Be sure not to pass up the lovely Lake Hintersee near the village of Faistenau. An easygoing hiking trail leads around this clean, natural lake, which is a local favourite for a dip during hot summers. Lake Fuschlsee and Lake Wolfgangsee are far more well-known. Lake Fuschlsee is just a short, ten-minute drive from our hotel. With its waters shimmering in various shades of green and blue, Lake Fuschlsee is a real feast for the eyes and worth a visit any time of the year. A beautiful circular trail leads around this popular lake. Depending on your level of fitness, you should plan between two and a half to three hours to complete the loop. If you prefer to view the lake from lofty heights, we recommend you go for a hike up on the Schober, for example. This Fuschl landmark offers a fantastic panoramic view, sweeping from the Innviertel to the Berchtesgaden Alps. The world-famous Lake Wolfgangsee is also not far from the Hotel-Gasthof Botenwirt. In about 30 minutes, you can drive from our hotel to the shores of one of the largest lakes in the Salzkammergut. Whether you stop in Sankt Gilgen, Strobl or Sankt Wolfgang – Lake Wolfgangsee is breathtakingly beautiful from every angle. Swimming, boating, renting an SUP board, cycling along the lake on an e-bike or simply soaking up the lake’s atmosphere while enjoying an ice cream – a trip to Lake Wolfgangsee is always worth your while! You can also have a bird’s eye view of the lake here: the Zwölferhorn cable car takes you up the mountain of the same name, which you can then explore on a panoramic circular trail that takes less than an hour to walk.

A particularly prominent mountain in the Salzkammergut, the 1782-meter high Schafberg also offers a gorgeous view of the surrounding area. A ride on the Schafbergbahn – a traditional rack-and-pinion railway ¬– up to the summit of the Schafberg is both comfortable and breathtaking. This is the steepest steam-powered cog railway in Austria and it has been transporting visitors from St. Wolfgang up to the Schafberg since 1893. That means it is one of the world’s oldest locomotives still in operation. It reaches the top in about 35 minutes. From there, you’ll have a 360-degree panoramic view that will remain in your memory for a long time to come.

The region around Faistenau is a true paradise for fans of winter sports. There are several well-groomed cross-country trails directly in Faistenau itself, offering optimal conditions for both beginners and advanced skiers alike. Our region is also predestined for ski touring and snowshoeing; the Osterhorngruppe in particular has an outstanding reputation among ski touring enthusiasts. Do you want to give ski touring a try? Then the touring teaching trail in Faistenau is just the thing for you. If you want to wind lazily down the slopes, or if you are travelling with children, we recommend the Gaissau-Hintersee ski area (unfortunately currently closed). Far away from mass tourism and surrounded by the breathtaking panorama of the Salzburg mountains, the family ski area shines with 30 kilometers of perfectly groomed slopes and 8 lifts. There is also a ski school. The Kesselmannlift and the Oberwaldlift – both small T-bar lifts within the city limits of ​​Faistenau and also with ski schools – are ideal for small children. A lot of locals carved their very first turns in the snow here. 

If you’re interested in more than the famous “two boards”, you can also give sledding or snow tubing a shot. Or simply enjoy this winter wonderland during a quiet walk. You’ll soon see: you have lots of options for your winter holiday here – and they’re all just a stone’s throw from our hotel.

If you stay with us during the pre-Christmas season, we can warmly recommend a visit to the many traditional Advent markets in our region. From the markets around the Wolfgangsee(from St. Gilgen to St. Wolfgang) to the world-famous Christmas market in the city of Salzburg: we still celebrate the pre-Christmas season in the traditional way. And it is absolutely beautiful.