The Wagrain Guide
Wagrain is a picturesque town, but above all a popular ski resort located approximately 70 km south of Salzburg in the district of St. Johann im Pongau. Wagrain is located in a picturesque valley right in the center of the so-called Salzburger Sportwelt. Here you will find the unique Wagrain G-Link cable car, in operation since the winter season 2013/2014, which connects this resort with the equally well-known town of Flachau. Wagrain was even nominated to host the Winter Olympics. After a day of skiing, you can visit the Amadé water world with a wellness center and a wide selection of attractions for children and adults right in the city.
Accommodation in Wagrain
Wagrain, due to its abundant year-round visitors, is very well equipped in terms of accommodation capacities. We would like to offer you over 200 apartments, hotels, guesthouses or villas/houses, and then, especially in the summer season, popular farms. Wagrain has several very nice four-star hotels offering a high standard of services, pleasant facilities, wellness centers and also hotel restaurants where, apart from breakfast, specialties of Austrian cuisine are served. We would like to mention the Hotel Edelweiss, for example, with its elegant rooms and location near the slopes of Ski Amadé. We can also recommend hotels suitable for family holidays such as Aktiv- & Family Hotel Alpina or Hotel Wagrainerhof. Apartments are still the most sought after accommodation, both by individual tourists and families with children or larger groups of people. Knappensteig Appartements provide modernly furnished apartments near the "flying" Mozart cable car and the Ski Amadé area.
History of Wagrain
The first mention of the town of Wagrain dates from 1243. It was mentioned in the files of the Archbishopric of Salzburg. The name is composed of two words, wac meaning moving water and the second part rein meaning rain. The original name of the town was Wakrein, then Wachrein, but also Wakchrain. It is interesting to note that Protestants lived in the city for the most part, although the city fell under the Catholic Archbishopric of Salzburg. Almost 80% of the population went into exile precisely for these reasons.
Transport to Wagrain
If you like to travel by train, there is also this option to go to Wagrain. From a time point of view, traveling by train is more demanding and you need to expect transfers most often in Linz or Salzburg. Wagrain, unfortunately, does not have a train station. The nearest one is located in St. Johann im Pongau, from where there are regular bus connections to Wagrain. Transport in Wagrain is provided only by buses, in the winter season then ski buses, which are free. It is also possible to rent bicycles in local rental shops, which are a popular means of transport for mainly arriving tourists. The city center is not very large, so you can easily walk through it.
Skiing and other activities in Wagrain
Wagrain mainly attracts winter sports enthusiasts with skiing in the foreground. It belongs to the extensive and largest Austrian ski resort Ski Amadé. The Wagrain resort itself offers over 20 km of slopes. But it also offers activities for fans of snowboarding. There are ski schools and nurseries for the little ones, but also for beginners. The center is equipped with both cabin and chairlifts and, of course, classic lifts. As for monuments, you will find two nice churches here, the Gothic parish church and the church of St. Francis. The city center is made up of main streets lined with restaurants, cafes and various shops with seasonal goods and souvenirs. The local water world Wasserwelt Wagrain, where you can find all kinds of pools, whirlpools, water slides and other water attractions, is a popular place all year round. In the summer season, Wagrain and its surroundings are a great place for cycling, mountain hiking, but also for golf or boating. Near Wagrain is the beautiful lake Zauchensee, where you can enjoy water sports or go fishing.