A nature-focused mountain hotel at the foot of Leogang’s Asitz, combining the extensive waldSPA, regional and Japanese dining, family facilities and nearby skiing.
Naturhotel Forsthofgut in Leogang is one of Austria's best family hotels and a serene forest spa retreat, and its story begins in 1617, when it was a simple farm and forestry estate on the slopes above the village. The Schmuck family arrived in 1905, and five generations later it has grown into one of Austria's most beloved five-star hotels. It is a place where nature leads everything: Europe's first "waldSPA", or forest spa, a natural swimming lake with views of the Leogang mountains, food rooted in the land and an exceptional welcome for families. It manages to be both a superb family resort and a serene retreat for couples.
Location: Leogang, Austria
The hotel sits at around 850 metres in the district of Hütten, about four kilometres from the centre of Leogang in Austria's Salzburger Land. It stands on the lower slopes of the Asitz mountain, surrounded by meadows and private woodland, facing the jagged limestone peaks of the Leoganger Steinberge.
Leogang is part of the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, one of Austria's largest ski areas, with more than 270 kilometres of pistes. Leogang railway station is five minutes away by car, and Salzburg Airport is around an hour's drive. The hotel is open year-round, and in summer, Leogang is one of Europe's leading mountain-biking destinations.
Rooms and suites at the Forsthofgut
The hotel has around 110 rooms and suites, built from natural materials such as wood and stone, with balconies and mountain views. The range is impressive: cosy doubles, Garden Loft Suites, family suites with separate children's rooms and bunk beds, and the new two-storey Berg Loft Suites, opened in 2025, which offer arguably the most spectacular views of the Leoganger Steinberge, some with private saunas. For complete seclusion, there is a standalone Alpine Hut.
Family rooms are thoughtfully equipped with cots, baby-changing facilities and separate sleeping areas, while couples can choose quieter suites away from the family areas.
Facilities at the Forsthofgut
The waldSPA is the heart of the Forsthofgut, inspired by the healing power of the forest. It is divided into separate areas. The adults-only spa includes an infinity pool, saunas, relaxation rooms and the waldSPA Lakehouse, with treatment rooms, a fireplace lounge and waterbeds overlooking the natural swimming lake. The waldSPA Family & Kids area is a water world with heated pools, a 70-metre slide and family saunas, and its indoor pool is open 24 hours. waldSPA Health combines modern medicine with the power of nature. The hotel even has its own skincare line.
Food is a major strength. Breakfast is served from a lavish Genussmarkt, a farmers'-market-style buffet. Half-board guests enjoy a gourmet menu from three kitchen lines, alpine, regional and vegan, while three à la carte restaurants offer more: Restaurant 1617, serving Austrian classics in a farmhouse setting; Mizumi, a Japanese restaurant beside the lake; and an intimate fine-dining restaurant with a show kitchen. There is also a lunch restaurant, the Botanist Bar and a forest-themed wine cellar. Art lovers will find a work by Anselm Kiefer on display.
The hotel has direct access to the ski slopes in winter, a kids' club, a 30,000-square-metre garden and the waldLIEBE sustainability project, which supports the surrounding forest.
The mountain moment
The defining moment at the Forsthofgut is a swim in the natural lake, or a soak in the adults-only infinity pool, as the evening light falls on the Leoganger Steinberge. The limestone peaks glow gold and pink above the dark forest, and the only sounds are birds and the wind in the trees.
In winter, the joy is in skiing straight from the hotel into the vast Skicircus, then returning to the warmth of the spa. In summer, the Leogang Bike Park, which has hosted the Mountain Bike World Cup, is on the doorstep, along with hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails.
Why the Forsthofgut is one of the best mountain hotels
The Forsthofgut earns its place because it is one of the best family hotels in the Alps, without sacrificing peace and sophistication for adults. Its forest spa, natural lake, excellent food and genuine connection with nature set it apart, and the Schmuck family's hospitality and commitment to sustainability give it real heart.
It is large and lively in the family areas, but cleverly designed so that couples can find quiet corners. For families who want luxury, nature and activity in one place, it is hard to beat.
When to go to the Forsthofgut
The Forsthofgut is open year-round. Winter brings direct access to the Skicircus, with the season usually running from December to April and the busiest weeks at Christmas, New Year and February half-term. Summer is just as popular, with the natural swimming lake, the Leogang Bike Park and hundreds of kilometres of hiking trails, and July and August book up quickly with families. Couples looking for peace should consider late spring or autumn, when the adults-only spa is at its calmest.
Questions, answered
- Does Naturhotel Forsthofgut have adults-only areas?
- Yes. The waldSPA includes an adults-only area with an infinity pool, saunas and the Lakehouse, separate from the family water world.
- Can you ski from Naturhotel Forsthofgut?
- Yes. The hotel has direct access to the slopes of the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, with more than 270 kilometres of pistes.
- How far is Leogang from Salzburg Airport?
- Around an hour by car. Leogang railway station is five minutes from the hotel.
