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The Erlaufsee among forests, with reeds on the shoreUoaei1 · CC BY-SA 4.0

What to do · Mariazell

The Erlaufsee, Mariazell's lake by steam tram or on foot

Lake · half a day · walk free · steam tram in season and on Advent weekends

InformationWalk free
Price
Walk free
Duration
2 h 30
Season
All year; swimming and boat in summer
Who it's for
All ages
With a dog
On a lead

Mariazell's lake lies north-west of the village, on the border between Styria and Lower Austria, surrounded by forest with the Gemeindealpe behind. You get there by car, on foot along forest paths or, on some days, on the museum steam tram that leaves from Mariazell station; in summer the excursion boat Christina sails on the lake. In summer it is a bathing area; in autumn and winter, a quiet walk along the shore. The tram timetable changes every season: check it on their website.

As a familyWith a dog

Directions See all of Mariazell

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

One of the wood-panelled dining rooms with the tables set© Brauhaus MariazellBrewery pub and Styrian cooking on the main street

Brauhaus Mariazell

Restaurant · Mariazell · €€€€

What to order: the Wiener Schnitzel fried in clarified butter with potato salad, or the Steirisches Wurzelfleisch; for dessert, Bröselnudeln.

Wednesday to Sunday · Sunday midday only · on holiday until 18 November 2026
The restaurant's dining room with tables dressed in white© Hotel Goldene KroneOpposite the basilica, open all day on Sunday

Hotel Goldene Krone Restaurant

Restaurant · Mariazell · €€€€

What to order: an Austrian dish of the day or a Schnitzel after the visit to the basilica.

Saturday to Wednesday, 11:00 to 21:00 · Thursday and Friday closed
The dark-wood Berggasthof beside the top station, with snow in front© Mariazeller BürgeralpeUp top, next to the cable car station

Berggasthof Bürgeralpe

Restaurant · Mariazell · €€€€

What to order: the pork Wiener Schnitzel with chips, which in summer is included in a combined ticket with the cable car; in winter, something hot before the light trail.

Opens with the cable car · during the Lichterzauber, kitchen until 19:15

To stay nearby

The pink façade of the Hotel Drei Hasen on the main street© Hotel Drei HasenHotel

Hotel Drei Hasen

Family hotel on the main street · Saunas · Dogs allowed

Dogs welcome

Why we like it: Family hotel with 45 rooms on the Wiener Straße, a few steps from the basilica, with a sauna area, a large restaurant and dogs welcome.

View details
The façade of the Hotel Goldene Krone with flower boxes© Hotel Goldene KroneSmall hotel

Hotel Goldene Krone

Opposite the basilica · Restaurant downstairs · Holidays with dogs

Dogs welcome

Why we like it: Simple hotel on the Grazer Straße, right opposite the basilica, with its own restaurant open all day from Saturday to Wednesday. Welcomes dogs.

View details
A chalet's wooden living-dining room with large windows onto the valley© MontestyriaSmall hotel

Montestyria Chalets & Suiten

Chalets with private sauna · Outdoor pool heated all year · Own jetty on the Erlaufsee

Why we like it: Upper-range 4-star chalet hotel on the Kalvarienberg, 200 m from the centre: six chalets with sauna and fireplace, two suites, a heated pool and a jetty on the lake.

View details

Useful services

More to do nearby

Itineraries

Features in these plans

The Himmelstreppe train of the Mariazellerbahn at Wienerbruck station
Itinerary · 2 nights Two nights in Mariazell, three hours by train from Vienna on the Mariazellerbahn: basilica, Bürgeralpe and Ötscher Mariazell · 11 stops

Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/austria/styria/mariazell/things-to-do/erlaufsee