Five-Star DAS EDELWEISS: A Dream Resort Less than an Hour from Salzburg

DAS EDELWEISS Salzburg Mountain Resort is a hidden gem less than hour by car from Salzburg. The award-winning five-star resort is located in one of Austria’s most beautiful valleys. The resort is perfect for outdoor and wellness enthusiasts who appreciate the unspoiled natural beauty of nature.

Das Edelweiss started out 40 years ago as a small pension with 14 rooms and a café in Grossarl. Today, the five-star resort is a cutting-edge modern hotel. It is managed by Karin and Petter Hettegger, the third generation to do so. They are part of the 14 family members who are actively involved in looking after their guests.

The family has turned Das Edelweiss into one of the top wellness hotels in Austria. It is a true paradise for nature lovers and those seeking relaxation and appeals to a wide variety of guests. They range from young families to older adults who are walkers, nature fans, wildlife lovers, and outdoor sports adventurists. Wellness travelers seeking relaxation also enjoy the hotel’s outstanding spa facilities.

My husband and I visit the hotel for its beautiful location and its world class wellness facilities. But, most guests staying at the hotel enjoy the many hiking and biking trails during the spring, summer, and fall.

Winter sports lovers enjoy the area’s beautiful snow-covered mountains. The hotel is a favorite because of its ski in, ski out feature. It is conveniently located just steps from the valley station of the panoramic gondola lift.

While the hotel can make arrangements for transportation, I suggest renting a car and driving to the hotel. The stunning scenery makes the short 40 mile drive from Salzburg to Grossarl very pleasant.

When arriving by car, you will find the hotel tucked into the mountainside in the center of the village. Drive directly into the free underground parking garage. A valet warmly greets you there, unloads your luggage and whisks you up in the elevator to reception,

Click on any photo to enlarge and see a slide show.

Das Edelweiss’s huge reception area and lounge provides a real “wow factor” when you first enter. The urban-Alpine design incorporates local stone, wood, parquet flooring, contemporary furniture and geometric lighting. An ultra-modern slimline fireplace separates the reception area from the Alpine Lounge and dynamic backlit Alpinbar.

Upon arrival, guests are offered a welcome glass of sparkling rose. It is nice to relax and enjoy your drink in the lounge. Meanwhile, reception staff quickly finish the registration process. Afterwards, guests are then given a tour of the hotel and shown their room.

Rooms And Suites

Das Edelweiss offers a wide range of rooms from standard double rooms to a penthouse. The luxurious suite on the eighth floor features a private pool on the terrace as well as a Finnish sauna.

Our room was a nice Junior Suite on the 4th floor of the new panorama wing. The sleek room features light woods with contemporary lighting. The beautifully illuminated stone and wood bathroom features twin sinks, a large rain shower and heated floors. The separate WC has a high tech toilet and a small sink.

Floor-to-ceiling sliding windows in the room open to a large balcony. The balcony includes a table with two chairs. There are also two lounge chairs offering lovely views of the surrounding valley and mountains. I find relaxing in one of the lounge chairs in the peaceful surroundings very restful.

Mountain Cuisine

Edelweiss Mountain Cuisine is the main dining room of the hotel. It is divided into several smaller cozy rooms, each room having a different decor. A wonderful breakfast buffet, afternoon snack and dinner are served here and are all included in the hotel’s room rate.

The variety and presentation of the food at the breakfast buffet is exceptional. There is a well appointed juice bar. The juice bar has a nice choice of different fruits and vegetables available to create freshly squeezed juices and smoothies.

There is also a bread corner, a meat, sausage and cheese section, a made-to-order egg station and more. I would suggest not missing out on the freshly baked morning pastries, they are outstanding.

In the evening, guests start their meals with selections from the salad and appetizer buffet. Afterwards, there are three different four-course menus to order from.

The options are regional, international and vegan. You can select any combination from the three. During our stay, we especially enjoyed many of the regional dishes that we had never experienced. One of our favorites was a small fried meat pie served with the creamiest sauerkraut that we have ever had.

Additionally, the hotel has a separate ala carte steak restaurant and its own sushi bar. The Hettegger family also runs the two restaurants affiliated with the new panoramic cable car next to the hotel. There’s the Cantina & Pizza Inferno restaurant at the valley level. The Skylounge Wolke 7 is at the summit with stunning panoramic views.

Mountain Spa

After spending a day filled with outdoor activities, most guests find it’s very pleasant to unwind in the modern spa. The 7000 sq meter Edelweiss Mountain Spa is incredible. My husband and I think the spa facilities are one of the nicest we have encountered in all our years of traveling,

The huge spa spans five floors and is divided into adults-only and family wellness sections. The sixth floor has an infinity pool with a wonderful view of the peaceful valley.

• The adults-only area features a large panoramic sauna, an aroma steam bath and an infra-red cabin. There is a hot tub and an outdoor brine pool to relax in. Additionally, there is an infinity pool with views of the mountains. Several quiet relaxation rooms are available, each more beautiful than the other. 

• The family section has an indoor pool with a baby and toddler area. It has several saunas, steam bath, infrared cabin, and a whirlpool. The family spa has its own relaxation areas and an outdoor sports pool. There’s also a popular kids club with play options for children aged three and up. The favorite feature has to be the water park with five huge water slides over three floors.

• There’s also a SPA Bistro on the 3rd floor. It is the perfect place for a snack or refreshing drink in the afternoon. What is nice is that you don’t have to change from your fluffy spa bathrobe.

Nearby Area Attractions

During your stay, I would suggest taking a couple of day trips. It is the perfect opportunity to explore some of Salzburger Land’s more interesting sights.

• Visit Zell am See, which is 50 miles from the hotel. It is a charming town perched on the edge of the crystal clear waters of Lake Zell. 

• Just a 15 minute drive from the heart of Zell am See-Kaprun is the impressive Sigmund-Thun Gorge. A specially designed, family-friendly trail lets you walk along a series of sturdy wooden boardwalks and bridges.to see the powerful force of the water. The route takes around 30 minutes to finish.

• Also from Zell am See, I recommend that you drive the 30 mile long mountain road, the Grossglockner. It is the world’s highest and most famous alpine road with 36 hairpin bends. The famous road takes you into the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria’s largest national park. All along with way, there are pullovers where you can park and admire the fantastic views. Believe me, it is an experience that you will never forget. (The High Alpine Road is open from the start of May until the start of November. In the winter months the High Alpine Road is closed because of snow.)

Best Time To Visit

I believe that any time of the year would be nice to stay at Das Edelweiss. It really depends on whether you are a hiker or winter sports enthusiast. We visited twice in the fall months of September and October. It is a wonderful time to visit the region. It’s late enough in the season to escape the summer crowds. The weather is still warm enough for outdoor activities and to appreciate the beauty of the Alpine landscape. What is especially nice is that it is also off season, so the prices are lower.

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DAS EDELWEISS Salzburg Mountain Resort offers guests everything they would want in a hotel. We were very impressed on our first visit and our second stay was just as memorable. The hotel’s beautiful facilities, traditional mountain food, and welcoming and friendly staff make it very special. If you have never been to the Austrian Alps, plan a trip and stay at DAS EDELWEISS Salzburg Mountain Resort. You won’t be disappointed.