Swimming Lake Attersee

Measuring some 46.2 kilometres in size (4260 ha) Lake Attersee is the largest lake in Austria located completely within the country. It has a maximum depth of 169 metres (554 ft) and is situated in the Upper Austrian Salzkammergut region. Schafberg mountain, measuring 1,783 metres (5849 ft), towers over the lake from the southwest. To the southeast, Attersee borders the Höllengebirge which top out at 1,862 metres (6,108 ft).

The water in Lake Attersee reaches temperatures of up to 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer. One fun fact about the lake is that it's so clean, the water even has drinking water quality. There are countless bathing spots, lidos and hidden bays for enjoying the water, sun and leisure activities. The Attersee-Bädercard gives you access to all the lidos and bathing facilities - the perfect opportunity to explore all sides of the lake.

Adventure pool Attersee

The adventure pool in the town of Attersee offers some exciting features for young and old alike. The swimming pool is connected to the lake, so you can either jump right into Attersee itself or opt for the outdoor pool with a pleasant temperature of 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 degrees Fahrenheit). Multiple water slides, a whitewater channel, a geyser, a waterfall and massage jets distributed throughout the pools ensure a whole lot of fun and action. Kids can run around and have fun on the playground while parents enjoy a revitalizing visit to the sauna or steam bath.

Lido Seewalchen

The lido Seewalchen also offers the choice between fresh lake water and a solar-heated swimming pool. In addition, there's also a separate children's pool with awning to protect the little ones from the sun. A real favourite here is the diving tower with a height of 10 meters (32 ft). The lido also includes a large lawn for sunbathing, a restaurant and a children's playground.

Lake resort Schönauer

Comfortable sunbathing areas with plenty of shade and a long jetty extending all the way into the lake - the lake resort Schönauer is a great place for a lazy day by the water. This spot has a much calmer and quieter atmosphere than many other bathing facilities on the lake.

Lido Weyregg am Attersee

This is the perfect place for families! The pool is especially well suited to all the needs of youngsters and offers great amenities for families: a heated children's pool, a child-friendly water slide and a playground, as well as a separate baby-care room with diaper-changing table and a station for warming up milk bottles. Families with older children can play a round on the nearby mini-golf course or rent a boat and head out onto the lake.

Solar Lido Steinbach

On the eastern shore of the lake, the Solar Lido Steinbach boasts a heated pool, a children's area, a large sunbathing lawn and a boat rental station. The main attraction for youngsters is without doubt the 25-metre (82 ft) water slide.

Lido Unterach

Sadly, there is no separate children's pool at Lido Unterach, but the lake is divided into a general swimming area and a section safe for kids. This area includes a large water slide as well as a special baby area close to the shore. The adjacent recreational area is home to a playground, miniature golf course, jungle gym and a beach volleyball zone.

Lake resort Nussdorf am Attersee

This resort has everything to get your heart racing. Aside from a small section of sand with a large sunbathing lawn, a children's playground and a boat rental, this leisure centre is also home to a great sailing, surfing and water ski school!

In addition to the lidos, Attersee has plenty of other open-air swimming pools, most of which have large lawns for sunbathing, changing rooms, restaurants and various leisure facilities. Notable examples include the open-air swimming pool Litzlberg, the bathing facilities in Sprinzensteinpark, the recreational area Unterach and the Bundesforstebad (bathing area managed by Austrian Federal Forests) in Weyregg.

Water sports at Lake Attersee

It goes without saying that swimming and splashing around aren't the only things to do at Attersee. Water sports enthusiasts will also feel right at home here. Sailing, surfing, motorboating and water ski – look a little closer and you'll see that the lake is packed with action and adventure. If you'd like to spend a day without that constant adrenaline rush, head on over to a boat rental station and explore the lake at a gentler pace on a pedal boat. In the early morning hours as well as at night, you're more than likely to come across anglers on the shore.

Activities around the lake

If you are looking for some physical exertion, there are tons of hiking paths, bicycle and mountain bike routes as well as golf courses located around the lake. The range of options extends from relaxed walks through meadows and educational tours for the whole family to challenging mountain hikes through the Höllengebirge massif.

For those of you interested in culture, there are also plenty of sights to see in the villages around Attersee. Highlights include the pilgrimage church in Attersee, the artist path in Steinbrach, the astronomical observatory Gahberg, the aquarium Attersee in Weyregg as well as the historical town towers in Vöcklabruck.

Attersee cruises

No visit to Attersee would be complete without taking a cruise on the lake. There are two different options to chose from here: the “Familienkurs” (family tour) takes around an hour and ten minutes. From the starting point in Attersee, the boat stops at Weyregg, Kammer and Seewalchen. You always have the option of disembarking and visiting the sights, such as Castle Kammer, the island Litzlberg, the Gustav Klimt-Zentrum (art museum) as well as the lake dwelling pavilion in Seewalchen. Learn about the Neolithic lake dwelling and the sunken villages on a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site in Seewalchen.

The other tour, which lasts about two and a half hours, is called the “Villenkurs” (villa tour) and also starts in Attersee. This route takes you to Weyregg, Nußdorf, Parschallen, Stockwinkel, Unterach, the Burggrabenklamm, Weißenbach, Steinbach and Alexenau. This is the perfect tour for marvelling at all the fancy summer mansions on the shore. The town of Unterach, described by some as “Little Venice”, is also definitely worth a visit. If you have time, get off the boat at the Burggrabenklamm and enjoy a stunning hike through the gorge for just 1.00 euro (0.80 GBP/1.11 USD) entrance fee. Throughout the boat tour you'll also have wonderful views of the Höllengebirge massif, the Schafberg peak and the Drachenwand rock face.

By car

Starting in Vienna, follow the western highway A1 until you reach the exit Attersee Ost (Schörfling), Attersee Nord (Seewalchen) or Attersee West (St. Georgen).

If your journey begins in Salzburg, you should also take the A1 and exit at either Attersee Süd (Mondsee), Attersee West (St. Georgen) or Attersee Nord (Seewalchen).

Travelling from Nuremberg/Passau, follow the German highway A3 and then change onto the Innkreisautobahn A8. After you've passed through Ried and Vöcklabruck you'll reach Lake Attersee before long.