Bus Hire in Gmunden

Gmunden sits at the northern end of the Traunsee, the deepest lake in Austria, where the lake narrows and the Traun river runs north through the town towards Wels and the Danube. The town is best known for the Orth Castle, which stands on a peninsula in the lake on timber piles, one of Austria's most photogenic water castles, and for the Gmunden ceramic tradition, which has produced the distinctive green-and-white decorated pottery since the 17th century.

The Traunsee is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Traunstein, a steep limestone tower, reflected in the water to the east. The lake is warm enough for swimming from June to August and the Salzkammergut touring circuit connecting Gmunden to Bad Ischl and Hallstatt to the south is one of the most popular coach routes in the Austrian lake district.

Orth Castle and the Lakefront

Orth Castle, the Seeschloss Ort, has a mainland section on a small peninsula and a lake section on a timber-pile island connected by a footbridge. The island section was used as a filming location for the Schlosshotel Orth television series, which gave it national recognition. The lake promenade in front of the town is the social centre in summer, with the Gmunden tramway, one of the oldest electric trams in Austria still in regular service, running along the waterfront. Group visits to the town combine the castle, the promenade, and the ceramics museum.

Getting to Gmunden

Linz Airport (LNZ) is around 70 kilometres north, about one hour by coach. Salzburg Airport (SZG) is around 85 kilometres south-west, about one hour by coach. The town is on the Salzkammergut railway from Salzburg via Bad Ischl, and is also reachable from Linz by the Tramway Gmunden line. Most groups arrive from Salzburg, Linz, or as part of the Salzkammergut touring circuit starting in Bad Ischl.

The Salzkammergut Circuit

From Gmunden south, the Traunsee road passes through Traunkirchen, where a historic pilgrimage church hangs above the water on a rock, and continues to the lake end at Ebensee. From there, the route continues to Bad Ischl, the imperial spa town where Franz Joseph spent his summers, and onwards to Hallstatt and the salt mine. This full circuit covers around 80 kilometres and is one of the classic Austrian coach tours. The narrowest sections of road around Hallstatt require careful planning for large coaches.

Popular Day Trips from Gmunden

What Bus Hire Costs in Gmunden

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Gmunden runs around 520 to 910 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 650 to 1,160 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 780 to 1,380 EUR per day. Gmunden sees summer lake-tourism demand from June to August; the Traunsee area is a popular day-trip destination from Salzburg and Linz and groups tend to book two to three weeks ahead. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your details for a free quote.

Services Available in Gmunden