Lake Altaussee Lake
Scenic alpine lake near Altaussee village in Styria
In the Salzkammergut, Lake Altaussee sits beneath the Loser and Dachstein massifs; visitors take boat trips, swim in clear water and explore the town's salt mine and alpine hikes.
Lake Altaussee at a Glance#
Address: Altaussee, 8992 Altaussee, Austria
Website: https://www.altaussee.at/
Hours: Outdoor access year-round; nearby tourist attractions (salzwelten) have scheduled hours
Admission: Free to access lake; Altaussee lakeside paths public
About Lake Altaussee#
Lake Altaussee is a mountain lake beside the village of Altaussee in Styria, Austria, in the Salzkammergut region. It is known for clear water and a dramatic mountain backdrop provided by nearby peaks.
The lake is used for swimming, walking and scenic boat trips, with established paths along parts of the shore and viewpoints onto the surrounding ranges. The surrounding landscape includes alpine slopes and forested ridges that rise directly from the lake’s edge.
The locality has a long association with salt extraction and the nearby Altaussee salt mine and the lake is frequently visited together with guided mine tours. The lake sits within the Ausseerland and serves as a focal point for local outdoor recreation and sightseeing.
- Salt mine: guided tours of the nearby Altaussee salt mine are a common complement to a visit to the lake.
How to Get to Lake Altaussee#
Altaussee is about a 30-45 minute drive from Bad Ischl and roughly 2.5 hours from Salzburg by car or regional rail. The town is connected by the Styrian and Salzkammergut regional bus lines; the lake sits a short walk from Altaussee’s center.
Tips for Visiting Lake Altaussee#
- Walk the short lakeside loop early in the morning for glassy reflections and fewer tour buses
- Visit the 12th-century salt mine in Altaussee (Salzwelten) for a contrasting subterranean experience-book ahead in high season
- Bring a light jacket; alpine temperatures keep the air fresh even in summer
Best Time to Visit Lake Altaussee#
Best in summer for boating and lakeside walks; shoulder seasons offer quieter experiences and better light for photography.
Weather & Climate near Lake Altaussee#
Lake Altaussee'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 -6°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1330 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -7° - 1° | -5° | 85 mm | overcast | 93% | 1.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Poor | -5° - 3° | -4° | 73 mm | overcast | 92% | 1.9 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.1h |
| March | Poor | -2° - 7° | 0° | 99 mm | overcast | 87% | 2.1 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 1° - 11° | 5° | 89 mm | overcast | 81% | 2.1 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 6° - 17° | 11° | 107 mm | overcast | 80% | 2.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 14.9h |
| June | Acceptable | 9° - 20° | 14° | 159 mm | overcast | 80% | 1.8 m/s | 1.5 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Good | 11° - 22° | 16° | 179 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 152 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 1.6 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Good | 7° - 18° | 12° | 113 mm | partly cloudy | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 3° - 13° | 7° | 83 mm | partly cloudy | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | -2° - 6° | 2° | 92 mm | overcast | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | -5° - 2° | -4° | 99 mm | overcast | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
