Interested in cycling through the Austrian Lakes Region?
This is a region I find interesting to cycle in and have had the privilege to visit on several occasions.
The Salzkammergut Austrian Cycling Route goes through the lakes region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located to the east of the Mozart village of Salzburg.
There is a variety of very scenic series of routes circling the lakes of the Salzkammergut in Austria, which is framed by high mountains. Much of the movie, The Sound of Music, was filmed in this region, so you may recognize some of the sights, and it is also a popular recreation area for Austrians all year round.
Distance – 309 km (192 mi) loop through the Lake District
Start and finish – in Salzburg City
Trails – mostly biking paths and quiet side roads and for short distances along highways.
Suitable for – families, beginners, bicycle touring
For this cycle vacation, you need to take along a copy of the Salzkammergut Radatlas with excellent maps showing an overview plus the various cycle paths. Although it is printed in German, the index is also in English, and detailed maps are easy to follow.
Cycling from Salzburg to St. Wolfgang
It is best to start (or end) your cycling tour in Salzburg and head along the Salzkammergut route into the gentle hills to the east. After a few hours, you reach the village of Mondsee, your first lake. The church here, located on the lakeshore, was the site of the wedding scene in the movie, The Sound of Music.
The bike route continues a bit south on a quiet road with a short climb and slight downhill before reaching St. Gilgen on scenic Lake Wolfgang, which is surrounded by high mountains. We took a short walk around the town and visited the local tourist office, which told us about the bike ferry, as due to traffic and mountains, there was no way to cycle the north shore.
As mentioned, the expressway on the north shore has tunnels and is not a place for bicycles, so I continued riding on the paved bike path along the southern shores of Wolfgangsee Lake. If you choose to stay in the old town of St Wolfgang, as we did, take the bike ferry ride across the crystal clear waters of the lake.
From the campground located at the midpoint on the south shore. The inexpensive boat ride does provide great photo opportunities, including views of the mountain peaks to the north, which we took advantage of several times. On arrival in St. Wolfgang, we walked our bicycles up a steep hill to our B&B. There were plenty of local restaurants in town to enjoy Wiener Schnitzel and the local cuisine.
Other cyclists may decide to overnight in Strobl, Upper Austria, a quaint town located at the north end of Lake Wolfgang. Strobl is home to a variety of restaurants, pubs, and cafes, as well as picturesque views of the mountains and lake.
If you continue to ride along the shores of the lake, you will reach the famous imperial town of Bad Ischl at the eastern end. The imperial villa, known as Kaiservilla, was the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria, and if you have enough time is worth a visit.
Also, Bad Ischl is a picturesque town with stunning views and a fairy-tale atmosphere is well known for its thermal baths, which have been popular since the 19th century. Visitors, in particular how much they enjoy the lazy river.
Visiting Hallstatt
A highlight of the Salzammergut region, do take a day ride further south to scenic Hallstatt, your third lake, and a town now famous on many calendars (picture above). And yes, the Salzkammergut Cycle Path does go there.
But along the way, one of the towns you pass is the pretty village of Bad Goisern along the River Traun, which flows into Hallstatter See. In Obertraun, the ice caves are the main attraction.
The Dachstein-Salzkammergut region comprises the little towns of Bad Goisern, Hallstatt, Gosau, and Obertraun and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997.
Hallstatt is a pedestrian-only town, so lock your bike and go exploring. This pretty town was only accessible by boat until a century ago and still has plenty of charm (and tourists). Besides exploring the town, the Salt Mine tour is worth the effort.
There were plenty of visitors taking the boat trip around the stunning Lake Hallstatt. But we went to a lakeside restaurant, which can be crowded and a bit expensive but you cannot beat the view while enjoying a seafood lunch. And don’t forget to order the apple strudel.
Cycling to Gmunden
On our third day, we took the Salzkammergut bike route north to visit more beautiful lakes. Along the way, your cycle route will pass through Bad Aussee, a small mountain village with incredible views. With an altitude of 845m and the famous Traunsee lake nearby, this is a great place to take some time to relax and unwind before continuing on your journey.
Then, along the Traun River to the summer resort town of Gmunden, located on Lake Traunsee, and a great place to park your bicycle for the night.
Return to Salzburg via Mondsee
As this is a circular route, you will head back to the Mozart city of Salzburg. The most direct and slightly shorter option is to return via Mondsee. From there, it is a leisurely ride for short distances, passing the deep blue Fuschlsee with nature parks, swimming, and boat rentals.
Your bike tour finishes with an epic, long, gradual ride down a hill into the city along the bike trail through alpine meadows to Salzburg. It is spectacular. As you cross the fields, you can see the river to your right, and ahead in the distance is the famous castle high above the city. With the Sound of Music going through my mind, this is one of my favorite sections for bicycle touring anywhere in the world.
Return to Salzburg via the Trumer Lakes
Your cycling holiday continues along the bike route to the west into Steinbach on the Attersee, the largest lake in the area, before heading back to Salzburg along one of several options.
This route has us passing the lakeshore of Lake Obertrumer See, the largest of 3 lakes, with its beautiful landscape. Another was Lake Mattsee. Over to Oberndorf, to visit the parish church where the Christmas Carol Silent Night was composed in 1816.
The final stage takes you on the bicycle path next to the River Salzach and into Salzburg.
Visiting Salzburg
We finished our cycle tour by spending a few days exploring Salzburg after the ride, including the Mirabel Gardens, the fortresses which you can walk to, although most visitors seemed to be taking the ride up. Anyway, the magnificent view from the top was awesome; you will need plenty of time to fully see the castle.
Salzkammergut Map
Additional Resources for Your Bike Trip
Bikeline Salzkammergut Cycling Atlas – this is the book I took. While printed in German (legend also in English), the detailed route maps were invaluable.
Booking.com – plenty of accommodation choices in the Lake District
VRBO – for locating interesting accommodations along the route
Expedia – for hotel accommodation in Salzburg, St. Wolfgang, etc.
Austrian Tourist Office – has further details on cycling in the country
Trip.com – for rail bookings
Travel Insurance – for safety while on your cycling journey
FAQs: Salzkammergut Cycling
Where is the Salzkammergut Cycling Route?
The Salzkammergut region is the Austrian Lakes District, located east of the city of Salzburg. There is a series of signed cycling paths throughout the area.
When is the best time to cycle the Salzkammergut?
The region can be busy, with accommodation hard to find during the summer holidays in July and August. So the best time to cycle the area is late May, June, September, or early October.
How long is the Salzkammergut Cycle Path?
309 km (192 mi) loop through the Lake District, mostly on bicycle paths and quiet local roads.
Looking for more Bicycle Touring Information in Austria?
If you are going to Austria for some bicycle touring and want more information, consider looking at some of our other posts:
- In Salzburg, you can connect with the Tauern Bike route
- Head north from the Salzkammergut to connect with the Danube Bike Route.
- Nearby in Germany is Bavaria’s Bodensee to Konigssee cycle route
- To the south is the Etsch Radweg (Adige Cycle Route) from Austria to Italy
Wrap-up: Salzkammergut Austrian Cycling Route
You are going to love exploring the beauty of the Lakes District, surrounded by mountains and sprinkled with historic sites.
