Rauris

Village · Salzburg, 🇦🇹 Austria

Rauris is a mountain village in the Rauris valley, a side valley of the Salzach in the Hohe Tauern National Park, in Salzburg province. The valley has a long mining history, and the village is the gateway to Kolm-Saigurn, an old mining settlement at the head of the valley, below the Sonnblick.

Rauris is quiet and authentic. It suits hikers, ski tourers and anyone who wants high-mountain scenery without a big resort.

Printable tourist map

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When to visit

July to September is best for hiking, and huts are open. Autumn has clear light and quiet trails. December to March is for skiing, ski touring and snowshoeing. Spring is quiet.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

2° (feels like -2°) · extremes -15°–7°
-6° at night
12 rainy days
6 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

3° (feels like -1°) · extremes -15°–9°
-6° at night
11 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

7° (feels like 4°) · extremes -11°–15°
-2° at night
14 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

12° (feels like 10°) · extremes -5°–20°
3° at night
16 rainy days
8 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Fair

17° (feels like 16°) · extremes 2°–24°
7° at night
21 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

22° (feels like 21°) · extremes 5°–28°
11° at night
22 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Fair

23° · extremes 7°–28°
13° at night
23 rainy days
9 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

23° · extremes 8°–28°
13° at night
21 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in September

Good

18° · extremes 3°–25°
9° at night
16 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair

14° (feels like 12°) · extremes -1°–21°
5° at night
14 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

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

Typical weather in December

Poor

3° (feels like 0°) · extremes -14°–8°
-4° at night
13 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

Hoher SonnblickThe Hoher Sonnblick is a glaciated mountain, 3,106 m high, on the main Alpine chain in the Goldberg Group on the border between the…

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Rojacher Hütte

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Naturfreundehaus Kolm-Saigurn

HocharnHocharn is the highest mountain of the Goldberg Group in the High Tauern range of the eastern Alps.

Hoher Sonnblick is a high peak with a weather observatory that has run since 1886, one of the highest in Europe.
Naturfreundehaus Kolm-Saigurn is a mountain hostel at Kolm-Saigurn, the old mining settlement.
Goldwaschplatz is a gold panning site for visitors, in a region once known for gold.
Rojacher Hütte and Zittelhaus are high mountain huts.
Rauriser Tauernhaus is a mountain inn on a trail near the Hochalpenstraße side.
Hocharn is a high peak above the valley.
The Rauris valley has quiet forest and a nature trail.

Featured Lists

Hapi74 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Rauris Essentials

Rauris, known as the 'Valley of Gold,' offers a diverse range of high-alpine experiences within the Hohe Tauern National Park. This list features the historic Sonnblick Observatory, established in 1886, and its neighboring Zittelhaus at 3,106 meters. Explore the valley's mining heritage at dedicated gold panning sites or hike to the multi-tiered Barbarafall. The selection also includes key landmarks along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, such as the Hochtor pass and the Alpine Naturschau museum, highlighting the region's ecological and historical significance.

12 places

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

High Tauern Highlights

This collection highlights the rugged topography of the Goldberg Group and the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It features the Edelweißspitze, the highest vantage point on the road, and the 3,106-meter Hoher Sonnblick, which houses Europe’s highest permanent meteorological observatory. The list also includes the Hocharn, the Goldberg Group's highest summit at 3,254 meters, and the Alpine Naturschau museum, which documents the unique ecological adaptations of flora and fauna within the Hohe Tauern National Park.

5 places

Hapi74 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Alpine Hidden Gems

This collection explores the high-altitude landscape of the Goldberg Group and the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It features the Hoher Sonnblick, home to Europe’s highest permanent weather station at 3,106 meters. The list highlights the region's industrial heritage through the ruins of the Bremserhäusl, Radhaus, and Knappenhaus, remnants of historic gold mining operations. Natural landmarks include the Tauern Window geological site and the Fuscher Lacke pond, offering insights into the tectonic formation and glacial geography of the Hohe Tauern range.

8 places

Michael Zeno Diemer / Public domain

Alpine Huts of Rauris

The Rauris Valley, historically known for gold mining, features a network of high-altitude shelters and traditional dairy farms. This selection includes the Zittelhaus, perched atop the 3,106-meter Hoher Sonnblick alongside Europe’s highest permanent meteorological station. Other highlights include historic structures like the Naturfreundehaus Neubau, linked to the region’s mining heritage, and remote emergency shelters like the Otto-Umlauft-Biwak, providing essential refuge for mountaineers traversing the Goldberg Group.

11 places

What to experience

Hike to a mountain hut.
Try gold panning.
Explore Kolm-Saigurn.
Ski tour or snowshoe in winter.
Walk in the national park.

Tours & Activities

Rauris — Map

Rauris — Printable Tourist Map Open the interactive map

Day trips

Zell am See is about 40 minutes away by car.
Kaprun is about 45 minutes away by car.
Bad Gastein is about 1 hour away by car.
Bad Hofgastein is about 1 hour away by car.
Saalfelden is about 1 hour away by car.
Salzburg is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by car.

Where to explore

Zell am See, Kaprun and Bad Hofgastein are the nearest preferred destinations.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 30 minutes away by car.
By train: The nearest station is Taxenbach-Rauris, on the Salzach valley line, then a bus up the valley. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: Leave the B311 at Taxenbach and follow the valley road to Rauris.

Getting around

The village is walkable. A local bus runs up the valley to Kolm-Saigurn, and a shuttle is useful in summer. Cycling is easy in the lower valley.

Driving

A car helps for the valley. The upper valley road can be closed in winter. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Food & drink

Salzburg-region food includes Kasnocken, cheese dumplings, and Rauriser Almkäse, mountain cheese from the pastures. Huts serve soups, dumplings and cakes.

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

Rauris is very safe, but the high mountains are serious. Weather changes fast, and avalanche risk applies in winter. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Rauris was a mining valley, with gold and silver mined from the Middle Ages, and the area was once among the richest in Europe. Mining ended in the 20th century. The observatory on the Sonnblick, built in 1886, makes the valley a centre of high-alpine research.