Attersee

Municipality · Salzkammergut, 🇦🇹 Austria

Attersee is the largest lake in the Salzkammergut, and a village of the same name sits at its northern end. The water is clear, and the lake is a centre for sailing, windsurfing and diving. The artist Gustav Klimt spent many summers here, painting lake and landscape scenes.

The area is relaxed and scenic, with small beaches, cycling paths and lakeside villages. It is a good base for water sports and for exploring the lake by bike.

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When to visit

June to September is best for swimming, sailing and cycling. May and October are quieter and cooler. Winters are cold, with limited services. The lake can be windy, which suits sailors.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

3° (feels like -2°) · extremes -13°–10°
-4° at night
14 rainy days
6 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

5° (feels like 0°) · extremes -12°–13°
-3° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

9° (feels like 5°) · extremes -7°–17°
0° at night
15 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Fair

14° (feels like 12°) · extremes -2°–22°
4° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

19° (feels like 17°) · extremes 3°–26°
9° at night
18 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

23° (feels like 22°) · extremes 7°–30°
13° at night
19 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

24° · extremes 9°–32°
14° at night
20 rainy days
9 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

24° · extremes 10°–32°
14° at night
17 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in September

Good

20° (feels like 19°) · extremes 5°–27°
10° at night
14 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair

15° (feels like 13°) · extremes -1°–23°
6° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

9° (feels like 6°) · extremes -6°–17°
1° at night
13 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

4° (feels like 0°) · extremes -11°–10°
-2° at night
15 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

The lake itself is the main attraction, with beaches, boat rental and sailing schools.
Badeplatz Attersee is a public swimming spot in the village.
Erlebnisbad Attersee is a lakeside pool for families.
Maria Attersee is a church on the shore.
Buchberg is a small hill with views.
The Klimt Documentation Centre in Kammer is a short walk along the shore.
Unterach and Nußdorf are other lake villages with beaches.

What to experience

Swim and paddle in the lake.
Cycle part of the lake path.
Learn to sail or windsurf.
Dive in the clear water.
Visit the Klimt centre.

Tours & Activities

Attersee — Map

Day trips

Mondsee is about 20 minutes away by car.
Altmünster is on the Traunsee, about 30 minutes away by car.
Gmunden is about 35 minutes away by car.
St. Wolfgang is about 35 minutes away by car.
Salzburg is about 50 minutes away by car.

Where to explore

Mondsee, Altmünster and Gmunden are the nearest preferred destinations.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 50 minutes away by car.
By train: The nearest stations are Attnang-Puchheim and Vöcklabruck, with buses to the lake. Check times on ÖBB.
By bus: Regional buses run around the lake.
By car: The A1 motorway leads to the lake via local roads.

Getting around

A car or bicycle is the easiest way to move around the lake. Local buses link the main villages. Boats run in the summer season.

Driving

A car helps to see the whole lake. The lakeside roads can be busy in July and August. Motorways in Austria need a vignette. Parking at beaches can be limited.

Food & drink

Lake fish, especially char and whitefish, are the local speciality. Many lakeside restaurants serve fish grilled or smoked. Kaiserschmarrn and cakes are common in cafes.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Attersee is very safe. Sudden storms can hit the lake, so check forecasts when sailing or swimming. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112.

History

Prehistoric lake dwellers left traces around the Salzkammergut lakes. The area was farmland and a salt-trade route for centuries. Gustav Klimt painted here from 1900 to 1916, and the lake developed as a summer resort.