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Table of Contents:
When to travel to St. Wolfgang
How to get to St. Wolfgang from Salzburg
When to travel to St. Wolfgang
St. Wolfgang is considered to be the “gateway” to the Postalm mountain valley, where ski lovers spend most of their time when coming to this part of Austria. The Postalm ski area is a 35-minute bus ride from St. Wolfgang. In summer, the resort is also popular, since it is located on the shores of a picturesque lake and attracts a large number of tourists for excursion purposes.
St. Wolfgang is located 50 km south of Salzburg, but is not such a “promoted” resort as those located north of Salzburg, for example, Kitzbuhel, Solden, Mayrhofen and some others. However, experienced skiers come to St. Wolfgang to ski in the Postalm Valley in order to master difficult slopes, which are not so many in more popular resorts. Skiing in the Postalm Valley is designed for experienced skiers, while in more famous resorts the trails are designed for beginners and intermediates.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in St. Wolfgang. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to St. Wolfgang.
You can come to St. Wolfgang resort all year round. The ski season lasts from December to April; the hiking season lasts from May to October incl. The swimming season lasts from June to September. The choice is up to you.
How to get to St. Wolfgang
Where do you fly into to get to St. Wolfgang? The most convenient way to get to St. Wolfgang is from Salzburg, since it is located only 50 km away. Salzburg has its own international airport, where direct flights from various cities around the world arrive. You can also get to Salzburg by plane with a change in almost any big city of Austria or Germany. You can always check the flight schedule to Salzburg on specialized services such as Aviasales and others. I use this service pretty much often as it has a convenient search and a lot of options to sort the results. It helps me to find out the best suitable flight variant.
How to get to St. Wolfgang from Salzburg
Based on my research, travellers can get to St. Wolfgang from Salzburg by different means of transport, including public transport, taxi, transfer service or rented car. The distance is approx. 50 km.
By public transport: The way by public transport is to take the train from Salzburg to Bad Ischl thermal resort, and then to catch a direct bus from Bad Ischl to St. Wolfgang. The total travel time is about 3 hours; trains depart from Salzburg Railway Station every hour. You can check the schedule and purchase tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I can recommend this service as I use it when planning my own trips and I can say it has a decent search with detailed information on duration of a trip, departure and arrival points, prices, number of changes, etc.
By transfer service: A faster way is to use a taxi or transfer service. A taxi can be found right at the exit from the airport, and a transfer service can be ordered in advance. The total travel time to the resort by car is 1 hour. You can order a transfer service in advance using specialized services, for example, Kiwitaxi and others. Having examined a lot of information, I can confirm that the service has a lot of positive reviews and I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: Another option for travelers to get to St. Wolfgang is to rent a car at the Salzburg Airport. 9+ more suppliers have offices here, including such well-known ones as Avis, Buchbinder, Budget, Europcar, Flizzr, Hertz, Sixt and others. You can compare the offers of all car rental companies in Salzburg on the specialized services, such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Renting a car in Salzburg is quite simple; you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card to pay for services. The cities are connected with highway No. B158; the travel time is about 50 minutes (see on the map).
Where to stay in St. Wolfgang
St. Wolfgang is a small town, but the hotel infrastructure here is developed well. Thus, tourists can stay in hotels of any star category, apartments, guest houses, vacation homes, B&B`s, chalets and other types of accommodation. In addition to St. Wolfgang, you can also stay at neighboring resorts, for example, at Bad Ischl (13.5 km), Mondsee (15 km), Strobl (4 km), St. Gilgen (7 km), etc. It is worth paying attention that in the “high” season (from December to March) hotels in St. Wolfgang are over-crowded, so I would recommend booking accommodation in advance.
Based on my careful research, most hotels in St. Wolfgang offer breakfast included in the price, but you can also find hotels offering half board. If you travel by car, you can find hotels offering private parking on site. Some hotels offer paid parking areas; some offer free ones (please, check, when booking). Hotels of 4 or 5 stars have their own restaurants and even a private beach area (if you come in the summertime).
Popular hotels in St. Wolfgang in particular are:
Hotel Zimmerbrau 4* – the hotel has a convenient location in the very center of the resort. There is a bar on site. Family rooms are available. Breakfast is included in the price. All rooms are also equipped with a coffee pot or kettle. There is private parking on site. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel for free. Ski passes are sold at the front desk, and ski storage area is also provided;
Hotel Seevilla Wolfgangsee 4* – the hotel is located on the lake and is surrounded by a garden. The hotel has a restaurant, a spa center and a terrace for relaxation. In the spa area you will find classic and infrared saunas, a steam bath and a fitness room, and an indoor pool. You can stay in rooms of different categories. Some rooms have lake views. Buffet breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. There are places for storing skis;
Hotel Peter 4* – the hotel is located on the shore of the lake. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a rooftop terrace. Guests can stay in rooms of different categories. Some rooms have lake views and a balcony. Depending on the room type, breakfast may be included or paid separately. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site;
Hotel Seehang Garni 3* – the hotel is located in the surroundings of St. Wolfgang, on the shore of the lake. There is a private beach area and a bar. You can stay in rooms of various categories; breakfast is offered. Free public parking is available nearby. The hotel is more suitable for a summer holiday by the lake. In winter, you have to get to the ski lifts by car or public transport;
Landhotel Berau 3* – the hotel is located on the shore of the lake. Guests are offered a restaurant, a bar and family rooms with lake views. You can also stay in studios or apartments. There is a private beach area. Breakfasts are offered. Free private parking is available on site. Ski passes are sold at the front desk and ski storage is also provided;
Landhaus Leopoldhof – the hotel is excellent for active tourism and has a good location. Guests can enjoy a restaurant, a wellness center with an indoor pool and sauna, a terrace, and a private beach. You can stay in rooms of varying categories; some rooms have a view on the lake. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site.
Apartments are another popular accommodation option at the resort, and every year it is gaining more and more popularity. In St. Wolfgang and neighboring towns, you can find apartments of different categories. The apartments are usually equipped with their own kitchen with all the necessary appliances.
What to do in St. Wolfgang
If you are planning to visit St. Wolfgang in winter, then the main entertainment here is winter sports. It must be remembered that the ski slopes are not located in St. Wolfgang itself, but a 30-minute drive from it, in the Postalm Valley. I found out detailed information about the area:
- The total length of the slopes here is about 18 km;
- There are 10 lifts.
- In the Postalm Valley you can try cross-country skiing, for which there is a 35 km long route;
- There is also a ski school and sports equipment rental;
- The cost of ski passes starts from 240 euros per week.
In addition to skiing, you can also visit the spa and wellness center called “The Wellness-Alm” in St. Wolfgang. The center offers retreat programs such as swimming pools with various temperatures, waterfalls, baths, fountains, infrared and herbal saunas, tropical showers, aromatherapy, relaxation rooms, ice cabins, flower baths and, of course, various massage treatments. By the way, there is a separate area for children, which includes children’s pools, children’s saunas, and children’s gyms.
In the complex you can find outdoor and indoor swimming pools, areas for relaxation and fitness, tropical showers, saunas overlooking the alpine meadows. There is a restaurant on site. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The center is open from 10 am until 9 pm;
- A 4-hour ticket for adults, including the pool and sauna area, costs from 29 euros; a ticket for children costs 21 euros;
- A day ticket for an adult costs 34 euros, a ticket for children costs 27 euros.
- Massage and spa services are paid separately.
I visited some thermal spas in Europe and can definitely recommend such a nice activity to try.
In summer, St. Wolfgang, as a resort, is also popular, since it is located on the shores of the lake called Wolfgangsee. In the summer, you can swim, boat, and explore local attractions here. Among the historical attractions, for example, in St. Wolfgang you can find a cathedral, a medieval church, as well as many typical half-timbered buildings. Various water activities are possible on the lake, including diving, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming and fishing.
In general, a holiday in St. Wolfgang is quite diverse, although this resort is less famous than the others in the area. The big advantage of St. Wolfgang is its natural attraction. Located right on the lake with picturesque mountains and ski slopes in the Postalm Valley within a 30-minute drive, the resort offers typical summer activities in summer and typical winter activities in winter.
The town infrastructure is considered to be highly developed; here you can find accommodation options for every taste and budget; in addition, you can always diversify your leisure time by visiting the local spa center or restaurants, bars and cafes serving local cuisine. If you travel by car, you can also enjoy visiting neighboring towns, such as St. Gilgen with its baroque architecture, or Bad Ischl, which is a large thermal resort.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Austria, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Sonse
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
This looks like a dream trip! Adding to my bucket list!
When traveling to St. Wolfgang, I recall taking a bus to St. Gilgen, then taking a ferry to St. Wolfgang. This was years ago though. Is this still an option?
Hello!
Only during summer time!
Cheers,
Julia
Such a picturesque place, I visited Wolfgangsee but St. Gilgen
and would love to take a boat ride and visit St. Wolfgang.