Mondsee — Moon Lake — is one of the warmest lakes in the Salzkammergut, reaching water temperatures of up to 25°C in summer. The town of Mondsee at its northern end is a pleasant market town with the imposing Benedictine basilica, a small museum of Neolithic pile-dwelling culture (the lake was a major Neolithic settlement area), and several decent restaurants. The lake is popular for sailing and windsurfing; the consistent afternoon breezes that come down from the Salzkammergut Mountains make it one of the better sailing venues in Austria.
Day trips from Salzburg pass through Mondsee — it's only 30 kilometres from the city, and the drive or bus ride along the Mondsee road follows the edge of the lake on a good day. The northern shores have several free bathing areas; the south end of the lake, less visited, has wilder, quieter beaches with mountain views.