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Five Wild Places In Austria You Need To See To Believe

Europe

Beautiful Places In Austria You Don’t Want To Miss!

Austria is world-renowned for its strong mountain culture and stunning alpine scenery. Still, there’s nothing quite like experiencing it first hand. It seems there are layers of jagged peaks, towering mountains, and sparkling jewel-colored lakes everywhere you look. And thanks to a well-coordinated system of cable cars, trails, and mountain huts, it’s all exceptionally accessible!

You could spend a lifetime exploring the Austrian Alps and never run out of things to do. So the real question is, where to start. In a country brimming with places to see, here are five of the most beautiful places to visit in Austria!

1. Plansee

Austria may be landlocked, but after seeing a few pictures of Plansee, no one would blame you for thinking otherwise. Reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord, Plansee lies between the forest-covered ridges of the Zwiesel and Spießberg mountains. It’s exceptionally clear water, and unique turquoise color makes it a popular destination for a wide variety of activities. You can scuba dive, snorkel, sail, row, kayak, the list goes on and on! Sightseeing ships offer tours from late May until autumn and feature spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

But perhaps the most common way to enjoy Plansee is by finding a little slice of beach to soak up the sun on. Access to Plansee is free of charge, though many of the campsite and hotels charge a small fee to access their beaches.

2. Seebensee & Drachensee

Drachansee in Austria at sunset. You can see Coburger HΓΌtte on the opposite side of the lake

Austria has no shortage of jaw-dropping alpine lakes, but the dynamic duo of Seebensee and Drachensee are hard to beat. The shiny emerald-blue Seebensee can be easily accessed via a relatively short hike on the well-marked trail starting from the mountain station of the Ehrwalder Almbahn. From Seebensee the trail narrows and a series of steep switchbacks deposit you in the middle of an alpine wonderland. The emerald green Drachensee sit’s like a glistening jewel below towering peaks, and if you are lucky enough to visit on a calm day, the reflection is spellbinding.

Here you will also find Coburger HΓΌtte. The hike to Seebensee and then Drachensee can easily be done as a day hike, but for the full experience reserve a room at Coberger ahead of time. From the hut, you can explore further into these enchanting mountains, and maybe even enjoy a sunset or two. The food isn’t too shabby either!

="Seebensee is the lower of the two lakes, and many people turn around at this point
Sunset views at Drachansee in Austria

3. Olperer Mountain Hutte

"Getting β€œthe shot” at the now β€œInstafamous” suspension bridge up above OlpererhΓΌtte

If this view from OlpererhΓΌtte looks familiar, it’s because you have likely seen it all over social media. The small suspension bridge up above OlpererhΓΌtte has become a popular photo-op in the Austrian Alps. And for a good reason! From the bridge, the entire valley down to the reservoir is visible, and the views are simply breathtaking.

But the hike to OlpererhΓΌtte offers more than just a swinging bridge. An adventure into the Ziller Valley will take you down a scenic high Alpine road, to a huge dam with emerald green water, and finally up to one of the oldest mountain huts in the eastern Alps.

Perched high above Schlegeis Reservoir, OlpererhΓΌtte can only be reached after a 1.5-hour hike, or by helicopter. There is no cable car. The hut is generally open from early June to early October, and makes for a spectacular base camp along some of the areas more exhilarating hut-to-hut treks, like the Berlin High Trail, the β€œPeter-Habeler-Circuit” and the β€œMunich-Venice Dream Path.” The sundeck offers incredible views of lofty peaks down to the glinting, turquoise Schlegeis Reservoir.

Hiking back down to OlpererhΓΌtte
Hiking back down to OlpererhΓΌtte. It gets incredibly busy on nice weekends, but the people don’t really detract from the experience, and the food is super yummy
The small suspension bridge up above OlpererhΓΌtte has become a popular photo-op in the Austrian Alps
The small suspension bridge up above OlpererhΓΌtte has become a popular photo-op in the Austrian Alps

4. Via Ferrata Donnerkogel aka β€œLadder to Heaven”

Austria’s Ladder to Heaven
Austria’s Ladder to Heaven

Looking for an adrenaline-inducing, white knuckle adventure? Look no further than Austria’s 40-meter long β€œSky Ladder,” or β€œLadder to Heaven.” The Sky Ladder is a unique and relatively new feature that bridges a giant gorge on the Dachstein via Ferrata. The via ferrata takes thrill-seekers up a classic climbing route for over 400m to the peak of the Donnerkogel maintain. From there you can hike back down the backside of the mountain on a rough trail. While the Sky Ladder is sure to get your heart pumping, it’s only one of many highlights on the Dachstein climb. Along the entire via ferrata, you will enjoy expansive views over the alpine world of the Inner Salzkammergut, including Dachstein, and the simmering waters of Gosausee down below. For more information and things to do in the area, check out my post on how to successfully climb Austria’s Ladder to Heaven.

The scramble after the β€œLadder to Heaven,” was actually the most technical part of the via ferrata.

5. Gosausee

Lake Gosau in Austria
Lake Gosau in Austria

The Gosausee is a small protected mountain lake, surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery. Located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut, Lake Gosau is one of the most beautiful destinations in Austria. During the summer it is a magnet for sunbathers, water lovers, as well as alpine enthusiasts. You can easily walk around the entire lake on a well-formed path. The total distance is approximately 4km and generally takes a little over an hour. Just before the end of the hike around the picturesque mountain lake, there is a large meadow located just below the circular hiking trail, perfect for picnics and soaking in the scenery.

But perhaps the most unique way to enjoy Gosausee’s spectacular setting is from the Laserer via ferrata. The route can be broken into two distinct sections. The first runs along the lake only a few meters above the water. While the second section offers sweeping views of snow-covered Dachstein in the distance and Gosausee’s deep blues waters far down below. If you like mountains than trying out a via ferrata is one of the best things to do in Austria!

Climbing on a via ferrata above Lake Gosau in Austria in preparation for the Ladder to Heaven
Climbing on a via ferrata above Lake Gosau in Austria in preparation for the Ladder to Heaven
Reflections at Gosausee
Reflections at Gosausee

There are so many beautiful places to see and things to do in Austria. It can be hard to know where to start! I hope this post added a few places to your Austria bucket list. But, remember, sometimes the most rewarding destinations are the ones we just stumble upon. Don’t forget to embrace adventure, keep an open mind, and curious spirit, while you’re traveling around Austria. You never know what hidden gems you’ll find!

Photos in collaboration with Quin Schrock.

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  1. Kirtan P. says:

    Incredible, Jess! Reading your blog post is always a thriller, thanks for sharing!
    I’m really interested in climbing a Via Ferrata, looks exhilarating. Is only one person allowed to climb at a time? Does it wobble?

    • Thanks! Via Ferratas are basically long climbing routes, generally with a cable and other supporting devices securely attached to the rock. So there are often other people on them, but it doesn’t wobble. On parts that are just cable with no rock (like the ladder to heaven), people generally go one at a time, because it does warble a bit. More than I would have liked actually!

  2. Nitin says:

    Perfect. I needed a place to camp post Hallstatt visit. Will look at accomodating Lake Gosau.

  3. Elissa says:

    Jess! I loved following along on this trip! I have always loved Austria! Excited to try out some of these spots on my next trip. Thanks for posting!!!

  4. Paty says:

    Wow! Really amazing places and all your pics are fantastic!!!

  5. [object Object] says:

    You inspire me to explore. The photos are a fantastic way of bringing your words to life. I love following you and your thoughts.

  6. Kim says:

    Incredible photos. You are very brave! Your descriptions are so vivid.

  7. PetrS. says:

    I already visited all places except Olperer hutte. Seems like I did good choice in recent years… πŸ™‚

  8. Sebastian says:

    Great pics … but: Drach*e*nsee and not Drach*a*nsee … Drache means dragon …

  9. Tyler says:

    Wonderful list Jess. How did you get from place to place? Are their trains or do you need to rent a car?

    • Hi Tyler. We rented a car. I’m sure you could take buses and trains between locations, but it would take a lot longer, and involve a lot more planning. Also, we like to get places early and stay late to take photos, and that’s not always an option when you are dealing with public transportation.

  10. Britton Valle says:

    Hi just wondering do you have a partner you travel with or are you constantly making new travel buddies along the way?

    Britton
    (Beautiful work btw)

  11. Jay says:

    We are planning Austria trip next summer and I found your blog. Amazing it is!

    Jay

  12. Brooke says:

    Photos are descriptions are amazing! Please could I ask how long you were in Austria for and which month? Brooke

  13. Meirav says:

    Excellent post ! Thank you. 🌺

  14. Tia Ann says:

    Did you guys have a hole base that you stayed and ventured out from or did you stay in multiple locations?

    • Jessica Dales says:

      We jumped around quite a bit. Never had any trouble finding little hotels to stay in near wherever we were headed.

  15. Sharon says:

    Great post and amazing photos. Excited to try some of this on our trip.

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Hi, I’m Jess, an outdoor enthusiast based in Seattle. I grew up exploring the Pacific Northwest, and early on was infected with the travel bug. I tried to suppress my wanderlust in pursuit of a traditional career path, but after a short stint as a lawyer, I left the confines of my office to get back in touch with my roots. Now, I wander the world taking photos, making memories, and sharing my love for travel with others!

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