The lakes of Austria offer postcard-perfect views and countless outdoor activities, making this a historically famous holiday destination. Yet the areas are not overdeveloped nor are there crowds (except for Hallstatt; more on that later), making pure relaxation and even seclusion possible. It helps if you have a nice hotel to base your visit.

While there are stunning landhotels in this mountainous region, I’ve compiled this list of seehotels for each of the Salzkammergut lakes that provide a resortlike experience through direct access to beautiful blue waters, activities for sport, and leisurely amenities.

Attersee

The expansive, placid waters of Attersee are an excellent setting to sail, waterski, wakeboard, and do other water activities. You’ll also discover local delis, breweries, distilleries, and other culinary delights tucked away in its villages.

Hotel Stadler

Hotel Stadler at Unterach am Attersee is in a secluded part of the lake where it can feel like it’s all your own sometimes. A family-friendly option offering daycare, plus easy access to hiking trails and water activities, makes this an ideal escape.

The hotel provides paddleboards and motorboats for use, a well-appointed wellness area, and a fantastic restaurant where you can try local fish, game, and local brews.

Attersee was a particular favorite of artists, writers, and musicians. You can visit the guesthouse where Gustav Mahler composed parts of his Second and Third Symphonies in Steinbach before grabbing a brew at Bierschmiede. To learn more about Gustav Klimt, who famously painted the lake, you can visit the town Villa Paulick in Seewalchen and talk a scenic walk along the waterfront, following informational signs about his time spent in the region.

Mondsee

Mondsee features a charming touristic town with great restaurants and a long lakefront promenade. Just under half hours’ drive from Salzburg, Mondsee is an accessible option if you want to enjoy all of the beauty and attractions of the lake, but don’t have much time.

There’s hiking, watersports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, and waterskiing, and paved paths that make circumnavigating the lake on foot or bike easy. Plus, you can even visit the church where the Von Trapps were married in The Sound of Music.

Seehotel Lackner

Seehotel Lackner is an adults-only hotel at the border of town with waterfront lounging areas and a panorama spa.

Get active with water activities or explore popular routes for hiking, climbing and ebiking. After a long day outside, come back to a meal at the award-winning restaurant. You can check out their impressive wine cellar to taste and purchase wines.

Grundlsee

While Grundlsee offers many scenic nature hikes through Totes Gebirge, a more relaxed activity here is the half-day Three Lakes Tour to the placid Lake Toplitzsee and Lake Kammersee that was historically visited by Styrian royalty.

Seehotel Grundlsee

Seehotel Grundlsee is a wellness themed hotel with eclectic rooms, some offering an in-room sauna or standing tub. Enjoy the relaxing view sauna or a picnic on a wooden rowboat.

Conveniently located on the lake ferry stop, one hour is all you need to get around the lake.

Traunsee

Traunsee has two picturesque, pastel-colored towns at each end. Gmunden at the north end was frequented in the past by the Viennese elite including the Hapsburg royals. It’s a photogenic town with a 600-year history of ceramic production.

Walk through its parks and promenade, elegant buildings, patisseries, and houseware shops to help you imagine the city as a resort of the past. You can catch a show at Rathaus Gmunden , a historical theater, or head to K-Hof Museum (German language) to learn more about the regional craft and history.

Ebensee at the south shores is full of market squares, a variety of restaurants, and even some nightlife. The location of a World War II concentration camp which at its peak saw more than 18,000 prisoners, you can learn about its history and about Austro-Fascism in general at the informative contemporary history museum, Zeitgeschichte Museum Ebensee, and even tour the tunnels that were build by the imprisoned.

Seehotel das Traunsee

Seehotel das Traunsee, a modern all-suite hotel on the nestled in the traditional Traunkirchen village. All of the rooms have balconies or direct access to the lake.

For activities there’s free mountain bikes, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks, plus e-bikes for rental and paid excursions including wine tastings, guided tours, and more. Enjoy the panorama sauna in the lakeside wellness area, then try fine dining at Restaurant Boothaus.

Located right on the ferry stop, this seehotel is a great place to stay with easy access for day trips to the other villages. You can explore the around Traunkirchen with its gorgeous Catholic church and short hiking trails (check out the phallic statue behind Russenvilla!). Walk up to St. Johannsberg Chapel or indulge in something sweet at Cafe Johannsberg.

Wolfgangsee

Adventurers will love Wolfgangsee, with a bunch of activities available between the villages of St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, and Strobl. Tourist shops, luxury accommodations, and a range of dining options make St. Wolfgang a nice stop on a Salzkammergut itinerary. Try See Eck wine bar for the seasonal menu.

In addition to the normal ferries, you can take the historical steamboat Kaiser Franz Josef I, first launched in 1873.

Landhaus zu Appesbach

Landhaus zu Appesbach, a charming English style manor just a 15-minute walk from the town center, is a boutique experience with lake access, a waterfront bar, and spa area. Choose from either comfortable, traditional rooms or modern suites.

This establishment was reportedly where Edward VII sought refuge after he abdicated the English crown. So it’s a historic refuge, and if it was good enough for royalty…

Hotel Seevilla

Hotel Seevilla Wolfgangsee on the border of the old town has spacious lakeview rooms plus newer suites with saunas for after-hours relaxation.

During the day you can relax in the garden area, swim in the infinity-style pool, or use the spa’s sauna and steam rooms. The hotel restaurant is award-winning and accordingly the included breakfast is excellent.

The charming village of St. Gilgen is known as the residence of Mozart’s mom. Head to the Mozarthaus, visiting cafes as you wander around the village streets, or take the cable car up for amazing views, mountain hikes, and paragliding.

Villa Alma

Villa Alma in St. Gilgen provides cheerful rooms, some with lake views from private balconies. This small boutique hotel has stand-up paddleboards, bikes, and tennis rackets for guest use, and for relaxation a library and small sauna.

Hallstätter See

Hallstätter See of the Upper Austria region is heavily visited due to the town of Hallstatt, a picturesque UNESCO Heritage Site and inspiration for the Disney movie Frozen. If you plan on driving here, arrive as early as possible because the three public parking lots outside of the historic town fill up, and crowds peak late morning when the tour buses arrive from Salzburg.

Unless you have a strong desire to enjoy the town crowd-free, I don’t recommend staying in Hallstatt. The food here is overpriced but ten minutes away you can try local cuisine at Welterbe-Wirsthaus Steegwirt, a riverside establishment that also offers cozy rooms.