Salzkammergut Cycle Trail

Travelling along largely asphalted cycle paths, pleasure cyclists can experience the region so beloved of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth for their summer retreats, and a picturesque scenery that brought artists such as Gustav Klimt flocking to the area. Cultural treats are as numerous on this tour as culinary goodies. No gourmand should miss sampling the freshly-caught trout and char from the Salzkammergut lakes. Pedalling up and down the gently rolling hills surrounding the Salzkammergut lakes, you will cross the federal states of Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria. From Salzburg to Lake Grundl, via Lake Mond, Lake Wolfgang and Lake Hallstätter, the route covers a total of 345 km and offers many connection points and circular tours.

Those starting their route in the festival city of Salzburg will take the old Ischlerbahn railway line to Eugendorf and on to St. Gilgen, the “Mozart village”, St. Wolfgang, and the famous imperial town of Bad Ischl. It’s easy to follow in the footsteps of Emperor Franz Josef here: unmissable highlights include the Kaiserpark and Kaiservilla, the town museum, the Kongresshaus and a visit to the legendary Konditorei Zauner café. Further south, continue to the charming World Heritage Site region around Lake Hallstätter. We highly recommend a detour to the Gosau Valley or a visit to Hallstatt and the Dachstein caves. Another wonderful excursion is take a train ride to Bad Aussee, where the Styrian Salzkammergut Trail meets the River Enns Cycle Trail via Bad Mitterndorf. Connoisseurs can sit back and relax at the spas located in the two towns, while keen cyclists can complete an extra round via the Salzaalm (mountain stage) back to Lake Grundl. Sweet temptation awaits in Bad Aussee: visit the Ausseer Lebzelterei (a gingerbread manufacturer) for a charming location atop a plateau and panoramic views sweeping all the way from the Dachstein to the Tote Gebirge mountains. Certainly one of the most appealing destinations for both the eyes and the stomach!

From Lake Altau, continue along a forest road to Bad Ischl and follow the river Traun and Lake Traun to  Gmunden. Don’t miss a boat ride on the majestic “Gisela”, the world’s oldest paddle steamer, or a visit to Schloss Ort, the fabled castle on the lake. Via Aurach am Hongar, the tour then continues to the largest lake in the Salzkammergut region, Lake Atter, and from there to Lake Mond; the town on its shores shares its name (Mondsee). Well worth seeing are the Stiftskirche (collegiate church) and the Pile Dwelling Museum. After Lake Irr, you will come to the pilgrimage church in Irrsdorf, and then to the idyllic Salzburg Lake District. Cheese-lovers may experience a hankering to visit the Käsewelt cheese museum in Schaudorf Schleedorf, while water babies will love Lake Matt and Lake Obertrumer. From here, it’s just a few more kilometres back to the city of Salzburg.