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Gosau
ℹ️Practical info — Gosau
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Visit the Vorderer Gosausee early in the morning or late afternoon when the wind dies down to see the Dachstein perfectly mirrored in the water.
- Parking spaces right at the lake fill up extremely fast in summer. Save yourself the stress and take the Postbus from the valley.
- The Gosaukammbahn cable car takes you up high from May to October; buy a combined ticket if you plan to hike one way and ride the other.
- Weather in the Dachstein region can change incredibly fast. Always pack warm layers and rain gear, even on a brilliantly sunny morning.
🍽 Food
Try this fluffy, torn sweet pancake at one of the rustic alpine huts up on the Zwieselalm pasture.
Hearty cheese dumplings, usually served in a rich beef broth, the well-suited warming dish at mountain inns after a hike.
Fresh char from the clear alpine lakes. Look for traditional taverns in the valley offering fish from regional catches.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Look out for mature mountain cheese and air-dried bacon directly from the producers in the small farm shops of the Gosau valley.
In the surrounding villages, you can find specialty shops offering authentic Dirndls and Lederhosen that showcase true craftsmanship.
A rewarding hike leads from the main lake to this much quieter and less crowded mountain lake.
A high-altitude, mystical raised bog. A moderate hike brings you to this peaceful landscape far from the crowds.
Water temperature…
Gosau stretches across a wide high valley in the Upper Austrian part of the Salzkammergut. The village is world-famous for the three Gosau lakes, whose clear waters reflect the glaciated Dachstein massif. The area is a haven for alpinists and hikers who climb to the Zwieselalm or the rugged Gosaukamm ridge. In winter, the Dachstein West ski area provides over 140 kilometers of slopes for all skill levels. The local architecture is characterized by traditional wooden houses, often family-owned for generations. Culturally, Gosau is known as a Protestant enclave in the Alps, which significantly shaped its local history. Culinary highlights include the Gosauer Steinkäse, a spicy local cheese specialty from the mountain dairies. Access is typically via the A1 motorway and the B166 road through the scenic Hallstatt valley.
- Location: Upper Austria, Austria
- Top sights: Katholische Kirche · Kalvarienkapelle · Damwild
- Nearby: Hallstatt (9 km)
- Population: ~1.792
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -5 | -5 | -1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 1 | -4 |
| Rain mm | 82 | 67 | 81 | 75 | 140 | 167 | 177 | 175 | 132 | 96 | 73 | 76 |
Geography
Facts
- 767 meters above sea level
- Three Gosau lakes
- Dachstein West ski area
- Gmunden district
- UNESCO World Heritage region
- Gosaukamm mountain range
- Zwieselalm cable car
- Traditional Steinkäse cheese
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Gosau (10)
Frequently asked questions
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Gosau: where is it located?
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