The hiking trail around Grundlsee offers a unique combination of stunning mountain scenery, crystal-clear water where you can enjoy swimming in many places during summer, and a peaceful atmosphere that awaits you for most of the trail practically year-round. This picturesque circuit leads along the shores of the largest lake in Styria, which locals call the Styrian Sea, and provides breathtaking views of the surrounding Alpine peaks. The route is ideal for nature lovers, photographers, and recreational hikers who want to enjoy an easy but unforgettable walk in the heart of the Austrian Alps.
Trail around Grundlsee
The circular trail around Grundlsee attracted us for a trip during a hot August weekend. You could say we experienced this Styrian Sea during peak tourist season, and yet we hardly met anyone along parts of the trail. Due to the high temperatures, most tourists chose to spend the weekend just by the water. Parking along the shore was quite difficult, but there’s plenty of beach space here, so we found a piece of private beach for ourselves too.
We set out on the trip from Hotel MONDI, which is our guarantee of quality at Grundlsee. The circular trail around Grundlsee is excellently marked here, and we choose to go counterclockwise. This way we’ll walk in the shade of trees during midday and enjoy pleasant swimming in the afternoon sunshine on the return journey along the other shore.
We walk past Villa Castiglioni, which offers a beautiful view from the lake, and from the Freibad Grundlsee swimming area we continue with a gentle climb along the designated trail following the markers. After a while you’ll reach the popular restaurant Mostschenke Ressenstüberl, where you can refuel for the journey. However, we still have plenty of energy from our hearty breakfast, so we continue along the trail.
We’re approaching the aforementioned section through the forest that leads above the cliffs, along a relatively narrow trail that’s not suitable for strollers or bikes (unless you carry them on your shoulders), as indicated on the trail markers. There are breathtaking views from here not only of the lake but also of the iconic Backenstein peak. We’ve photographed this section of the trail so you can judge for yourself how challenging the route would be for you.
On the other side of Lake Grundlsee, in the village of Gössl, there’s a popular natural swimming area where you can park. During peak season, expect high occupancy:
Toplitzsee and Kammersee Lakes
At the end of Lake Grundlsee, we decide to extend today’s trip to Toplitzsee. This extends our trail around Grundlsee by about 4-6 kilometers, depending on the chosen route and whether you also visit the more challenging mountain viewpoint from where you can see all 3 lakes. Today we choose the easy path to Toplitzsee, from where breathtaking views of the sometimes mystical mountain landscape open up.
The mystique of this place is certainly enhanced by its history. Toplitzsee became famous especially during World War II, when the Nazis used it as a testing area for underwater weapons. After the war, the lake became the subject of intense interest from treasure hunters, as legends say that crates of Nazi gold and secret documents were hidden here.
We’re not heading to the third lake, Kammersee, today. You can reach it on traditional wooden boats – called plätte – which depart from the popular Füscherhütte restaurant at Toplitzsee.
From Toplitzsee we head back to Grundlsee via the second path, which is also suitable for cyclists:
Trail around Grundlsee – Public Beaches
From the village of Gössl we continue along the now mostly concrete path lining the lake shore. This part of the trail is also suitable for parents with strollers as well as cyclists, many of whom we meet on this trail. During a hot summer day, this side of Grundlsee is a popular excursion destination and a pleasant place to cool off. There’s no entrance fee at these public beaches, you only pay for parking. We enjoy an afternoon relaxation here after our full-day trip before returning to the hotel.
Evening Summer Promenade at Grundlsee
Grundlsee / Photo: Austrian Lakes
Trail around Grundlsee in Winter
While the trail around Grundlsee is ideal for trips from spring to autumn, in good weather, or in a shortened version where you skip the part of the trail leading through the forest above the cliffs, it’s possible to venture here in winter too and enjoy a shorter walk around the lake promenade.
Accommodation at Grundlsee
The trail around Grundlsee passes through several villages. You’ll find a range of accommodation options here, from family guesthouses and mountain huts to luxury hotels with wellness centers. For those seeking an authentic experience, there are also farms offering accommodation where you can experience life in Alpine nature.
Grundlsee / Photo: Austrian Lakes
RESORT MONDI AM GRUNDLSEE offers several types of accommodation:
Get inspired:
Parking at Grundlsee
If you’re not staying directly at one of the hotels or guesthouses at Grundlsee, expect to pay for parking during a day trip here. To avoid surprises with the parking system, we’ve prepared brief information on what to watch out for.
Right at the entrance to the lake you’ll see information signs for parking at Grundlsee:
Parking at Grundlsee
Be careful not to park in prohibited areas during the specified times and dates. We personally witnessed many tourists parking along the beaches on yellow lines and finding fines on their car windows.
Everywhere there’s a public parking lot and therefore parking possibilities, you’ll find parking meters where you pay for parking. Since we return to the lake regularly and have explored it thoroughly, I dare say there are really plenty of parking spaces here. Unless you’re heading here on a weekend during peak summer season and in beautiful weather. In that case, you really need to get up early to park comfortably close to the beaches.
Parking at Grundlsee
Parking at Grundlsee
Trail around Grundlsee – Practical Information
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Length and time requirements: The trail around Grundlsee measures about 14 kilometers and can be comfortably walked in 4 to 5 hours, depending on pace and number of stops. If you plan to visit Toplitzsee lake as well, add about another two hours. Our watches showed a total of 21.5 kilometers at the end of the day.
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Equipment: Comfortable hiking shoes are recommended, especially due to partially uneven sections and minor climbing in the northern part of the trail. Bring plenty of water and something to snack on, especially if you decide to take a longer break at one of the quiet spots by the lake.
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Season: The best time for a walk around Grundlsee is from spring to autumn. In summer you’ll be refreshed by the gentle breeze from the lake, and in autumn months the trail transforms into a palette of warm colors that give the landscape a romantic touch. In winter, part of the route may be inaccessible due to snow, but if you enjoy winter hiking, Lake Grundlsee also offers a magical experience.
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Stops and refreshments: Along the way you can refresh yourself in several villages and smaller stands. Gössl and Grundlsee offer the widest selection of restaurants and cafes where you can taste local cuisine.
What else to Do at Grundlsee?
Grundlsee / Photo: Schiffahrt Grundlsee, Florian Loitzl
Plätte – Grundlsee / © TVB Ausseerland – Salzkammergut | Tom Lamm
Tips for other Austrian lakes:
