Enjoy a family break in St. Johann in Salzburg

From cycle routes to adventure parks, there's loads to do in Austria’s SalzburgerLand this summer

Once summer arrives in St. Johann in Salzburg, it’s the beginning of a whole new adventure. Families looking for a fun-filled holiday will find it in these captivating mountains, lakes and gorges in Austria’s SalzburgerLand – and they’re only an hour from Salzburg airport.

Ghostly fun

Start with a ride on the Alpendorf gondola lift to reach Gernkogel at 1,750m. Here you’ll find Geisterberg – Ghost Mountain – an adventure park with four themed zones to explore. Get into the spirit of this vast leisure park and all its rides, play areas, castles, water games and lakes, with something for kids of all ages.

You can’t miss the Ghost Tower and its 360-degree observation deck: it’s the highest point of the park and offers gorgeous panoramic views of the Austrian Alps. If you come on 30 June, you can catch the Ghost Mountain Festival, with live music in the mountain restaurants, games, magic and more. And while you’re on Geisterberg, take a walk around the reservoir at Sonntagskogel, an enchanting spot for a picnic by the water’s edge.

Kids will love the Ghost Mountain adventure park

Walks of wonder

The mountains around St. Johann in Salzburg are criss-crossed with hiking trails, and while some are for serious hikers, there are plenty for families to enjoy at a gentler pace. Save your energy by taking the cable car part of the way so you can take relaxing strolls through Alpine meadows.

But there’s one walk that’s a mini-adventure all in itself. Follow the wooden walkway that snakes through the Liechtenstein Gorge – one of the deepest and longest in the Alps – and eventually leads you to a magnificent waterfall. The sight is quite breathtaking.

If you prefer two wheels, you can cycle along the Tauern Cycle Route, which stretches for over 300km. There are also easier routes for young budding mountain bikers, and e-bikes are readily available to hire if you want to make quick work of the hills.

Town charms

After a day spent exploring the mountains, wind down with a wander through the pretty streets of St Johann in Salzburg. Take advantage of the wide range of shops in the town – not to mention the pastry shops where you can treat yourself and the family to rich Austrian desserts. Don’t leave without trying Kaiserschmarrn, a delicious shredded pancake that’s smothered in fruits, nuts and jam. While you’re in St. Johann in Salzburg, pick up a SalzburgerLand Card, which offers special deals on local attractions, cable cars and sporting activities.

Visit austria.info/summer, salzburgerland.com and josalzburg.com​ to find out more about Austria’s SalzburgerLand