St Wolfgang Holidays

Nature and history come together on St Wolfgang holidays, with refreshing alpine lakes, far-reaching mountain views and 14th-century buildings.

Alpine legacy

Legend has it that Saint Wolfgang was looking for the perfect church site when he threw his axe and it landed at the edge of pine-backed Lake Wolfgangsee – that's where the village of St Wolfgang now sits in central Austria. In the 21st century, pilgrims flock to this site – both for the religious experience and the sweeping waterfront views.

Aquatic adventures

Lake Wolfgangsee's trimmed with enough sandy beaches to rival some of the Med's most well-known hotspots. Families love splashing in the turquoise water – action-seekers can sign up for boating or laidback kayaking. If you're in the market for something onshore, catch the ferry to a neighbouring alpine village – there are plenty to choose from.

A mountain of fun

Hail a horse-drawn carriage and the kids will be squealing in delight. There's also a mountainside railway that takes visitors to the icy summit, with loads of panoramic views. Later on, blaze a trail down the slopes and past the town's old wooden boathouses, where you can chill on the waterfront with local apple strudel and frothy beer.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in St Wolfgang:

• Lakeside promenade
• Lake bathing
• Boat trips
• Local ferries
• Rowing boats
• Mountain railway
• Horse-drawn carriage rides

At a glance

Unwind with a beer on St Wolfgang's cobbled streets
Ride the rack-and-pinion railway to Schafberg Peak
Join the pilgrims at the Church of St Wolfgang

Beach days

The village of St Wolfgang lies in the middle of Lake Wolfgangsee. Many of the beaches in this town are privately owned by the hotels, but there are a few public beaches to relax on, too. Lake Appesbach and Badestrand Intermezzo are both nice places to spend a day by the water.
Lake Appesbach

Lake Appesbach is a 30-minute walk or 1-minute bus ride away. The beach area is attached to a camping site but non-residents can swing by to use the facilities. Here, they offer paddle boarding, boat hire, kayaks, opportunities for fishing, sun loungers and parasols, plus a restaurant and beer garden.
Badestrand Intermezzo

Like Appesbach, Badestrand Intermezzo is part of a private resort property but the public has access to it. It’s small and quiet, with a patch of sunbathing lawn, and is peppered with sun loungers and parasols.

Bargain Buys

The neighbouring towns of St Gilgen and Bad Ischl hold weekly farmers' markets on Fridays and Saturdays. They're great for taking holiday snaps and picking up local produce or gifts.
Mid-Range Buys

There's a little capacity for shopping in St Wolfgang, but not much. You can browse a few clothing stores, sports shops, speciality retailers and souvenir shops if you want to treat yourself.

Laid-back evenings

Spend a peaceful evening people watching from local haunt Café Wallners. They do range of tasty sweets and special drinks to accompany sitting back and soaking up the town’s nighttime atmosphere.
Lively evenings

For a true taste of Austria, get yourself to the town square. Some nights, they hold shows with Austrian dancing, where locals don their traditional dirndls and lederhosen. Other evenings could host brass band performances or music concerts. Keep an eye out each week to see what’s on.

Eating out

Restaurants and cafés line the shores of Lake Wolfgang, many of them specialising in freshly caught fish and delicacies from the forest. Eating out here is usually a high class affair, though prices remain reasonable – so expect delicious food and drinks without breaking the bank.
Treat yourself at Konditorei Wallner

The family-run Konditorei Wallner is a household name in St Wolfgang. Situated in the centre of town and open since 1908, this café offers a variety of homemade cakes, pastries, sandwiches and drinks – including the refreshing Aperol spritz. It’s a beautifully decorated building, so you’ll know it when you see it.
Fresh fish at Gasthof Franz-Joseph

Set on the lakeshore, Gasthof Franz-Joseph offers pleasant views over Wolfgangsee, friendly staff and delicious traditional Austrian food. They specialise in fish, creating dishes from the day's fresh catch. Their outdoor terrace is pretty popular so make sure you book in advance if you want to sit outside.
Bag a burger at Krastoff

Above the lake, near the entrance to the village, is Krastoff, a small American-style bar. It’s known for its friendly owners and for being a great place to grab a burger or snack in the evening, so it's no surprise to see locals, as well as tourists, enjoying themselves there.

On foot

You can take a stroll along the lakeside promenade to absorb the charming atmosphere of this gorgeous town, or admire the frescoed houses on a meander through the cobbled streets.
Ferries

There are two types of boat that operate on Lake Wolfgan – the regular ferries and, during July and August, the Kaiser Franz Joseph Paddle Steamer which runs every 2 hours and links St Wolfgang to three villages around the lake as well as to St Gilgen in 45 minutes.
Trains

The nearest station to St Wolfgang is in Bad Ischl. The station can be reached by bus 546. From Bad Ischl you could get on a train to towns like Gmunden.
Buses

Lots of buses depart from the main bus stops next to the Michal Pacher Haus or beside the Schafbergbahn. They'll take you to nearby towns like St Gilgen in 30 minutes and Bad Ischl in 45 minutes.
Summer lifts

Jump onto the Schafberg mountain cog railway to admire the excellent scenery. There’s an ascent every hour and it takes 45 minutes to get to the top – plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ride. In nearby St Gilgen, you can take the cable car up to the summit of the Zwolferhorn mountain for stunning views of Wolfgangsee and the surrounding areas. There's also a chairlift which runs out of Bad Ischl.

Walking

There are 130km of marked trails around St Wolfgang, but newcomers should start with a leisurely stroll through the maze of cobbled streets and along the lakeside, to take in the charm and elegance of this rustic town. A gentle 2-hour walk to Strobl will give you an even better view over the town and lake. For the explorers among you, St Wolfgang is linked by trails to many other areas in the Salzkammergut, making it easy to get out and about on foot. Taking the Schafberg mountain railway is also an excellent way to reach lovely trails higher up.
Zinkenbachklamm

An easy route to start you off, and take in incredible views too. It starts from the centre promenade in St Wolfgang, and follows mainly flat, paved pathways to the Zinkenbach – and remember your camera, as the views are surely something you’ll want to capture. The route is well marked and, at the end, you can rest your feet and catch the ferry back to town.
Lake Schwarzansee

If you really want to stretch your legs, this route is perfect. Follow the well-marked route 28 from the tourist office, along a paved road and then up into the woods. Wind through the trees until you reach the idyllic Lake Schwarzansee. From there, it’s up to you what you do next – stroll around the lake shore, stop for a drink at the Alm Stadl, or even do a spot of fishing.