Hiking, swimming & baby naps at Wolfgangsee

Some hikes just feel like summer in Salzburg bottled up, and this one definitely makes the list. We followed the Salzburg Erfahren guide for a walk along the Wolfgangsee shoreline, starting in St. Gilgen and heading towards Fürbergbucht.

What makes Salzburg Erfahren such a handy tool is the filters – they make it easy to find the perfect tour. We set ours to kid-friendly and saw straight away that this route was even stroller-friendly. Exactly what you want when hiking plans involve a baby who sometimes prefers wheels over carriers.

It didn’t exactly begin early – our baby decided to sleep in (which, of course, only ever happens when you actually have plans). By the time we hit the trail, the sun was already out in full force. Luckily, we’re the type who loves a hot summer’s day.

We took the 150 all the way to Dt, Gilgen and once we hopped out we went into the city to find the lake. From there, the path winds along Wolfgangsee with postcard views, turquoise-green water and it didn’t take us long to find what might be the highlight of the whole trip: a perfect little swimming spot just past Gasthof Fürberg. Free, quiet, and with water so clear you could see your reflection. Honestly, it felt like stumbling on a secret.

That’s what makes this hike so special – Wolfgangsee is full of swimming spots, so you can turn a walk into a mini beach holiday anytime you like. Some people hop on the boat back across the lake to St. Gilgen (also a great option), but we decided to walk. As luck would have it, the baby fell asleep just in time for a bus nap, which felt like winning the parenting lottery.