Austria road trip: Gosau Lake to Hallstatt, 7 stops
Explore Austria's most scenic destinations across 325 km, from the Alpine town of Gössl and Gosau Lake to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road at 2,504 meters. The route includes Pasterze Glacier, Krimml Waterfalls, Hallstatt, Wolfgang Lake, and Schafberg Mountain, showcasing Austria's dramatic mountain landscapes and pristine lakes.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Krimmler Wasserfälle
- End
- Hallstatt
- Stops
- 7
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Krimmler Wasserfälle — Austria's highest waterfall at 300 meters with three cascading stages, accessible via a 30-minute hike and featuring an on-site lodge.
- Zillertal Alps — A mountain range in Tyrol featuring dramatic peaks, pristine valleys, and year-round outdoor recreation opportunities for hiking and skiing enthusiasts.
- Hohenwerfen Castle — 12th-century castle with five round towers located near Vienna, featuring free admission and accessible via hiking trail.
- Gosau — Picturesque Alpine town in the Salzkammergut region, renowned for stunning churches and surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery.
- Grossglockner High Alpine Road
- Pasterzenbahn — Austria's largest glacier, accessible by hiking trail from a parking facility, featuring a dramatic grey glacial lake and panoramic mountain views.
- Hallstatt — Fairytale lakeside town famous for 16th-century Alpine architecture, set on Lake Hallstatt with surrounding mountains, formerly a salt mining village.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Fly into Salzburg rather than Vienna as it's closer to the Alps.
- Tip
- Gosau is one of the least crowded beautiful towns in the Austrian Alps with stunning churches.
- Tip
- Take a gondola up from Gosausee for beautiful views and to see the Austria Sky Ladder.
- Save money
- Entrance to Grossglockner High Alpine Road costs about 35 euros.
- Timing
- Wake up around 6 AM to catch sunrise at Grossglockner High Alpine Road for best light.
- Save money
- Entrance fee to Krimmler Wasserfälle is about 4 euros with a 30-minute hike to the lowest waterfall.
- Transport
- Hallstatt is about an hour drive from Salzburg; you drive through a tunnel to reach the town.
- Save money
- Schafberg steam train costs around 30 euros; alternatively take cable car from St. Gilgen or hike.
- Transport
- Zillertal Alps is over 4 hours drive from Salzburg, located on the Italian-Austrian border.
- Food
- Try Kaiserschmarrn (traditional Austrian dish) at the mountain hut on the Olperer hike.
- Tip
- Hohenwerfen Castle is free to enter and can be accessed anytime by hiking there.
- Where to stay
- Use Airbnb with discount code for accommodations in Austria.
Video on this route
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