Salzburgerland Highlights Summer 2024
As tradition dictates, the Austrian province of SalzburgerLand (www.salzburgerLand.com) celebrates the launch of Almsommer (Alpine summer) the weekend before the solstice (this year, 14 and 15 June). Away from the cultural hum of Salzburg, bucolic landscapes of lakes, mountains, flower meadows and forest await, with national parks, farm tastings and diverse attractions from salt mines to castles and innumerable enchanting villages. There are 10,000km of hiking trails, 7,000km of biking trails, 500 lakes and 550 mountain huts of which some 164 are Salzburger Almsommerhütte endorsed, indicating authentic hospitality – traditional home-made food and a warm welcome.
The new SalzburgerLand Gravel Tour launches in May. Gravel bikes are increasingly popular, enabling cyclists to combine on- and off-road riding. The tour rolls freedom, nature and fun into one with breathtaking Alpine scenery at every turn. Visitors can create their own itinerary to suit mood, time and energy, adapting two options, both starting and finishing in Salzburg: die Harte (the hard one; 650km/12,700vm) or die Zarte (the gentle one; 460km/6,700vm). Alternatively simply enjoy a one-day cycling fix (details here). All routes are available on Komoot.com, the user-friendly online route planner, and connect with SalzburgerLand’s 7,000km network. For accommodation, choose from a wide range of bike-friendly providers here.
‘To The Mountains!’ SalzburgerLand’s 20-year-old motto invites visitors and locals alike to discover nature at their own pace. A highlight is the Salzburg Almenweg / Alpine Pastures Trail (here), a 350km, 25-stage trail offering spellbinding views of peaks including Austria’s highest, the Grossglockner (3798m), and taking in 120 Alpine pastures across the Pongau region. Use Komoot.com (here) to plan the full route or sections of it, allowing time to explore villages and taste the fruits of the local terroir, staying in mountain huts, luxury resorts or family-run b&bs. The shorter seven-night Green Spirit package (here), priced from €772 and available 12 July to 24 September, comprises six stages of the 275km Hohe Tauern Trail, with b&b accommodation, daily luggage transfers and shuttle service to/from the nearest station either end; book www.nationalpark.at
Ancient traditions dating back thousands of years starting with the raising of the Maypole on 1 May: a pine tree erected atop a 20-25m pole paraded through many villages amid colourful festivity. Other customs passed down the generations include the Rauris Stallion drive in June, summer solstice bonfires across the land, and on 24 September - St Rupert’s Day - cattle drives when villages celebrate the return of their animals from the high pastures with dancing, singing, good food, local costume and schnapps.
Salzburg AG Tourism runs some of the most popular tourist attractions in the Salzkammergut and Salzburg regions, including the SchafbergBahn, Austria’s steepest cog railway since 1893. Book tickets for a single attraction or all Five Treasures (here)–
Salzkammergut/Wolfgansee area: SchafbergBahn (return journey), WolfganseeSchifffahrt Ferries (Wolfgangsee ride);Salzburg – FestungsBahn funicular (return journe, entry to the fortress and museum), MönchsbergAufzug lift (return trip), WasserSpiegel museum.
The combined Five Treasures ticket is priced at €90 per person (50% discount for children and family deal available).
A handful of noteworthy summer events across SalzburgerLand this year include:
- Wolfgangsee – once known as Abriani - in the Salzkammergut (Austria’s Lake District) is celebrating the 1100th anniversary of the birth of St Wolfgang of Regensburg. A new covered lake-stage will open on 23 May where ‘Wolf – The Mystical’ will premiere and run to 24 June. A new Abriani Hiking Map (print and online) details 12 trails showcasing the most beautiful spots of the area. And, this year’s annual Art Circle will host 22 artists from 15 countries; applications to take part in the 10-day residency at the end of April (2025 dates tbc) will open from November to the third week of December.
- Fuschlsee (also in the Salzkammergut, 30 minutes’ drive from Salzburg) is looking forward to the reopening of Rosewood Schloss Fuschl in July. The historic five-star hotel on the banks of Lake Fuschl has been completely renovated and refurbished. This year is the 25th anniversary of the region’s Farmers’ Autumn (from mid-August to the end of October) look out for guided tours, yodelling afternoons and culinary and cultural tours.
- Gastein - 10th Breathe the Mountains (24 May to 2 June), a popular yoga fixture. Other summer highlights are the Yunion Yoga Festival (26 August to 1 September), Mountains in Flames (22 June), the Böckstein Sword Dance (1 September), the Adidas Terrex Infinite Trails running weekend (6-8 September) and the traditional sheep drive (14 September).
- Saalfelden Leogang opens a new ‘forest-bathing’ hiking trail and is one of the first recipients of the Austrian Ecolabel. The destination has been designated a UCI Bike region and hosts the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series in June for the 15th time. The popular Jazzfestival Saalfelden returns for its 44th year in August.
- Salzburg Summer As a curtain-raiser for the six-week Salzburg Festival of drama and music (19 July to 31 August), Sommerszene Salzburg presents avant garde theatre and dance (4-16 June). The DomQuartier Museum celebrates its 10th anniversary with the launch of The Colours of La Serenissima on 21 June – an exhibition of Venetian masters (until 6 January 2025).
Access to the 16 regions across SalzburgerLand is easy via road, rail or air and all are within two hours of the historic city of Salzburg - home of Mozart, the celebrated Summer Festival and Sound of Music film locations. Fly from a choice of UK airports direct to Salzburg Airport. www.salzburgerLand.com @salzburgerLand #visitsalzburgerLand
