Camping in Upper Austria

With its numerous lakes, wide rivers and high Alpine mountains, the province of Upper Austria is a popular holiday destination for camping enthusiasts. The region in the north of the country is an Eldorado for sporty skiers and alpinists as well as mountain climbers, while also offering romantic villages between lakes and mountains for relaxed camping for the whole family.

Special features of camping in Upper Austria

The many campsites in Upper Austria promise a holiday in a relaxed and exuberant atmosphere by the water. Water rats, swimming enthusiasts and surfing fans will find the perfect place to spend their holiday at Almsee or Wolfangsee. The picturesque backdrop of Lake Attersee or Lake Irrsee provides a cosy setting for cycling and hiking.

If you want to see the idyllic area from above, take one of the numerous hiking routes from the campsite and hike over the Salzkammergut mountains or the Sengsen mountains up to the Dachstein massif, where mountain climbers also get their money's worth. In winter, guests will find the ideal glacier ski area here.

The Upper Austrian towns of Linz, Traun and Styr also offer good starting points to marvel at the natural landscape while camping, as well as monastery and castle culture.

Arrival

Holidaymakers travelling from the south of Germany to Upper Austria by motorhome will have reached their holiday destination after around 280 km. The journey from northern Germany is correspondingly longer, so that from Cologne, for example, almost 740 km have to be travelled and a day's journey must be planned.

The short distance from Munich to Linz is mainly travelled on the motorway. Visitors first take the A8 motorway in the direction of Salzburg/Nuremberg and drive via Rosenheim and Traunstein to the Austrian border near Salzburg. The capital of the Austrian state of the same name is well worth a visit with its castle and cathedral, as well as a short shopping spree through the famous Mozartgasse.

Before motorhome drivers pass the remaining 130 km on the A1, a vignette must be affixed to the windscreen of the vehicle for the duration of the camping stay in Austria. For the last few kilometres, visitors follow the E55/A7 traffic signs in the direction of Prague/Czech Republic/Freistadt/Linz. The remaining distance is travelled on the A7 before guests reach the appropriate campsite in Linz.

Destinations in Upper Austria

In addition to the statutory cities of Linz and Wels, the districts of Upper Austria from the Innviertel to the Traunviertel offer fascinating cultural impressions in the countryside.

Culture and art on the Danube: Linz

Linz has made a name for itself among art lovers as the European Capital of Culture and City of Media Arts. In addition to many international festivals, the metropolis on the banks of the Danube is home to more than 40 galleries and numerous museums. Its location in the Linz Basin and proximity to the Kürnberg Forest also makes it an attractive local recreation area. In addition to the medieval old town, the neighbouring districts feature an architectural mix of neoclassicism, neo-baroque and neo-renaissance. The main square, rebuilt in 1203, is a popular meeting place where the famous 20 metre high Trinity Column was erected to commemorate the victims of the plague. Next to the Old Town Hall, guests can visit the Feichtinger House, which adapts its carillon melody to the seasons.

Wels aims high

Biedermeier, Baroque and fin de siècle are the architectural styles that characterise the town in the Wels-Land district of the same name on the left bank of the Traun in the Hausruckviertel. Walks up the Reinberg in Thalheim reveal the rural idyll of Wels, where modern accents can also be found in the cityscape: The Theresienhochhaus was once the tallest building in Austria.

Ried im Innviertel

Ried im Innkreis is located in the western part of Upper Austria, a fertile hilly landscape surrounded by the rivers Salzach, Inn and Danube and the 800 metre high Hausruck low mountain range. Numerous churches and monasteries characterise the historic townscape of the village.

Activities and excursions

While Upper Austria attracts visitors with its crystal-clear lakes for swimming, other visitors can hardly wait to climb the highest peak in the region: Lake Wolfgangsee and the Dachstein massif send their regards.

Wolfgangssee: turquoise blue water fun

Thanks to its excellent water quality and idyllic location, the 13 km² Wolfgangsee is ideal for a trip to the beach. It is particularly beautiful in the bay of Fürberg, on the north-eastern shore at the foot of the Schafberg. As well as splashing around, guests can also marvel at the underwater world of submerged trees at the impressive Franzosenschanze and glide down to the Falkensteinwand. The upper part of the rock face is also a popular hiking spot. A detour to St. Wolfgang for a coffee at the famous Hotel Im Weißen Rössl makes the short trip perfect.

Hiking fun in the Dachstein mountains

The highest point and the only glacier area in the country are located at the southern tip of Upper Austria. At almost 3,000 metres above sea level, the Hohe Dachstein is one of the favourite mountains for mountain climbers, given the challenging ascent and descent. The view from the top over the frozen surface and the numerous ice lakes, which lie to the north-east of the summit and originate from the retreating Hallstatt Glacier, is unique. In winter, on the other hand, the Dachstein West ski region attracts families to the piste. With around 140 kilometres of snow slopes, snowboarding or alpine skiing in the villages of Annaberg and Lungötz is almost an insider tip.

Gastronomy

In summer, camping in Upper Austria goes best with a hearty pretzel snack in a beer garden atmosphere on the mountain pasture. Crispy, smoked sausages, Emmental cheese, fresh radish and a good glass of Pinot Gris are served. When it comes to skiing, the hearty pastries for which the whole of Austria is so famous will tempt you. The yeast dumplings or Kaiserschmarrn as a main course are guaranteed to satisfy even the youngest guests. The restaurant continues to serve hearty regional specialities such as roasts and stews. At the Seelokal, visitors are happy to forgo meat and savour freshly caught fish from the region, such as the always delicious trout Mullerinnen style with fresh parsley potatoes.

Weather

The weather varies depending on where you are camping in Upper Austria. With an average temperature of almost 10 degrees Celsius in the province, the closer you are on holiday to the mountain regions in the south, the lower the values. At altitudes above 2,000 metres, for example, the temperature drops to 1 degree Celsius. In winter, it is mainly snow that falls at sub-zero temperatures. The Linz basin in the city of the same name and the central area between Linz, Wels and Steyr are among the warmest areas in the region. The driest areas are the Mühlviertel in the north of Upper Austria and the Eferding Basin. Rain and snow are mainly to be expected in the mountainous regions in the south. In the Alpine climate, foehn winds can also be expected from time to time.