Things to do in St Johann im Pongau District

Step back in time to the Middle Ages at Hohenwerfen Castle, a former fortification built in the 11th century and located on a steep peak high above the Salzach valley in the Pongau region of Salzburg. Choose between options that include a funicular ride up to and down from the castle, or make your own way up to the 155-meter (509-foot) peak with a 15-minute walk through light woodland.  Don’t forget to explore the arsenal, belfry, and royal apartment to see what life back then must have looked like. Besides discovering what the fortress has to offer, another highlight of your visit will definitely be a stunning flight demonstration by the historic State Falconry Center. Primarily, they show domestic birds of prey in free flight. You will also get access to the Austrian Falconry Museum, which is currently hosting the “Where Eagles Dare” exhibition in the Pump Vaults. Don't miss out on the interactive “The Legend Of Jack, Witches and Wizards in Salzburg” exhibition, nor the exhibition on the architectural history of the fortress. Bring your kids along to explore the fortress grounds, and take them on a fun riddle rally.

Make a splash with this beginners whitewater rafting trip. Discover some great Salzburg scenery and enjoy varied water sections across this 10km tour. After a short 20 minute drive from the meeting point, begin your tour in the shadow of the imposing Hohenwerfen Castle. Your rafting guide will give you all the equipment you need to ensure you're safe and set for the water. Then, its time to make your journey up the river underneath the Tennen and Hagen mountains. Enjoy a route featuring beautiful sandbanks, as well as some faster surge and splashing sections too. Take advantage of the opportunity to jump out of the boat during the route and swim in the river. Enjoy fun for all the family on this whitewater adventure.

The 1965 musical The Sound of Music was a worldwide hit, using stunning settings that were as captivating as the storyline itself, and this tour gives you the chance to explore some of them first-hand.  Photo stops at film sites like Leopoldskron Palace, the gazebo in the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace, and time-depending pass by the actual Villa Trapp or Frohnburg The last part of the tour takes you via scenic mountain roads to Mondsee, to visit the cathedral where the romantic wedding in the movie was filmed - a perfect place to end a perfect day.

On this excursion you will explore Salzburg and its beautiful surroundings on the traces of the world-famous musical “The Sound of Music”. Start your day with a walk through the Mirabell gardens, famous across the world for the Do-Re-Mi scenes filmed here. See the Pegasus fountain, dwarf garden as well as statues from Roman and Greek mythology and stunning, formal patterned flower beds. Drive up to one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the city, immortalised in Do-Re-Mi, with a fantastic view over the entire city of Salzburg and its millennium fortress. Back in your luxury minivan have a photo stop near Maria’s Abbey (Nonnberg Abbey) on your way to Leopoldskron Palace (boat scene and pink lemonade at the terrace). After a short stop at Leopoldskron drive on to the palace of Hellbrunn where you have the chance to visit the original gazebo and gardens. Then, leave the city driving south into the stunning Bavarian mountains where they filmed the opening scene. Now is your chance to spin in a field in the original area from the opening scene of The Hills are Alive. Journey off the beaten track down a scenic country road along the river Salzach and through the narrow gorges of the Lueg pass to Werfen where you will head to the top of the Sound of Music trail, the picnic spot from the movie. Enjoy a short rest here and its magnificent panorama view.  The final part of the tour takes you through the Austrian lake district via the scenic roads, where parts of the opening scene where filmed, and on to the “Sound of Music” wedding cathedral in Mondsee where the romantic wedding scene was filmed.

Visit the world’s largest ice cave or the more than 900-year-old Hohenwerfen Castle. The stunning Ice World of Werfen (near Salzburg) is the largest in the world. On this tour, accompanied by an experienced tour guide, you’ll discover a world of glaciers with fascinating ice figures and truly impressive proportions. After about 20 minutes on foot from the Bergstrasse, you’ll arrive at the gondola valley station which will take you towards the cave entrance. After a 3 minutes gondola ride, it’s about a 30-minute walk up to the cave entrance. From there a offical tour guide will take you on a walk through the world’s largest ice cave lasting about 70 minutes. You won’t want to miss out on a spectacular natural attraction of this magnitude! Alternatively, at this point, you’ll have the possibility to visit the medieval Hohenwerfen Castle, one of the best-preserved of its kind. Daily guided tours and an awe-inspiring look at resident birds of prey will make this excursion an unforgettable experience

Meet your private guide at your Salzburg hotel and get comfortable in a luxury minivan for a 1-hour drive south through the Salzach Valley and the Alps (Tennengebirge). On your way up to the ice caves you will stop to admire Hohenwerfen Castle, an iconic hilltop castle used as the backdrop in many films. After you got your tickets for the ice caves (own expense) your guide will walk with you for around 20 minutes to the cable car, after a breathtaking 3 minute cable car ride you will walk another 20 minutes enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountains to the entrance of the Werfen Ice Caves, a vast underground labyrinth of icy caverns extending more than 26 miles (42 km) through the heart of Hochkogel mountain. As this is a private tour, you can tailor the pace to your needs. After experiencing this breathtaking natural wonder, journey on to Golling where you will stop near the fascinating late Gothic pilgrimage church of St. Nikolaus, to visit the beautiful Golling waterfalls, the falls plunge 75 meters down two giant steps into the valley below. The thunderous Golling falls are one of the provinces most attractive and romantic natural monuments.

Discover the enchanting Alpine village of Zell am See on a full-day private tour from Salzburg. Start your day with a visit to the impressive Burg Hohenwerfen, a medieval castle in Werfen. Explore the castle’s rich history and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding alpine landscapes. Then, head to the picturesque village of Zell am See, nestled beside the pristine Lake Zell, where you can take a leisurely walk along the lakefront promenade or explore the charming town center. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty in the heart of the Austrian Alps. Learn about various locations, witness unique attractions and bond with nature while hearing intriguing stories from a local guide.