Gosau
Gosau is a mountain village in a long valley at the western edge of the Dachstein massif. It is best known for the Gosausee, a lake with a famous view of the Dachstein glacier reflected in the water.
The village is quiet and traditional, with farms and small inns. It is a base for lake walks, mountain hikes and winter sports in the Dachstein West ski area.
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Beste Reisezeit
June to October is best for hiking, and the lake path is easiest from July. September and October bring autumn colour. Winter has snow and ski runs, and the lake freezes. Spring is wet, and many high paths stay closed.
Top-Sehenswürdigkeiten
- Vorderer Gosausee is the lake with the classic Dachstein view and an easy path around it.
- Hinterer Gosausee is a smaller lake further up the valley, reached on foot.
- Gosaulacke is a small bog pool near the lakes.
- Großer Donnerkogel is a rocky peak for experienced hikers.
- Gosauzwang is a historic stone bridge and gorge.
- Pass Gschütt is a mountain pass toward Abtenau.
- Damwild is a small deer park.
- Urzeitwald is a family nature trail.
Empfohlene Listen
Glaciers & Outdoor Adventures
Gosau serves as a gateway to the Dachstein massif, home to significant alpine glaciers like the Hallstätter and Großer Gosaugletscher. The region features diverse high-altitude terrain, including the Intersport Klettersteig via ferrata and technical climbing routes on the Bischofsmütze peak. At Lake Gosau, clear waters provide specialized sites for scuba diving and swimming. The area also preserves industrial history at the Gosauzwang, where the world’s oldest active brine pipeline crosses the valley via a historic stone bridge.
12 OrteErlebnisse & Aktivitäten
- Walk around the Gosausee.
- Hike to a mountain hut.
- Ski the Dachstein West slopes.
- See the glacier view at sunrise.
- Visit Hallstatt on a day trip.
Touren & Aktivitäten
Gosau — Karte
Tagesausflüge
- Hallstatt is about 25 minutes away by car.
- Obertraun is about 40 minutes away by car, with the Dachstein caves.
- Bad Ischl is about 40 minutes away by car.
- Schladming is about 1 hour away by car.
- Salzburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car.
Orte zum Entdecken
Anreise
- By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car.
- By train: The nearest main station is Bad Ischl or Hallstatt. A bus runs to Gosau. Check times on ÖBB.
- By car: The road runs from Bad Ischl via Bad Goisern, or over the Pass Gschütt.
Unterwegs vor Ort
A bus links the village and the lakes. The lake path is walkable. A car helps for other trailheads.
Autofahren
A car is helpful. The road to the lake ends in car parks that fill early in summer. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.
Essen & Trinken
Alpine huts serve dumplings, soups and Kaiserschmarrn. Local inns offer game and lake fish. Cheese from mountain pastures is common.
Sicherheit & Gesundheit
Gosau is very safe. High mountain routes in the Dachstein need good fitness and equipment. Weather changes quickly. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.
Geschichte
Gosau was a farming valley, and its people turned to forestry and salt work. In the 19th century geologists studied its rocks, and the Gosau Group is a known geological layer. Tourism grew with the cable cars and the Dachstein West ski area.
Länderfakten
Quick practical facts for Austria at a glance:
- Währung
- Euro EUR € · Kartenzahlung · Häufig akzeptiert
- Notrufnummern
- 112
- Stromnetz
- 230 V · 50 HzSteckertyp C / Steckertyp F
- Sprachen
- Deutsch
- Leitungswasser
- Trinkbar
- Fahrseite
- Rechtsverkehr
- Telefonvorwahl
- +43
Gosau – Plane deine Tage
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Data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata, Wikipedia, Tripomatic, Official websites, geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Tours by GetYourGuide. We earn commission from bookings. Travel guide generated with AI.




