Excursion Opportunities in SalzburgerLand
With Grossarltal as your base, you have numerous opportunities for fascinating trips to Salzburg’s most popular attractions. These range from fairy-tale castle and palaces, to imposing natural wonders and well-preserved cultural monuments.
Giant Ice Caves
In the mood to cool off a bit? If so, the giant ice caves in Werfen are definitely the right destination for you. With a total length of 42 km, it is the world’s biggest ice cave, though you can only visit the first kilometer. Awaiting you there are stalactites and stalagmites.
This cave system in the Tennengebirge was discovered in 1879 by Salzburg naturalist Anton von Posselt-Czorich. You are able to ride up there nowadays with the help of a gondola lift, but you will still have to negotiate 700 steps. A guided tour of the ice caves takes about 1 ¼ h.
Story of the Giant Ice Caves
Inside these giant ice caves, the ice grows due to the so-called “chimney effect”. In winter, cold air masses are carried around 1 km into the cave’s interior. The cold is then stored in the rock until springtime. As the snow begins to melt outside, water penetrates the fissures in the rocks. But once that water reaches the cave, it freezes into ice.
Summer temperatures inside the cave range from 5 to 10 C°. The ice covering on the floor melts away, though regrows again in the following spring. The first tour of the ice caves was conducted in 1920. For around 35 years, the only way to reach the caves was on foot. Beginning in 1953, you could also take a drive up the so-called “Eisriesenweltstrasse” – though conditions on this road were rather adventurous to say the least. Since 1955, a gondola lift has also run up to the ice caves.
Ghost Mountain
Ghost Mountain in St. Johann/Alpendorf is an excursion destination for the whole family: a recreation and adventure park on the mountainside. You will ride up by gondola lift, then the Ghost Train will already be waiting for you. Or if you prefer, you can hike up to the Ghost Village.
Awaken the talking Ghost Gate and enter the 4 spooky worlds of the earth, fire, water and air spirits. Along the so-called “Imps’ Path”, small children with their families will discover all kinds of ghosts.
In the meantime, older kids will be busy having fun in an amusement park that features air swings, birds’ nests, a dragon to climb on, a ghost tower, water games, a ghost lake and target-shooting stand. Parents will discover glorious scenery and all the relaxation they could possibly wish for.
Grossglockner High-Alpine Road
The Grossglockner High-Alpine Road leads you to the very heart of Hohe Tauern National Park and Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner (3,798 m) as well as its glacier, the Pasterze.
It is undoubtedly one of the most famous alpine roads there is, and one of Austria’s most popular excursion destinations. This high-alpine road takes you on a journey of 48 km, through 36 hairpin bends and rising 2,504 meters.
A truly unique nature and driving experience. You will pass through a unique world of alpine meadows strewn with wildflowers, mighty crags and fragrant mountain forests, to a world of eternal ice at the foot of the Grossglockner, the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.
Hohenwerfen Castle
Over 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Castle greets you with a truly “lofty” experience. This castle is enthroned on a steep rocky outcropping high above the Salzach Valley. Here, a fresh breeze from the surrounding mountain giants blows through the narrow arrow slits and tickles your nose.
One special highlight is a falconry show starring the feathered hunters of the skies. The museums, dark nooks and crannies, and a collection of bladed weapons invite you to take the thick walls of this bastion by storm.
Krimml Waterfalls
In Hohe Tauern National Park, the Krimml Waterfalls drop a thunderous 380 meters to the valley below. They are amongst the world’s most impressive and famous waterfalls, and one of Austria’s top tourist attractions.
A hiking path leads right up to this breathtaking natural spectacle, where you will get to enjoy fascinating insights into this watery world. The refreshing spray and the imposing power of the water make this place one of the most magical settings in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park.
Krimml Waterfalls – a natural therapy
The waterfalls have positive effects on your overall wellbeing as well as your health. This has now been scientifically proven. It is due to the high concentration of negative ions that circulate in the air close to the waterfall. These
- stimulate the immune system,
- lead to positive improvements in the respiratory passages,
- benefit lung function and
- reduce the frequency of attacks for allergy-sufferers and asthmatics.
- Also, the negative ions in the air accelerate the speed with which cilia in the nasal membranes and mucosal membranes of the respiratory tract beat.
Ferleiten Wildlife Park
Liechtensteinklamm lies at the entrance to Grossarltal and is one of the Alps’ longest gorges.
Kaprun High-Mountain Reservoirs
National Park Center Mittersill
Salt was once known as “white gold”. And indeed, the salt mines used to be the treasure chambers of SalzburgerLand. In fact, salt was mined in the Dürnberg some 2500 years ago, a fact documented by evidence left behind by the Ancient Celts themselves.
Set out on your own treasure hunt into the world’s oldest mine ever to open its shafts and galleries to the public. Follow a mysterious, ancient path kilometers-deep into this mystical mountain and discover an exciting subterranean world. The salt mine is a perfect excursion destination in any weather for the whole family (children ages 4 and up).
Hallein Salt Mine
There is much to discover in Salzburg City. That said, we first have to dispel a rumor. You see, the people here in Grossarltal believe that it rains constantly in Salzburg, which isn’t totally true. Sometimes it can actually be quite beautiful. This prejudice probably comes from the fact that guests from Grossarltal often keep trips to Salzburg City on their list for those days when the weather isn’t quite “up to par”.
As the home town of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and The Sound of Music, culture clearly plays a big role in Salzburg. That said, a variety of historical époques have also left their mark on Salzburg. Some highlights in Salzburg City include:
- Hohensalzburg Fortress, including guided tours of the princes’ chambers and museum.
- The Cathedral as well as the Dom Quartier
- The Franciscan Church
- A stroll through the St. Peter’s district. Here you will discover the cemetery, church, abbey, as well as catacombs hewn out of the rocks of the Mönchsberg.
- Ambling down the Getreidegasse.
- Mozart’s Birthplace
- Salzburg Museum, presenting fascinating insights into the city’s history.
- A walk through Mirabell Gardens. While you are here, don’t forget to look for the Pegasus Fountain, the Rose Hill and the Dwarf Garden.
- The Mozart Residence
- Hellbrunn Palace with its trick fountains and zoo
- A lift ride up the Untersberg with glorious views of Salzburg City
- Haus der Natur – natural history & science museum
- Museum der Moderne – museum of modern art
- Boat rides on the River Salzach
- A guided tour of the Festival Houses
- Panorama Museum
Salzburg City
Experience and comprehend nature with all of your senses, and discover the fascinating world of our native wildlife at the 30 different adventure stations located on Wagraini’s Grafenberg in Wagrain.
Fun and action for the whole family is guaranteed in this exciting mountain world, which you reach by taking a pleasant ride on the Grafenberg gondola up to 1700 m above sea level. Clearly marked footpaths and hiking trails lead from one adventure station to the next. You will start out on the shore of the Grafenbergsee with a raft ride, or if you prefer, you can walk across a footbridge to the Bee Theme Path. Then, a slide will drop you down to the low-ropes course. Now continue to the Climbing Stadium and Swing Forest.
The “Path of Fascination” will finally bring you to the KinderAlm. More than 30 exciting adventure stations guarantee fun for everyone and a memorable family vacation here in SalzburgerLand!
Wagraini's Grafenberg
You will enjoy a ride on Europe’s biggest funicular up to the Kaprun High-Alpine Reservoirs. Two reservoirs, the Mooserboden and the Wasserfallboden, await you there at around 2,000 m above sea level. These reservoirs are nestled amid the imposing rocky crags of the Hohe Tauern mountains.
One special highlight at this attraction are the fascinating guided tours inside the gigantic dam itself. Also be sure to visit the
“World of Power” interactive exhibition, between the Mooserbodensperre and Drossensperre dams. There, you will gain exciting insights into a fascinating world of eternal ice. Likewise, experience the interplay between glaciers, power plant construction and electricity generation. The exhibition “Tauern Power” takes you back to the post-war years. You will learn the story of how the power station was built – from the first ideas in the 1930s, to the 2nd World War, and reconstruction of the power station. Also discover exciting details about the Kaprun dams and their importance for Austria as a whole.