Salzburgerland Summers – 10 Epic Adventures the Kids will Never Forget
Salzburgerland is a fantastic destination for a holiday at any time of year, not just in Winter. The skiing is incredible, but the sun drenched mountains are perfect for a fun filled family holiday in the summer months too.
Salzburgerland is one of the nine states of Austria. The city of Salzburg is the capital, and Salzburgerland is the whole state. Salzburgerland is primarily located within the Alps, and its central and southern areas are characterised by stunning alpine scenery, featuring numerous mountains and National Parks to explore.
The entire region is beautiful and bursting with family-friendly activities, hotels, and adventures.
Top 10 adventures for kids in Salzburgerland
1. Visit a Salt Mine
Salzwelten in Hallein is located about 30 minutes south of Salzburg. Visitors get to dress up in miners’ overalls, slide down long slides and ride a train and boat underground while exploring the mines. It was a really unusual and memorable experience!
There are also outdoor play areas, a small cafe and a lovely shop.
An extra exciting feature of the Hallein mine is that visitors can cross the only subterranean border between Austria and Germany!
Hallstatt Salt Mine is a great alternative to Hallein. It’s the oldest salt mine in the world and is located in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt. This location also includes a funicular ride up the mountain.
2. Visit a Fortress
Towering over the city of Salzburg is the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Visitors can ride a funicular, explore the armoury, climb castle walls and admire the incredible views.
3. Ride a Mountain Coaster
Salzburgerland has lots of great mountain coasters. My 8 year old would ride them all day if he could.
An alpine coaster is a sled on a rail which runs down a mountain track. Users can control their own speed using a brake. Mountain coasters are great fun for the whole family and definitely an unforgettable experience.
Lucky Flitzer – Flachau
We loved this Alpine Coaster, it’s 1100m long, open in winter and summer, with lots of curves and loops.
Maisi Flitzer ( Kaprun )
The Maisi Flitzer was the first Alpine coaster in the region. It descends 1300m with jumps and spins! Definitely one not to miss if you’re in the area!
Keltenblitz – Hallein
If you’re visiting the salt mine, this coaster is a great addition to the day. It’s the longest coaster in the region with a massive 2.2 km of track. There’s also the extra excitement of taking a chairlift up the mountain first!
Woody Bob- St Martin am Tennengebirge
Woody Bob is a great, modern coaster in St Martin am Tennengebirge. The coaster starts in the valley and takes riders uphill before a fast descent through the forest back to the valley.
If it’s a nice day, there’s a lovely swimming lake with a waterslide just next door!
4. Swim in a Lake
If you’re visiting Salzburgerland in summer, swimming in a lake is a must-do activity!
Zell am See
If you’re looking for a lively location with shops, restaurants, hotels, beaches, and lakes, Zell am See is a fantastic spot. The lake is crystal clear, and the views of the mountains surrounding it look like a painting. There are several lidos around the lake. We visited Lido Zell am See, which was free to enter with the Salzburgerland Card. Umbrellas and lockers were inexpensive, and the swimming pool with a slide was a fun alternative to the lake, which was very cold! There’s also a lovely cafe and mini golf if you get bored with the lake.
A big highlight for my kids was the diving platform with multiple levels, and visitors can also hire boats and paddleboards.
Other lakes to visit include Salzachsee to the North of Salzburg, Fuschlsee and Mondsee.
Salzburgerland also has plenty of bathing lakes. The adventure bathing lake in Eben is a great example with a large water slide, kids ‘ pool, playground and restaurant.
5. Play in a park at the top of a mountain
One of the best things about Salzburgerland in summer is the mountains. Ski resorts transform into summer playgrounds, complete with lakes, play areas, and miles of hiking paths to explore.
Geisterberg
The Geisterberg in St Johann is a must visit mountain. There are 40 play stations and hiking trails for all abilities, themed around funny ghosts. We spent a fantastic day there and would love to go back.
Wagrainis Grafenberg
Wagraginis Grafenberg in Wagrain has a nature and mountain themed adventure world at the top. There’s a cow-shaped giant bouncy pillow, a lake, a farm and a fantastic nature and science-themed trail with 10 adventure stations.
Other mountains to explore in Salzburgerland
Young cyclists will love the cycle trails at the middle station of the Griessenkar in Wagrain, accessed via the Flying Mozart Gondola. The Woom bike trail is amazing for kids of all ages. Bikes can also be hired at the woom test centre. The top station offers numerous walks and boasts fantastic views on a clear day.
If you love mountains and your kids love playgrounds, you really are spoilt for choice in Salzburgerland. We only scratched the surface in the 7 days we were there.
6. Try some archery
Bogenjagd Alpendorf is a fantastic location for an afternoon of archery. It’s suitable for beginners and more experienced archers and fantastic fun for the whole family ( recommended age 6 + ). Think archery meets mini golf and you get the idea. Visitors are taught how to use the bows before taking on the course in their own time.
There are 14 different, lifelike animal targets (not real) set up over a large area. Players can shoot from one of three starting points to cater for different abilities.
The course takes 2-3 hours to complete and is an unusual, entertaining activity.
7. Play Mini Golf
If you enjoy a game of mini golf, there are lots of options in the Salzburgerland region.
Jo Adventure Minigolf – St. Johann im Pongau
Jo Adventure Minigolf is a fantastic 18 hole course with holes modelled on local attractions. The course is beautifully put together, and the attention to detail on each hole is impressive.
If you want minigolf with a view, this is the course for you. The views of the Tennengebirge mountains are beautiful.
Other options for minigolf include:
- Adventure mini golf at Landhotel Alpendorf in Filtzmoos
- Adventure Golf Hinterglemm
- Minigolf Radstadt
- Mini golf at Hotel Post – Abtenau
8. Explore a Gorge
Salburgerland has several gorges to explore. We visited LammerKlamm, about 30km south of Salzburg. The paths felt safe and very secure, and the views were breathtaking.
The walk is a there-and-back walk, which took about 30 minutes each way.
Other gorges in Salzburgerland
Liechtensteinklamm in St Johann im Pongau is one of the deepest and longest wild water ravines in the Alps. The accessible section of the gorge is about 100 metres long, and the out-and-back walk takes about 1.5 hours. The trail is well maintained with wooded walkways, stairs and bridges. Liechtensteinklamm is famous for its helix staircase, which takes visitors down to the narrowest part of the gorge.
Vorderkaserklamm in St Martin is another great option for a gorge walk.
Remember to wear sensible clothing and sturdy footwear for exploring gorges.
9. Pan for Gold
At the middle station of the Rauriser Hochalmbahn cable car is an area where visitors can pan for gold! The site is quite large, featuring a large wooden water wheel and ample space for children to explore while learning how to pan for gold. We had a really fun hour together, learning a new skill.
10. Visit a waterfall
Salzburgerland is home to some amazing waterfalls. The most famous is probably the Krimml Waterfalls, situated in the Pinzgau region of the Hohe Tauern National Park. A well marked trail leads to the three waterfalls with viewing platforms. It takes about 1.5 hours to hike from the bottom to the top. The visitors’ centre is also worth a visit.
Other Waterfalls in Salzburgerland
Golling Waterfall – near Golling
Bad Gastein Waterfall
Top Tips for Visiting Salzburgerland
The cost of visiting lots of attractions can add up quickly. We saved a significant amount of money by purchasing the Salzburgerland Card, which covered the costs of most of our activities.
Hotels also often offer local tourist cards, which give discounts or free entry to local attractions.
