Location: St Gilgen, Lake Region- Near Salzburg, AustriaGetting there from Salzburg: Postbus 150 (about a 45 minute ride) Bus stop is on Schallmooser Hauptstraße close to the intersection with Franz-Josef-Straße.
Many of the lakes near Salzburg are accessible by bus. The Postbus are clean, modern and comfortable to travel aboard. You pay the driver as you board and can select a round trip ticket for ease on the return. The bus ride doubled as a great tour bus with gorgeous views along the way. We saw countryside, small towns, mountains and lakes. Also, keep an eye out for a building on your right with giant bug-like statues racing out of it. (They are actually bulls because it is the Red Bull headquarters.) After about 45 minutes, and not too many stops, we arrived in St. Gilgen. For some reason I expected the “lake region” to seem like a distinctly different region, where the land opens up and becomes dotted with lakes; but instead it held more layers of mountains, stacked like bowling pins, with the lake firmly filled within the basin.
Conveniently, the bus leaves you at the base of the gondola and so we were immediately riding up the mountain, craning to take in all of the vista views of the lake and the city hugging its shores as we slowly ascended. Now rain was assured in the weather forecast so we were prepared with raincoats but it was unnerving that there were several warning signs posted to take shelter immediately in case of storms and that the gondola will not run if the weather turns bad. Our worst case scenario would have included at stay in the hotel rooms above the restaurant found at the top. (Not a bad option even in good weather.)
Lunch was delicious and ended with yummy pancakes for dessert. The place was pretty full with people and many of them sported bicycling gear. Investigating outside it looks like there is a road that winds up the mountain that the bikers take. It would be a fun hike up if you had more time and wanted to avoid the gondola. We spent several hours just exploring the various trails and taking in the views. The kids got interested in the bugs and puddle jumping in the drizzle. Then it was time to head back down and find the lake.
St. Gilgen is a great little town to wander around in. Adorable shops and restaurants line the streets. We were even treated to a wedding party parading from the church with a great band heralding the way. (I loved that the beautiful, smiling bride was holding a baby in her arms.) There was a fire department sponsored street fair, but I was determined to see the lake by that point and kept going.
Down by the water you find ice cream stands, lake fish in a big fish tank, a water fountain, a playground and park and ducks. With great satisfaction and contentment I sat by the lake and looked at the sky.
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