If you’re planning a family trip to Austria, this cozy corner around Salzburg is the perfect place to slow down and explore. Just a short drive from Vienna or Munich, this area is filled with storybook mountain views, kid-friendly attractions, and some of the most beautiful lakes in Europe.
We spent several days exploring Salzburg and the surrounding countryside, and it quickly became a family favorite. Below is our itinerary, which is perfect for a three-day trip, or even longer if you want to slow down and enjoy the Alps.
Day 1: Exploring Salzburg City
Arrive in Salzburg midmorning and start your day at the Hohensalzburg Fortress, perched high above the city. It’s the highlight of Salzburg for families, filled with history, hands-on exhibits designed for kids, and gorgeous views.
You can either take the funicular up or walk if you’re up for a bit of exercise. The walk is steep but stroller-friendly, with ramps instead of stairs along the main route. We walked up and took our time, which made it a little adventure in itself. Even our two-year-old walked most of it on his own.
Plan to spend at least four hours at the fortress. I never would have allotted that much time, but we loved it so much. The exhibits are fantastic for kids, and our favorite was the artillery room with interactive displays that explain the fortress’s history in fun ways. There’s also a café at the top if you want to grab lunch with a view.
After exploring, head back down into Salzburg’s Old Town. Wander the cobblestone streets, cross one of the scenic bridges, and walk through the Mirabell Palace Gardens. The views of the fortress from here are literally out of a postcard.
If time allows, stop by the Toy Museum or Mozart’s Birthplace, but we like to leave a few things for our next visit.
Where to Stay
Choose a base in or near the Salzburgerland region for all three nights of the trip. We stayed near Russbach, a quiet town with easy access to both Salzburg and the surrounding mountains.
Many accommodations in this region include local passes such as the Tennengau+ Card or the SalzburgerLand Card, which offer free or discounted admission to attractions. Check if your stay includes one before you arrive, since you might be able to use it the same day you check in.
Day 2: Adventure in Gmunden and Grünberg Mountain
This was one of our favorite days. Just over an hour’s drive from Salzburg, the town of Gmunden sits along the beautiful Traunsee Lake. Our main goal was to take the cable car up Grünberg Mountain, which turned into a full-day adventure.
We bought a family day pass that included the cable car ride and the treetop walk at the top. Once at the summit, we followed the family scavenger hunt trail with seven stations featuring interactive kiosks where kids could listen to short stories in either English or German and solve riddles along the way.
Our boys loved it and hiked faster than ever, motivated by their adventure maps and clues. Even our toddler joined in from the stroller, and all the paths had stroller-friendly options. The views of the lake were breathtaking, and visiting in October meant cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and hardly any crowds.
Before heading down, don’t forget to turn in your completed scavenger hunt map at the ticket office for a small prize.
Day 3: Hallstatt and the Russbach Region
Start your morning with the scenic drive to Hallstatt, the iconic lakeside town that looks straight out of a fairytale. You’ll recognize it immediately from postcards and screensavers.
Arrive early to enjoy it before the crowds. Plan about two hours to walk through the town, explore the little shops, and capture the classic photo spot near the church. Hallstatt is beautiful but busy, so after a few hours, we were ready to move on.
In the afternoon, we drove to the Russbach area, where we found two of the most unique family activities of our trip.
Geisterwald (Ghost Forest)
A free adventure hike filled with wooden marble runs (kugelbahn), forest trails, and scavenger-style play stations. It’s not meant to be scary despite the name, but there’s a mystery kids can solve by following clues and collecting stamps along the way. It was a casual hike, but not entirely stroller friendly (we brought ours, and learned this the hard way).
Grab a wooden kugel (marble) from the dispenser at the start of the trail for two euros each, and follow the forest path. Other than the marbles, everything was free.
Outdoor Parkour Playground
Next, we stopped at a nearby free parkour-style playground, which quickly became a family favorite. Our kids ran, climbed, and jumped through every obstacle until sunset, and we had to convince them to finally leave.
There are many fun spots in the area, but Motorikpark was our favorite ‘off the beaten path’ find.
Travel Tips:
A few tips that helped us make the most of this trip:
- Timing: October is a beautiful month to visit with crisp air, colorful leaves, and fewer tourists.
- Tickets: Buy combination or family passes when available as they often include multiple attractions.
- Snacks and picnics: We packed picnic lunches each day which helped save time and money. There are plenty of supermarkets along the main roads.
- Flexibility: This itinerary works just as well in reverse depending on whether you’re arriving from Munich or Vienna.
