Hotel Aberseehof

Abersee, which was formerly the name of the lake itself I believe, is the true Jewell of Wolfgangsee. St Wolfgang and St Gilgen may possess more restaurants, bike hires and paddle boarding opportunities, but in truth those locations reminded of Leicester Square: overrun with Gen Z tiktokers and people selling kitschy tat. Think little statuettes of men in Lederhosen instead of those hideous snowglobes of London. Anyway, the Abersee hotel perfectly mirrors the qualities of the area: welcoming, warm and without pretence. The rooms were lovely, the staff helpful and the schnitzel divine. The price is fair, although I erroneously booked a double room for 1 person, leading to a tragicomic scene in which I was asked to fill out a form for my non-existent wife. When I arrived for dinner, I felt slightly like the ghost at the feast, a lone Englishman swimming in a beef broth of Germanic sorts. However the friendly staff, reminiscent of the Von Trapp children, were supremely friendly and accommodating. When I foolishly opted for a dark ale, the waiter asked me if I would rather have a lager instead, which of course I did. It was touches like this that made the stay so pleasurable. Don’t feel like you’re missing out on the lake’s bountiful offerings just because you aren’t situated in the bustling metropoles of St Wolfgang or Gilgen. The ferry station is a 15 minute walk away, and the ferry journey across the waters to St Wolfgang is heavenly; If anything, the view from Abersee of St Wolfgang is far lovelier than St Wolfgang itself. Abersee is new kid on the block, and one day he will be king.