Pöstlingberg, Schafberg, Wolfgangsee: Spring excursions in Upper Austria

With the first warm rays of sunshine, the longing to be outdoors and experience the awakening of nature grows. This is also the time when people like to plan trips with the whole family . Long weekends or holidays are particularly often used to take trips with the kids. Austria is a popular destination for this. According to a survey from 2021, over 5 million Germans have spent their holidays in Austria over the past two years. In addition to the winter months, guests also like to come in the spring, when the temperatures are pleasant and there are not so many holidaymakers around. It is precisely at this time that the nature of Upper Austria has a very special effect.

Upper Austria is a popular holiday destination for spending time with the family.

Upper Austria as a holiday destination for families

The Austrian population is known for its hospitality. And so in 2020/2021 they made around 1.14 million beds available to their guests and holidaymakers. Many are drawn to Upper Austria because it is close to the border and, especially in spring, offers a good mix of nature and cities with history . The region around the Mühlviertel is particularly suitable for families with children due to its natural surroundings. There are family accommodations there where holidaymakers can find out about excursion destinations around the Mühlviertel . Upper Austria is also very easy to reach by train from central and northern Germany via Nuremberg and Passau.

Excursion tips in Upper Austria that families should know

A large number of excursion destinations in Upper Austria can be reached on foot or by boat or train. This means that every family can decide for themselves how they want to get to a sight or into nature. This is particularly pleasant with small children when they cannot yet manage the whole walk. The following excursion destinations are particularly recommended in spring:

Tip 1: The treetop path from Kopfing

This excursion is recommended for anyone who wants to reach high and see the world from a different perspective. In Kopfing, brave visitors can walk on wooden posts in the treetops at a lofty height of 15 meters. The route is a total of one kilometer long. It is not just the hike through the impressive nature of the Innviertel with a fabulous view over the Alps and across to the neighboring Czech Republic that exerts a magical power on visitors to the treetop path. The total of 30 stations with interesting information about the fauna and flora of this region of Upper Austria also bring curious explorers closer to life in nature. The highlight is an observation tower, which at a height of 40 meters offers an even further panoramic view of the nature of this region.

Tip 2: The Pöstlingbergbahn

The surrounding area of ​​Linz and Linz's local mountain can be easily reached from the main square in Linz using the Pöstlingbergbahn. This overcomes the 255 meters in altitude in just 20 minutes. For those with a nostalgia for the old railway , which has been connected to the modern railway network thanks to new technology and the widening of the tracks. This creates a direct connection between Linz's main square and the Pöstlingberg, from the city into nature.

Tip 3: The Schafbergbahn

Another imposing and impressive attraction with nostalgic ride comfort is the Schafbergbahn in St. Wolfgang in the Upper Austrian Salzkammergut. This nostalgic cog railway has been reliably transporting guests to the Schafberg, which lies over 1700 meters above sea level, since 1893. The railway takes 35 minutes to cover the 5.85-kilometer route with a gradient of 26 percent to its destination, the Schafberg. It is one of the oldest steam locomotive railways in the world. Once at the top, passengers find themselves surrounded by a panorama of the five lakes Wolfgangsee, Irrsee, Mondsee, Fuschlsee and Chiemsee.

Tip 4: The Wolfgangsee boat trip

The nature of Upper Austria can be discovered not only by land, at altitude or by rail. If you prefer to be on the water, you can experience an extraordinary trip on the old paddle steamer, which bears the name "Kaiser Franz Josef I", on Lake Wolfgang, also in St. Wolfgang. It has been in use since 1873 and was once considered a new and modern acquisition of St. Wolfgang. This gave rise to its own fleet, most of which is still in operation today as it was in the past. The old steamer takes 1.15 hours to cover a total of seven moorings, which are among the most impressive places on Lake Wolfgang. This boat trip is an absolute must, especially when the weather is nice, and is a relaxing way to explore the popular lake and its region - from April to November.

Cruising across Lake Wolfgangsee by boat is a popular activity for families.

Tip 5: The Seeschloss Ort in Gmunden

Upper Austria has a lot to offer with this historical building. The castle was first mentioned in documents in 909 and 1053, but later lost much of its structure due to devastation and a fire. After the fire in 1626, it was rebuilt in its current form. Anyone who visits this castle will find themselves at the well-known filming location for the television series "Schlosshotel Orth" . Due to its construction and the incomparable view of the surrounding area, directly from the middle of Lake Traunsee, the castle is now used as a venue for events and is a popular wedding location . The castle is accessible at any time via a wooden bridge and is also very interesting for children's eyes.

Some people may only know the Seeschloss Ort in Gmunden from television.