A-5570 Mauterndorf Nr. 153 .

Pinzgaubahn Train

Runs along 54 km between Zell am See and Niedernsill. The route passes by mountain scenery, valleys, well-kept towns, and villages with flower-adorned houses.
Address: Brucker Bundesstrasse 21, 5700 Zell am See, Österreich.

 

Riding these trains is not suitable for the impatient looking for thrills and challenges, but rather for those seeking a quiet ride in magical landscapes who do not want to drive themselves on winding roads.

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