Wagrain

Village · Salzburg, 🇦🇹 Austria

Wagrain is a village in the Pongau region of Salzburg, in the heart of Ski amadé, one of Austria's biggest ski areas. It is known to many as the place where Joseph Mohr, the priest who wrote the words of the carol Silent Night, lived and is buried.

The village has a friendly alpine feel, with fast lift links to Flachau and Kleinarl. It suits families and skiers, with summer hiking and cycling, too.

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When to visit

December to April is ski season. June to September is best for hiking, cycling and swimming. Advent has a small market and the Silent Night story. Spring and late autumn are quiet.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

2° (feels like -2°) · extremes -15°–8°
-6° 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

3° (feels like 0°) · extremes -15°–11°
-5° 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

7° (feels like 4°) · extremes -10°–16°
-2° at night
16 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

13° (feels like 10°) · extremes -4°–21°
2° at night
15 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°–25°
7° at night
20 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°–29°
11° at night
20 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

23° · extremes 8°–30°
13° at night
22 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°–30°
13° at night
19 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°–26°
9° at night
15 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 13°) · extremes -2°–22°
5° 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

8° (feels like 5°) · extremes -8°–16°
0° 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

3° (feels like -1°) · extremes -14°–9°
-4° at night
14 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

📍

Stille Nacht Museum im Pflegerschlössl

Waggerl MuseumKarl Heinrich Waggerl was a significant Austrian poet and writer. See the house where he lived, worked, and died in 1973.

GrießenkareckThis mountain is popular not only with skiers, but also hikers, as it's surrounded by numerous hiking paths.

Wasserwelt WagrainNumerous attractions await you in this wonderful water world. Slides, pools, kids' areas and a wellness facility - just relax.

Wagrain Castle

Schloss Höch

📍

Bauerhofmuseum Edelweißalm

Stille Nacht Museum im Pflegerschlössl tells the story of Joseph Mohr and the carol, in a small castle in the village.
Waggerl Haus Museum is the home museum of the writer Karl Heinrich Waggerl, who lived here.
Ruine Burgturm is a tower ruin above the village.
Schloss Höch is a castle near the edge of town.
Grießenkareck is a mountain with ski slopes and summer walking routes.
Wasserwelt amadé is a pool and leisure complex.
Bauerhofmuseum Edelweißalm is a farm museum on a mountain pasture.
The village church holds the grave of Joseph Mohr.

Featured Lists

Eschbacher Johann / CC BY-SA 3.0

Wagrain's Unmissable Highlights

Wagrain offers a mix of high-altitude adventure and local heritage in the heart of the Salzburg region. As part of the extensive Ski Amadé network, the village provides access to the Snow Space Flachau resort and the Grießenkareck peak, popular for both skiing and hiking. Cultural sites include the former home of poet Karl Heinrich Waggerl and the medieval ruins of Wagrain Castle. Families can explore the interactive WAGRAINi's Grafenberg nature trail or visit the Wasserwelt water park, featuring multiple pools and wellness facilities.

8 places

What to experience

Ski in Ski amadé.
Visit the Silent Night museum.
Hike on the pasture trails.
Swim at the leisure centre.
Cycle the Ennstal.

Tours & Activities

Wagrain — Map

Day trips

St Johann im Pongau is about 15 minutes away by car.
Bischofshofen is about 25 minutes away by car.
Radstadt is about 25 minutes away by car.
Großarl is about 30 minutes away by car.
Bad Hofgastein is about 45 minutes away by car.
Salzburg is about 1 hour away by car.

Where to explore

St Johann im Pongau, Radstadt and Großarl are the nearest preferred destinations.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour away by car.
By train: The nearest station is St Johann im Pongau, then a bus of about 15 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: The A10 and the Wagrain road reach the village.

Getting around

The village is small, and a ski bus and local bus link the lifts and neighbouring villages. Cycling is easy in the valley.

Driving

A car helps for the wider region. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette. The A10 has toll tunnels.

Food & drink

Salzburg-region food includes Kasnocken, cheese dumplings, and Kaiserschmarrn, a shredded pancake. Pasture huts serve butter, cheese and fresh milk. Salzburger Nockerl is a sweet specialty.

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

Wagrain is very safe. Ski and bike with protection, and check avalanche warnings. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Wagrain was a farming and mining village. Joseph Mohr served here as vicar late in life and died in 1848. The writer Waggerl made the village known in the 20th century, and ski lifts brought tourism in the 1960s.