We often get asked where the best place to stay in the Salkzammergut is. Truthfully, there’s no right answer to that question as it really depends on your own preferences, your itinerary, and how you want to spend your time in the region. That being said, we can help guide you in your decision by suggesting a few different options and highlighting their relative strengths and weaknesses as a base for exploring the region, and that’s exactly what we are going to do here. To help you plan your time in the area, we put together this travel guide on Where to Stay in the Salzkammergut.
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You might also be interested in these pages:
Best Things to See and Do in the Salzkammergut
Best Things to See and Do in Salzburg
Best Things to See and Do in Hallstatt
Salzkammergut Location & Map
The Salzkammergut region occupies an area of about 11.5 sq km, immediately east of Salzburg, Austria. Its western limits are very close to the German border, with Berchtesgaden National Park and the stunning Königssee on the other side.
The region isn’t however an official province of Austria. The map from the official Salzkammergut tourism website below approximates the region’s borders, as it spans parts of the Salzburg, Upper Austria and Styria provinces. Therefore, there is no exact definition regarding where the region starts or ends, and it is roughly centred around its largest town, Bad Ischl, known for its numerous spa resorts.
The Salzkammergut region is best explored by car in our opinion. Although there is public transit available, the routes are rather infrequent making it difficult to visit multiple attractions within a single day.
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your travels, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Austria or Germany.
We also highly recommend Airalo (eSIM card) for your connectivity needs when travelling abroad. Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide.
Important: All Austrian motorways (“Autobahn”) and expressways (“S” roads) are subject to tolls. All cars, motorbikes and camper vans must either properly display a toll sticker or have purchased online a digital vignette when they plan to drive onto a motorway or expressway. Vignettes with periods of validity of 10 days, 2 months or 1 year are available from more than 6,000 outlets in Austria and neighbouring countries, and digital vignettes can be purchased from the ASFINAG website. They are not prohibitively expensive — for instance, the 10-day vignette for cars costs €11.50.
Salzkammergut Base Options
One key determinant in helping you decide where to base yourself during your time in the Salzkammergut is deciding what your main interests are and how long you plan to stay in the region. If you are still unsure about these decisions, you might want to consult one of our following guides: Best Things to See and Do in the Salzkammergut and/or Perfect Road Trip Itinerary in the Salzkammergut. To get a proper sense of everything the area has to offer, we think you should try to stay anywhere between 3 and 5 days.
Below, we will consider and discuss the pros and cons of the following potential bases for your stay in the Salzkammergut: Salzburg, Hallstatt, Mondsee, Bad Ischl, St Wolfgang, and St Gilgen.
Where to Stay in the Salzkammergut
Base Option #1: Salzburg
Tucked away between scenic alpine landscapes near the German border and UNESCO-listed since 1997, Salzburg has what many think is the best-preserved Baroque Altstadt (old town) and one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval castles towering above it. From the Sound of Music to Mozart’s childhood, the city has a rich cultural history and plenty of stories to share. Although the historic old town is fairly compact, it’s packed with attractions, museums and things to do. You can easily spend a full day here, if not more. The castle alone is worth a few hours.
Pros
– There are tons of things to see and do in Salzburg
– The city has a greater variety of lodging options
– Salzburg is closer to Berchtesgaden National Park & Königssee (Germany)
Cons
– The city not centrally located in the Salzkammergut
– Lodging options tend to be more expensive here
– Parking is expensive in Salzburg and can be difficult
Final thoughts: Salzlburg is no doubt a great place to stay and visit. It’s full of history, culture and fascinating sights. However, it’s not ideal as a base in the Salzkammergut as you will end up having to drive more every day to visit various places in the Salkzammergut. The main exception is if you intend to spend some time in Berchtesgaden National Park and/or visit Königssee, making Salzburg more central in between the Salkzammergut and the German sites. Also, if you depend on public transport for getting around, Salzburg might prove to be the most convenient base for day trips without a car.
For more information and tips on visiting this beautiful city, check out our travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Salzburg
Base Option #2: Hallstatt
The picture-perfect postcard village of Hallstatt is located in the southeastern corner of the Salzkammergut. Even if it does get too crowded at times, there are plenty of activities where you can somewhat escape the crowds, such as visiting the world’s oldest salt mine, spending some time on the lake, or heading down the road to Dachstein Krippenstein, a mountain where several great surprises await including a unique ice cave and a stunning viewing platform.
Pros
– Hallstatt is probably the most scenic lakeside town
– The small town is also close to several attractions (salt mine, ice cave, hiking trails)
Cons
– Hallstatt is not centrally located in the region
– The town itself gets excessively crowded during the day.
Final thoughts: We would only recommend staying in Hallstatt if you plan to spend most of your time in the Salzkammergut nearby, such as to visit the Gosau Lakes and Dachstein Krippenstein (Giant Ice Cave, 5 Finger Platform, and hiking opportunities), and if you plan on spending the bulk of the days (between 10 am and 5 pm) outside the town when most day trippers come to visit. There’s plenty to do in the area to keep you busy for three days.
For more information and tips on visiting Hallstatt, check out our travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Hallstatt.
Base Option #3: Mondsee
Mondsee is the ideal place to base yourself if you are looking for beautiful scenery with fewer tourists. It has a beautifully preserved old town and one of the most stunning churches in the Salzkammergut, the Abbey Church of Mondsee.
Although the town is close to Salzburg, it is more distant from most of Salzkammergut’s attractions and sites of interest. The town’s adjacent lake which goes by the same name, Mondsee, is however known as one of the warmest lakes of the region for swimming.
Pros
– The town is quieter town than most of the other base options
– There’s beautiful scenery here & lakeside access
– Closest of the lakeside towns to Salzburg (along with St Gilgen)
Cons:
– Mondsee is not very central in the region
– There aren’t many close attractions
– The town isn’t ideal to use as a base for those looking for a more lively town and atmosphere
Final Thoughts: Mondsee is the ideal choice for those who want a little more peace and quiet or don’t intend on spending too many days in and around Hallstatt. Mondsee is however close to the Sazlkammergut’s largest lakes, Attersee and Traunsee.
Base Option #4: Bad Ishcl
Bad Ischl is as central as it gets in the Salzkammergut, but it also is probably the Salzkammergut’s most popular town that isn’t along a lakeside. Located roughly halfway between Wolfgangsee and Hallstatter See, the town’s claim to fame is linked to the numerous spa resorts found in and around town. The most popular resort is EurothermeenResort Bad Ischl. Historically, this was one of the area’s most popular resort destinations and was significantly more popular than Hallstatt, in part because of the marketing of the healing effects of the town’s thermal waters. In fact, former Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph spent every summer holiday in Bad Ischl, and today you can visit his former summer residence – the Kaiservilla.
Pros
– Bad Ischl is the most central location with the Salzkammergut
– The town is ideal for those more in need of relaxation than adventure
Cons
– The immediate scenery isn’t as picturesque as those of the lakeside towns.
– There are no adjacent lakes for water activities
Final Thoughts: Using Bad Ischl as a base is ideal if you want to be in spa town or if you want to minimize the amount of daily driving given its central location. It’s also a good alternative to Salzburg for those wishing to get around by public transport.
Base Option #5: St Wolfgang
Located along the shores of Lake Wolfgangsee in the heart of the Salzkammergut, the small town of St Wolfgang deserves to be discovered. Though many come to town to experience the unique cog train (Austria’s steepest cog railway, the SchafbergBahn) that whisks passengers to the summit of Schafberg Mountain, there’s so much more to experience in St Wolfgang. In particular, it has a beautiful, colorful and lively town center filled with cafés, shops and restaurants, but without the crowds of Hallstatt, and has several beautiful lakeside walking trails. It’s also a great place to go on a short boat cruise and visit other towns around Lake Wolfgangsee, such as St Gilgen.
Pros
– St Wolfgang is fairly centrally located with the Salzkammergut
– The town has beautiful scenery, lakeside access, and nearby hiking trails
– The town is also home of the Schafbergbahn cog train
– St Wolfgang has a good atmosphere: neither too busy nor too quiet.
Cons
– The town is not ideal for those using public transport
– It is also not as central as Bad Ischl
Final thoughts: St Wolfgang is ideal for those who want an entertaining town without too many crowds, and with enough things to see and do to keep you busy for a few days. Although not perfectly central in the Salzkammergut, we think it’s a close second to Bad Ischl.
For more information and tips on visiting St Wolfgang, check out our travel guide on the Best Things to See and Do in St Wolfgang.
Base Option #6: St Gilgen
St Gilgen shares the same lake as St Wolfgang (Wolfgangsee) and both are connected by Ferry (in addition to the road system). The town is a bit closer to Salzburg than the rest of the Salkammergut and is a bit quieter than St Wolfgang. There’s also a cable car station that takes you up to Zwölferhorn for some alpine hiking opportunities.
Pros
– Closest to Salzburg (along with Mondsee)
– Adjacent to a cable car station for alpine hiking
Cons
– Not very central in the region (though more than Mondsee)
– Few close attractions (though more than Mondsee)
– Not ideal for those looking for a more lively town and atmosphere
Final thoughts: St Gilgen is a great choice for those who are leaning towards St Wolfgang but will be travelling around by public transit, which will often require one less transfer than if travelling to or from St Wolfgang. Also, because both St Wolfgang and St Gilgen are connected by ferry, St Wolfgang can easily and frequently be visited from St Gilgen.
Our Choice of Base for the Salzkammergut
Of the six bases considered, our choice for the ideal base in the Salzkammergut lands on St Wolfgang:
1) It’s a beautiful and scenic lakeside town, with a great selection of accommodation options and restaurants, but without the crowds of nearby Hallstatt and Salzburg. It’s also large enough to not feel too quiet.
2) The town is somewhat centrally located relative to our main interests in the area: Salzburg, Hallstatt, the Gosau Lakes, and Dachstein Krippenstein.
3) The base station of the SchafbergBahn cog train is located in St Wolfgang – riding this train to the summit of Schafberg mountain was very high on our bucket list.
4) Since we were planning to visit most of the area by car, the fact that parking is also easier in St Wolfgang (compared to Salzburg or Hallstatt) was an important consideration for our decision to base ourselves here.
Where to stay in St Wolfgang?
St Wolfgang is such a small town that there is no wrong area to stay in, and there are several options both within the town and outside of it for more tranquillity, depending on your preferences. We ended up choosing a cozy Airbnb in the center of town (and the hosts were fantastic by the way!), with beautiful lake views from the apartment balcony. The hosts are also the owners of the delightful SODA! café a few blocks away in the heart of St Wolfgang, a favorite among town locals.
Alternatively, our second choice was one of the See Moment Apartments, also located in the town center along the lakeside. They have several units each equipped with kitchenettes and large modern bathrooms.
Planning a Trip to Austria?
You might be interested in these pages (coming soon):
Best Things to See and Do in the Salzkammergut
Perfect Road Trip Itinerary in the Salzkammergut
Best Things to See and Do in Salzburg
Best Things to See and Do in Hallstatt
We also highly recommend these guidebooks:
Rick Steves Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol
Lonely Planet Austria
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our Guide to the Perfect Road Trip Itinerary in the Salzkammergut and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
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