7 Attractions to See and Experience When Visiting St. Gilgen
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A Glimpse to St. Gilgen
1. Wander in One of Salzburg’s Most Picturesque Villages
St. Gilgen is special because of its pretty streets and houses with murals. Walking through the town feels like reading a colorful book!
The murals are not just for decoration, they also show the village’s culture. They show scenes from daily life in St. Gilgen, as well as historical events and religious stories.
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If you have visited Bavaria (Mittenwald or Garmisch-Partenkirchen) or Tirol (Innsbruck), you may have seen murals like these. However, each place is unique, and so are its murals.
Interestingly, the murals are a means for locals to share their culture with visitors and to keep their history alive.
And yes, exploring St. Gilgen village is a one-of-a-kind experience, especially if you reside in a concrete jungle or an archipelagic country like me.
So, which part of St. Gilgen’s village you must see?
St. Gilgen, like most European towns, is prettiest in its center. Be sure to stroll through its three charming squares: Mozartplatz, Pichlerplatz, and Kirchenplatz.
Mozartplatz
The village’s most famous and beautiful landmark, the Rathaus (Town Hall), is in Mozartplatz.
With its lovely oriel and beautiful line art decorating the top of each window on the building’s facade, St. Gilgen’s Town Hall is the perfect place to take a photo souvenir, isn’t it?
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Pichlerplatz and Kirchenplatz
After exploring Mozartplatz, I recommend going to Pichlerplatz and Kirchenplatz, located just behind the Town Hall.
You will find more of St. Gilgen’s lovely murals there, such as those at Hotel Kupferkrug, Gutjahr Clothing store, and Gasthof Kendler.
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2. Imagine the Life of Anna and Nannerl in Mozarthaus
If you walk along Lienbachweg towards Wolfgangsee, you’ll pass by the Mozarts-Mutter-Brunnen.
And just beyond that, you’ll find the house where the Mozart family lived, “Mozarthaus”.
Today, Mozarthaus is home to a permanent exhibition dedicated to “Nannerl” Mozart, who lived in St. Gilgen for 17 years.
Step inside and explore the history of the former court and its famous residents. There’s also a children’s corner to keep the little ones entertained.
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3. Unwind Along the Wolfgangsee Lakeside Promenade
St. Gilgen’s lakeside promenade is the second place you should visit in the village.
With its clear water and majestic mountains in the background, this part of St. Gilgen offers a very relaxing view that you should not miss, especially on a sunny day.
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4. Take a Boat Ride
Imagine gliding across the calm waters of Wolfgangsee, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Salzkammergut.
You can make this dream come true with a boat ride from St. Gilgen. The Wolfgangsee Schifffahrt company, which owns the traditional Lake Wolfgangsee boats, offers this special experience.
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5. Ride the Cable Car to Zwölferhorn for an Epic View
For an amazing view of St. Gilgen, Wolfgangsee, and the Alps, like in the opening scenes of the Sound of Music, go to the top of Zwölferhorn.
This 1,522-meter-tall mountain has the best views in St. Gilgen, and you can get there easily from the village center by cable car.
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6. Explore the Musical Instruments Museum
The Musical Instruments Museum in St. Gilgen is a wonderful place.
Impressively, it has musical instruments from all over the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia.
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7. Go Off-the-Beaten-Path: European Monastery of Gut Aich
Are you seeking authentic and unique experiences?
During your visit to St. Gilgen, make sure to explore the off-the-beaten-path destination: the European Monastery of Gut Aich.
This newly established Benedictine monastery, located on an old pilgrim’s route between Mondsee and St. Wolfgang, offers visitors a chance to experience the beauty and serenity of monastic life.
It’s a place to find peace, tranquility, and spiritual rejuvenation.
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How to Visit
If you are now prepared to visit St. Gilgen, I am pleased to inform you that traveling to St. Gilgen from Salzburg is very simple: Take bus #150 from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (main station) to St. Gilgen Busbahnhof.
The journey takes about 40 to 50 minutes, and buses depart every 20 minutes. To return to Salzburg, simply take the same bus.
To get to St. Gilgen from other cities, you must first travel to Salzburg by train or bus.
Salzburg has the most frequent bus departures and the most convenient route. Alternatively, you can join a tour that includes a visit to St. Gilgen for a stress-free experience.
You can browse the various tours by clicking on this link. Recommended tour for groups — Salzburg: Full-Day Private City & Lake District Tour
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Resources
So, that concludes my list of the best things to do in St. Gilgen. For further planning, the links below will provide you with the information you need to visit different attractions in St. Gilgen.
- Mozarthaus Museum (official website)
- Wolfgangsee Boat Service (official website)
- Museum of Musical Instruments (official website)
- European Monastery of Gut Aich (official website)
- YouTube Channel (Museum of Musical Instruments)
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