Day 3 – Nussensee, Offensee, Traunsee and Krottensee

Today it was time to say goodbye to the Salzkammergut. But before that, we still had some plans.

After another delicious breakfast, we first drove to the Nussensee, a small and little-known lake not far from Bad Ischl.

The lake is a protected nature reserve, with numerous sensitive, endemic plants growing along its shores. During dry spells, it almost dries out completely.

Next, we headed to Offensee – an absolute highlight. This lake is only accessible by foot or bicycle. There is a parking area at the start of the hike with plenty of space for cars.

After just a few minutes, you catch your first glimpse of the lake, beautifully nestled in the most scenic surroundings.

The path leads along the shore for about 20 minutes until you reach a large meadow. At the far end of the meadow is a rustic restaurant serving simple regional dishes.

We found a cozy spot right by the lake and jumped straight into the cool water. It was ice cold and wonderfully refreshing. So clear that you could see all the way to the bottom.

We ended up spending much more time at the lake than we had originally planned. At lunchtime, we stopped by the restaurant, where we enjoyed bacon sandwiches, cold cuts, and refreshing drinks.

Then, sadly, it was time to say goodbye to this marvelous lake.

We returned to the parking lot via the same trail.

Soon after, we reached the imposing Traunsee – one of the most beautiful and largest lakes in the Salzkammergut.

Driving along the coastal road gave us a spectacular view of the lake the entire time. The castle of Orth, situated on an island in the lake, looked especially romantic.

Just before reaching Gmunden, we stopped at a small lakeside swimming spot to take one last dip.

Here, too, the water was pleasantly cool, though not nearly as cold as Offensee. Swimming in this stunning setting was simply wonderful.

On the outskirts of Gmunden lay our final destination for the day: Krottensee.

This small lake is largely unknown. It is also a protected natural area and often dries out considerably. In August, the water level was very low. Still, the walk along the lakeshore was quite pleasant.

Now it was truly time to say farewell to the beautiful Salzkammergut.

We continued heading home. In Amstetten, we made one last stop for a meal, as we were quite hungry.

A little over an hour later, we were back home. But we’ll always return to the Salzkammergut.