I'm taking friends on a Christmas markets trip in early December. We'll be in Salzburg three nights, Thurs - Sat. I know the old town will be very crowded on Saturday, so I think it might be a good day to see some country scenery. I have a car, and I know the daylight hours will be short. I want to show them something beautiful. Where would you go?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I don't think you can find a more beautiful place near Salzburg than Berchtesgaden. It's surrounded by mountains and has a beautiful lake. If you want to go a little farther, go south along the border to Werfen, site of Hohenwerfen castle. Another beautiful spot is Hallstatt, which is farther from Salzburg, but reachable in a day.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
You could see the lakes of the Salzkammergut region - Mondsee, St Wolfgangsee.
Posted by
Orlando
516 posts
Take a daytrip to the Lakes District. We used a tour company with a mini van. Incredible scenery.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Salzkammergut = Lakes District
Posted by
Sammamish, WA
403 posts
Hwhenwerfen is indeed a very cool castle well worth a visit, but I believe it is closed in the winter. Might want to check the website.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta
995 posts
Thanks, everybody. Hohenwerfen will be closed, but now I have a plan.
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1528 posts
Several years ago, we spent a Christmas in Salzburg with a car and made several day trips. The Salzkammergut lake district was great as mentioned. However, we best liked the off season visits that we made to the Danube (Donau) River area, specifically to St. Florian and Melk Abbeys. While there was snow in the Salzkammergut, the Danube was golden like late autumn. There was something about the mood of the place in that winter season that I was never able to recapture in subsequent visits.