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Perfect weather and epic adventures: meet the summer holiday destination with a difference

17 Mar 2025by

Charlotte Cullinan

PARTNER CONTENT

Boasting cooler summer temperatures in the mountains, unrivalled outdoor adventures and delicious cuisine, discover the array of warm-weather experiences awaiting your customers in the Austrian Tirol.

The view of Innsbruck from the Nordkette mountain range. Credit: Innsbruck Tourism/Christian Vorhofer

While the Austrian Alps is a favourite destination for winter sports, it’s also an excellent summer holiday option for active travellers, families and groups. In the Austrian Tirol they can expect thrilling outdoor adventures and the chance to unwind in nature, while enjoying clean, crystal-clear waters, fresh air and vast, unspoilt landscapes.

Whether your clients are looking for an action-packed summer adventure to get their heart racing and blood pumping, or they prefer a calm stroll on a mountain pasture, Tirol’s great outdoors offers something for all tastes and ability levels.

And thanks to the region’s high and central location in the Austrian Alps, it never gets too hot in the summer months, making it an ideal choice for customers seeking a cooler summer holiday. Here are five ideas to tempt travellers with:

Hiking

When hiking in St Anton am Arlberg visitors can enjoy the view towards Langsee. Credit: TVB St Anton am Arlberg / Karin Pasterer

The Austrian Tirol is a haven for hikers, as well as those who want a gentle stroll while surrounded by epic vistas. Look to Zillertal for one of the world’s most diverse hiking destinations, with hikes of all difficulties stretching from the sunny valley floor to the peaks of the numerous 3,000 metre-high mountains.

Clients don’t have to be experienced hikers to enjoy the spectacular views, as they can easily take a cable car to the summit – in Zillertal alone there is a choice of 10 summer cable cars.

The region also offers a host of family-friendly hiking trails, while mountain adventure parks boast fun-filled entertainment for children, including in St. Johann in Tirol and St. Anton am Arlberg.

For something more challenging, suggest a via ferrata, which are protected climbing routes across steep or rocky terrain, using cables, ladders and anchors. The Arlberg via ferrata in St. Anton am Arlberg can be followed for up to 3km, taking climbers up to 2,500m high and offering beautiful views across the Alps.

Cycling

Direct mountain bike enthusiasts to Paznaun-Ischgl. Credit: TVB Paznaun Ischgl

Mountain biking on Tirol’s trails is more than just a sport; it connects cyclists with nature as they explore on two wheels surrounded by beautiful high valleys. While the region boasts a plethora of bike routes, Paznaun-Ischgl is a cyclist’s paradise. It has more than 754km of trails, including a varied network for mountain bikers, options for beginners and many challenging rides. It’s also the highest-located e-bike destination in Europe, and regularly hosts exciting cycling events.

E-bikes are an ideal option for those who want some extra power to explore Tirol, and numerous tours are available, including in the St. Anton am Arlberg region, which is home to five fast-charging e-bike stations.

Swimming

Families will enjoy the swimming ponds in Paznaun Ischgl. Credit: TVB Paznaun Ischgl

If they need to cool down after all this exertion, visitors are never far from a crystal-clear mountain lake in the Austrian Tirol – many of which are suitable for swimming in – and there are numerous streams and brooks to dip toes into after a hike or cycle.

In Ischgl visitors can do laps or splash about in the public pools, and families can visit the Sandli water playground, where children can build dams, operate locks and water wheels and channel the water to different pools. The expansive Silvretta Therme is a wellness hotspot, boasting pools, spa treatments, saunas and a fitness area.

Alternative mountain experiences

The Arena Coaster is a top family activity in Zillertal in the summer. Credit: Zillertal Arena

Think you knew everything there is to do on a mountain? There are sure to be some surprises in Tirol. The Zillertal Arena is Zillertal's largest ski area in winter, before transforming into a world of summer adventure. One of the biggest draws is the 1,450-meter Arena Coaster toboggan, which loops and twists down the mountain. There are also several adventure worlds where families can tackle a high-ropes course in the trees and explore playgrounds and tree houses. Suggest heading to the huge Zell leisure park to try mini golf, tennis, beach volley ball and bouldering.

And while it’s warm outside, the Nature’s Ice Palace at the Hintertux Glacier in Zillertal remains at 0°C throughout the year. Visitors will discover the glacial cave system beneath the ski slopes, spotting ice stalactites, giant sparkling ice crystals, frozen waterfalls and even a glacial lake.

In St. Johann in Tirol, alongside cycling and hiking trails, the Harschbichl mountain offers the Hornpark tree top adventure park, an archery course, mountain bike skill park and tandem paragliding. One of the highlights is the mountain cart route, where adventure-seekers wind 3.8 km through forests and pastures in their cart (younger children can ride with parents).

Clients visiting Innsbruck can explore the charming town centre and visit a host of cultural sites, including the magnificent Imperial Palace, which is one of the most important cultural buildings in Austria, dating to 1500. The Court Church is home to 28 life-size bronze figures, which watch over the empty tomb of Emperor Maximilian, while Ambras Castle is the oldest museum in the world and boasts chambers full of dazzling treasures, alongside impressive gardens and a large park.

Culinary gems

Visitors can shop at the St. Johann weekly market. Credit: Mirja Geh

Foodies will love St. Johann in Tirol's restaurants, inns, mountain guesthouses and traditional lodges – recommend the popular weekly farmers market in the heart of St. Johann each Friday.

St. Anton am Arlberg is famed as a culinary hotspot, with more than 30 restaurants that have won awards from French restaurant guide Gault Millau. Traditional mountain huts are the perfect place to refuel, often serving traditional dishes and a delicious variety of dumplings.

Gourmets will also find an impressive culinary variety in Innsbruck – from regional to international, and from hearty to haute cuisine. Suggest joining a culinary tour, which allow foodies to try local specialities direct from producers. Highlight how your clients can combine a city and nature break in one by heading to Innsbruck, as they can stroll around the elegant streets before hopping in a cable car and ascending to 2,000m in just 20 minutes.

Wherever they visit in the Austrian Tirol visitors will feel a sense of connection with nature and mountains, but also with the people around them, as 92% of Tirolean businesses are family-run. While the region’s alpine adventures are unrivalled, what makes Austria so unique is its people, their hospitality and lifestyle, which revolves around a hearty appreciation of the natural world.

So, this summer invite your customers to experience the Austrian “Lebensgefühl”: a celebration of life, a deep appreciation for the moment, and a uniquely Austrian sense of joy.