Day 2: Mondsee, Wolfgangsee and a Ride on the Schafberg Railway

We started the second day with a delicious hotel breakfast served as a buffet.

There was ham, cheese, cold cuts, fresh vegetables, fruit, jam and honey, oven-warm pastries, and much more – something for every taste.

Right after breakfast, we set off. Our first destination was Mondsee. This lake is nestled between gentle hills, but the shore is also lined with rugged limestone cliffs.

We drove along the lakeshore, stopping only briefly to take a few photos.

The lake lay very still, boats swayed on the water, everything felt calm and peaceful.

We continued on to Lake Wolfgang. First, we reached St. Gilgen on the lake's northwestern shore. There we strolled through the lanes of this charming village.

Numerous restaurants and cafés welcome their guests, and you can also shop in chic boutiques – however, you won’t find any bargains here.

We took a short break by the lakeshore and enjoyed the stunning panorama.

Then we continued to the opposite side of the lake, to Strobl.

Strobl feels quieter than St. Gilgen, although it is of course also popular with many tourists.

The architecture of the old houses is unique, all lovingly restored. Alongside them, there are modern villas. Here too, you have a wonderful view of the lake.

Next, we headed to St. Wolfgang, the main town on Lake Wolfgang. We parked at the town entrance and first treated ourselves to a break at a café high above the lake.

The view from there was breathtaking, and the coffee a real treat.

We then walked down narrow lanes into the centre of town. There are many shops here that invite you to stroll and browse.

In a supermarket, we picked up some cold drinks, which we enjoyed on a cosy park bench.

Then we made our way to the lakefront, where the famous Weißes Rössl is located. We would have loved to have a coffee there, but you can only get in with a reservation, and in summer it's fully booked months in advance.

After another walk through the town and a visit to the parish church, we continued on to the valley station of the famous Schafberg Railway.

For more than 130 years, this railway has been taking guests up to the 1,783-metre-high Schafberg. The Schafberg Railway is the steepest cogwheel railway in Austria. We bought tickets, which, at 90 euros for two people, were quite expensive.

But it’s well worth it. The train climbs steeply up the mountain, offering spectacular views down into the valley. The historic carriages also add to the special charm of this technical masterpiece.

The ride takes about 35 minutes through some of the most beautiful scenery. Once at the top, you’re treated to a panoramic view over numerous lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut.

We walked from the mountain station to one of the two huts at the summit that serve guests.

There we ordered cold drinks and sandwiches.

Near the hut was a short trail that led to another viewpoint with a magnificent view over Lake Attersee, Mondsee and Irrsee.

We spent almost two hours on the summit, enjoying the views and the mountain air.

Then it was time to head back down into the valley.

Once at the bottom, we walked back to the car park.

On the way back to the hotel, we picked up a few small things for dinner, which we ate on our balcony.

That’s how we ended this wonderful day in a relaxed way.