Adventures in Austria: Tobogganing in the Alps & a Day Trip to Salzburg
Spontaneous adventures are always the best ones… right?
My trip to Austria (or as the Germans call it, Österreich) was magical from start to finish. One of those unforgettable travel experiences that just unfolded naturally and somehow became one of the highlights of my time in Europe.
Originally, my friend Erin and I planned a simple day trip to Salzburg, Austria, since it’s so close to Munich, where we were staying for a week. But one evening at dinner, everything changed.
We met an American couple from Chicago who had just gone on a toboggan ride down a mountain in Austria. They showed us pictures, and we were instantly sold. Within minutes, we completely changed our itinerary so we could fit in this alpine adventure.
I’m not gonna lie, y’all, I am SCARED of heights, but that toboggan ride was — and still is — one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had in my life.
Alpine Views & Mountain Magic in Austria
In the photo just above, you can see the absolutely breathtaking view from the top of the mountain. It was one of those moments where you just stop and stare because it doesn’t feel real.
Coming from Minnesota, where we don’t have mountains, seeing the Austrian Alps felt surreal. Every time I visit mountainous regions in Europe, I’m reminded just how much detail and beauty God put into creation.
How to Get to the Toboggan Ride in Austria
If you’re planning your own Austria alpine adventure or toboggan experience, here’s how we got there:
- We took a train from Munich, Germany, to Salzburg, Austria, which took about an hour.
- From Salzburg, we took a bus for about another hour up into the mountains. The roads were extremely narrow, and I won’t lie — it was a little scary at times!
- Tickets were very affordable, around €6 (if I remember correctly).
- Let me know if you are interested in the name of the location!
- The toboggan ride down the mountain took about 10 minutes, although I went quite slowly (I was being cautious… and maybe a little nervous too 😅).
- We rode in small yellow go-kart-style sleds that felt like something out of a dream.
Hands down: one of the best experiences of my life.
Exploring Salzburg, Austria in One Day
After our mountain adventure, we turned the trip into a Salzburg day trip from Munich, stopping in the city on our way back to Germany.
Even though we only spent one afternoon in Salzburg, it was enough to completely fall in love with it. The old town is stunning — full of charm, history, and picture-perfect streets.
We enjoyed a refreshing Radler (a mix of beer and lemonade) and wandered through the cobblestone streets, soaking in the atmosphere.
We even saw people wearing traditional clothing like Dirndl and Lederhosen, which honestly felt like stepping into a postcard. Before moving to Germany, this is exactly what I imagined life here would look like — but surprisingly, you don’t really see traditional outfits like that in everyday German life. In Austria, however, it still felt very present and celebrated.
At one point, we saw an entire family dressed in traditional attire!
Austria Travel takeaways
Even though this was a spontaneous detour in our itinerary, it ended up being one of the most unforgettable parts of our entire trip.
From breathtaking Alpine views to thrilling toboggan rides and the charm of Salzburg, Austria, completely exceeded expectations.
If you’re ever in southern Germany or Munich, I highly recommend adding a day trip to Austria — you never know what spontaneous adventure might end up being the highlight of your journey.
