Attersee (lake)About Attersee (lake)
Attersee is a large freshwater lake in the Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria and is one of Austria’s largest lakes by surface area. It is a prominent recreational and cultural destination in the region.
The lake is widely used for sailing, windsurfing and diving thanks to clear water and reliable winds in summer. Nearby towns and harbors provide access for boaters and visitors and support an active tourism infrastructure.
Attersee and its surroundings have long attracted painters and other artists, contributing to the area’s cultural history in addition to its natural appeal. The lake’s basin and shores were formed by glacial and post-glacial processes.
The lake sits within Upper Austria’s Salzkammergut landscape and is surrounded by a mixture of forested slopes and small settlements; it is well connected by regional roads to other towns in the region.
- Recreation: The lake has clear, deep water and is popular for sailing, windsurfing and diving; summer is the main season for water sports.
- Cultural relevance: Associated with landscape painting and late-19th to early-20th-century artists who worked around the lake, making it a point of cultural as well as natural interest.
What to See#
- Attersee am Attersee (town): The lakeside town that gives the lake its name and serves as a base for boating and cultural visits to the Attersee region.
- Sailing harbors: A cluster of small harbors and marinas used by sailing clubs and recreational boaters that support one of Austria’s most active inland sailing communities.
Best Time to Visit Attersee (lake)
Summer months provide warm water and boating conditions; late spring and early autumn are quieter with comfortable temperatures.
Weather & Climate near Attersee (lake)
Attersee (lake)'s climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1408 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -4° - 3° | -3° | 91 mm | overcast | 93% | 1.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Poor | -3° - 4° | -2° | 81 mm | overcast | 90% | 2.0 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.1h |
| March | Poor | 0° - 8° | 2° | 105 mm | overcast | 85% | 2.1 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Poor | 3° - 12° | 6° | 103 mm | overcast | 78% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 8° - 18° | 13° | 117 mm | overcast | 78% | 2.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.9h |
| June | Acceptable | 11° - 20° | 16° | 157 mm | overcast | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 1.5 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Good | 13° - 22° | 18° | 179 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Good | 13° - 22° | 18° | 154 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 1.6 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Good | 9° - 18° | 14° | 113 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 5° - 13° | 8° | 94 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | 0° - 6° | 2° | 108 mm | overcast | 90% | 1.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | -2° - 3° | -2° | 106 mm | overcast | 92% | 1.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
How to Get to Attersee (lake)
Attersee is about a 45-60 minute drive from Salzburg and about 1.5 hours from Vienna by car or rail to nearby towns; local ferries and boat services operate on the lake during the tourist season.
Tips for Visiting Attersee (lake)
- Take the ferry or hire a boat for a leisurely circuit of the lake to see villas and waterside cafés.
- Visit the village of Steinbach or the Gmunden area for boat rentals and lakeside restaurants.
- If planning to swim or sail, prefer early morning for calmer waters and fewer winds.