Tirol Mountains: 10 Must-See Peaks

Ort: St.Leonhard i.P

One of Tirol’s biggest claims to fame is its awe-inspiring mountains. Some of these peaks are famous, while others are not as well known. You will find tall mountains here and mountains which more than make up for their smaller size in terms of their unique and striking appearance. Here’s my personal ‚best of‘. Even if you don’t have the chance to scale one of these mountains though, you can still look up at the peaks and admire them and find inspiration.

1. Großglockner, 3,798m
The views of the tallest mountain in Austria, coming in at 3,798 meters, will leave you momentarily paralyzed. Reachable from the Tirolean home base of Kals, Lucknerhaus Lodge is one of the best places to see the lofty peak.

Großglockner Mountain, as seen from Lucknerhaus Lodge

2. Wildspitze, 3,788m
Wildspitze is the tallest mountain in Tirol. It’s also the second-highest peak in Austria. There are few places in the world that you can ride a gondola to a mountaintop more than 3,000-meters high. From the spectacular Café 3,440, Austria’s highest coffee bar, views of the surrounding summits and peaks and toward Wildspitze capture the sheer greatness of the Alps themselves.

Wildspitze Peak, as seen from Café 3,440 atop Pitztal Glacier

3. Serles, 2,717m
Sitting between Stubai and Wipptal Valleys, Serles may not be Tirol’s tallest mountain but definitely is one of the country’s most iconic and mythical peaks. At daybreak, this summit is the perfect perch to feel like the king (or queen) of the world as the sun comes up. Innsbruck, Telfer Meadows and Patsch offer some of the most magnificent views of Serles you will ever see.

View this post on Instagram #cominghome #morningsun #majestic #king #serles #tirol #driving #europabrücke #bluesky #nature #godexists #jw #lovetirol A post shared by Thomas Eiter (@elmogato) on Jul 9, 2015 at 9:49pm PDT

4. Großer Rettenstein, 2,362m
Like Serles, this is the tallest peak neither in Tirol nor in the Kitzbühel Alps, but it is a very distinctive one. This most recognizable, postcard-perfect mountain is best seen from Kirchberg.

View this post on Instagram #grosserrettenstein #aschau #sunset #blue #sky #mountain #tirol #austria A post shared by Viktoria (@lovetirol) on Sep 4, 2014 at 10:25pm PDT

5. Olperer, 3,476m
Olperer is the main peak of Tux Ridge in the Zillertal Alps and Hintertux Glacier provides many memorable peekaboo moments with this very striking mountain.

View this post on Instagram the #olperer in the back and the #150er to the #wangl in the forground – all shot from far away at #Hochzillertal @hintertuxergletscher @visittirol A post shared by beckna / Thomas Eberharter (@becknaphoto) on Feb 3, 2015 at 10:03am PST

6. Wilder Kaiser
Wilder Kaiser (literally “Wild Emperor”) is a row of peaks that aptly lives up to its name as being rugged and majestic. Aptly named as well, Zahmer Kaiser (literally “Mild Emperor”) is a ‘smaller brother’ to the fabled Wilder Kaiser Range. The jagged peaks of Wilder Kaiser have its highest point at 2,344-meter Ellmauer Halt Peak and can be admired from many places, such as from the village of Ellmau.

View this post on Instagram Hiking in #Kitzbühel with the "Wild Emperor" #WilderKaiser in the background. So beautiful ?? #Austria A post shared by David Colturi (@dcolturi) on Jun 14, 2015 at 10:52am PDT

7. Großvenediger 3,657m
The main peak of Hohe Tauern (Venediger Range) is capped by an incredibly steep peak of ice and exerts a magical attraction for peak baggers. The view of Großvenediger Mountain from the outdoor patio of Hohe Salve Summit Restaurant in North Tirol is one of the best.

View this post on Instagram #schlatenkees #grossvenediger A post shared by Dominique ? (@dominiquesuerte) on Aug 11, 2015 at 12:04pm PDT

8. Acherkogel, 3,007m
Acherkogel Peak in the Ötztal Alps is one of the most striking mountains of Outer Ötztal Valley and the northernmost „Three-Thousander“, a high altitude peak that averages 3,000m in elevation. Acherkogel Peak can be seen from the village of Oetz and from Piburgersee Lake, each one providing a vista worth photographing.

View this post on Instagram Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back to? . . #upsidedown #spiegelbild #reflections #acherkogel #shadesofnature #home #dahoam #heimatliebe #seeyousoon #piburgersee #oetztal #bluesky #traumwetter #visittirol A post shared by Alina-Maria (@alinamaria___) on Nov 20, 2018 at 4:16am PST

9. Tschirgant, 2,370m
Driving through Oberinntal, Tirol’s Upper Inn Valley, the pyramid-like peak of Tschirgant in Imst is very recognizable and can be seen from afar. The name is based on a local dialect word for „pointed shovel“, probably referring to its shovel-like summit. Visit Kronburg Castle in Ruins in Zams for some of the most magnificent views of this monolithic monument you will be able to see.

View this post on Instagram Heute vom Laggers aus aufgenommen, zu sehen Imst, Tschirgant, Gurgltal und Inntal #mountainlovers #mountainsmylife #mountainsmylove #mountains #laggers #tschirgant #imst #ferienregionimst #gurgltal #inntal #steilabergeil #steigauf #herbst #autumn #tirolwest #imsterbergbahnen #outdoor #adventure #imsterhöhenweg #feelfree #feelgood #jedentagtirol A post shared by Ferdinand Guem (@tirolerbua78) on Nov 16, 2018 at 9:18am PST

10. Zuckerhütl, 3,507m
Imposing and very beautiful to look at, Zuckerhütl is the highest mountain in the Stubai Alps. Unsurpassable views of its summit can be admired from Neustift and from Stubai Glacier.

View this post on Instagram S T U B A I , not Dubai – can‘t wait to ski again by the end of this week – #stubai #snow #austria #stubaiglacier #tirol #studentlife #travel #neffect A post shared by ADRIAN NEFF (@neffect) on Nov 12, 2017 at 9:02am PST