A few days of hiking in the Alps is the perfect way to get away from it all and leave the stress of daily life far behind. Action-seekers will be pleased to know that some of the region’s huts lie at up to 3,200 metres above sea level.
Instead of heading for the mountains, why not make the most of a hot summer’s day and cool off in one of the region’s top swimming lakes?
Tirol’s gorges are simple gorgeous (sorry!) and a great place to cool off when the tempera-tures climb and the sun burns down.
Cable cars are a great way to make even Tirol’s highest peaks easily accessible. Kids will love the ride up and can save their energy for climbing that last little bit up to the sum-mit.
We may be most famous for our mountains, but Tirol is also home to a long, proud and rich history. Cultural highlights in the region include the Swarowski Crystal Worlds, the historical old towns, traditional farmsteads, castles and Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,000-year-old mummy found high in the mountains.
We Tiroleans love walking and hiking, but sometimes we opt for two-wheels in order to explore as much of the region as possible.
Tirol is home to food for all tastes and budgets, from traditional dumplings and beer at the region’s many huts to award-winning restaurants listed in the Gault & Millau guide.
Our favourite backdrop is, of course, the mountains. But if we do go to the cinema then we prefer an open-air one where we can let our gaze wander.
Hot air balloons, paragliding and zipwires are three of the ways to experience Tirol from a totally new perspective. Head up high to enjoy the peaks, gorges, meadows and ridges like an eagle soaring through the sky.
Take a deep breath. What can you smell? Mountains, water, hay – and, of course, a little cow dung as well! Holidays on the farm are one of the best ways to get back to nature and enjoy an authentic experience during your time in Tirol.
It really depends on what you want from your holiday. Kitzbühel in summer is a good spot for those looking for a touch of luxury, while Innsbruck offers an alpine-urban vibe unlike any other place in the Alps. Families with children will particularly enjoy Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.
There are loads of activities on offer in summer. Here are some of our favourites…:
Visitors to Tirol in summer should not miss out on the following highlights:
Tiroler Festspiele Erl festival of classical music
Here is a list of all the events going on.
In summer the temperatures in the valley are warm enough for outdoor swimming. In the mountains, on the other hand, it stays cool even in summer - you should always have a light jacket with you. The weather also changes more quickly in the mountains than in the valleys. It cools down much more in the evening and summer thunderstorms form more quickly. We therefore recommend always taking a rain jacket and checking the weather forecast before going into the mountains.
Here are our favourite:
When the weather gods aren’t smiling on Tirol, we recommend a visit to one of our museums, castles or fortresses. And if you are visiting with children, here are our recommendations for family-friendly days out.
Tirol has swimming lakes for all tastes. The Reintaler See, for example, is one of the region’s warmest lakes. The Vilsalpsee is much cooler. The Piburger See lies in the heart of a forest. The Reither See is small. And, last but certainly not least, the Achensee is the largest lake in Tirol. Here you will find a list of the best mountain lakes in Tirol.
