The Austrian Alps.

EUROPE/AUSTRIA/47.2500° N, 13.0000° E

Cowbells clank across damp morning pastures before the mist burns off the jagged limestone of the Karwendel. Travelling west to east, jagged granite peaks give way to rolling grazing hills and deep glacier-cut trenches. It is vast terrain built on forestry, dairy farming, and iron cables. You come for crisp high-altitude passes, icy mountain tarns, and refuge huts where broth comes fortified with smoked Speck and mountain cheese.

Last updated 3 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Europe / Austria47.25°N 13.00°E
The Austrian Alps — Drawing, Landscape from the Austrian Alps, 1868 (CH 18193281)
Drawing, Landscape from the Austrian Alps, 1868 (CH 18193281) · Wikimedia Commons
The Austrian Alps — coast
coast · Wikimedia Commons
The Austrian Alps — Alps near Lech 8 (39491891585)
Alps near Lech 8 (39491891585) · Wikimedia Commons

What The Austrian Alps is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

ALPINE COOKING

Order Kaspressknödel in beef broth, Tirolean Gröstl crisped with pork and potatoes, and sweet shredded Kaiserschmarrn at mountain Alm huts.

HIGH PASSES

Drive the 36 hairpin turns of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road or tackle the steep, winding curves over the Silvretta and Timmelsjoch.

MOUNTAIN TRAILS

Hike well-marked waypoints along the Eagle Walk in Tyrol or circle the high granite peaks of the Zillertal and Hohe Tauern ranges.

LAKE CULTURE

Row wooden boats on the mirror-calm Wolfgangsee, swim in the turquoise Achensee, or stroll the quiet shoreline paths of the Millstätter See.

LOCAL CHEESE

Sample raw-milk Bergkäse aged in the Bregenzerwald, crumbly Graukäse in the Zillertal, and fresh herb-crusted wheels from high alpine dairies.

SACRED ARCHITECTURE

Step inside high baroque abbey churches like Stams in Tyrol and the frescoed pilgrimage basilica of Mariazell set deep in the Styrian hills.

THERMAL SPAS

Soak tired hiking legs in mineral-rich thermal springs at Bad Gastein and the futuristic outdoor thermal pools of the Aqua Dome in Längenfeld.

WINTER SPORTS

Ski the legendary Arlberg powder fields, test the Streif downhill run at Kitzbühel, or cross-country glide along valley trails in Ramsau.

CABLE CARS

Ride the Nordkette cable car straight out of Innsbruck or ascend the Dachstein glacier gondola for high limestone views and ice caves.

WOODWORKING TRADITIONS

Watch timber carvers and shingle makers craft alpine architecture, wooden farm tools, and intricate mask carvings across the Montafon.

FOREST WALKS

Walk flat, shaded paths beside glacial streams in the Gesäuse or traverse gentle stone pine forests in the Defereggen Valley.

CASTLE FORTRESSES

Climb to the ramparts of Hohenwerfen in the Salzach Valley and explore the 13th-century Landskron ruins overlooking Lake Ossiach.

Where to go in The Austrian Alps

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    Innsbruck

    TYROL / AUSTRIA

    Urban life meets high limestone, with funiculars running directly from medieval arcades to jagged summit trails.

  2. 02
    Kitzbühel

    TYROL / AUSTRIA

    A classic timbered ski town where cobbled lanes lead to serious downhill runs and summer ridge hikes.

  3. 03
    Zell am See

    SALZBURG / AUSTRIA

    A lakeside base under the Kitzsteinhorn glacier that pairs fresh lake swimming with high alpine ascents.

  4. 04
    Bad Gastein

    SALZBURG / AUSTRIA

    Grand Belle Époque hotels stand over a thundering gorge, offering healing thermal baths after long hikes.

  5. 05
    Lienz

    TYROL / AUSTRIA

    Sunlit East Tyrolean market town framed by the jagged limestone spires of the Lienzer Dolomites.

  6. 06
    Mayrhofen

    TYROL / AUSTRIA

    The energetic hub of the Zillertal, packed with traditional dairies, cable cars, and high-hut access.

  7. 07
    Schladming

    STYRIA / AUSTRIA

    A working mountain town below the massive Dachstein south wall, ideal for via ferrata and forest trails.

  8. 08
    Bregenz

    VORARLBERG / AUSTRIA

    Set between Lake Constance and the Bregenzerwald, offering quiet cheese-making hamlets and lake views.

  9. 09
    St. Anton am Arlberg

    TYROL / AUSTRIA

    The storied cradle of alpine skiing, offering steep off-piste lines and rugged summer pass walks.

  10. 10
    Hallstatt

    UPPER AUSTRIA / AUSTRIA

    Centuries of salt mining history perched steeply between dark lake waters and sheer Plassen cliffs.

  11. 11
    Bad Ischl

    UPPER AUSTRIA / AUSTRIA

    Historic imperial spa town famed for its pastry shops, salt baths, and gentle woodland promenades.

  12. 12
    Seefeld in Tirol

    TYROL / AUSTRIA

    A high plateau town surrounded by the Karwendel range, renowned for cross-country trails and meadow walks.

What to do in The Austrian Alps

The Austrian Alps form the muscular spine of central Europe, stretching from Vorarlberg to the gates of Vienna. Days run on a clean rhythm: an early cable car or ridge hike, a mid-day plate of speck and dumplings at an alpine hut, and an evening stroll through quiet valley villages. It suits active travellers, rail fans, and anyone who prefers crisp mountain air and wood-panelled dining rooms over frantic sightseeing.

When to go to The Austrian Alps

July through September brings clear hiking weather, open high passes, and wildflowers, though August draws domestic crowds. Ski season peaks from January to March. Late spring and October are peaceful for valley towns, but check cable car maintenance closures before travelling.

Getting around The Austrian Alps

The ÖBB rail network is exceptional, linking major hubs like Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Zell am See effortlessly. Regional Postbuses handle side valleys reliably. Renting a car gives you flexibility for dramatic high passes like the Grossglockner, but for most valley bases, a train ticket and a sturdy pair of boots are plenty.