I have been living in Salzburg since late 2021 and, when I'm not off exploring the rest of the world, I love exploring this country that I've made my home. We are so lucky in Austria to have access to countless stunning lakes and I've visited so many of them.
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Austria is full of of mountains, making it stunning when it comes to nature, access to adventure and pretty lakes to discover. Whether you're visiting or are a local in search of new spots to explore, enjoy this list of every lake I've been to since moving here!
I've organized them by state: Carinthia (currently 1 lake), Salzburgerland (currently 19 lakes), Styria (currently 3 lakes), Tyrol (currently 2 lakes) and Upper Austria (currently 8 lakes) and then alphabetically in each state for easy searching. That makes 33 lakes for you to explore!
This list gets updated as I visit more lakes; this post was first published 12 June 2024 and last updated 15 June 2025.
Millstätter See
Near Villach in the beautiful state of Carinthia, Austria's southernmost state, lies the bright blue Millstätter See. We visited on our way down to Slovenia and Croatia and are already looking forward to coming back and spending a whole day exploring.
I can highly recommend brunch or afternoon coffee at Kap 4613, a restaurant which looks like a pyramid on the water. You can also spot a Little Mermaid statue in the lake from the bridge at Seehofstraße (argubaly prettier than the one in Copenhagen!) which is near the best bathing and tanning spot on the lake at Klingerpark.
Month I visited: May 2025
Almkanal
Okay, it's not a lake. But it deserves a mention on this list as perhaps my favourite local swimming spot in Salzburg. The Almkanal is an icy cold rushing canal. In the spring, it seems to be the spot for swimming lessons for all the baby goslings and it's a delight to watch them learn against the currents and I come here as often as I can in the summer to laze along the riverbank and swim in on hot days. There is also a manmade surf wave - who needs an ocean!?
Month I visited: often, usually between April and October
Bluntauseen
This pair of lakes near Golling boasts absolutely exquisitely clear turquoise water - which you can't swim in - but you can bike or walk around and admire the postcard-like views. If you're lucky, you can spot the miniature horses that call this place home, too, as well as plenty of other wildlife. Quite the dreamscape.
Month I visited: June 2024
Bürgerausee
Bürgerausee is the perfect lake for a day out. You can swim in the clear turquoise waters and jump off of the many floating docks. A lakeside food stand serves up tons of drinks and meals to keep you going. There are clean, free toilets on site and also a free cold water refill station. A playground for kids and beach volleyball courts seal the deal.
Month I visited: June 2024
Fuschlsee
This is a stunning blue lake that is very popular in the summer to swim and sunbathe by along its rocky shores. It's one of the closest lakes to Salzburg. There are plenty of swimming spots around the lake; my favourite with the best view is the Badeplatz Stöllinger.
Month I visited: July + September 2023
Hintersee
The little Hintersee - not to be confused with the German Hintersee in nearby Berchtesgaden National Park! - lies just south of Salzburg and is a serene, green, peaceful little spot for bathing, snoozing in the sunshine and eating an ice cream from the stand.
Month I visited: June 2025
Klammsee
Intending to drive further but unable to due to snow, we ended up stopping for a winter walk around the beautiful Klamsee situated right near the base of the Kitzsteinhorn ski resort. There are incredible mountains around here for summer hiking, too.
Month I visited: December 2024
Königsseeache
This isn't actually a lake, rather a river, but it's just seriously my favourite spot in Salzburg and so, so beautiful. The best spot is right under the Rifersteg bridge near Waldbad Anif.
Month I visited: many times, every time I'm on my bike down this way!
Krottensee
This little lake is near Winkl in the Salzkammergut region on the way to Mondsee and a starting point for some wonderful hikes in the area. Nearby, you can also spot the privately-owned Schloss Hüttenstein.
Month I visited: May 2025
Leopoldskroner Weiher
The Leopoldskroner Weiher freezes in winter and is a popular ice skating spot. In spring, once the ice has melted, the baby ducklings, cygnets and goslings suddenly seem to appear in abundance, filling the lake with their fluttering wings. The spring light reflects so beautifully at this time of year around the lake.
On one end of the lake, you can also see the Schloss Leopold, now a hotel but also famously used as the filming location for the scene in the Sound of Music where the Von Trapp children and Maria row in a wooden boat on the lake and fall in, as well as as the back of the Von Trapp family home.
Month I visited: often, as it's beautiful all year long!
Mattsee
Mattsee is a small town of barely more than 3000 people, so you can easily wander around on foot and enjoy the village vibes. The best views of Mattsee are from Schloss Mattsee, and the best swimming spot is at Strandbad Mattsee. There is a big stretch of grass and floating wooden docks to lie down on, read and snooze in the sun, before diving in to the refreshing waters of the lake.
Month I visited: June 2024
Salzachsee
This manmade lake is north of Salzburg, surrounded by what feels like a massive field of grass which is perfect for kicking a ball around or having a picnic. There are also beach volleyball spots on site. It's very family friendly and the Untersberg can be seen in the distance. I wouldn't say this was one of my favourites, but it's very lowkey which might be just what you're after.
Month I visited: June 2024
Schödersee
The 12km roundtrip hike to the Schödersee starts at the end of the Großarl valley. The Schödersee is what's known as a periodic lake which means there isn't always water in this lake. Unfortunately, we didn't get lucky and there just hadn't been enough snowmelt or rainfall yet before we hiked up and the lake was completely dry... we will definitely come back!
Month I visited: April 2025
Tappenkarsee & Jägersee
With a group of friends from Salzburg,we trekked our way from Jägersee up to the Tappenkarsee, hung out with the cows, ate our weight in heidelbeerschmarrn, played countless rounds of cards, jumped in the cold lake, had a sleepover in our shared dorm room on the top floor of the little hut and took hundreds of photos of the epic views.
The return hike from Parkplatz Jägersee is 21km including the section on the road from Parkplatz Jägersee, which took us 5.5 hours roundtrip including an overnight stop at the Tappenkarseehütte.
Month I visited: July 2023
Jägersee
Tappenkarsee
Tauernmoossee
The Tauernmoossee is actually a reservoir in the Stubach Valley, so has an impressive dam on one end of the lake. We hiked the loop from Einzigerboden to Tauernmoossee and then back down to Grünsee, a loop of 11.65km. This is a gorgeous, intermediate hike in Hohe Tauern National Park with incredible mountain views.
Month I visited: May 2025
Waldbad Anif
Waldbad Anif is a manmade lake just south of Salzburg. It is a pretty little spot to hang out for the day, featuring a small cafe and, if the weather is good, summer dance parties on Sundays, the legendary Sonntagstanz - keep an eye on their Instagram to see when the next one is!
Month I visited: September 2023, June 2024 + 2025
Wallersee
Wallersee (exact location on Google Maps) is a small local hangout spot with pretty views, walking paths and inviting calm water for swimming in. I spent a sunny Sunday one summer here for a friend's birthday.
Month I visited: June 2023
Wolfgangsee
This is one of the prettiest lakes near Salzburg thanks to the wonderful mountainous backdrop. The little town of St Gilgen on the lake provides an idyllic escape, and plenty of small grassy strips along the lakefront are the perfect spot for a sunny afternoon picnic. In the winter, there are idyllic Christmas Market stalls dotted around the town.
There is also excellent hiking along and above Wolfgangsee - I have hiked Falkenstein, Schafbergspitze and Plombergstein and can wholeheartedly recommend all three.
Month I visited: often; the best hiking is June to October and of course, the Christmas Market is in December
The walk towards Fürberg
Schafbergspitze
Falkenstein
Plombergstein
St Gilgen
Zeller See
Zell am See is a world-class ski resort in the winter and stunning hiking destination in the summer rising high above the Zeller See. Although the visibility was low for most of the day that I skiied here given the continued snowfall, in the afternoon the lake became just visible and I spent my last run of the day with my camera out capturing the stunning views.
I came back a few years later on a gorgeous blue-sky day for a walk around the esplanade.
Month I visited: January 2022 + 2025
Altausee
I made a roadtrip out to Altaussee and Grundlsee with my partner for the day as the two are quite close to each other and can quite honestly say they are two of the most beautiful lakes I have ever visited in Austria. There is a lakefront tennis court at Altaussee, where we played a few hours of tennis, as well as had lunch lakeside and spent the afternoon lazing about lakeside swimming in the crystal clear water.
Month I visited: August 2024
Grundlsee
At Grundlsee, there are beautiful little walks around the lake and darling little spots to swim in. The whole thing really feels like a fairytale. We finished the evening with dinner at the lakefront Gasthaus Rostiger Anker, right on the water at sundown.
Month I visited: August 2024
Grüner See
I had really high hopes for Grüner See which, as its name suggests, is a bright green lake in the heart of Styria. It's quite a trek from Salzburg, but we visited on our way down towards Graz for a winter weekend getaway. We were a bit disappointed; perhaps the snowy conditions of winter made it a bit less magical but we didn't love this spot. I've seen very good things on Instagram and perhaps we need to come again in the summer!
Month I visited: December 2024
Achensee
We visited Kufstein Fortress on our way to Innsbruck and stopped along the way at the Achensee. The Achensee is the largest lake in Tyrol and one I'd love to come back and spend more time at during the warmer months. We caught the final light of a winter sunset over the snowy lake and it was so magical.
Month I visited: December 2024
Schlegeisspeicher
This incredible blue reservoir is located in southern Tyrol on the border with Italy. It's the start of the hike up to the famous Olpererhütte with that bridge to take photos on but the lake itself deserves a moment, too. You can also see the lake from the whole hike up and it's just so beautiful.
Month I visited: June 2025
Almsee
While we were in Upper Austria visiting the Schiederweiher, we decided to drive past the Almsee on our way back towards Salzburg. This astounding lake is simply on the roadside and you can stop alongside it for some seriously gorgeous photos.
Month I visited: March 2025
Attersee
I have been to Attersee many times, often dining first at Das Attersee, a delicious restaurant situated right on the water's edge. There are a number of gorgeous spots to swim around Atterse, the largest lake in the Salzkammergut, and the water is some of the bluest I've seen. Favourite swim spots of mine include the Freibadeplatz, Steinbach and Badewiese Attersee.
I've hiked above Attersee - the Schoberstein is a gorgeous hike overlooking the bright blue waters of the lake. Finally, I can definitely recommend a game of tennis at Attersee.
Month I visited: many times, best between March and September
Das Attersee
Freibadeplatz
Tennis Club Nußdorf
Badewiese
Steinbach am Attersee
Attersee seen from Schoberstein
Hallstatter See
Hallstatt is Austria's truly quintessential fairytale town. The moment you arrive, you feel as though you've stepped into a picture-perfect postcard, where idyllic streets, quaint houses and absolutely breathtaking landscapes make you feel as though there's a touch of magic around every corner. I visited Hallstatt on a very wintery day and it snowed heavily as the train chugged in from Salzburg so the visibility on the ferry crossing the lake was very limited. When the skies parted in the early afternoon showing off the magnificent mountain surrounds blanketed in fresh white snow, it was surreal.
I was lucky enough to come back to Hallstatt on a hot summer's day with my mum and enjoy the stunning contrast under the blue sky. The flowers were out, the sun was warm, the luscious greens of the surrounding mountains were in full colour and the slow gentle day unfolded before us.
Month I visited: January + July 2022
Kaiserau
We visited the incredible library at Stift Admont as part of a winter roadtrip across Austria. I can highly recommend stopping at this beautiful roadside lake nearby - regardless of the season - for some seriously surreal landscape views.
Month I visited: December 2024
→ Check out more photos of the lake at Kaiserau in my guide to visiting Stift Admont!
Langbathsee
This beautiful little lake is near Traunsee. There are actually two lakes, the Langbathseen, the first one located right next to the parking lot and the second one by hiking. You can do a complete hiking loop of both hikes which is about 8km or you can simply park here and enjoy the views.
Month I visited: April 2025
Mondsee
Mondsee is one of the closest lakes to Salzburg and is a beautiful destination for summer swimmers and boaters seeking a cool lakeside escape. The town itself is also pretty. Mondsee is an 11km long lake, part of the Salzkammergut. The beauty of Mondsee - as with most lakes around here - is that there are so many perfect spots to pull over all around the lake as you drive along.
Month I visited: many times, usually between May and August
Schiederweiher
The Schiederweiher is an artificial lake in the heart of Upper Austria. It was built by Johann Schieder, the Imperial and Royal Court Architect of Austria, between 1897 and 1902. In fact, the Schiederweiher is so pretty that it was awarded Austria's most beautiful lake in 2018!
Month I visited: March 2025
Traunsee
Traunsee lies east of Salzburg in Upper Austria. I have seen it from the train, in the cold winter and the warm spring. The first time walking around it in on a grey and cold December evening was quite endearing and peaceful. Traunkirchen is home to the Maria Krönung Church, and Gmunden on the northern end of the lake is a delightful little town well worth a wander. We lucked out with there being the annual Christkindlmarkt happening and it was seriously so lovely.
There is also a wonderful lakeside tennis court here which I can highly recommend for a game!
Month I visited: December 2024, April 2025
Traunkirchen
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Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
