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- Written by: Roger Fulton
From multi-day hut-to-hut adventures and panoramic ridge traverses to glacier viewpoints and flower-filled alpine trails, SalzburgerLand is one of the best places in Europe for a walking holiday.
Stretching from the limestone peaks of the Dachstein Alps to the high mountains of the Hohe Tauern National Park, the region combines superb trail infrastructure with spectacular scenery, traditional mountain huts and enough lakes, pastries and post-hike swims to make you immediately start planning your next trip before the current one has even finished.
Whether you're after a challenging long-distance route or a more relaxed day in the mountains, these are some of the best walks in SalzburgerLand.
Where is SalzburgerLand?
Bordering Germany in western Austria, Salzburg combines dramatic alpine scenery with easy access from the UK, making it one of Europe’s most appealing destinations for a walking holiday. The region stretches from the limestone peaks of the Dachstein Alps to the glaciated mountains of the Hohe Tauern National Park, with the elegant city of Salzburg sitting at its heart.
Getting here is refreshingly straightforward. Direct flights operate from several UK airports to Salzburg, while nearby Munich also offers an easy gateway to the region with a scenic drive of around two hours into the mountains.
While the mountains are the main event, there’s far more to Salzburg than simply clocking up kilometres on the trail. The city of Salzburg is well worth carving out time for, with its baroque architecture, riverside cafés, Mozart connections and impressive hilltop landmarks including the vast Hohensalzburg Fortress overlooking the Old Town.
Elsewhere, the region offers everything from wild swimming lakes and alpine wellness spas to traditional mountain huts serving Kaiserschmarrn and hearty Austrian classics. Film buffs can also explore many of the iconic locations used in The Sound of Music, while adventurous travellers will find opportunities for trail running, mountain biking and via ferrata routes throughout the summer months.
Anybody planning a longer trip should also consider picking up a SalzburgerLand Card, which grants access to around 180 attractions across the region including lifts, gorges, museums, swimming areas and scenic roads.
The Top 10 Walks in SalzburgerLand
A well-marked network of hiking trails, plus an abundance of managed alpine huts - including many with overnight accommodation - and a multitude of easy walking routes promise plenty of variety in Austria's stunning SalzburgerLand. Not to be missed: some of the walks are in the Hohe Tauern National Park - the largest nature reserve in central Europe and offering spectacular vistas wherever you look.
Here are ten of the best walks to make hiking in SalzburgerLand a trip to remember.
- Where is SalzburgerLand?
- The Top 10 Walks in SalzburgerLand
- Wildlife Trail – Saalbach Hinterglemm
- Salzburger Almenweg Trail
- The Königsweg - Hochkönig region
- Yoga Hikes
- Gorge route – Saalachtal
- Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail
- Mountain lake hiking in the UNESCO Biosphere Park Salzburger Lungau
- Kitzsteinhorn explorer tour
- 4 mountains, 3 lakes in Salzkammergut
- "Salzburger Summit game" in Salzburger Sportwelt
- Want more? Give the hiking boots a rest and try one of these other great summer activities:
Seven Summits of Saalbach Hinterglemm
If you’re looking for a big mountain day that captures everything people love about hiking in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, the Seven Summits route is hard to beat.
This spectacular 24km ridge traverse links seven summits and more than 1,400m of ascent across the grassy mountains above the Glemmtal Valley, delivering huge panoramic views, flowing alpine trails and a steady supply of mountain huts along the way. Despite the intimidating name, the terrain remains relatively non-technical throughout, making it a superb challenge for strong walkers looking to spend a full day moving through the mountains.
Most hikers begin by taking the Schattberg X-press lift from Saalbach before heading out across a long rollercoaster route linking peaks including Stemmerkogel, Hochkogel and Spieleckkogel. Expect flower-filled meadows, grazing cows, cold beers at mountain huts and expansive views stretching towards the Hohe Tauern mountains in the distance.
Salzburger Almenweg Trail
Long-distance hiking in Salzburg doesn’t get much better than the Salzburger Almenweg. Stretching for more than 350km across the Pongau region, this superb multi-day route links alpine pastures, traditional mountain huts and some of the most beautiful scenery in the Austrian Alps.
The full trail is divided into 31 well-signposted stages, though many walkers choose to dip into shorter sections rather than tackle the entire circuit in one go. Along the way, the route passes beneath iconic peaks including the Bischofsmütze, Hochkönig and Dachstein massifs, with trails weaving through flower-filled meadows, forests and panoramic ridgelines between roughly 1,000m and 2,000m above sea level.
One of the biggest highlights of the Almenweg is the hut culture itself. Salzburg is home to more alpine huts than any other Austrian province, and many of the mountain refuges along the route serve hearty local dishes, homemade cakes and cold beers with spectacular views thrown in for good measure.
The Königsweg - Hochkönig region
The Königsweg — or King’s Trail — is a spectacular four-stage hut-to-hut hike through the Hochkönig region, combining big mountain scenery with classic Austrian alpine culture.
Stretching for around 74km, the route circles beneath the dramatic limestone walls of the Hochkönig massif while linking traditional villages, panoramic ridgelines and mountain huts along the way. Highlights include the former mining village of Mühlbach, the storybook village of Dienten and the pilgrimage town of Maria Alm, home to the tallest church tower in the SalzburgerLand region. Strong walkers can also detour onto summits including Hundstein, Schneeberg and Klingspitz for even bigger views across the surrounding Alps.
One of the best things about the Königsweg is how accessible it feels despite the mountain setting. Self-guided packages make logistics refreshingly straightforward, with accommodation, route planning and luggage transfers all taken care of — allowing you to focus purely on the walking, scenery and increasingly large quantities of Kaiserschmarrn.
Yoga Hikes
Not every walk in Salzburg needs to be about ticking off summits or chasing big distances. Across the region — particularly in the peaceful alpine valley of Grossarltal — guided yoga hikes offer a slower, more mindful way to experience the mountains.
These relaxed walks combine gentle hiking with outdoor yoga sessions in flower-filled alpine meadows, creating the perfect excuse to properly slow down and soak up the surroundings. One of the best-known experiences is led by local yoga coach and shiatsu practitioner Thomas Andexer, whose small-group hikes feature regular stops for stretching, breathing exercises and yoga practice with panoramic mountain views all around.
Suitable for beginners and experienced yogis alike, the hikes are typically easy to moderate in difficulty and offer a refreshing alternative to more traditional mountain adventures.
Gorge route – Saalachtal
For something a little different from the classic alpine hut-to-hut experience, the Gorge Route through Saalachtal delivers six superb stages packed with waterfalls, narrow ravines, caves and dramatic limestone scenery.
Stretching for around 110km, the route explores the wild landscapes beneath the Lofer and Leogang stone mountains and the vast Steinernes Meer massif, linking together eight spectacular gorges along the way. Expect thundering rivers, steep rock walls, forest trails and the fascinating Lamprecht Cave — the longest through-cave in the world and one of the region’s standout natural attractions.
One of the highlights of the entire route is the beautiful Vorderkaserklamm Gorge between St. Martin and Weissbach. The surrounding Schüttachgraben valley feels wonderfully remote, while the cool clear pools nearby provide the perfect excuse for a post-hike swim on warmer summer days.
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Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail
For big mountain scenery on a truly impressive scale, the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail is one of the finest long-distance walks in the Austrian Alps.
This spectacular 10-stage route traverses the edge of Hohe Tauern National Park between the mighty Krimml Waterfalls - the highest waterfalls in Europe - and Zell am See, maintaining lofty elevations between roughly 1,500m and 2,400m throughout. Along the way, hikers are treated to huge views of Austria’s tallest mountains, including the 3,798m summit of Grossglockner, as well as glaciers, alpine meadows, remote valleys and dramatic mountain ridgelines.
Despite the serious scenery, the trail remains surprisingly accessible thanks to excellent infrastructure, mountain huts, lift access and optional luggage transfers. Wildlife spotting, traditional alpine refuges and the chance to experience one of Europe’s great mountain landscapes at a slower pace all add to the appeal.
Mountain Lake Hiking in the UNESCO Biosphere Park Salzburger Lungau
Home to around 60 mountain lakes scattered among forests, alpine pastures and rugged peaks, the UNESCO Biosphere Park Salzburger Lungau is one of the most beautiful corners of SalzburgerLand for walkers who love combining mountain scenery with crystal-clear water.
Many of the region’s lakes can be reached on rewarding day hikes, but one of the standout experiences is the spectacular six-lake tour — a three-day journey linking some of the area’s most scenic alpine landscapes. Starting from the Sticklerhütte near Muhr, the route winds through the peaceful Riedingtal Nature Park before continuing towards the picturesque village of Zederhaus.
Expect classic Austrian alpine scenery throughout: flower-filled meadows, rustic mountain huts, grazing cows and shimmering lakes reflecting the surrounding peaks. Better still, the Lungau region tends to be quieter than some of Austria’s more famous mountain destinations, giving the whole experience a wonderfully relaxed feel.
Kitzsteinhorn Explorer Tour
For a high-altitude adventure that’s accessible to almost everyone, the Kitzsteinhorn Explorer Tour delivers one of the most memorable mountain experiences in Salzburg.
Located above Kaprun, the route combines easy glacier walking with a fascinating introduction to the alpine environment, taking visitors through four different climate zones with the help of three mountain railways and an expert ranger guide. Along the way, you’ll learn about glacier formation, high-altitude wildlife and how plants and animals survive in such extreme mountain conditions.
The highlight comes at the spectacular Top of Salzburg viewing platform at 3,029m, where huge panoramic views stretch across the surrounding peaks of the Hohe Tauern mountains. While the walking itself is relatively gentle, the sense of scale and exposure makes this feel like a proper high-mountain experience.
4 Mountains, 3 Lakes in Salzkammergut
Combining panoramic summit walks with sparkling lakes and traditional Austrian villages, the “4 Mountains, 3 Lakes” route is one of the most rewarding multi-day hikes in the beautiful Salzkammergut region.
This four-stage long-distance walk explores the landscapes surrounding Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee and Mondsee, linking together a series of superb mountain viewpoints above the lake district. Daily stages are relatively manageable at around 4–5 hours of walking, making this a fantastic option for hikers who want a rewarding alpine experience without committing to huge days in the mountains.
One of the standout moments comes atop Schafberg, where panoramic views stretch across the lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut in every direction. The route also features a wonderfully scenic ferry crossing on Lake Wolfgangsee, adding to the relaxed, slow-travel feel of the journey.
Salzburger Summit Game in Salzburger Sportwelt
Part hiking adventure, part storytelling experience, the Salzburger Summit Game offers a fun and slightly different way to explore the mountains of Salzburger Sportwelt.
The concept links together seven summits across the region, each representing a character from the tale of the ‘Benevolent Queen and her six noblemen’. Along the way, hikers are encouraged to slow down and engage more deeply with the landscape, whether that’s learning about alpine herbs, discovering quiet forest viewpoints or ringing the wishing bell atop the Gerzkopf summit.
While the storytelling element makes this especially appealing for families, the walks themselves still deliver plenty of classic SalzburgerLand scenery, with panoramic mountain views, peaceful forests and traditional alpine trails throughout. It’s a playful way to experience the mountains without losing sight of what makes walking in Austria so special in the first place.
Want more? Other Summer Adventures in SalzburgerLand
Walking may be the main draw, but Salzburg offers plenty more ways to experience the mountains once the boots come off. From wild swimming and mountain biking to long lunches in alpine huts, this is a region built for active summer days outdoors.
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Stay overnight in a traditional mountain hut and wake up high in the Alps surrounded by silence, cowbells and fresh mountain air.
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Explore more than 7,000km of mountain biking and gravel trails, including flowing bike park descents, scenic e-bike rides and challenging alpine road climbs.
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Cool off with a swim in one of the region’s crystal-clear lakes or rivers after a long day on the trail.
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Make the most of the local food scene, from rustic alpine huts and lakeside cafés to artisan cheese makers, schnapps distilleries and award-winning restaurants.
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Slow things down at one of SalzburgerLand’s wellness spas, many of which combine panoramic mountain views with saunas, natural swimming ponds and outdoor pools.
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Spend time exploring Salzburg itself, particularly during the world-famous Salzburg Festival held each summer.
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