Writer: Helena Bergström
Updated: September 2026 | Untersberg just south of Salzburg offers fantastic views of the Alps and the surrounding landscape. The Untersbergbahn cable car takes you quickly up to an altitude of 1,776 meters, where hiking trails and magnificent views await. We went up on a glorious summer day – one of us enthralled by the view from the cable car and the other with our eyes firmly fixed on the floor …
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Untersberg in Salzburg
The Untersberg is a mountain range on the border between Austria and Germany. The highest peak is the Berchtesgadener Hochthron on the German side, at 1,972 meters above sea level. The Untersbergbahn, which starts just south of Salzburg, takes visitors up to the Geiereck mountain station at an altitude of 1,776 meters. From here, you can hike to the Salzburger Hochthron at around 1,852 meters.
Cable car to the top of the Untersberg
It was actually my (Helena's) suggestion to take the cable car to the top of Untersberg. But that was in fact before I realised it. how high up where the cable car actually runs. I had read that the view is amazing and thought "this is not to be missed", which is absolutely true. But huh, I'm even afraid of regular cable cars ...
The cable car has been transporting people to the top since 1961, and around 100,000 people make the journey every year. Not much to worry about, but logic has nothing to do with fear of heights. I stood in the centre and looked down at the floor for the whole trip. At the same time I heard Peter saying "wow" over and over again. So apparently the view from the cabin lift is amazing!
Finally at the top!
Nobody was more happy than me when, after ten minutes of travelling, we finally reached the top. Now I could also enjoy the fantastic view. The sky was blue (in most directions), it was 12 degrees centigrade and it really felt like you could see as far as possible.
Fantastic views
The view from the top was truly breathtaking! A green landscape and mountain peaks could be seen in all directions, including Berchtesgaden in Germany, where Eagle's Nest lies.
What can you do at the top?
From the mountain station where the lift stops, you can hike up to the summit at 1853 metres, or perhaps hike on in another direction. We settled for walking around for a while to get views in different directions. Absolutely beautiful up here! If you want something to eat or drink, there is also a restaurant at the station, and apparently even more places to eat around the mountains.
Getting to Untersberg
It is easy to get to Untersberg from Salzburg by public transport. For example, bus 25 goes to the valley station of the Untersbergbahn in Grödig/St. Leonhard, about 10 kilometers south of Salzburg.
If you have the Salzburg Card, both public transport in Salzburg and a return trip on the Untersbergbahn are included. Please check the current times for the cable car before your visit, as opening times vary throughout the year and the cable car also closes during certain periods for maintenance.
Film from Untersberg in Salzburg
Peter has put together a film from our visit to the Untersberg in Salzburg. Feel free to check it out!
More to see and do in the neighbourhood
While you're in the area, you won't want to miss out on discovering the beautiful city of Salzburg. There's also plenty more to see and do. Here are some tips:
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Visiting Robberg Nature Reserve in South Africa - at Plettenberg Bay
Nature experience in Uzbekistan - hiking in the mountains
Things to do in Innsbruck, Austria - 25 tips
Visiting Hrubá Skála in Bohemian Paradise, Czech Republic
English (UK) 
Svenska
Lena - gott för själen says:
Wow, I also have to say! So so beautiful! Yep, I would have gone 🙂
Hug Lena
18 July 2018 - 6:18
Helena says:
Yes, fantastically beautiful! 🙂
18 July 2018 - 10:04
4000mil says:
Cool, I love cable cars! Usually nice to have lunch at the top too if you have a good view. Maybe it will be the Alps next year for us.
18 July 2018 - 9:40
Helena says:
How nice to love cable cars! I'm kind of scared shitless, but I still go because I want to get to the top... 😉.
18 July 2018 - 10:05
Ama de casa says:
It's a bit scary with cable cars, but it's even scarier to go up so I go. Although I prefer chairlifts so you can rest your legs too - usually the cabins are standing room only.
Have a nice little Saturday!
18 July 2018 - 10:25
Helena says:
Chairlifts are ok if they are a bit closer to the ground I think, here it was very far down 😉.
18 July 2018 - 15:50
Steve says:
What a breathtaking experience. 12 degrees sounds tempting, something I never thought I would say in July. Here we have 27 right now.
18 July 2018 - 11:15
Helena says:
I understand that it can eventually be a bit too much of a good thing, i.e. the heat, in Sweden ...
18 July 2018 - 15:51
Petra says:
So beautiful!!! Like to ride the cable car a little tickling feeling;)
Go ahead and enjoy your wonderful trip!
/Petra
18 July 2018 - 13:53
Helena says:
It was a very ticklish feeling I thought 😉.
18 July 2018 - 15:52
Our Vantastic Travels says:
Some form of transport must be available for us "non-professionals" to get up to such high altitudes to enjoy the glory. Then I have to put my fear of heights in my rucksack and, as I said, if the sun shines, the view etc. will be the greatest benefit that day,
18 July 2018 - 14:03
Helena says:
Yes, I can agree. It's fantastic to get up there and the alternative, on foot, no that would not have been an option 😉 It is important to overcome the fear simply! 🙂
18 July 2018 - 15:53
Christian says:
Wow, what a view! Definitely worth the trip up!
18 July 2018 - 14:53
Helena says:
Yes, it was really worth it! 🙂
18 July 2018 - 15:54
BP says:
Incredibly beautiful! Good that you overcame your fear of heights and went up! The first thing I thought of is that I would also like to go up there in winter, when the Alps are covered in snow, preferably with a blue sky as a background. I am not afraid of heights and would obviously go up there.
12 degrees against our 33 today - well, I don't know;-)
18 July 2018 - 15:46
Helena says:
I'm sure it's beautiful in winter too! And yes, I am glad that I overcame the fear. Absolutely fantastic up there!!!
18 July 2018 - 15:56
Rolle o Carina says:
Would love to go up there and check out the great view!
Hope you checked the lines before travelling up 🙂 .
Take care....+31 here
18 July 2018 - 18:15
Helena says:
Check the lines? Huh, I do my best to ignore the fact that I'm sitting in a cable car 😉.
18 July 2018 - 23:39
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
I would have defied all fear of heights to get that view! How beautiful!
18 July 2018 - 18:40
Helena says:
You almost have to do it! Amazingly beautiful! 🙂
18 July 2018 - 23:41
Husisblogg says:
Wow, what an experience! But can understand that a person afraid of heights cannot enjoy the journey up as much. But I hope you can enjoy it at the top of the mountain.
18 July 2018 - 19:06
Helena says:
I can't really enjoy the journey up... But when I'm up there, I enjoy it! 🙂
19 July 2018 - 0:04
Matts Torebring says:
Now it would have been the beginning of March... skis on your feet, two metres of deep snow, +10 degrees, sunshine, five miles of views in all directions, the top restaurant serving a hot, delicious soup for lunch and in the evening a genuine veal schnitzel. "Then it is good to live".
18 July 2018 - 19:27
Helena says:
It also sounds wonderful! I like the Alps both in the summer and in the winter!
19 July 2018 - 0:04
Ditte says:
Lovely! And good that you challenged your fear and came up and could enjoy the view. Have been up here in the winter and it was also very beautiful. It was a clear and sunny day too. Skt but only +12. Stockholm has today at times had +32.
Wishing you continued good days.
18 July 2018 - 22:53
Helena says:
I can imagine that it can be really nice in the winter too!!!! The heat in Sweden now is absolutely incredible ...!
19 July 2018 - 0:05
Conny says:
Simply wonderful views!!!
19 July 2018 - 5:13
Helena says:
Really! 🙂
31 August 2018 - 16:32
Martin Blomqvist says:
If you had to choose between going up to the Eagle's Nest or the Untersberg, which was the better experience in retrospect? My son and I will not be able to do both on our short stop in Salzburg this summer.
Regards
Martin
27 April 2023 - 7:13
Helena says:
What a great question! Both are cool, hard to choose! Maybe I would choose Eagle's Nest anyway... But it's not an obvious choice, both places are exciting to visit!
13 May 2023 - 17:42