TOP 10 – Our "best of"
Of course there are way more than 10 attractions in Tirol. But these are our personal favourites - special, adventurous, educational and fun:
1) A walk through the village and on Medrigalm
Using the cable car is free with your Silvretta Card!
This tour is ideal to get to know our lovely little village and its beautiful surroundings. After a good breakfast at our hotel you can walk to the church of Saint Sebastian and then downhill into the village from where you can get the cable car up to the Medrigalm. On its panorama terrace you can enjoy a fantastic few while indulding in classics such as Apfelstrudel and Kaiserschmarren. Relax at the spa and health park or continue your walk to the Versingalpe, where you can try fresh milk as well as home made yoghurt, buttermilk and the valley's very own mountain cheese.
2) Silvretta-Arlberg roundtrip and St. Anton
The 156 kilometres long tour will take about two and a half hours to drive.
With your Silvretta Card you can get on the Silvretta-Hochalpenstraße for free all the way up to the water reservoir on the Bieler Höhe. After a short break and maybe a stroll around the reservoir you continue your journey down through the serpentines into the Montafon valley all the way to Bludenz, the city of Milka chocolate, with its pretty little old town. On the way back via the Arlberg mountain you can have a wander around St. Anton, the birthplace of skiing and host of the Ski World Championships 2001.
3) Paznaun roundtrip and Alpinarium
The 74 kilometres long tour will take about one and a half hour to drive.
Through our marvellous Paznaun valley, along the Trisanna river, past the famous ski resort Ischgl the route takes you to Galtür.
Galtür was buried by several avalanches in 2001. Find out more about what happened at the award-winning museum in Galtür. It offers interesting facettes of archicture, integrated into the 19 meter high protective wall. However, that's not the only thing that makes this museum unique. 2007 the exhibition was awarded the museum price, followed by the Austrian seal of quality museums the year after.
The permanent exhibition „Fascination snow, myth avalanche“ informs in detail about the contrary meaning of nature in this spot of the world: calm and storm, strength and frailness, tales and reality. Not just friends of film should watch the documentary by Lutz Maurer. The director and alpine expert has incorporated the happenings of February 23rd in 1999, when avalanches destroyed Galtür. What influence did it have on the people? What actually happend?
„Who lives in the mountains has to be in movement“ is the name of another short film which encourages to reflect and will surprise. Current exhibitions, the climbing wall, the design café and the roof platform with a skywalk attract visitors from afar.
Feeling a bit pekish? Enjoy lunch at the design café „Gefrorenes Wasser“ (frozen water) or on the panorama terrace of the Alpinarium. There are also several restaurants in Galtür.
In Galtür there is also an indoor pool and sports center, where you can swim, play tennis, squash and do bowling. A good tipp for bad weather.
After a delicious lunch you could go for a walk around the famous Kops water reservoir in Gaschurn, Vorarlberg and enjoy the fascitinating landscape.
4) Kaunertal Glacier and duty-free zone Samnaun
The 203 kilometres long tour will take about three hours and fourtyfive minutes to drive.
The mountains are calling! Depending on the weather and your mood you can decide whether you want to start this trip in the morning or afternoon. If the weather is on your side, drive up to the Kaunertal glacier on the panorama road (charges apply). Here you can ski even in summer. Hit the pistes or watch the others from the terrace while enjoying the pollen free air. Even as a non-skier you can use the lift to get above 3,000 metres. A breathtaking panoramic view is awaiting you, where you can look from Tirol's highest peak, the Wildspitze (3,768 metres) to Germany's highest one, the Zugspitze (2,962 metres). Don't just look into the distance though, there is the „Azurjungfrau“ to be sighted at the dragonfly-paradise Kaunertal valley.
From the „Oberes Gericht“ there is a road that was built into the mountain leading up to the duty free zone Samnaun. Until 1905, due to its geographical position, the only road to get to Samnaun was on Austrian soil. Thus it was decided for economical reasons that the area should be allowed to offer products cheaper. In Europe's highest shopping street you can have a look around more than 60 shops and buy jewellery, perfume, cigarettes and spirits at reduced rates. Typical regional specialities such as the Bündnerfleisch and famous Swiss chocolate are on offer too. Worth a visit is the very popular „Schmuggler Alm“ (smugglers' alp), drop by for a Marend (afternoon snack).
5) Landeck: Castle, Home of Speck, farmers' market
The 34 kilometres long tour will take about 1 hour to drive.
The pretty little shopping town of Landeck is always worth a visit. Fridays are a particularly good idea, as there is the local & fresh farmers' market with delicacies from the region. There are several exhibitions taking place all at once at Landeck castle, which overlooks the town. Don't forget to climb the steps of the look-out so you get to enjoy a marvellous view over the area.
Just above the town there are two very famous little villages: Grins and Stanz. It is their locally produced Schnapps which you don't want to miss out on. Try the different types from several producers!
In the neighbouring town Zams, the mystical canyon Zammer Lochputz is worth a visit. On a secured path you can enter the flume and explore it. Keep an eye out for the famous bull, guarding a young water nymph.
The ruins of Kronburg castle are a very popular sight too. Walk along the Camino de Santiago, past a path with Stations of the Cross, up to the convent of the Mercy Sisters, the church of Maria Hilf and a restaurant. From there it's a steep but short walk up to the top, rewarding you with an amazing view of the entire Oberinntal valley.
6) Imst: Rosengartenschlucht & BierMythos
The 76 kilometres long tour will take about one and a half hours to drive
This tour takes you to the city of fountains, Imst. There are more than 35 fountains with drinking water, many of which are historically important. The Rosengartenschlucht (rose garden canyon) is both wild and romantic. It's awe-inspiring to see what the water has done to the rocks over thousands of years.
If this has made you thirsty, make sure you pay Austrias most rewarded brewery a visit. At the BierMythos Starkenberg you will learn about the history of beer and how it was produced in the past. If you're too young or not a fan, why not take a walk around the beautiful little lake, just around the corner? Or have fun on the longest alpine rollercoaster Alpine Coaster.
For those who are into history, there is more: The Knappenwelt (miners' world) near Tarrenz in the Gurgltal valley shows how tough mining life must have been and how the different ores were obtained and used. Especially if you have children with you, you might want to stop over at Happi's Hütte, a hut with a small petting zoo.
The Art Club hosts jazz festivals and concerts, galleries and museums offer insights on the cultural side of things. Imst is also the place where the first SOS-Kinderdorf was opened.
7) St. Anton, Lechtal und Hahntennjoch
This roundtrip takes you to the Lechtal valley, offering a wide range of walking routes.
The 41 km² large nature park is home to many endangered animals and plants, for example the very rare Frauenschuh, a wild orchid. The main village in the Lechtal valley is Elbigenalp, at 1,040 metres, known for the famous Geierwally but also its woodcraft.
In sunny Elmen go for a walk before you drive to Stanzach. From there it's not far to the idyllic Fallerschein with its 40 log huts scattered over lush meadows. This village is the only on if its kind in Tirol. Carry on to Reutte and visit Burgenwelt Ehrenberg (castle world) and if you fancy more royal time, also visit Schwangau. Book in advance to get a guided tour around Neuschwanstein castle, which was the inspiration for Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle. To avoid queues, especially in summer, ring the ticket office (+49 (0)8362/930 83 0).
On your way back go via the Zugspitz Arena and the Fernpass with its cristal clear and ice cold Fernstein lake (great for diving!) or via the picturesque Hahntennjoch. Both routes lead you via Imst to Landeck and See.
8) Three countries tour: Switzerland - Italy - Austria
The 264 kilometres long tour will take about four and a half hours to drive
The three countries roundtrip leads you through the Oberinntal valley to the "Oberes Gericht", up to the Reschenpass and the Reschensee water reservoir (IT). It swallowed up several small villages when it was built, leaving only the churchtower poking out from the water. In the nearby Vinschgau, part of the fertile South Tirol, you pass countless fruit plantations and vineyards on your way to the smallest town of the region, Glurns. Inside its medieval town walls you can learn about the place's highly interesting history. On your way across the Ofenpass, taking you through the famous Swiss National Park into the Engadin region. Visit Guarda, the most idyllic and romantic mountain village you have ever seen. Every building is listed and every shop needs to be explored individually, since there are no signs or labels to be found. By the way, cars are not allowed in this magic place.
If you are a fan of the mediterranean way of life, maybe spend another day across the border. Meran (I) is known for its warm temperatures and unique vegetation and beautiful parks, but also its pretty old town with plenty of fashion and delicatessen shops. Here, Jugendstil is still alive, so make sure you have a taste of the espresso at the promenade and stroll through the gardens of Trautmannsdorff castle.
9) Ötzidorf, Kühtai and the home of the TV series "Der Bergdoktor"
The 176 kilometres long tour will take about three hours to drive
Experience some of Tirol's many different facets in just one roundtrip. Between the valleys Ötztal and Kühtai you see a mix of wild mountains and soft plateaus. If you feel pekish, stop at the Area 47 – an adventure park for adrenaline junkies and playground for all ages.
A bit further up the valley, in Umhausen, you could visit the Ötzidorf open air museum. In 1991 a german couple discovered Ötzi, the man from the ice, who was named after the Ötztal Alps. The Ötzidorf shows what his life must have been like in Stone Age, offers courses on how to build your own bow or survival trainings. Nearby, in Niederthai, you can visit Tirol's biggest waterfall, the Stuibenfall.
If you've had enough of Stone Age, experience Spa Age at the modern Therme Aqua Dome in Längenfeld, boasting an array of indoor and outdoor pools as well as sauna, steam baths and more.
On your way back turn right when you get to Ötz and drive through the Kühtai towards Haiming to get to the Mieminger Sonnenplateau. It's the setting of the TV series "Der Bergdoktor", a German-Austrian medical drama from the nineties.
10) Innsbruck, Hall and Swarovski
This 203 kilometres long tour will take about two hours to drive
Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state Tirol and always worth a visit. Embedded among majestic mountains it hast hosted three Olimpic Games. It therefore boasts a variety of modern sports facilities, like the Olympiaschanze on the Bergisel (Olimpic ski jump).
The historic old town with the imperial palace, the golden roof and of course the Maria-Theresien street with its cafés and shops are definitely worth a visit. Take a ride up the new Hungerburg funicular to get the most amazing few around the city and its surroundings. There's also an alpine zoo, the Schwarzmander church and the refurbished Rundgemälde (a cyclorama portraying the battle of Bergisel mountain). At the Café Sacher you can enjoy a big piece of the original Sachertorte cake.
Very close is also the little city Hall, which is popular for its medieval character and the Münzturm tower. A few minutes further town the motorway there is Wattens, home of the famous Swarovski Kristallwelten. Works of Keith Haring, Niki de Saint Phalle, Salvador Dalí and Andy Warhol are on display. The exhibition is visited by more than 10 million people per year. Of course there is also a big shop for you to buy the glittery art.