MY TOP 3 PLACES IN SALZBURG’ REGION

You might already know Salzburg as the birthplace of Mozart — and if you’ve read my full winter guide to the city, you’ll know it holds up just as beautifully in summer too. Many visitors stop at Salzburg itself, or pair it with a day trip to Hallstatt — arguably the most beautiful village in Austria, and a UNESCO-protected gem. And that makes complete sense. But it would be a shame to come all this way and not venture a little further into the surrounding region.

The Salzburgerland was somewhere I knew very little about before visiting — almost nothing, honestly. We always hear about Tyrol, about Innsbruck and its mountains, but the landscapes around Salzburg are every bit as dramatic and far less talked about. So here are three of my favourite day trips in the Salzburger region – though I’d encourage you to think of them as longer stays if you can, because once you’re there, you’ll quickly realise there’s far more to see and do than a single day allows.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GUEST MOBILITY TICKET

First and foremost, let’s talk about the Guest Mobility Ticket – because this is something that will genuinely transform your stay in the region and change the way you experience it. It might even convince you to stay a little longer.

Here’s how it works: if you’re staying anywhere in Salzburg or the wider region — whether that’s a guesthouse, a hostel, or a hotel — you’re already paying the local city tax. And that entitles you to a Guest Mobility Ticket : a simple QR code that gives you unlimited free travel across the entire Salzburg region by regional train and bus. No booking in advance & no extra cost.You can pick up your Guest Mobility Ticket at check-in, and it’s valid for the entire duration of your stay from the day of check-in to the day of check-out included.

What that means in practice is that every single day trip I’m about to suggest? You can do it without a second thought. Just scan and go.

I think this is a game-changer for the region. It removes every excuse not to venture beyond the city, and actively encourages you to explore — to discover the lakes, the mountains, the charming villages tucked into the valleys, to taste local produce and support the locals that make this region so special.

ZELL AM SEE | AUSTRIA’S FAVOURITE HOLIDAY ESCAPE

As soon as you step off the train in Zell am See, that holiday feeling hits you straight away. Partly because the station sits right on the edge of the lake — making your train journey itself a beautiful introduction to this stretch of water, with snow-capped mountains as a backdrop. Two minutes on foot is all it takes to find yourself standing before a breathtaking panorama, where white peaks reflect in the surface of the lake.

The old town carries that same seaside resort energy — maybe it’s the casino, or the grand hotel perched right on the waterfront, giving the whole place an Austrian Riviera kind of vibe. Already beloved by Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi, who spent many a holiday here, it has held onto all its old-world charm. What struck me most was the unexpected mix of elegant Belle Époque buildings with a distinctly coastal feel, standing alongside colourful alpine houses with their typical wooden roofs. A surprisingly charming contrast that I think you’ll love.

As for the rest, everything is in place for a perfect weekend: a Freibad opening directly onto the lake with plenty of facilities, dozens of restaurants, a wide range of hotels and guesthouses, and activities to suit everyone — boat rentals, lake cruises, a funicular ride up for sweeping views over the surrounding landscape. And the cherry on top: even in summer, skiing is still a ust-do, as the nearby mountains still host glaciers.

• Getting there : from Salzburg, it takes 1h45 and less than twenty euros for the journey – free with if you have the Guest Mobility ticket.

WERFEN | THE HIDDEN ALPINE VILLAGE THAT STOLE A HOLLYWOOD SCENE

Maybe the name Werfen doesn’t ring a bell straight away. But what if I told you that this tiny alpine village, just an hour by train from Salzburg, was the filming location of one of the most beloved musicals of the last century? If you’ve already spent time in Salzburg, you couldn’t have missed those posters advertising Sound of Music tours around the city — well, Werfen is one of the iconic film’s actual shooting locations.

From the station, a well-marked trail will take you on a scenic one-hour hike up into the hills, leading you right to the spot where part of the movie was filmed. Nothing has changed. And once you reach the top, you’ll be greeted by some lovely local residents — horses and cows included.

And the cinematic charm of Werfen is just the beginning. Perched dramatically in the mountains above the valley stands an impressive historic fortress, offering a sweeping panoramic view over the surrounding landscape. And finally, Werfen is also home to the largest ice caves in Europe — the Eisriesenwelt, which literally translates to “World of the Ice Giants.” Stretching over 42 kilometres, these extraordinary natural caves were formed by meltwater carving its way through the rock over thousands of years. Inside, you’ll find a magical frozen world of towering ice formations, tunnels and chambers, with temperatures that stay well below zero year-round — even in the height of summer. Guided tours can be booked in advance.

• Getting there : trains run hourly from Salzburg and reach Werfen in around 45 minutes, for as little as ten euros without the Guest Mobility ticket.

ST WOLFGANG | A QUIETER CORNER OF SALZBURG REGION

If you’re looking for a destination closer to Salzburg and well off the tourist trail, St. Wolfgang and its surroundings might just be your answer.

Nestled along the lake St Wolfgangsee, this charming alpine village is the perfect spot for a day trip or a relaxed weekend away — wandering through its pretty lanes, using the boat excursions on Lake Wolfgang that connect ost of the lakeside villages via water shuttles regular to see the surroundings (not included into the Guest obility ticek, renting a boat to explore the shoreline, or hiking into the surrounding mountains. One unmissable experience is the Schafberg Railway — a steam train dating back to the imperial era before WWI, the steepest of its kind in Austria, climbing to nearly 2,000 metres above sea level.

In the village, you don’t miss the Gothic Church of St. Wolfgang, home o one of the finest gothic altarpiece in Austria. The church also carries a wonderful legend: around the year 1000, a hermit named Wolfgang threw an axe from the mountaintop and vowed to build a church wherever it landed. The story goes that the devil helped him build it, on the condition that the first living creature to enter would be his — only for a wolf to walk through the door first. Wolfgang was later canonised, and both the village and the lake were named in his honour, making this one of medieval Europe’s most significant pilgrimage sites.

• Getting there : if you’re travelling from Salzburg by public transport and want to combine bus and boat, hop off the 150 bus at St. Gilgen rather than continuing to Strobl — from there, the boat across the lake is only a few euros and a far more scenic way to arrive. You can also hike between St. Gilgen and St. Wolfgang and take the boat back in the other direction. Otherwise, stop at Strobl & catch the bus 546.