As part of a recent September European adventure, we opted to spend some time in Austria. The goal was to find a place that was scenic and near the mountains and a lake. That’s easy to do in Austria, but we also wanted a place that had things to do. While we did rent a car, we also wanted to be in a place we could walk to shops and restaurants. After spending some time looking at things and other places we wanted to go, we opted for the Wofgangsee area, in particular Saint Wolfgang.
This area grew around the influence of Saint Wolfgang, a 10th-century bishop whose church attracted pilgrims from across the region. Tourism flourished in the 19th century as travelers sought the beauty of Austria’s lake district. The area is known for its crystal-clear and beautiful blue waters, charming lakeside villages, and stunning mountain scenery. It’s popular for boating, swimming, hiking, and relaxing.
We stayed four nights in a vacation rental. The rental itself was nice and clean, but it was off the main drag quite a ways (even though it claimed to have lake views) and while it also claimed to have a washer and dryer, that was practically unusable because the people who lived in the first floor apartment did laundry and kept there stuff in the machine for days. But the town does have inns and small hotels that would likely be more ideal.
We walked into town for dinner a few nights and even just walked in to enjoy the atmosphere of the town.
This town has a beautiful Parish Church and ample shopping opportunities. In fact, the church is a historic pilgrimage church. Don’t miss the Gothic winged altar.
There are a number of restaurants as well. Some are definitely not standouts, but Dorf-Alm z St Wolfgang was delicious. I really enjoyed my schnitzel there and my husband loved his steak. If you want to dine lakeside, check out Restaurant Zum Weissen Hirschen. I had a nice birthday meal there.
What I most enjoyed about Saint. Wolfgang though besides the picturesque traditional Austria buildings, cobblestone streets, and stunning lake views, was the authenticity of the place. One night we walked into town and there was a large gathering in the main square. Children were dressed in traditional Austrian dress doing dances. We stuck around and watched for a while and young ladies came around selling shots of schnapps. (I regret not partaking.) But it was a beautiful example of the traditional village atmosphere. People all seemed to know one another and there was a spirit of community.
A few days later we decided to take the steamboat over to Saint Gilgen for the afternoon. As we boarded the boat, we noticed all these men in army outfits. They were walking along the lakeside promenade. They stopped and started to fire their guns in almost a sort of salute. It was so interesting. What a delightful surprise to see.
The area is incredibly scenic so if you are looking for a larger town to base yourself in the Salzkammergut area, this is a good choice. It’s about an hour drive from Salzburg and about 40 minutes from Hallstatt.
If you’re looking for gorgeous views without a lot of hiking, check out the Schafberg Railway. You can take it directly from town and don’t miss out on spending some time on a boat in the lake.
While I’ve only visited in September, I hear they have a lovely Christmas market as well.
Overall, I enjoyed my time in Saint Wolfgang and recommend it as a nice place to spend some relaxing summer days by the lake soaking up sun and scenery.
