Looking for a child-friendly holiday destination in Austria? Discover Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer! This charming mountain village is located in the beautiful Salzburgerland and is perfect for families with (young) children. From adventurous hikes and a waterslide trail on the Natrunberg to cooling off in the Sommerstein swimming pool, there’s always something to do in Maria Alm in the summer. In this blog post, we share our tips for an unforgettable summer holiday in Maria Alm with children. You’ll find seven of the best activities to do in Maria Alm and the surrounding area, as well as tips for child-friendly accommodations and restaurants.
Maria Alm in Austria: the ultimate family destination!
Looking for a fun and child-friendly destination in Austria, we stumbled upon the small village of Maria Alm. It took some searching, as there are so many beautiful mountain villages in Austria, and we’re not real skiers. But Maria Alm turned out to be a bull’s-eye! Walking into the village from our apartment, it felt like we’d stepped into the setting of The Sound of Music; a beautiful, high-rise church against the jagged shapes of towering mountains, surrounded by green meadows. And it’s also very atmospheric, cozy, and child-friendly!
Maria Alm, officially Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer (Maria Alm on the Steinernen Meer), is truly an ideal destination for a family trip to Austria. It’s perfect for a winter ski holiday, but also absolutely perfect for a summer getaway, the season we explore Maria Alm. The lift that takes you to the top of Natrunberg Mountain is right in the center. From here, there are plenty of child-friendly activities to enjoy! The same applies to the lifts and mountains in the nearby villages like Dienten and Mülbach. You’ll also find many lovely family hotels in Maria Alm. Thanks to the free HochkönigCard, you’ll also enjoy many benefits.
We highly recommend a summer holiday in Maria Alm to everyone, whether you’re with or without children. We’re traveling with our 2.5-year-old son and our four-month-old daughter, so below you’ll find plenty of tips for a trip to Maria Alm with children. But if you’re traveling without children, don’t just click away. There’s plenty to do in Maria Alm for you too, such as the many beautiful hikes and delicious restaurants we mention in this blog.
What is the HochkönigCard in Maria Alm?
The HochkönigCard is a card you receive upon arrival if you stay at a participating accommodation in Maria Alm or the surrounding villages. The card is free and gives you access to various benefits during your stay. So, it’s worth checking in advance whether your accommodation participates in this system.
With the HochkönigCard, you can enjoy free use of the summer mountain lifts in the region, regional public transport, and discounts on various attractions, swimming pools, and activities.
The 7 best things to do with kids in Maria Alm and the surrounding area!
Below you’ll find the seven best things to do in Maria Alm with and without kids! All 7 of these sights in Maria Alm are perfect for a summer holiday in Maria Alm!
1. Visit the beautiful village of Maria Alm itself
Maria Alm itself is a genuinely charming village surrounded by high mountains. A visit to the town is worth it, not only because it’s beautiful, but also to experience the cosy atmosphere. There are lovely restaurants with cosy terraces and even a beautiful concept store (Maria & Josef).
Restaurants in Maria Alm:
Delicious food is excellent in Maria Alm! We stopped by Herzogin das andere wirtshaus (luxurious and chic) for wine and snacks, had a long lunch at Bäckerei Unterberger (surprisingly delicious and something a bit different), and enjoyed a typical Austrian meal at Almer Bauernkasten (a family-friendly restaurant in Maria Alm).
Also fun: in summer, when the weather is nice, there’s a village evening every Tuesday evening. Live music and other performances, drinks, and tasty snacks are available.
Maria Alm with kids tip: Sommerstein swimming pool
Just outside the centre of Maria Alm, you’ll find the beautiful “Erlebnisbad Sommerstein” swimming pool. This outdoor pool is free with the HochkönigCard and has a fun area for toddlers and a lovely lawn. Perfect for a dip on a hot day in Maria Alm!
2. Have fun with the whole family on the Natrun mountain in Maria Alm!
From Maria Alm, you’ll find yourself at the foot of the Natrun mountain. This mountain is also called the Prinzenberg Natrun because the Prinzensee lake is located on top. The Natrun cable car takes you almost to the top of the hill, where there are all sorts of fun activities to do.
What can you do on the Natrun mountain in Maria Alm?
1. Cool off and throw rocks in the Prinzensee lake
Just a 10-minute walk from the cable car, you’ll find the Prinzensee lake. This artificial mountain lake is surrounded by higher peaks. It’s beautiful to see and great for cooling off. Or, as our son did, for throwing rocks.
Note: it says you can go up to the Prinzensee lake with a stroller, and that’s possible, but the route is quite steep, so you’ll need to push hard and slow down a lot on the way back.
2. Hike several child-friendly routes on the Natrunberg
There are several fun hikes on the Natrunberg, including family-friendly walks and more challenging routes. Below are two options. Also, read our blog about the best family hikes in Maria Alm and the surrounding area (coming soon).
Family circular walk on the Natrunberg
Around the mountain, you’ll find a relatively short 4-kilometre walk that passes three different restaurants with playgrounds. This walk takes about 2 hours. You can collect stamps at the restaurants along the way. If you extend the route and also walk down the mountain past two restaurants, you’ll have a full stamp card and can pick up a crown and colouring book at the tourist office in Maria Alm.
Note: This walk is indicated as stroller-friendly, but this is only partially the case. We recommend using a back carrier instead of a stroller for this route.
Slide route
A really cool slide route runs along part of the mountain. Slide down part of the mountain on five long and steep slides! Great fun with kids! Please note: children are recommended to be at least 6 years old and wear thicker, smooth trousers (joggers). As a parent, you can enjoy the slide or walk along the adjacent path.
Note: Not suitable for strollers!
3. Visit the best playgrounds at the restaurants on the mountain in Maria Alm
On the Natrunberg and along the route down, there are several great restaurants with beautiful playgrounds! And here in Maria Alm, they know how to make restaurants fun for parents too; some restaurants are incredibly trendy and beautiful. Think live music, a surprising menu, and good wine or cocktails.
If you walk the family circuit, you’ll pass the following restaurants with playgrounds:
Tom Almhütte
As soon as you exit the cable car, you’ll see the playground with a stunning view and the lovely Tom restaurant. With a trampoline, slide, and swings, the kids will have a blast! The restaurant itself is very trendy! There’s an extensive menu and sometimes live music. Prices are a bit higher, but the good service, delicious food, and lovely location more than justify it. Tom Almhütte is owned by the same people as several other lovely restaurants and hotels in the area, and you can tell they really understand what young parents need! Click here for the location of this restaurant in Maria Alm.
Glammergut
About a ten-minute walk from the cable car, you’ll find the Glammergut. A lovely mountain restaurant with a huge playground and marble run. Here, too, you’ll find a lovely terrace full of sun and views. The menu is fairly standard but also budget-friendly. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Maria Alm.
Jufenalm Boho
Jufenalm is currently undergoing major renovations, making this mountain restaurant and hotel even more luxurious than it already was. Previously, there was a lovely playground, children’s cable car, and a petting zoo. These are now less accessible due to the renovation. In addition, there’s a large restaurant with a beautiful view and a lovely outdoor terrace. Unfortunately, the service left a bit to be desired; we understand this has been happening more often in the past few months. And since the prices are very high, we would recommend you only return here once the renovations are finished and the peace and quiet has returned. It’s an hour’s walk from the cable car; click here for the location. And click here to book a (beautiful) room at the hotel.
Postalm
This traditional mountain restaurant is located on the way down. There’s a small playground with some goats, chickens, and rabbits. They also have a simple menu with tasty dishes and friendly service. With low prices, this is a really accessible place and a nice break on the way back to Maria Alm. Click here for the location of this restaurant on the Natrun mountain.
4. Soar high among the trees in the climbing forest
Great fun if your children are a bit older than ours, or if you’re a fan of heights yourself: the Natrun Climbing Forest. Several courses lead you past the tall trees on the Natrun mountain. Just behind the TOM Almhütte restaurant, you’ll find a mini climbing park for toddlers.
5. Mountain biking down the Natrun mountain
It’s possible to take the Natrun gondola with mountain bikes and then cycle down a challenging course. We didn’t do this ourselves because we’re travelling with young children, but we’ve heard good things about it. With the HochkönigCard, you can even take free technique lessons.
3. Toni’s Alpine Playground: Family fun at the Mülbach Cable Car
About a 25-minute drive from Maria Alm, you’ll find the village of Mülbach. Here, too, you’ll find beautiful mountains with a cable car. Be sure to take the cable car up (called the Karbachalm) because, besides stunning views, you’ll also find lots of fun activities:
Toni’s Alpine Playground + Hiking Trail:
This is a large playground with a restaurant. You’ll find a sandbox, marble run, water play area, and slides. But that’s not all; along Toni’s Family Trail, a 2-kilometre route, you’ll find all sorts of play equipment. It’s a great way to take a walk with kids. This trail is suitable for strollers, but it’s a bit of work, to be honest.
Toni’s Marble Run
From Toni’s Almspielplatz, a hiking trail of about 2 km runs past a series of marble runs. It’s really cool how it’s designed! The trail runs from the Karbachalm restaurant to the Fellersbachalm restaurant, descending about 140 meters and then climbing back up. It’s not stroller-friendly.
Tip: You can get your wooden marble stamped at the start—great fun!
Mountain carts down the mountain:
With go-karts, you can race all the way down from the top of the mountain. It’s a 6.5-kilometre trail. It’s free, but we skipped it because our children are still too young.
Hike to Spechersee and Schneeberg
Looking for a slightly longer hike? Consider hiking to the top of the Schneeberg. This trail is about 2 kilometres long, ascending from 1600 meters to 1921 meters. The walk is easy to do and follows parts of the Family Trail and the Spechersee lake. We found the latter a bit disappointing, so don’t bother trying it for that. The views along the route, with towering, bare mountain peaks in the distance, are absolutely worth it!
Note: the trail is advertised as stroller-friendly, but it really isn’t! We went as far as the lake and then turned around.
4. Slide down the toboggan run in Saalfelden (Summer Toboggan Run)
One of the highlights of our time in Maria Alm was the toboggan run near Saalfelden. This fantastic toboggan run, called the Summer Toboggan Run, is free to ride once with the Hochkönigcard and has no minimum age. After taking the chairlift up, you descend over 300 meters on a 1.6-kilometre course. Awesome! Click here for the location of the Summer Toboggan Run in Biberg, Saalfelden.
Note: If even a little rain falls or is forecast, the run is closed. This is because the chairs are not secured and can’t brake with water on the run. We went to the toboggan run several times when it was dry, but because rain was threatening, we weren’t allowed to use it. So calling ahead is a good idea: (+43 6582 72173).
5. Swing at the Summer Swing Park (Schaukelpark Hochkönig) in Dienten
Just opened, you’ll find the brand new Summer Swing Park in the mountains of Dienten. This is a large playground with several beautiful swings that take you high above the mountaintops.
Unfortunately, we were unlucky when we got here. While the weather in the valley wasn’t great, but good enough for a playground, it was freezing cold at the top of the mountain, and you couldn’t see more than 5 meters ahead because of the fog. So we didn’t play or swing here. So here’s a tip for you: check the cable car webcam to see what the weather is like. You’re much higher up here and in a spot where it’s colder and rainier than in Maria Alm.
You can reach the Schaukelpark by taking the Hochmais lift (chairlift) in Hintertal or by taking the Gabühel lift (cabin lift) in Dienten.
6. Visit the Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See
The famous ski resort of Zell am See is only a half-hour drive from Maria Alm. The town itself is apparently quite charming and beautifully situated on Lake Zell, a deep blue lake. However, we decided to focus on the mountains surrounding Zell am See. We took the Schmittenhöhebahn (cable car) up and disembarked at an altitude of 2,000 meters! It was refreshingly cool and especially impressive: on one side, you see the blue Lake Zell, and on the other, the snow-capped peaks of the Hohe Tauern and the Kitzsteinhorn. The Hohe Tauern is a national park with high peaks, including the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain. The Kitzsteinhorn is a glacier where you can ski year-round.
There are several great hikes to be had here. We walked the Sisi Loop Trail. A short 1 km walk that passes the mountain station and tells us more about Empress Sisi. Afterwards, we walk to one of the nicest mountain restaurants of this entire trip: the Eder Hütte.
Note: Access to the Schmittenhöhebahn is not included in the HochkönigCard. We bought our lift tickets online a day in advance, with a 15% discount. This is easily done through this website. We paid €36 per person, not a small price, but considering the views and the hiking opportunities, we thought it was absolutely worth it.
7. Admire the natural beauty of the Seisenbergklamm: a gorge with waterfalls
Looking for something completely different than playgrounds and hiking in the mountains? A half-hour drive from Maria Alm is the Seisenbergklamm. A gorge full of caves, caverns, and enormous waterfalls! A big surprise for us, a real change of pace and ideal on a day when the weather isn’t great!
From the entrance, you walk up through the gorge, climbing higher and deeper into the gorge on wooden platforms and steps. The sound of the raging water flowing beneath you gets louder and definitely adds to the thrill of walking here (I found it quite nerve-wracking at times, Ries and Floris loved it). After half an hour, you reach the end and can turn around, but it’s even more fun to walk the route in a circle and return to the entrance via a beautiful, easy mountain hike. Within a few minutes, you’ll be in a completely different world, with a beautiful valley below you and the peaceful sounds of nature.
The Seisenbergklamm is ideal for walking with (slightly older) children. Keep in mind that it’s not suitable for people with disabilities or strollers, and that it’s much cooler due to the cold water. You might get a bit wet, and the route is quite narrow, and you might have to duck occasionally. We walked with a back carrier, and that was fine. There’s a €7 entrance fee (children €4.70, and children under 3 are free). This is the location of the Seisenbergklamm Gorge, where parking is also free.
Lifts near Maria Alm
With the Hochkönigcard, you have free access to the six lifts in Maria Alm and the surrounding area. Please note that not all of these are open daily. Most lifts are also closed in spring and autumn, so keep this in mind if you plan to visit Maria Alm during the spring, May, or autumn holidays.
Below is some brief information about the lifts.
Summer lift in Maria Alm:
- Natrunbahn: gondola lift, open every day, located in the town center.
- Abergbahn: gondola lift, open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, located in Unterberg.
- Hochmaisbahn: chairlift, open Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, located in Hinterthal.
Summer lift in Dienten:
- Gabühelbahn: gondola lift, open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, located in Dienten
- Bürglalmlift: chairlift, open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, located in Dienten
Summer lift in Mühlbach:
- Karbachalmbahn: gondola lift, open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, located in Mühlbach
The best hotels and accommodations in Maria Alm
There’s a vast selection of excellent accommodations in Maria Alm (also known as Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer). From luxury hotels to family apartments and beautiful children’s hotels. Below you’ll find three beautiful and child-friendly accommodations in Maria Alm. And click here for an overview of all hotels in Maria Alm. Did you know that there’s also a Landal/Roompot Park right in the heart of Maria Alm? Click here for more information!
Apartments Renberg €€
We stayed in a spacious, five-person apartment at Renberg. It had a large living room, a lovely balcony, and two lovely bedrooms. There’s also a sauna and gym. Matthias, the owner, is incredibly friendly! Prices start from €167 per night.
Die Hochkönigin €€€€
This beautiful four-star family hotel is located right in the center of Maria Alm. It features a rooftop pool, an indoor pool, a spa, and a gym. Families can choose from family rooms and a lovely indoor playground. Prices start from €432 per night, including breakfast and dinner.
Eder Frida (Tante) €€€€
Want to truly immerse yourself in a children’s paradise? Then book a stay at Tante Frida. The rooms are even designed with children’s eyes in mind! There’s a go-kart track, indoor and outdoor pools, a cinema, and much more for kids! From €425 per night (all-inclusive)
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