Fresh Air › Instead of Hallstatt
Bad Aussee
Bad Aussee sits at the centre of the Ausseerland and has been an Austrian spa resort for centuries without ever becoming a mass tourism destination. The town itself is pleasant and functional. Around it are three distinct lakes — Altaussee, with its salt mine art repository (Nazi-looted artworks hidden here during WWII), Grundlsee with its famous narrows, and the mysterious Toplitzsee — each offering good hiking and swimming. The region gets Austrian and German visitors but few international tourists.
Why visit
A working Styrian spa town surrounded by three lakes (Altaussee, Grundlsee, Toplitzsee), good hiking, and a genuine Alpine character rather than a tourist facade.
Crowd level
Known to Austrian and German visitors. International tourists are rare despite being in the same Salzkammergut lake district as Hallstatt.
Best time
Year-round; July-August for the Salzkammergut region generally
Getting there
Reachable by train from Salzburg or Graz. Car useful for exploring the surrounding Ausseerland region.
Tradeoffs
Less visually dramatic than Hallstatt's lakeside position. The appeal is character and access to a beautiful lake region without the crowds.
Direct comparisons
Layers
Region
At a glance
- Country
- Austria
- Region
- Styria
- Fresh Air Score
- 82/100
- Cost level
- $$
- Distance from Hallstatt
- 25 km