Hi all, Apologies of this has already been answered. Me and my 17 year old daughter have never had this kind of holiday before. We want a hybrid activity/relaxing holiday in the Lakes. They all look so amazing we just don’t know where to base ourselves! We will be on foot, so using public transport. Also not sure how long is long enough? I was planning on a full 7 days - but is this too long???? Any help and tips so appreciated! Thanks!
Emma and Olivia
Posted by
City of Seattle
1971 posts
What kind of walking are you imagining Emma? Up in the hills/Alpine, flatter along lakes and valley's, or both?
It I was basing in one place on a lake and looking for what you want, I'd do St. Wolfgang. There are other good places too.
St. Wolfgang's downside is that you need to get on a ferry boat or dead ended bus to get in and out. Both run frequently, but do suck up a some time if you're often trying to get in and out to other places. But there is certainly a great set of core activities to do in St. Wolfgang.
Strobl at the western end of the same lake is less charming than St. Wolfgang but much more conveniently located if you are going to use public transit to get around the area, and still is right on the lake with good amenities. More affordable for sure.
At the other end of the same lake is St. Gilgen, which is my favorite of the three. I honestly think it is more charming than St. Wolfgang, and cheaper with nice food and a lovely little beach club. But logistically it's just at the edge of the Salzkammergut, makes getting everywhere else a bit more of a trek.
Three summers back my wife, daughter and I did a week in the Salzkammergut. We combined public transit and trekking with our backpacks to tour around. We stayed at lakeside hotels almost entirely. It worked out just fine logistically, and it was very pleasant walking along the lakeside paths into the various towns where we stayed.
Posted by
Vancouver, Canada
74 posts
Hi Emma and Olivia,
What a great mother-daughter trip! I spent 5 nights in St Gilgen on Wolfgangsee a few years ago (at the Hotel Hollweger - https://www.hotel-wolfgangsee.at/index.php/en/) and it was a great base. I was there in early August and, like you, didn't have a car. The bus stop on the Salzburg-Bad Ischl route is literally just in front of the hotel, which was great for getting around. The hiking around there is beautiful and I loved swimming in the lake each day after my hikes. The hotel isn't on the water but it does have it's own lake house you can walk down to, which was perfect. They also had a pool on site but I never used it on that trip - definitely a plus in cooler weather. There is a nice public swimming area too if you stay elsewhere and a few of the other hotels in town also have their own lake houses.
I enjoyed it so much a return visit is planned for 2023!
Happy travels!