photo credit: viakali

The Salzkammergut is one of the most traditional travel destinations of Austria. With its many lakes this region is the lake district of Austria. The fact that the emperor of the old Austro-Hungarian empire chose the Salzkammergut for his summer vacation is perhaps the best testimony of the attractiveness and uniqueness of this place in the heart of Europe. Emperor Franz Josef even built a huge villa for his pleasure in Bad Ischl, one of the many quaint towns of this region.

The lakes are large enough to offer virtually all water sport activities from swimming and bathing to sailing and windsurfing. What makes the Salzkammergut so unique is its mix of lakes, mountains and picturesque old towns. The mountains are to be discovered by a cog railway of 1890 vintage or by modern cable cars and offer amazing views over the landscape characterized by the beautiful mix of lakes, forests and pristine meadows. In the south, the Dachstein (2994m) with its large glaciers towers above the landscape.

During the winter, the region is a skier’s paradise. The Salzkammergut is famous for its abundance of snow and thus is perfectly for all skiers seeking fresh powder snow. The ski resorts of the Salkammergut may not be the largest ones of Austria but nevertheless they offer versatile pistes and great backcountry skiing possibilities.

With its many attractions from cultural history to natural beauty the Salzkammergut is truly a destination for all seasons.