A Long Weekend in October – 3 Reasons to Love Autumn in Tirol

1. Cool City Break in Innsbruck 

Tirol’s capital typically wows visitors with its sights and its heights. Wherever you turn, there are the mountains thus getting to the top is an absolute must-do here. Fortunately, craggy Nordkette Mountain Range, the city’s natural skyscrapers, are very easily accessible: From the town center, catch Nordkette funicular and gondola up to the top to enjoy jaw-dropping views over Karwendel Mountain Range and glistening white Stubai Glacier and down to Innsbruck. It’s a special treat in October, when the golden and reddish hues of autumn enhance the mountain landscapes. To learn more about other must-sees in Innsbruck please refer here.

Recommendations for weekend stays in Innsbruck:

When it’s time to turn in, aDLERS takes lodging to new heights with striking design and a fabulous location rising high above Innsbruck. Rates at this chic high-end hotel close to the railroad station start from € 134 per room, per night including breakfast, based on two sharing. Booking.com rates this hotel as „Fabulous“ (8.8/10) and the aDLERS receives 5.6 out of a possible 6 points at HolidayCheck with a 100 percent recommendation rate. Is that enough to convince you?

Deeply rooted in history, old-school glamour awaits at the heart of the old town district, close to Innsbruck’s most famous landmark, the Golden Roof: Few lodging properties can match up to the long pedigree of Goldener Adler Hotel, which has welcomed guests since 1390. Think rich tradition paired with all modern conveniences you could possibly ask for, which is proven by the booking.com rating of „Fabulous“ (8.9/10). Moreover, Goldener Adler receives 5.6 out of 6 points with an incredible 100 percent recommendation rate at HolidayCheck. Even famous German writer and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stayed at Goldener Adler Hotel on his visits to Innsbruck. 

2. Great October Skiing in Hintertux

As temperatures drop, skiers and snowboarders are getting increasingly itchy to hit the slopes. So why wait? Early-season skiing at Hintertux Glacier offers the perfect opportunity to brush up on skills at Betterpark in October. Hintertux Glacier, the only real year-round ski area in Austria, is one of the best places to ski in autumn. Lucky ones might even ride on powder in the first weeks of October if they are fortunate to be on the glacier when huge autumn falls arrive.

Rates at Alpenhof Hotel start from € 180 per room, per night including breakfast, based on two sharing. The booking.com rating is „Exceptional“ (9.5/10) and Alpenhof receives amazing 6 out of 6 points with an incredible 100 percent recommendation rate. Autumn skiing is truly magical: while the hotel down in the valley is warm and bathed in a glow of golden light, the glistening white glacier can be spotted from your window. Memories that will stay with you forever!

3. Spa Treatments, Indulgence and Fall Hiking in Alpbach

Need a break from it all? Then Alpbach is the perfect spot to treat yourself gently, relax, savour some peace and quiet, and reconnect with you. The epitome of an idyllic chocolate box village, Alpbach is a tidy collection of dark wooden chalets with red and green painted shutters and the Alps as a stunning backdrop.

One of my favourite hotels to restore new energies is the Böglerhof. At this wonderful place, deeply steeped in tradition, their goal is to nourish each moment of your stay, and never more so than with fine dining. The booking.com rating of „Superb“ (9.3/10) and 5.8 out of 6 HolidayCheck points with a 96 percent recommendation rate confirm my opinion.

If you’re visiting in the fall, consider yourself lucky – apart from fine dining and soothing spa experiences at Böglerhof, the scenic surroundings of Alpbach are clad in shimmering old-growth forest stands that explode into a sea of gold, yellow and red when temperatures cool off. There are plenty of gorgeous hiking trails to stick around and explore. To replenish, indulge in exquisite “Kaiserschmarrn” at Zottahof, or revel in finest local fare and seasonal venison dishes at Gasthaus Rossmoos.