If the thought of firing a rifle, upscale fine dining, wearing a tuxedo, and having your vodka martinis‘ shaken, not stirred has you humming the James Bond Theme Song… these winter adventures in the mountains of Tirol may channel the inner Bond in you. Have you got what it takes to be James Bond?
1. Line Up a Target: Biathlon
This will get your heart racing. Secret agents always hit the bullseye, though. And they know how to ski fast and shoot straight: Biathlon is the only sport that involves ski wax and bullets. In “Spectre”, the new James Bond Film, not only bullets are flying but explosions are echoing throughout the otherwise peaceful village of Obertilliach, East Tirol. (Photo: Tirol Werbung)
And finally, he jumps off a cliff face, releasing a snowkite to float him to safety… No matter what physical challenge presents itself to Bond—he bosses it every single time. Snowkiting will elevate your winter experience to all new heights. All you need is the wind, a snowkite, skis or snowboard, and an attitude for fun! (Photo: Snowkite Achensee)
Be the type of man who can woo a lady in minutes: What better idea for a romantic date than to sled under the stars? Your gorgeous Bond girl holds on tight as you both whiz down the mountain on a sled at the speed of light. The world’s most famous spy himself would be surprised of how much fun you may have zooming down an illuminated track at night. (Photo: TVB Stubai Tirol/Andre Schönherr)
4. Terrain Parks – The Secret Training Facility For Aspiring Secret Agents
Analyse, encrypt, and uncover intelligence data at the secret training facility for aspiring secret agents, Tirol’s awesome terrain parks. Up and coming freestylers and seasoned experts alike are using secret codes like “Cork 7”, “Rodeo” or “Switch 540 Japan”. Probably the only man capable of deciphering these codes is named Bond. James Bond. (Photo: Michael Gams)
There are on-mountain places in Tirol that have just the right amount of style to accommodate James (and whoever he might like to bring back to his suite). Plan to spend some bucks and enjoy a romantic dinner at the fine dining restaurant before going to sleep. You’ll find mountaintop lodging to be an unforgettable and unique experience and, yes, even an adventure. (Photo: Wedelhütte)
Ice caves that are visited by large numbers of people are perfect spots for an international secret agent, with lots of covert little chambers of ice for Bond to retreat to. By the way, murder happens very rarely here as ice preserves bodies just a little too well. The most famous example is ‘Oetzi, the Ice Man’. (Photo: Michael Gams)
Although it has been proven time and again that Bond will drink anywhere, when in Tirol, he should opt for somewhere sophisticated to get sloshed—somewhere like the beautiful Igloo Bar. Your drink will stay cold down to the last sip and you’ll have things under control. We’re not saying that downing a martini will make you smart and stylish like Bond, but hey—it couldn’t hurt. (Photo: Michael Gams)
It takes a certain calibre of man to bring James Bond to life. If 007 finds himself stranded in the wilderness with no means of transport, he harnesses those four-legged creatures that are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend.” The world’s greatest super-spy swaps fast cars for sled dogs with a breeze. And he looks good while doing it. (Photo: TVB Pillerseetal)
9. Chasing the Vision of James Bond at the Winter Festival Erl
As a man of the world, Bond does not look out of place in the world’s most exclusive opera houses, or sitting behind the wheel of a flashy motor. Imagine trying to get lost in the escapist world of espionage at the superb state-of-the-art Festival House—whose darkly gleaming façade suggests secrets, or a tyrannical villain, are hidden within. (Photo: Tiroler Festspiele Erl / Peter Kitzbichler)
The ice Q mountaintop restaurant, a shadow ice-cube of a building with walls of sheer glass, was used for filming Spectre. Tucking into multiple courses of exquisite, surprising cuisine in the midst of the magnificent Alps, you will wonder if Daniel Craig has had one heck of a dining experience here, too. As is compulsory in any snowbound Bond setting, there are snowmobiles. (Photo: Ötztal Tourismus / Rudi Wyhlidal)
Spectacular buildings can be found atop Tirol’s highest mountains—visit these 12 buildings and be Bond for the day.
When he is not working, Michael Gams is out exploring this beautiful country, hiking, mountain biking, freeriding and ski touring to the most beautiful spots in Tirol.
Almost half of the total carbon footprint created by a holiday in the Alps is caused by getting to and from the destination. Windsurfing board on the roof, mountain bike on the back, boulder crash pad in the boot or rock climbing equipment on the back seat – do you really need all that gear? Not in Tirol. The region has more than 500 rental and hire shops where outdoor enthusiasts can borrow the equipment they need during their stay. Ski and snowboard rental has been around for decades, but more and more places are now adopting the same model in summer. Here are four examples of rental services in Tirol to give you new holiday perspectives with minimum impact on the environment.
If you want to see something that’s hardly visible anymore, you should go on a search in the darkness. It’s the city lights that cloud the view of the stars. A journey into the heart of Tirol’s darkness – with galactic views.
Rushing mountain streams, silent alpine summits, tiny hamlets off the beaten track – and no stress anywhere to be seen. Tirol is full of slow tourism places. Some are hidden away at the end of the valley, while others are just a stone’s throw from some of the region’s main transit routes. We have put together a list of five hotspots ideal for those keen to go slow and relax.
Heaven for hungry hikers: Six of the best slow food huts
7 min reading time
Tirol’s mountain huts aren’t just a great place to spend the night. A surprising number of them offer excellent food made using produce sourced from the local region. We have chosen six of our favourite slow food locations in Tirol.
Mountains or lakes? Do both! With many lakeside huts at elevations above 2,000 meters to choose from in Tirol, you can mix hiking with a dip in a lake. Here are ten of the most beautiful Alpinist Association Huts that are located on the shores of a lake.
Slowly I step into the hall of a historic farmhouse. It feels like stepping back into the rural life of yesteryear, and it sure was hard living there. Everything here is kind of distressing and grinding – I wonder if it is the old timber or the smell? At the same time, I am kind of fascinated by this authentic simplicity, this reduction to the essentials.
Festival time. Think about it: a full weekend of dancing and singing your face off in front of hundreds and hundreds of people, awesome bands and DJs, sunshine—not to mention the occasional beer. Now, that’s probably not exactly what most of you would expect from Tirol. Think again: Tirol’s summer music festival scene draws fans of all tastes and, thanks to mild summer temps and acoustically friendly mountain backdrops, bands love to make the summer pilgrimage to our gorgeous open-air venues. While festival choices abound during the summer, these are the festivals that I recommend you don’t miss.
To prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in the region, Tirol's museums and galleries are currently closed to the public. We have therefore put together a list of ten great virtual museum experiences and guided tours for all those keen to enjoy a bit of Tirolean culture from the comfort of their own homes. Ready? Let's go!
Christmas markets, shopping marathons, the first snows of winter – advent is a beautiful time of year, but it can be pretty hard work too. We have put together nine top tips to escape the hustle and bustle for a few precious moments and get back to the true meaning of Christmas.
