My Incredible Stay at Naturhotel Forsthofgut in Austria
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this hotel is the best place I’ve ever stayed.
Last month I spent a few incredible days in the Austrian Alps to visit Naturhotel Forsthofgut, a 5* luxury spa hotel located an hour from Salzburg. I’d seen this hotel time and time again on my Instagram feed and quickly added it to my list of bucket list stays.
When somewhere looks this good online, I’m always slightly hesitant that it won’t live up to its hype. But Naturhotel Forsthofgut exceeded all of my expectations.
About the hotel
Naturhotel Forsthofgut is a luxury spa hotel located in the hiking region of Leogang in Austria.
The hotel has been around for over 400 years, and has been run by the same family for five generations. During that time it’s grown from a humble guesthouse to an award-winning 5* hotel.
As with most hotels in the Alps, the main attraction here is the breathtaking views of the mountains. And whilst the views here are truly special, the facilities, service and cuisine at the hotel more than match them.
The hotel is a year round destination. In summer, you can enjoy beautiful hikes through the mountains, and in winter, the hotel is a fantastic ski resort, with runs for all levels, and a slope that leads directly into the hotel so you can ski-in ski-out.
First Impressions
The closest airport to the hotel is Salzburg International Airport, but thanks to the excellent rail network in the Alps, you can fly into Munich, Vienna and Switzerland and take a train to the hotel.
I landed in Munich airport bright and early and jumped on a 2 hour train straight to Salzburg.
I was then greeted by my friendly driver, Josef, who drove me the rest of the way. The journey took around an hour, but I could happily have stayed in the car for three. If you’ve never been to the Alps it’s difficult to convey just how beautiful it is.
I was visiting in summer, so there was only a hint of snow left at the very top of the mountains, and bright green meadows lined the road. It really does feel like a fairytale.
As I approached the hotel however, I was a little bit surprised. The pictures online make it feel as though the hotel is in the middle of nowhere, surrounded only by fields.
But you’re actually in a village, and there’s 3 hotels next door. You’ll need to drive through a car park to reach the entrance of Naturhotel Forsthofgut, but once you’re inside, you won’t give those other hotels a second thought.
You’re surrounded by panoramic mountain views and you very quickly forget there’s anyone else around. There’s no camera trickery at play here, the hotel has done an amazing job at creating a peaceful sanctuary.
As you make your way into the hotel you’ll spot your name scribbled on a blackboard, welcoming new guests arriving that day. I thought that was a lovely personal touch that set the tone for the rest of my stay.
I was then greeted by the friendly receptionist and offered a welcome drink before being given a tour of the hotel, which I always appreciate – it definitely helps to get your bearings before you check in.
Rooms
There’s 109 rooms and suites at the hotel, each one blending traditional Alpine style with modern interiors. The rooms fall into the following categories:
- Luxury suites
- Family suites
- Suites
- Double rooms
- Alpine hut
I stayed in a Nature Suite which had a spacious bathroom with double sink, a separate toilet, a large and very comfortable bed, separate seating area with a sofa, coffee table and armchair, and a huge television.
But what made this room so special was the incredible view over the hotel and the mountains. Outside I had a private balcony with a small table and two chairs.
Bright flowers perched on the edge of the balcony and framed an incredible view over the hotel’s main swimming pool. As I turned to my right, the imposing Austrian Alps made it feel as if I’d stepped into a postcard.
Having an incredible view from my room made my stay even more special, so if you’d also like a view, make sure you check the individual room description before booking.
If you’re travelling with children, the Family Suites can sleep up to 6 people. They have a main bedroom, two bathrooms, a living area, plus a separate bedroom with bunk beds for children.
You’ll spot a running theme throughout this post – Naturhotel Forsthofgut is extremely child-friendly. Although I don’t have children, I’ll definitely be returning when I do.
The two Luxury Suites are the best rooms in the hotel, each one with a spacious living area, free standing baths, and even a private sauna with views over the mountains.
If you’re looking for complete peace and quiet, you can even book their Alpine Hut. Although it’s owned by the hotel, it’s located a 15 minute drive away in a really relaxing location.
The hut has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and an oven, fridge, cooker and dishwasher so you can cook your own meals. It’s a great choice if you love hiking as you can join trails from your front door.
You’ll still have use of the hotel facilities when you book a stay here, but you’ll need to take a shuttle down to the hotel. For this reason, it wouldn’t be my first choice of accommodation, but it could work really well if you prefer a more peaceful stay.
Food and drink
A stay at Naturhotel Forsthofgut includes half board as standard so breakfast and dinner is included, as well as a buffet “afternoon tea” from 3-5pm.
Breakfast is a buffet that has everything you could ever want – cereals, breads, cheese, salad, meat, and you can also have eggs cooked to order.
The dinner menu changes daily but is always based around 3 options – Alpine, Regional and Vegan, and you can mix and match dishes between each one.
The afternoon tea selection also changes daily, and the amount available does vary a lot.
On my first day at the hotel it was substantial – with different hot meats, noodles, cheeses, salads and bread, but other days there was only a salad and a quiche.
If you don’t want afternoon tea, you can order from the a la carte menu, at an additional cost. I’d really recommend doing this at least once as the food is delicious. Surely it’s a crime to come to the mountains and not have a chicken schnitzel?
The hotel also has 3 a la carte restaurants if you ever fancy something different for dinner or lunch. 1617 serves traditional Austrian cuisine; this restaurant is designed to feel like a mountain hut and it has a really cosy feel to it.
Mizumi serves Japanese cuisine overlooking the main pool in the middle of the hotel. I think it’s better for lunch rather than dinner as you can really make the most of the views – I had lunch here during my stay and enjoyed sushi, gyozas and ramen alongside delicious cocktails.
And finally, “echt. gut essen” is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, where you can watch the chef prepare a 5 or 8-course tasting menu right in front of your eyes.
The ingredients for all the restaurants are sourced locally as much as possible, and everything is produced to an incredibly high standard. I promise you will not go hungry staying here! I didn’t leave the hotel once to eat, the offering is incredible.
For children, there’s a separate children’s menu available at breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner, and on the a la carte menus.
Spa
The first picture I saw of Naturhotel Forsthofgut was of its incredible natural swimming pool, with the mountains as the backdrop. It’s what made me want to stay there, so I had really high expectations ahead of my trip. And honestly, it’s even more impressive in real life.
The main feature of the hotel is the vast outdoor natural swimming pool, which is the perfect place for a refreshing dip.
It’s surrounded by greenery and it really does feel as though you’re swimming in a natural lake in the middle of the mountains.
During the day it’s the main place for swimming in the hotel, and there’s even paddle boards you can use in the lake, so it does get very busy. I’d recommend getting up for an early dip if you want to enjoy it without the crowds.
In the middle of the natural pool is the infinity lake pool, which is heated to 33°C. It has loungers around the outside so you can lie back and enjoy the incredible view of the mountains.
And just round the corner is the onsen pool, which is heated to a very toasty 42°C.
I absolutely loved this pool because it was a lot quieter than the others, and had seriously impressive views of the mountains.
But I tended to use it later in the day as it was just too hot in the midday sun. I imagine it would be amazing if you were visiting in winter.
Next to the onsen pool is a huge relaxation room, with sofas and comfy seats perfect for unwinding and taking in the views.
There’s also a lake sauna that’s heated to 90°C and has more incredible views of the mountains.
Gym
The fitness centre at Naturhotel Forsthofgut is open 24 hours a day, and the hotel also runs five classes daily, as well as having two personal trainers to help you with your workouts.
Adults only
As well as the incredible swimming pools and spa facilities open to all guests, there’s an adults-only spa that’s spread across three floors. I
absolutely loved this part of the hotel and I really appreciated the thought that went into providing a calming space without children.
This is where I spent the majority of my time as there was everything you could possibly want, including an outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool (heated to 36°C), sauna area which had multiple saunas including a steam bath, rock shower and an infrared cabin, plus two relaxation rooms with uninterrupted views.
That being said, this is definitely not an adults-only hotel. They cater extremely well to families so you should expect there to always be a lot of children during your stay.
If you’re looking for a more peaceful break, I’d recommend visiting outside of school holidays. I stayed at Naturhotel Forsthofgut in July and there were a lot of children.
It really didn’t bother me as the adults only facilities are so good, but it’s something to consider if you’d prefer a bit more peace and quiet.
What is there for children at Naturhotel Forsthofgut?
I don’t have children, so it’s not very often you’ll find me talking about family-focused activities at hotels, but I’d be doing a huge disservice if I didn’t talk about how incredible Naturhotel Forsthofgut is for children and families.
There’s a dedicated family area of the spa with an indoor swimming pool, children’s pool, slides, water fountains and even a family sauna that’s at a more acceptable temperature for families to enjoy.
Outside is a huge playground, with a rock climbing wall, slide, and even a petting zoo where children can pet donkeys, llamas, pigs, sheep, chickens, and bunnies.
This was even exciting for me at 30 years old so I can only imagine how much fun it would be for a child.
The hotel also has stables and an indoor and outdoor riding school for children, and adults to take lessons.
And lastly, you get free childcare for children over 2 in the kids club, which has a brilliant schedule of activities and entertainment.
Activities
The activities on offer at Naturhotel Forsthofgut are endless, from forest bathing to stargazing.
You can have private movie nights, enjoy sunrise hikes with a guide, take horse riding lessons, do cooking lessons or play a game of tennis at the hotels tennis courts.
In summer, you’ll get a free lift pass so you can enjoy hikes on the mountain, and in winter, the hotel provides a free ski pass service or toboggan rental.
Final thoughts
I genuinely don’t have anything bad to say about Naturhotel Forsthofgut, and if you’ve read my other hotel reviews you’ll know I’m always honest when there’s room for improvement.
It’s a truly exceptional hotel and one I hope to return to again and again.
