Visiting Salzburg had never made it to the top of my list. There were probably hundreds of other places that I would have thought of visiting first. But sometimes the most unexpected trips can lead to the biggest surprises!
Flashback to March when I asked Christof if he would be okay with planning our September holiday. I told him: “I give you carte blanche!”. I just really couldn’t handle planning another itinerary at that point. A couple of months later I found myself in the heart of Salzburg, one of Austria’s incredible mountainous regions!
To say my mouth fell wide open a couple of times is an understatement. All of a sudden I found myself on top of a mountain overlooking the most beautiful valley on one side and a spectacular turquoise colored glacial lake on the other side. To top it off, I could admire both from the comfort of an authentic Austrian mountain hut with a refreshing beer in one hand and my baby on my lap.
Yes, you read that right! We took our 1 year old with us on this getaway in the mountains! So if you yourself are looking for an outdoorsy travel guide for Austria then you’ve definitely come to the right place!
Keep on reading for our 1 week Salzburg itinerary and get ready to be dazzled by the beauty of this less traveled region in the Alps!
Transportation for this Salzburg Itinerary
Since we’re traveling with a 1 year old and we live in Belgium we decided to simply drive to Salzburg. We left home in the middle of the night and arrived in Salzburg a little before noon. This also gave us the flexibility of having our own car, which of course is a lot cheaper compared to booking a flight and then renting a car.
However if you do need to fly into Austria then the 3 closest airports would be:
Munich Airport (MUC) – Located in Germany, about 180 kilometers from Salzburg, Munich Airport is a major international hub. It offers extensive flight options across Europe and intercontinental flights to Asia, North America, and the Middle East. The travel time by car or train from Munich to Salzburg is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Vienna International Airport (VIE) – Approximately 300 kilometers east of Salzburg, Vienna’s airport provides another large international gateway. It has a wide range of international and domestic flights. The travel time by train from Vienna to Salzburg is around 2.5 hours, making it a viable option for those coming from far-off locations.
Innsbruck Airport (INN) – About 180 kilometers west of Salzburg, Innsbruck Airport offers international flights mainly from European cities. It’s smaller than Munich or Vienna but can be a convenient entry point for those looking to explore the western part of Austria and then travel to Salzburg.
🚘 The next step is to pick up a rental car from the airport of your choosing. I always use SunnyCars when booking a rental car cause their company policy makes me feel the most at ease.
The best time to visit Salzburg in Austria
For this particular itinerary you’ll have to visit Salzburg in the summer months from the end of June until the end of September. If you’re lucky you can also visit during the first half of October but chances of snow fall will be higher and then part of the trails that are on higher elevation won’t be accessible.
We visited during the first week of September and it was absolutely perfect! The sun was still shining, temperatures were ideal for hiking and there were a lot fewer crowds on the trails.
Make sure to pack layers, even during the summer months. You’ll probably be hiking in a shirt but once you’re at the top of the mountain and sitting down you’ll cool off and will need a fleece or wind jacket to remain warm and not catch a cold.
Where to stay in Salzburg
If you want to follow this exact itinerary I highly recommend booking two accommodations so you only have to drive a maximum of 1 hour to reach the start of a hiking trail.
🏨 The first 3 nights we based ourselves in Stuhlfelden, a very small town next to Mittersill and perfect to discover the hikes located in the Hohe Tauern National Park! We stayed at Hotel Flatscher, a cute little 3 star family run hotel that also offers dinner at a fair price.
🏨 For the other hikes we stayed in the valley of Wagrain at the 4 star Berghotel Alpenklang. Another family run hotel where both breakfast and dinner are included and a beautiful terrace with a view over the valley and surrounding mountains.
The Perfect 1 Week Salzburg Travel Itinerary
Day 1
Krimml Waterfalls
Distance – 8.2km out & back trail
Elevation – 461m
Duration – 3.5 hours
Starting Point – Park your car at either P2/P3. From there it’s a short walk towards the start of the trail.
End Point – P2/P3 car park
Parking Fee – €5 per vehicle (cash only)
Level – Easy to Moderate. The only thing that makes this trail a bit moderate is the elevation gain. Therefore ‘s zero technical difficulties and the entire trail is even suitable for strollers.
Entrance Fee – €8
Best time to visit – The trail is open all day long from Mid-April to the end of October
Like I said before we drove from our town near Antwerp in Belgium to our first stop in Salzburg which are the Krimml Waterfalls. The drive took around 11 hours including a morning stop to feed our baby and change his diaper.
The drive itself went super smooth, César slept the entire night and he’s always relaxed when he’s in his car seat.
The Krimml Waterfalls are located in the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria’s largest national park, covering over 1,800 square kilometers and is considered Europe’s highest waterfalls, with waters cascading down from a height of 380 meters.
A popular activity is the Waterfall Trail, a well-maintained path that allows you to experience the falls from various viewpoints.
📖 READ MORE – Visiting Krimml Waterfalls – A Complete Guide to Austria’s Tallest Waterfalls
💡 TIP – The fee for the Krimml Waterfalls is included in the Hohe Tauern Sommercard.
Day 2
Leitenkammerklamm to Zittauer Hut Hike
Distance – 13.5km
Elevation – 910m
Duration – 6hours
Starting Point – Alpengasthof Finkau Parking Lot
End Point – Alpengasthof Finkau Parking Lot
Route – Alpengasthof Finkau – Leitenkammerklamm – Zittauer Hut – Unterer Gerlossee – Leitenkammerklamm – Alpengasthof Finkau
Parking Fee – €5
Level – Moderate. Be aware that if you have a fear of heights that there is a ridge line on this trail which is exposed on both sides, followed by a steel ladder across the steepest part of the mountain.
Best time to visit – June through October, depending on the weather circumstances.
A favorite hike of ours was this particular hike in Hohe Tauern National Park! The first part of the hike leads you along the beautiful Leitenkammerklamm tucked away in a forest. Part of the hiking trail is also a mountain bike trail so be aware of cyclist going up and down the mountain as well.
Next up was a beautiful meadown leading us to the foot of the mountain range. We honestly felt like we had stepped on an Austrian movie set: snow capped mountains in the back, green pastures, pine trees and cows grazing next to the road. All to the sound of clinging cow bells and the enthousiast squeals of a 1 year old seeing his first Austrian cow.
In the back you can already see the Zittauer Hut perched on top of the mountain. A steep and rocky climb up later took us to said mountain hut which is picture perfectly located at a gorgeous turquoise mountain lake called Unterer Gerlossee.
On our way down we decided to skip the forest path next to the gorge and opted for the mountain bike trail. A faster option and a little less tiring on the knees!
📖 READ MORE – Leitenkammerklamm to Zittauer Hut Hike
💡 TIP – If you’re driving from Mittersill you’ll pass by the Gerlos Alpenstraße, a 12km toll road with a fee of €9 per vehicle. The fee for the Gerlos Alpenstraße is included in the Hohe Tauern Sommercard.
Day 3
Hintersee Trail through the Schösswendklamm & Weißsee Gletscherwelt
Distance – 8km
Elevation – 350m
Duration – 2.5 hours
Starting Point – From Mittersill, drive in the direction of Felbertauern until you see a junction “Hintersee” on the right after a good 8 kilometers. Continue for another 300 meters until you reach a small parking lot on the left. The hike through the Schösswendklamm gorge starts from here.
End Point – This is an out & back hiking trail
Level – Easy
Best time to visit – June through October, depending on the weather circumstances.
While you can also reach the beautiful Hintersee by car, I highly recommend taking the scenic route up!
This outward and return route begins at the Schösswendklamm and always leads along a river until you arrive at Hintersee. You pass a tungsten mine and some scree fields, all the while gazing up at the most insane mountain ranges.
The Hintersee is located in the Hohe Tauern National Park and is a natural monument. At the lake itself there is still a nature trail where you can read a lot about the region and nature. If you are hungry, you can stop off at the Meilinger Alm which is open from May until October.
You can opt to hike the same way back down or simply follow the main road back down, which is what we did and a little bit faster.
Next up is taking the Weißsee Gletscherwelt cable car up to the emerald Grünsee and turquoise Weißsee high up in the Hohe Tauern National Park. When you arrive in Uttendorf, take the exit at the roundabout towards Weißsee Gletscherwelt / Enzingerboden. Follow the toll-free Stubachtal panoramic road (17km) to the Enzingerboden valley station. The cable car starts from here.
Ticket Price – €34 per person (ascend and descend included)
Opening hours – From 9am to 12pm and from 1pm to 5pm
💡 TIP – The ticket for the Weißsee Gletscherwelt cable car is included in the Nationalpark Sommercard.
Day 4
Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Hike the Glacier Pasterze Trail & Visit the spectacular Sigmund Thun Klamm
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road winds its way through the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, culminating at the foot of Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner. As you ascend through the 48 kilometers of this meticulously engineered road, you’re treated to dramatic vistas of towering mountains, vast glaciers, and lush valleys.
📖 READ MORE – How To Visit The Grossglockner High Alpine Road In Austria – Tips & Epic Viewpoints
The drive includes numerous pull-offs and viewing platforms, allowing for frequent stops to soak in the scenery and capture stunning photographs. The road also features several visitor centers and exhibits, which provide insights into the area’s natural history and the construction of this monumental alpine road.
A toll is required to access this route, which varies seasonally and provides for the maintenance of the road and the services along the way.
Toll Fee – €43 per vehicle
Opening Times – Early-mid May until Early November, weather depending. Check opening times.
💡 TIP – The entrance fee to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is included in the NationalPark Sommercard.
One of our favorite moments on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road was hiking the Glacier Pasterze trail. Your hike starts with a beautiful descend towards the Margaritzenstausee, a turquoise lake with a view over Austria’s highest mountain, Grossglockner (3798 m).
📖 READ MORE – Hiking to Margaritzenstausee and Pasterze Glacier from the Glocknerhaus
You can hike in either direction but I highly recommend starting from Glocknerhaus Kärnten and go clockwise from there. This way the best views will all unfold in front of you!
After walking around the Margartitzen reservoir you’ll hike up and be greeted by an incredibel view over the Sandersee and the Glacier Pasterze in the back.
You can continue hiking alongside the lake and river to get as close as possible to Glacier Pasterze.
Distance – 7.8km circular trail
Elevation – 444m
Duration – 4 hours
Starting Point – Glocknerhaus Kärnten
End Point – Glocknerhaus Kärnten. We had to cut our hike short due to a sudden downpour. I was able to catch a ride with a lovely couple from the top of Franz-Josefs-Höhe back down, grabbed our car and drove back up to pick up Christof and César.
Route – Glocknerhaus Kärnten – Margaritzenstausee – Sandersee – Franz-Josefs-Höhe – Glocknerhaus Kärnten
Level – Moderate. Towards the end of the trail there’s a pretty steep part going up to Franz-Josefs-Höhe. But if you’re not feeling it anymore or it also starts raining heavily like with us you can take the funicular up. It doesn’t come cheap though and will cost you €16.5 per person. The Glacier Cableway operates from the end of June to the start of September.
Best time to visit – June through October, depending on the weather circumstances.
Before checking into your next hotel in Wagrain there’s a little time left to visit one of the most spectacular gorges in Salzburg!
The Sigmund Thun Klamm is carved by the force of the Kapruner Ache river over millennia, this 32-meter-deep gorge is accessible via a sturdy wooden boardwalk that allows you to safely explore its length.
📖 READ MORE – Visiting Sigmund Thun Klamm – A Complete Guide to Kaprun’s Most Scenic Gorge
Distance – 3.1km
Elevation – 100m
Duration – 1 hour
Starting Point – The entrance to the Sigmund Thun Gorge
End Point – While you can still walk through the entire gorge, there is a part of the trail which is closed off due to flooding damage. So you can’t add the circulair trail around the Klammsee Reservoir. Instead you simply exit the gorge and then follow the exit route back to the parking lots.
Level – Easy
Best time to visit – The Sigmund Thun Klamm gorge closes down in winter.
Entrance fee – €7.5
Opening hours – From 9am until 5.30pm
Day 5
Lake Tappenkarsee Hike in Wagrain
Distance – 19.9 km lollipop-circuit
Elevation – 985m
Duration – 7 hours
Starting Point – To start the hike, drive or take a bus to Lake Jägersee in Kleinarl Valley. If the toll road is open, continue driving 3.6 km to Schwabalm car park. If the toll road is closed, park at the Jägersee Car Park. The hiking details above are for when the toll road is closed. Otherwise you can deduct 7.2km in hiking distance.
End Point – Schwabalm car park or Jägersee Car Park
Route – Jägersee – Schwabalm car park – Tappenkarsee – Tappenkarsee Alm – Tappenkarseehütte – Draugsteintörl – Tappenkarsee Alm – Schwabalm car park – Jägersee
Level – Moderate to Hard depending if the toll road is open or not and if you decide to continue hiking after you reach Tappenkarsee.
Toll Road Fee – €6 per vehicle
Best time to visit – June through October, depending on the weather circumstances.
Tappenkarsee is one of the highest mountain lakes in the Eastern Alps and only accessible by foot. This trail is definitely one of my favorites out of all the ones that we did in Salzburg. It just always feels so special to discover a place that is absolutely impossible to reach by car or public transport.
The Tappenkarsee is a favorite among the locals for swimming on a warm summertime ‘s day but I found the hike up to Draugsteintörl the most incredible part of the hike. It was literally view after view after view.
We started hiking from the Schwabalm car park and therefore deducted 7.2km from the total hiking distance. And honestly if you can, do it. The walk up from Jägersee to Schwabalm is pretty boring and you won’t miss out on anything special. The toll road is open from early June until early/mid October (depending on weather circumstances).
📖 READ MORE – Hiking to Tappenkarsee – A Stunning Alpine Lake Trail in Salzburg, Austria
Day 6
Hochkönig
Distance – 5.6km
Elevation – 288m
Duration – 2 hours
Starting Point – Arthurhaus, Mühlbach am Hochkönig
End Point – Arthurhaus, Mühlbach am Hochkönig
Level – Easy
Parking – Park your car at the Arthurhaus car park (cash only)
Best time to visit – June throught October, depending on the weather circumstances.
The hike up to Hochkeil gives you an insane view over the Hochkönig mountain range and is a must do hike in Salzburg. Especially if you’re a fan of big views for little effort!
Before you reach the top you can also make a very small detour to the right (before the last turn on the trail). Here you’ll find a very small pond which offers a stunning reflection on a clear day.
I would have loved this moment even more during sunset but oh well, I already feel very blessed that César was such a champ during all of the hikes!
If the weather permits it you can also include the hike from Arthurhaus to Erichhütte on the same day. But during our visit a storm was coming in this afternoon so we had to cut our hiking short this day and return back to the hotel for the rest of the afternoon.
📖 READ MORE – Hiking to Hochkeil – A Scenic Summit Trail in Salzburg’s Mountains
Day 7
Hochkönig
Distance – 9.8km
Elevation – 314m
Duration – 3 hours
Starting Point – Arthurhaus, Mühlbach am Hochkönig
End Point – Erichhütte car park
Level – Easy to Moderate. Compared to other hikes in Salzburg the elevation gain is more gradually and the terrain itself isn’t too technical. I carried César on my back during the entire trail and felt confident doing so the entire time.
Parking – You can either park your car at the Arthurhaus parking lot or at the Erichhütte car park.
Best time to visit – June throught October, depending on the weather circumstances.
The trail from Arthurhaus to Erichhütte is a one way hike that is part of the Salzburger Almenweg. You can either park your car at the car park behind Arthurhaus (cash only parking) or at the parking lot below Erichhütte. Between these parking lots there’s bus #593 for which you can find the bus schedule here and which runs on an hourly basis.
We started hiking from Arthurhaus which I really liked, especially for the views! The only difference between both ways is that the parking lot at Erichhütte is free. Do know that if you choose to start at the Erichhütte parking lot you’ll start with a pretty descent incline.
This hike takes you along the base of the stunning Hochkönig mountains, through pine forests and to several of the cutest mountain huts. We decided to stop at one of the Four Huts, towards the middle of the hiking trail, and indulged in some local beer and kaiserschmarren.
After returning back to Arthurhaus you can either choose to return to your hotel or add the short hike up to Hochkeil to your day itinerary.
📖 READ MORE – Arthurhaus to Erichhütte Hike In Hochkönig
Day 8
Filzmoos
Distance – 12.9km circular loop
Elevation – 912m
Duration – 7 hours
Starting Point – Unterhofalm Car Park via Hofalm toll road
End Point – Unterhofalm Car Park
Route – Unterhofalm – Hofpürgl Hut – Rinderfeld – Sulzenschneid – Sulzenhals – Wallehenhütte (Sulzenalm) – Unterhofalm
Level – Moderate to Hard. Out of all the hikes in Salzburg that we did this one was by far the hardest. There’s two very steep inclines and from time to time the trail becomes pretty technical. Plus on a bright and sunny day nearly the entire trail will be exposed.
Toll Road Fee – €5.5 per vehicle
Best time to visit – June through October, depending on the weather circumstances.
Although difficult, this was also one of the most breathtaking hiking trails in Salzburg where for most part you’ll walk alongside the Gosaukamm/Dachstein range. The hike starts with a steep ascent up to the Hofpürgl Hut where you can already sit down for some refreshments if you want. We decided not to and continued on the trail towards Rinderfeld.
This part of the trail was definitely my favorite. You gradually gain and lose elevation and the views are absolutely out of this world. At Rinderfeld you’ll find a green pasture where you can sit and relax and a bit before continuing on towards the highest point of the trail called Eiskarlschneid, where you’ll also find a summit cross.
I won’t lie, it was a tough climb up in the harsh sunlight but again, the views are worth the struggle. From here the most technical part of the hike is over and you’ll steadily hike down towards Sulzenalm. Definitely take a breather on their terrace and indulge in a beer and some kaiserschmarren!
Afterwards it’s onlye 1 more hour to hike back down to the car!
📖 READ MORE – Hiking from Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm – A Scenic Alpine Trail in Filzmoos, Austria
Afterwards it was time to return to our hotel and start packing our bags to get ready for the drive back home.
I hope this Salzburg travel guide will inspire you to explore this lesser known region in Europe!
If you have any questions about how to visit Salzburg or if you want to share your experience, comment below!
More information for your trip to Salzburg in Austria!
How To Visit The Grossglockner High Alpine Road In Austria – Tips & Epic Viewpoints
Visiting Sigmund Thun Klamm – A Complete Guide to Kaprun’s Most Scenic Gorge
Visiting Krimml Waterfalls – A Complete Guide to Austria’s Tallest Waterfalls
The 10 Very Best Hikes In Salzburg In Austria – Including Map & Tips
Visiting Liechtensteinklamm – A Complete Guide to Austria’s Most Impressive Gorge
Hiking from Hofpürgl Hut to Sulzenalm – A Scenic Alpine Trail in Filzmoos, Austria
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Hi! We’re Charlotte, Christof & César!
Armed with our cameras & drone we’re always on the lookout for the next adventure!
We’ve been traveling together since 2020 and the best adventures are yet to come!
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