Austria road trip: Gosausee, Hohenwerfen and Hallstatt
The 544.7 km route in Austria includes Lake Gosausee, Hohenwerfen Castle, Liechtensteinklamm Gorge and the Krimmler Waterfalls in the Salzkammergut region. The path passes through the alpine passes, the mountain refuge of Olpererrutte and ends in the picturesque Hallstatt.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Gosausee Lake
- End
- Olpererhutte Mountain Hut
- Stops
- 9
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Gosausee Lake — Alpine lake visited en route from Hallstatt, surrounded by mountains
- Traditional dances — Austrian folk dances that reflect the cultural heritage of the Alpine regions and are performed in national costumes at local festivals.
- Hohenwerfen Castle — Medieval fortress hosting falconry demonstrations, ancient Austrian tradition
- Krimmler Pass and Waterfall — A mountain pass with a picturesque waterfall, which is one of the highest in Europe and a popular attraction in the Tyrolean Alps.
- Hallstatt — Most popular village in Austria, surrounded by lake and Alpine mountains
- Lichtensteinklamm Gorge — 1 km gorge with 300 m depth, wooden bridges and hiking trail
- Krimml Waterfall — Multi-tiered waterfall accessible via mountain pass
- Schlegeis Reservoir — Artificial water reservoir built in 1970s for hydroelectric power generation
- Olpererhutte Mountain Hut — Alpine hut at 2389 m elevation, endpoint of hiking trail from Schlegeis Reservoir
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Arrive in Hallstatt early (before 9-10 am) to avoid the large crowds of tourists. After 12:00, the number of tourists increases dramatically.
- Tip
- In Hallstatt there is a salt mine where you can climb, especially recommended with children. Salt mining has been carried out here for about 7000 years.
- Save money
- Lake Gosausee: parking costs €2 per hour, €4 per 2 hours. A complete tour of the lake will take about 2 hours.
- Tip
- On the Rodelbahn (Bobsled run), a ticket for three slopes costs 26 euros per person. You can control the speed yourself using the knob.
- Save money
- Hohenwerfen Castle: A round-trip funicular ticket costs €20. There is an option to take the funicular up and go down the path on foot.
- Tip
- Visiting falconry in Hohenwerfen is a tradition recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Site.
- Tip
- Lichtensteinklamm Gorge: Entrance costs €15 per person. The trail follows wooden bridges, tunnels and stairs inside a 1-kilometer gorge 300 m high.
- Transport
- At the Schlegeis Reservoir lake, a narrow one-way road with a timer. Park: €18 per car, €15 per motorcycle. There may be a queue for 10-15 minutes.
- Timing
- It is better to start hiking on Olperrhütte in the morning, as at the beginning there is a very sharp rise and it can be hot. The route takes about 1.5 hours one way.
- Tip
- On the route to Olpererhütte it is very wet and slippery - wear trekking boots. Bring water, a snack, and a windbreaker, as it's cool upstairs.
- Tip
- The suspension bridge at Olpererhütte is the main attraction of the route. There can be a queue of 30 minutes. Take photos from the right angle for the effect of sitting over a cliff.
- Food
- There is a restaurant upstairs on Olpererhütt, but it is very popular and often crowded, as it is the only place on the route.
Video on this route
Austria by car in 4 days: Hallstatt and 5 more places that surprised us!