14 Fun Summer Activities in Tyrol with Kids (Tirol, Austria)
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Are you thinking of visiting Austria with kids and are not sure what to expect or where exactly to go? We recommend skipping all the rest and heading straight to the Tyrol region. In this article, you can find out why. In addition, you can also read about where exactly to go and what to see and do in Tyrol with kids. Find out!
Tyrol (Tirol) region in Austria is one of the best holiday destinations for families with kids. Period. You have to experience it to appreciate what it truly means to travel to a place that is so focused on giving both adults and kids the best vacation ever.
We are just back from our summer family trip in Austrian Tyrol and now we finally understand why this region has been the favorite family vacation destination of many Germans, Dutch, and Belgians for many decades. Halfway through our holiday we already started making plans to come back…
And indeed, we did! This article was originally written after our first trip to Tirol with kids. We have re-visited several times later and expanded this guide to include all our favorite places and activities.
There are so many reasons to visit Tirol with kids that it requires a separate article. In the meantime, I want to tell you about some of the best things you can do in Tyrol with kids in summer. Find out!
The first time we visited Tyrol, it was in collaboration with Visit Tirol and we published a list of the best summer activities for families based on the recommendations that they gave to our family. However, we quickly realized that there is so much more to see and do in Tirol for families with kids than you could ever do in one trip, so we went back again, and again.
This list has been updated after each trip, to include all our favorite places and activities in Tyrol for families.
Still, even after a couple of trips, we just scratched the surface of what Tyrol has to offer. We loved every trip and will be definitely going back to the region again, so I might update this list with even more fun family activities in the future. But in any case, this should give you plenty of ideas on what to see and do during your family vacation in Austria.
So without further ado, below you can read about some of the very best places and unforgettable experiences that we recommend to everyone visiting Tyrol with children in summer. At the bottom of this post, you can also find a map indicating all the places mentioned here. Find out!
Here are some of the best things to do in Tirol with kids:
1. Alpine Coasters and Summer Toboggan Runs
Summer tobogganing is very popular in Tirol with at least 9 different alpine coaster routes in the region. I put it as our number one thing to do in Tyrol with kids, because 2 of our 3 kids chose it as their personal favorite activity (the other one voted for the adventure park – see below).
We tried one of the longest toboggan runs in Tyrol – a 1.3 km ride with 40 curves and turns down the scenic Marienberg mountain in Biberwier and just loved it.
We have done several alpine coaster rides in the past, but this one was simply the best. What makes it really fun is that it’s so long, so you have plenty of time to truly enjoy the ride.
It takes about 10 minutes to get to the top of the mountain by a chair lift from which you can admire the beautiful mountain scenery and check out the toboggan run from above. Once on top, you take a sled, get some instructions on how to use it, and set for a long thrilling ride down to the valley.
Don’t worry – it doesn’t go fast if you don’t want it to – you are always in complete control of the speed and can do it in a way that feels the most comfortable for you.
TIP: Ride carefully, keep your knees and elbows inside, and don’t underestimate the speed in the curves.
Practical information: You can find this toboggan run at Marienberg cable car in Biberwier. It’s open daily from mid May to mid October. You can find prices, opening times, and other info here. Our youngest kids are 7 and they were allowed to use a sled on their own, with adults in between them; younger kids can also share a sled with their parents.
Update: On our most recent trip to Tyrol with kids we tried two more toboggan runs. One in Serles in Stubai Valley and one in Zillertal. The one in Stubai is 2.8 km long and is so much fun! The Arena Coaster in Zillertal has some serious loops and feels like a rollercoaster ride in the mountains. Amazing for kids and adults! And, once again, this was our kids’ favorite activity of the entire vacation.
2. Highline 179 Suspension Bridge
Highline 179 is the world’s longest pedestrian rope bridge Tibetan style. It is 406 m (0,25 mile) long and connects Ehrenburg castle ruins (don’t miss!) with Fort Claudia (can also be visited, but requires a separate ticket).
Visiting this suspension bridge is without any doubt one of the highlights of any trip to Tyrol! It looks really high and a bit intimidating from the bottom, but once on top, it’s not scary at all. Its construction is such that you don’t really have to worry about coming here even with small children and the scenery is amazing. Must do in Austria, with or without kids!
Practical information: Highline 179 is open daily from 8 AM till 10 PM. You have to walk up the hill (15-20 min) in order to get to the bridge, but it’s a wide path and is easier than it looks at first sight. We saw families with strollers here as well. You can find more practical information for your visit here.
3. Adventure Parks
We just recently discovered adventure parks with kids for the first time and it has quickly become one of our favorite things to do as a family. Adventurous high ropes courses and zip-lining is such a great way to unplug and spend quality time with your kids!
In Tyrol we visited the adventure forest in Bichlbach. It has 5 courses of different levels of difficulty and a newly opened 90m (295 ft) long Flying Fox.
This adventure park is truly a place for the whole family. Even the easiest routes have some places that are a bit too high to reach for young kids, so adults have to go with them to be able to help where needed. That being said, it’s a really fun park where even the youngest kids can do quite a few really fun and more adventurous courses. Our boys loved it! Zip-lining on the Flying Fox was so much fun too!
Practical information: I asked at the park about the age limit and they told me that it’s quite flexible and depends on each child and their parents. Normally, it’s for kids from about 5-6 years old, but always with adult supervision. As I said, it’s a real family activity, so embrace it and you’ll have a wonderful day spent together with your children. You can find opening times and prices here.
4. Ice Caves & Ice Tunnels
Tyrolean mountains have some impressive glaciers. And there are quite a few places in the region where you can visit ice grottos and man-made ice tunnels.
Walking in an ice tunnel deep under the surface of the eternal snow is always a big hit with our kids. And it’s a real bucket-list experience for adults as well!
We visited two ice tunnels in Tyrol with our kids. The first one was a man-made Ice Grotto in Stubai Glacier. The other one – Natural Ice Palace under the Hintertux Glacier in the Zillertal region. Both are very different experiences and both equally fun for the whole family.
With young kids, it’s best to visit man-made ice tunnels as they are much easier accessible. Often, there are also kid-friendly educational activities as well. Whereas natural ice caves are better for families with somewhat older kids or with teenagers.
For example, the natural ice caves at Hintertux Glacier can only be visited with kids from the age of 6 and it’s a very adventurous visit indeed. You have to climb ladders and walk on slippery ice. Fun for older kids, but definitely not something for the little ones.
5. Family-friendly Hikes
As already said, Tyrol is truly a place for families, so you can find plenty of easy walking paths and family-friendly hikes. Often, there are all kinds of games and activities to keep the kids busy and interested along the way. It’s a perfect way to discover the beautiful mountain scenery of Tirol with your family.
We did several such hikes in Tyrol. Two of them in St. Anton Am Arlberg region. The first one was a visit to Verwall Valley (Verwalltal) – a recently opened mountain valley with walking and biking paths, a lake, suspension bridge, playgrounds, and lots of stories and activities for kids along the way.
There is a free shuttle bus running in the valley, so you can drive one way and walk the other. The road is also accessible to bikes and strollers.
The second one was an alpine Mutspuren Trail that can be reached by Gallzigbahn gondola, also in St. Anton.
This is a real mountain hike, so it’s a bit more challenging. However, it’s just about 5km in length and has lots of entertainment and playgrounds to keep the kids happy along the way.
TIP: No matter which area you are visiting in Tirol, they definitely have at least a couple of easy fun hikes for the children. Ask any local tourism office and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Another really nice family-friendly hike is the so-called Educational Nature Trail at Schlick 2000 in Stubai Valley. It’s somewhat longer but can be done with kids of any age (even in a stroller) and the scenery is absolutely stunning.
Furthermore, there is so much for kids to explore and discover on this trail. And there are also fun activities like zip-lining, playgrounds, a Tree House Trail and so much more. Great fun for the whole family!
6. Archery
Boys will be boys. The moment our kids saw a picture of a bow and arrow when researching St. Anton summer card activities, they wanted to give it a try.
Archery is so much fun, you guys, and not just for the children! We spent 1,5hrs practicing our archery skills, shooting (or at least trying to) targets, balloons, and fake animals. The time flew by and kids didn’t want to stop.
The good news is that they have bows of different sizes for the whole family and it doesn’t take long to learn how it works. Of course, it takes time and lots of practice (or lots of luck) to actually hit the target, but it’s just a really fun activity for the whole family. Recommended.
7. Torch-lit Hike
Torch-lit hikes seem to be a very popular activity in many places in Tyrol. Many mountain resorts organize torch hikes, in summer and winter, so inquire at a local tourism office. Often it’s an activity that is included with a guest card that most resorts offer to people staying in one of the hotels of that area. It was the case in St. Anton.
What kid wouldn’t want to stay up late and go on the evening walk with a torch in their hands… Of course, our kids were enthusiastic to explore St. Anton in the dark. Torches are provided and the walk is usually easy and can be done with kids of any age.
TIP: Our torches were made of paraffin wax and the kids’ pants and shoes were full of it after the walk, so don’t wear your best clothes. Of course, theoretically, you could tell the kids to just be careful, but in practice… Anyway, luckily it comes out quite easily with some help of hot water and a little brush.
8. Playgrounds
Now, I wouldn’t normally include playgrounds in a list of things to do in any region, but… You really have to plan some extra time for a playground when visiting Tyrol with young kids!
They sure do take playgrounds seriously in Tyrol. No matter where you go, there’s always a playground nearby. And not just a playground!
We have three kids and have spent more time in the playgrounds all over the world than I would have liked to, and never have we seen such a big variety of playground equipment as in Austria. From activity and climbing towers to swings, slides, and countless other things that I don’t even know the name of… to the most creative water playgrounds you can imagine.
You better plan a lot of extra time for the playgrounds when visiting Tirol with children because there is no way you’re getting them out of there before they thoroughly discovered every corner of every playground you come across… And there are many!
Our kids’ favorite water playgrounds were along the Mutspuren Trail in St. Anton.
There is also a water experience trail that you can do in Ehrwald. It’s called Wassererlebnisweg ‘Zugspitzi am Gaisbach’.
Once again, there are countless options, these are just a few examples from the areas that we visited.
9. Hiking in Tirol with Kids
One of our favorite things to do in the mountains is, of course, hiking to some of the most beautiful places that are not accessible otherwise. And Tyrol is a real hiker’s paradise!
The good news is that there are many truly beautiful hiking trails that you can do with children as well. I suggest hiking to a nice lake – water is always a big success with kids. And it just gets better if you find a nice playground or even some ducks there.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even find some snow along the way. It’s always special to find snow in summer and our kids can never pass it without organizing a snowball fight. Luckily it’s usually aimed towards their dad rather than me…
The most beautiful hike we did in Tyrol was Seebensee near Erhwald in Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.
It’s a relatively easy and family-friendly mountain hike to one of the most beautiful lakes of Tyrol. It took us about 3,5 hrs in total because we didn’t stay long due to the very unstable weather with lots of rain.
The good news was that we did get just enough sunshine to be able to experience the stunning colors of the lake against a truly spectacular backdrop.
We had the lake practically all to ourselves, which will not be the case if you come on a sunny day. But don’t let it stop you! Pack a picnic and make an unforgettable day of it!
Update: We went back to Ehrwald two years after our first visit and hiked to Seebensee lake again. We also hiked to the nearby Drachensee lake and WOW – it was absolutely worth going back for it. Via the link below, you can read our complete guide to this stunning and family-friendly hike.
LEARN MORE: Seebensee Drachensee Hike
We also did more hiking on our other trips in Tyrol with children. Some of our other favorites are the Nature Trail from Kreuzjoch Summit Station to Schlickeralm at Schlick 2000 in Stubai Valley.
Another truly amazing hike is a hike to Olpererhütte from Schlegeis reservoir in Zillertal Valley. You can read all about it via the link below.
LEARN MORE: Olpererhütte Hike
Tyrol also has many beautiful gorges that you can easily explore with children. The hikes are usually not very long and relatively flat, so it’s easy to do as a family.
On one of the trips, I visited Kaiserklamm – a beautiful mountain river gorge you can easily visit with kids. Here you can read more about it and find all my suggestions for a wonderful family-friendly day exploring this area.
LEARN MORE: Kaiserklamm and Kaiserhaus in Tirol
10. Mountain Peaks
If your kids are too young for a longer hike in the mountains, there are easier ways to enjoy the majestic scenery of the Austrian Alps. Take the kids on a gondola ride to the top of the highest mountain in the region that you are visiting. It’s such an easy way to enjoy the beautiful mountains and kids always love going high above the clouds.
We visited two mountain peaks with kids in Tyrol this summer: Zugspitze in Ehrwald and Valluga in St. Anton am Arlberg.
Zugspitze
Zugspitze mountain is Germany’s highest mountain and can be accessed from both, Austria and Germany. In fact, it’s quite an extraordinary place to visit as you cross the Austrian – German border on top of the mountain. You actually pass an old border control post, where in the past skiers had to show their passports in order to access the ski slopes on the German side of the mountain.
There are several viewing platforms on top of Zugspitze and on a clear day, you can see 4 countries and even see up to Munich that is 130km away. There is also a small museum showing the construction of Tyrol’s first cable car some 100 years ago. You can also watch a beautiful 3D movie that will inspire you to come back to the beautiful Tiroler Zugspitz Arena area in every possible season.
The peak of Zugspitze was partially covered in the clouds when we visited (despite having sunshine in the valley), so we couldn’t see the whole view, but it was a very enjoyable visit nonetheless.
Top of Tyrol
One of the most iconic mountain destinations in Tirol is the Top of Tyrol viewing platform at Stubai Glacier. It’s located at the end of Stubai Valley, just south of Innsbruck, and is one of the easiest places to visit in the region.
Top of Tyrol is located at 3,210m (10,531 ft) and offers unparalleled views of the surroundings. On a clear day, you can see more than 100 mountains that are higher than 3000 meters from here.
In addition, there is an ice tunnel, a cool Mammoth playground, and lots of waterfalls in the area. All this makes Top of Tyrol one of the best mountain destinations in Tyrol for families with kids!
LEARN MORE: Stubai Glacier – Top of Tyrol
Valluga
The other peak we visited was Valluga mountain in St. Anton am Arlberg. It takes 3 cable car rides to reach the top of this 2,811m (9,222 ft) mountain from where you have 360° views over the Alps. On a clear day, you can see 5 different countries from here: Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Germany.
The last gondola to the top of Valluga is really tiny – it only takes 5 people at a time, so it’s an attraction in itself. Once on top, you can stay on the panoramic deck where you can find binoculars and informational panels with the names and the heights of all the bigger mountains you can see from here.
You can also take a short but very steep walk down to a wooden bridge; it’s just too beautiful not to do it. We were lucky to visit Valluga on a sunny summer day and it was one of the highlights of our family holiday in Tyrol.
Stubaiblick
Stubaiblick is another easy-to-visit viewing platform in the Tyrolean mountains. It’s not as high as Valluga or Zugspitze, but the views are great and the Schlick 2000 area where it’s located has so many family-friendly activities. Well worth it!
If you like hiking, you can take a very nice and easy downhill hike. Along the way, there are educational panels, fun activities, and playgrounds for kids. But even if you don’t hike, Stubaiblick is worth it in itself.
LEARN MORE: Schlick 2000 in Summer
TIP: Gondola rides, especially the ones that bring you to the most famous mountain peaks like Zugspitze or Valluga are quite expensive, especially if you are visiting with a big family. However, most places in Tyrol have regional guest cards that offer discounts for gondola rides, public transportation, and many activities in the area.
It is therefore always better to stay in one region for at least several days – that way you can take advantage of all the discounts and make your family trip to Tyrol affordable.
For example, in St. Anton we used St. Anton summer card. The basic card is offered to everyone who stays at one of the hotels in the region. Or you can buy a premium card that includes more activities and unlimited cable car rides. It’s really worth it if you are staying here for several days.
In Tiroler Zugspitz Arena they have a similar system with a basic guest card that offers discounts for local attractions, but also a premium version, z-ticket, that includes cable car rides and many activities in the region.
The same in Stubai, where we received the Stubai Super Card from our accommodation. It’s such a great value!
11. Mountain Biking
Tyrol is a beautiful region to explore by bike. There are many biking trails that are easy enough to do with children and you can rent bicycles in every bigger town in the mountains.
If you want to try e-biking with children, you should know that it is not legally allowed for kids under 10 years to ride an e-bike in Austria. However, you can easily rent simple mountain bikes and there are many guided tours available for families as well.
If you are looking for some inspiration, you can read all about my e-biking experience in Alpbachtal.
12. Swimming in Lakes or Swimming Pools
There are many lakes in Tyrol where you can safely swim in the summer. Your best bet would be to ask locals for the best spots in the area.
In Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, we stumbled upon a beautiful mountain lake Blindsee where you could go swimming. We were there in the late afternoon, so we just walked around the lake a bit, but we saw many people sunbathing and swimming.
The nearby Heiterwanger See is a very popular place for swimming, boating, and paddleboarding as well.
Also in Bichlbach Sports and Recreation Park, there is a small natural lake that is very popular with families. At the same location, you can also find kids’ rafting, mini-golf, tennis, and the earlier mentioned adventure park. It’s a place where you can easily spend the whole day with kids! More info about Bichlbach Recreation Park here.
There are also many swimming pools, wellness areas, and even water parks in Tyrol. It looks as if every bigger town has a swimming pool in Tyrol and every pool we visited was really nice.
The swimming pool in St. Anton is really great for kids – it has an outdoor pool, a small slide, and also a water playground.
13. Local Festivals and Celebrations
Summertime is the perfect season to attend a traditional celebration or a local event in Tyrol. There is so much going on everywhere!
When we visited St. Anton in July, we happened to be there for an annual village party. It was fun to see all the locals in their traditional lederhosen and dirndls, try traditional Tyrolean food, and just enjoy the easy-going atmosphere of the festivities.
My top tip for families with kids would be to try to attend Almabtrieb if visiting Tyrol towards the end of August – mid September.
Almabtrieb is an annual cattle drive at the end of the summer that you can experience in many villages all over Tyrol region. Here you can find more information about Almabtrieb in Tirol, Austria.
14. Family Resorts in Tyrol
Tyrol is famous for its family-oriented hotels and resorts. If your budget allows it, I can strongly recommend staying at a family-oriented hotel when visiting Tirol.
We stayed at a beautiful Zugspitz Resort in Ehrwald and loved every minute of it. It’s one of the most kid-oriented hotels we have ever been to. They have big family rooms, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, and several indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There is also a special kids’ menu at the restaurant. And you can borrow any equipment you may need when traveling with a baby or a toddler (including strollers for mountain walks). There is also a kids club with a variety of activities for all ages.
If you want a relaxing vacation that your whole family will truly love, look for a nice hotel like this and you’ll love your family vacation in Tyrol even more.
The only drawback is that many resorts like this only accept weekly (Saturday to Saturday) bookings in high season, but sometimes there are last-minute deals or shorter stays available as well. So definitely check it out!
Map of the Best Things to Do in Tyrol with Kids
To make your trip planning a bit easier I indicated all the places that I mentioned in this article on the map. It should help you to get a better idea of where everything is located and plan a fun family summer trip in Tirol.
How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.
So, this is our guide to visiting Tyrol region in Austria with kids. If you are planning a trip and have any questions, feel free to leave a reply below and we’ll try to help.
More family travel inspiration for Austria:
- Best Things to Do in Salzburg
- Stubai Valley in Summer
- Tiroler Zugspitz Arena in Summer
- Zillertal in Summer
- Salzburg 1 Day Itinerary
- Salzburg 2 Days Itinerary
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Hi, im here to say Thanks U for your Tirol articles, just coming back home after our holidays through Zillertal, Stubai and Zugspitze!! Amazing, there were a lot of things to enjoy with our kid
We are thinking to repeat jajaja, are there any more valleys to visit un Tirol that you could recommend us?
Hi Iratxe, glad to hear that you had such a great time in Austria. And yes, of course, there are tons more places to enjoy in Tirol and other regions in Austria. We loved the area around Salzburg (not Tirol, but nearby), also Innsbruck has a lot to offer, St Anton, Ischgl, and Kitzbuehl are very nice too. You can just pretty much pin any place on the map and you’ll find tons of beautiful sceneries, mountain lakes, gorges, and little villages. We have a few articles about some of these places, but most not as detailed as the areas you visited. But once again, just open a map, pick a few base locations and you will find lots of great things to do. As you probably know by now, Tirol and Austria in general is extremely family-friendly.
Hi Jurga,
Thank you for your review of the Tyrol with kids. We are planning a one week trip to the Tyrol with older kids. Their ages are 12,15 and 18. Is there anything you would change in terms of your recommended activities for this age group?
We’re driving from France so planning to stay a night in St Anton, 2 nights in Erhwald and 3 nights in Stubai.
Many thanks
Claire
Hi Claire, no, I wouldn’t change much, except I’d skip the playgrounds with kids that age ;). For the rest, most of these activities are great for teenagers. Our boys especially love all the mountain coasters/toboggans and we love hiking and nice sceneries.
I also remember we wanted to do some e-biking in St Anton, but our kids were too young at that time, so we rented simple bikes and stayed on a rather flat terrain. I think the age limit for e-bikes in Austria is 12. If this sounds like something your family would like to do see if you can find a nice route and bike rentals at one of the places you’ll be staying. Keep in mind that e-biking in the mountains can be quite exhilarating, so only do a proper mountain trail if you are all confident with it.
Overall, my best tip is to plan a mix of activities: several viewpoints that are easy to reach by gondola, a few hikes, a hanging bridge, an Alpine toboggan, etc. Ideally, you choose a few options and ask your kids which ones they absolutely want to do and which ones might interest them less. Then decide based on the weather focusing on the ones you all consider ‘must-do’ first.
PS When you are in Stubai, see if you can also find the time to visit Innsbruck and/or Swarovski Kristallwelten (best to book tickets in advance – it can get crazy busy).
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga,
Your post has been very helpful! We are planning a trip to Tirol in June with a 3.5 yr old and I was wondering which town on your list are best to go to? We will be there for about 10 days.
Thank you so much.
Hi Christine, there is really not one ‘best’ town or area. There are so many beautiful places in Tirol. If you are not sure where to go, try to first figure out what you want to see. Then put it all on the map and then it will become clearer where to stay.
With 10 days, you could also opt for two different areas, to minimize the driving.
And if you absolutely want to be in a bigger town, then you can’t go wrong with Innsbruck. It’s quite centrally located, has good transport connections, and there’s a lot to see in town and nearby (see here for some ideas). Don’t miss Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Top of Innsbruck, and the mountains of Stubai Valley.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, thank you so much for your reply. Yes, we are thinking Innsbruck, erwhald and stubai valley. If we can make it st Anton and elmberg that will be a plus. Thanks for the tip about Swarovski.
Hi,
How much dyas did you spend on your Tirol trip?
Is there any post where you wrotte your trip day by day?
Im lokking the map and there are not so much km between ech location, so maybe it could be possible to be in may base camops more than two I told you before
thnaks in advance
Hello, we have been to Tirol many times and this article is based on the best experiences from each of those trips and not from one visit.
It would also be difficult to write a day-to-day itinerary since you always have to be flexible and be able to adjust your plans. For example, if the weather isn’t great in one place, but nice in the other, you may want to drive to another location. Or you may want to visit a city on a rainy day and do the best hikes when it’s sunny. The ever-changing and difficult-to-foresee weather is quite common in the mountains, so make an approximate plan but always keep your plans flexible.
Hi, thanks for your super useful post
Im preparing next summer vacations with our 2 years old Child, spending in Tirol around 15 days
My idea is not to drive so much kilometers a day and to stay in one or two “base camps”
So which Tirol área could you recommend me?
Thanks in advance
I have to add that we like hikkings, now with our 2 years old child carried on a backpack, easy ones but we love nature
Sorry for my English 🙂
Hi, that’s a tough choice since there are so many really nice places in Tirol. If you have to choose just two places, I would probably go for Stubai Valley (there’s a lot to see/do in the mountains and it’s near Innsbruck so if the weather isn’t great, you’ll find plenty of things to do nearby) and Tiroler Zugspitz Arena (because there is a very wide variety of activities in this area and we personally loved staying at Zugspitz Resort which is very family-friendly and made the trip even more memorable).
As for hiking, there are plenty of opportunities everywhere. In the areas mentioned above, don’t miss the Schlick 2000 Nature Trail (Stubai Valley) and Sebensee Hike (Tiroler Zugspitz Arena).
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, thanks a lot, you re really kind
Hi Jurga,
So glad I found this blog, its been a great help in helping to plan our Summer trip in August. We are thinking about going self catering. Did you notice many restaurants/ options for family evening meals?
Also I see its not too hot there in the summer 19 degrees ish with a fair bit of rain. What was your experience of the weather and did you pack for all weather occasions? Also are the outdoor pools generally heated?
Thanks
Jess
Hi Jessica, there is no shortage of nice and affordable restaurants in Tyrol, and the kids will love Austrian food, especially Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes)!
The weather, like anywhere else in the mountains, you just never know what you get, and a lot depends on the altitude. If it’s sunny, you’ll often be fine in shorts and t-shirts, but you always need to pack a sweater or two, a light rain jacket, and a pair of long pants too. You just never know.
As for the pools, the majority of outdoor pools are not heated as far as I know, but it’s usually warm enough in July and August. The 19°C that you saw probably refers to an average temperature in the region at that time of the year. But – as I said – there is big difference depending on an altitude, and it’s usually much warmer than that.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga,
A great help, thanks for the reply . 😊
What a brilliant site! Packed full of information—and based on what you say here we are about to book trip! One quick question: My partner and I are travelling with our 11-year-old son—is St. Anton am Arlberg a good place to base ourselves?
Hi Peter, sure, St. Anton is great. There is not one ‘best’ place to visit or base yourselves since everything depends on your exact plans. Tirol is really big and there is tons to see. But yes, St Anton is very scenic and has good transport connections – by car or by train.
My best advice is always to first decide what you want to visit, then indicate those places on the map, and then it usually becomes clear where it’s best to stay for visiting all those places.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, Thank you for taking the time to respond. And thanks again for creating such a great resource.
Hi Jurga, this is a really great blog and website. Very informative! We are a family of 4 with children aged 8 and 6, looking to explore the Tirol this summer. We are looking to be active throughout the holiday. I have spent hours pouring over the different websites on the different things to do and there are tons (as you have pointed out)!! I am trying to find the right formula, do we find one place and do all our activities around that location (without renting a car) or do we hire a car and find a ‘central hub/location’ which is fairly close to a number of the key activities and stay there? If we opt for the latter option (which it sounds like you would also recommend), do you have a recommendation for a ‘central hub/location’ that would be best for a family of 4 (with an 8 and 6 year old)? There are just too many choices to choose from online! Many thanks in advance. Eric
Hi Eric, so much depends on the places that you want to visit and how much time you have.
Staying in one place has the advantage that you can adapt your plans depending on the weather (can be quite a blessing in the mountains), but it also means that you’ll have to drive further once in a while. Staying in one region and exploring it to the fullest, you can also often take advantage of the regional cards/passes that some regions offer and that often offer great value. Once again, this depends on the place and on what you’d plan to see.
If you decide not to rent a car, a good place to stay can be Innsbruck or potentially Stubai Valley just nearby. Many hotels in Stubai Valley offer a regional card that includes most gondolas, buses, etc. – a great deal.
Me, personally, I’d definitely rent a car, unless you only have a few days and plan to stay in just one region and can take local buses everywhere you go. We always travel by car – it gives a lot of freedom and flexibility. I would also stay in several different places for maybe 3-5 nights each (so depends on your vacation time), and then make day trips around the area. We really loved staying in Stubai last year and Zillertal was nice, and St Anton, but from all our trips, I think we loved Tiroler Zugspitz Arena the most. We have been twice already – lots to see and do there and it’s just a really nice area with lots of variation in terms of scenery and activities.
Good luck with the planning!
This was an amazing and helpful read! Thanks
Glad to help. Have a great time in Tirol! I think it’s one of the most family-friendly destinations we’ve ever been to.
@Jurga,
I’m still a bit confused though on which region to look at 🤪 we’d be flying into Innsbruck I think and not planning on hiring a car – so need somewhere will public transport access and amenities around us. It would be in august. Have 2 smallish kids so needs to be easier hiking routes and ideally lots for them to do – but mama wants some lake swims! Any advice appreciated 🙂
Hi Kate, Innsbruck itself is very nice, so you can spend a few days there. Visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Top of Innsbruck, etc. You can find some more ideas and tickets for these places here.
Then, you could easily get to Stubai Valley by public transport. It’s ok as a day trip, but you can also stay longer (if you like mountains).
Another place that you can quite easily visit in Tirol by train is St Anton am Arlberg (also mountains, but lots of kid-friendly places).
For lake swims that are easily reachable without a car, I don’t really know. Maybe somewhere around Achensee, but we haven’t been there, so I don’t know. Also, most mountain lakes will be very cold, so if you want to be able to swim, I’d look for a nice hotel with a pool.
One of the nicest places we stayed in Tirol with kids is Zugspitz Resort in Ehrwald – great pools too and there are a few nice places where you can go swimming nearby, but I think it would be difficult to visit that region without a car (you can read more about our stay in this article – Tiroler Zugspitz Arena). That being said, if you just go there for a few days (visit the rest of the places by public transport if you prefer) and book well in advance, I don’t think it would be more expensive to rent a car than to pay for trains/ taxis.
Good luck with the planning!
Your post is amazing and is making me want to book a trip now! Where would you recommend flying into?
Hi Cristina, this depends a bit on where you are coming from. The closest major airport is Munich in Germany and from there it’s just a 1-2 hours drive to Tyrol (depends on where you go exactly).
Innsbruck also has a smaller regional airport with lots of good flight connections within Europe. These two airports are the best options for Tyrol.
If visiting in summer, I highly recommend that you rent a car. In winter, you could just take a train/ shuttle to your destination and stay in one place skiing there the whole time. But in summer, definitely get a car and explore the region – there’s so much to see and do! The roads are good, so any regular car will do.
Also, if you’d get a car in Germany, inquire if it has a sticker for Austrian highways. You need to pay for driving on the highways in Austria, but instead of paying toll every time, you just pay a one-time fee. If your rental car doesn’t have such a sticker, you can buy one at any petrol station close to the border. The prices are very reasonable and you can get a sticker for various durations, depending on how long your trip is. I assume that if you rent a car in Austria, it should already have this sticker. You can find more info about it here – but it’s really no big deal, just something to be aware of.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the clear and detailed information. It is tremendously helpful. I am looking forward to our first summer trip in Austria.
Glad you found this helpful, Wenyan. In fact, we just got back from Tirol and visited some really nice places there. I’ll have blog posts coming soon. In the meantime, you can check our Facebook or Instagram for some more ideas for places to visit and things to do.
Have a great time in Austria!
Hello this page has been so helpful! I’m trying to work out if we could manage a 10 day trip covering Austria and Switzerland but without needing a car. Switzerland seems easy enough with so many rail links, but would we need a car if we wanted to explore around either St Anton or Ehrwald? Thank you!
Hi Jane, Ehrwald area is a bit difficult without a car, but you can easily get to St Anton by train. Enjoy your trip!
Hi, I googled about Austria with infants and came across your post. This is so useful for first timers with kids. I haven’t been able to gather such information in days. Infact this list is going to be almost a copy of my entire upcoming holiday in July.
So happy to have landed here.
Good to hear that, Saachi. Tirol is extremely kid-friendly, I’m sure you’ll love it there. Enjoy your vacation!
Thank you! I’ve been searching for this information! Planning our visit for this summer!
Good to hear that you found it useful, Ashley. If you have more questions, please post them here rather than send it to me privately. That way other people can benefit from the answers as well and it saves me time. Thanks for understanding!
Enjoy your trip!
Wonderful post, thanks for the great suggestions. We are headed to Tirol next summer, can’t wait.
That looks like an awesome region! I’ve never been to Tyrol, but it looks gorgeous and I really need to check it out. Those mountains are beautiful. Especially the Mutspuren trail and Valluga looks awesome!
The mountains around St. Anton were incredible indeed. Valluga was one of our absolute favourite places as well, I guess it helped that we had such good luck with the weather and could enjoy the spectacular views.
Hi Jurga, as always an amazing blog and even more an amazing holiday you guys had.
With all your great blogs our future holidays are pretty much booked already 🙂
thanks for sharing
take care Corina
Thank you, Corina, and thanks for following our trips along! Happy travels!
Tyrol looks so beautiful. I bet your kids had a great time exploring all of the fabulous outdoor spaces. I would love to just waste away the days lounging by that pool – that hotel looks so nice and the view…
The Zugspitz Resort was indeed amazing, Michelle. I think it just made our stay in Tiroler Zugspitz Arena even more enjoyable, because there was plenty to do at the hotel when the weather was too bad for any sightseeing or outdoor activities.
Love your pictures as always! Would love to visit this part of Austria, it looks so beautiful! Would you say the summer is the best time to visit?
I think any time is good to visit Tirol, Katie. 🙂 Winter is super popular for skiing and summer – for hiking, biking, and so many more outdoor activities. And then ‘in between’ you can still do a lot outdoors and if the weather isn’t optimal, visit the beautiful towns. So it really depends on your interests. I have now been to Tirol twice – autumn and summer and we are thinking of going back in winter.
Hi Jurga, if you had to pick only one place to use as a ‘home base’ in Tyrol, what do you recommend? We don’t like moving around and packing unpacking when traveling with children. Thx
Hi Paul, that’s a tough question as Tyrol is quite big and there is so much to see. If you are looking for a similar trip like the one we did, then pick any bigger area in the mountains and you’ll find plenty to do with kids for a week or even two, without having to drive around much.
Our personal favourite this summer was staying in Tiroler Zugspitz Arena – it just felt like such a great family place with a big variety of things to do. We could have easily spent a week there. So why not try that? Ehrwald is one of the bigger towns there with lots of accommodation options. You can easily make day trips to so many other great places from there as well.
If you’d rather stay somewhere more central with an easy access to the highway, then St. Anton is another great choice too. I think you really can’t go wrong with either. Maybe first look at the activities that interest you the most and then just pick a place that makes most sense to limit driving.
Hope this helps