Austrian Lakes Beyond Hallstatt — 6 Towns the Tour Buses Skip

Updated April 2026 | 3 min read

Everyone goes to Hallstatt. And then everyone complains about the crowds at Hallstatt. The Salzkammergut lake district has dozens of towns that are just as beautiful, with a fraction of the tourists. Here are the ones worth your time — all reachable from Salzburg as day trips, most drivable from Hallstatt itself if you have a car.

St. Wolfgang: The Cog Railway and the Lake

St. Wolfgang on Wolfgangsee has what many travelers call the best viewpoint in the entire region — and it is not from Hallstatt. The Schafbergbahn cog railway climbs to the summit of Schafberg mountain, where you get a 360-degree panorama of the entire lake district. The ride itself is part of the experience, chugging up through alpine meadows for 35 minutes.

The town has traditional Austrian architecture, lakeside restaurants, and a fraction of Hallstatt’s crowds. Accessible from Salzburg by bus to St. Gilgen, then ferry across the lake. Book the Schafbergbahn in advance during summer — it sells out.

Mondsee: The Sound of Music Church

Thirty kilometers from Salzburg, Mondsee is the easiest lake town to reach. The Mondsee Abbey is where the wedding scene in The Sound of Music was filmed. Beyond the film connection, the lake has excellent swimming in summer, a strong food scene, and a relaxed atmosphere that Hallstatt lost years ago. This works as a half-day combined with Hallstatt if you are driving.

Gosausee: The Glacier Lake Nobody Talks About

Twenty minutes from Hallstatt by car, Gosausee is a glacier lake with the Dachstein massif reflected in its surface. There is a short loop trail (1-2 hours) around the lake that is flat and family-friendly. On a still morning, the reflection of the glacier in the water is one of the most stunning natural sights in Austria. Almost no crowds compared to Hallstatt. Free to visit, small parking fee.

Grundlsee and Altausseer See: The Quiet Ones

Thirty minutes from Hallstatt, these two lakes sit in a pocket of the Styrian Salzkammergut that tourism has mostly overlooked. Grundlsee has intricate wooden architecture and WWII history — looted Nazi art was hidden in the nearby salt mines. Altausseer See is where Austrian writers have retreated for generations. Crystal-clear water, pine forests, and almost nobody around. These are the lakes for people who want the Austria from the postcards without the Austria from Instagram.

Zell am See: The Year-Round Option

Ninety minutes from Salzburg, Zell am See is more of a resort town than a fairy-tale village. The lake swimming in summer is exceptional and the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier offers year-round skiing. If you want alpine scenery with actual infrastructure — good restaurants, hotels, and activities beyond walking a single street — this is it. Less charming than Hallstatt, but more functional.

How to Do It

A car is the best way to explore the Salzkammergut. An Austrian motorway vignette (10-day sticker, about €11) is required for autobahn sections. Compare rental car prices on Discover Cars. Without a car, St. Wolfgang and Mondsee are reachable by bus from Salzburg. For the others, you need either a tour or a rental.

Bring waterproof hiking shoes for the Gosausee loop, a packable rain jacket for mountain weather, and compact binoculars for the glacier views. A Holafly eSIM for Austria keeps you connected — cell service gets spotty in some valleys.

Search flights to Salzburg on Skyscanner. Book trains on Omio for advance fares.

Book on GetYourGuide:

• Austrian Lake District Tour