Ideas to save a rain sodden holiday in Austria

[Neolara]

We arrived in the beautiful, spectacular Austrian Alps 2 days ago.. Today, we can see about 100 meters ahead of us because of the rain. All mountains, glaciers and views hidden by clouds. It's not just drizzly rain. It's soaked-to-the-skin-in-5-mins rain. Thunder storms and pretty much non stop rain predicted for 6 of the next 7 days. Three teens and two adults. We're based in Zell am See.

Any ideas to help rescue the holiday?

Trip on train to Salzburg or Kitzbuehel, indoor pool (think there is a complex in Kaprun iirc)

Go to Salzburg and ride on the shallow boat that dances to Waltz music. It spins round and round in time to the music. I went for my birthday one year and it was amazing. Also Trick gardens are worth a visit if it's raining it won't matter because you get wet visiting anyway. There is a palace you can visit in Salzburg too. We bought a Salzburg card and you could visit as many attractions as you wished and use buses for 24 hours.

Swim in a lake. In the rain it's the most magical thing. Drink hot chocolate (with rum) afterwards. If you drive, try white water rafting, kayaking or canyoning. None of those mind the rain.

I agree with these, any activity where you get wet anyway is just as fun in the rain!

Leogang mining museum
Salzwelten Salzburg
Hallenbad indoor pool

Lamprechtshoehle - cave complex located next to the B311 road between Saalfelden and Lofer. If you don't have a car, the 260 bus from Zell am See (to Salzburg) stops there.

Lamprechtshöhle im Salzburger Saalachtal (lamprechtshoehle.at)

If you do have a car, the old silver mine at Hutten, near Leogang, is interesting. (You could take the train to Leogang and then a taxi to the mine, but you'd need to pre-book). You need to pre-book the guided mine tour. Home - Leogang Show Mine (schaubergwerk-leogang.com)

Veteran car museum in Kaprun.

Tauern Spa, Kaprun - excellent "wellness" complex with pools, saunas, relaxation areas etc. Be aware - some areas are "Adults Only" and are naked only.

Salt mines at Salzburg

Perhaps the ice-skating arena at Zell is open?

If you're going to get wet anyway, drive (or take the #260 bus) to Lofer and go white water rafting at Base Camp. Raftingtouren, Canyoning - Base Camp - Base Camp (base-camp.at)

Please don't swim outdoors if there's lightning! 😱

Oh no - I'm going there in a few weeks. I hope it improves by then 😂

@Neolara The forecast for Wednesday now doesn't look too bad.

Weather in the Alps changes all of the time - as you have already found out!

Good call. Unless the kite surfers and water-skiers are out. They'll get got first!

Swarovski Crystal World in Wattens is a lot of fun - I realise it doesn’t sound like it! A mad mix of stuff including some great indoor play areas. My kids love it.

Sometimes if you go up in the very high cable cars such as the one in kitzbuhel, you arrive above the cloud line and it is nice and sunny on the mountain top. You potentially could have lunch with views in the sunshine

You could visit the Tauern Spa for a relaxing day indoors. Or perhaps explore some local history at the Vogtturm City Museum. And if all else fails, a bit of shopping might lift the spirits.
Don't let the rain dampen your holiday.

Re: getting up above the clouds. OP, be sure to check the Kitzsteinhorn webcam channel on your hotel or apartment TV, as it can often be sunny at 3,000m, well above the rain clouds.

Thanks all for your suggestions. Much appreciated. As someone unthread has noted, the weather is very changeable. Today started in torrential rain, but now the sun has appeared after all despite the BBC weather prediction. We've also discovered that cable cars can take us above the clouds to cafes with hot chocolates and cream.

Visited kitzsteinhorn yesterday. Spectacular!

Any pictures op? Sounds wonderful.