Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol don't know where to go

[SkunkButtRug]

So we're thinking of going to this area this July with the two dc 11 and 14 but not sure where to go.

They love Go Ape type things and forests and lakes and potentially a bit of hiking maybe. I just want to inspire them really. We haven't had a holiday abroad for a few years but beach holidays aren't their thing.

I think Austria could be amazing but it's such a vast area I'm not sure where to stay that's close to activities.

Should we stay near Salzburg so there's also a city to explore?

We had a great holiday a few years back in the Otztal. We don't like hiring a car on holiday and got there on train and bus from Innsbruck - also had a night in Innsbruck on the way, which was nice, definitely enough to do for 24 hours. The best thing about it was the card/pass which you can either buy or is included with some accommodation. It gives free access to all the mountain lifts and buses and to some cycle hire/swimming pools/spas etc. We stayed in Solden which wasn't the prettiest, but very central for access to activities and lifts etc. We did loads of easy, high-level walking - get a lift up, and walk along to the next lift, or back down. Lots of nice meals in mountain huts. We had free bike hire and cycled down the valley one day and then put the bikes on the back of a bus to come home.

Details about the card here.

It also snowed at the top of the ski lifts one day and we got the cable car up and had the fun of crunching in fresh snow on our summer holiday.

It was a great week, all in all - one of the best summer holidays we've done.

I've never been anywhere else in Austria, but I think some of the other ski areas have similar cards/summer deals as they need to attract people out of ski season.

Thanks for your reply. I will look at those areas - the pass sounds brilliant!

When you eat at the mountain huts are they like cafes?

Just had a look at the pass in more detail - wow, you really get a lot with it. Sounds perfect for us!

Achensee!

Yes - a mix. Some at the top of the big lifts are more like a small motorway service station with more than one restaurant/bar - quite large and busy. Most are just a single restaurant, and then we found one or two on the walking trails that were much quieter with just a handful of tables and obviously run by a family. I seem to remember that the tourist office produced a map showing all the lifts and walking/cycling trails and how they connected up, and that showed all the huts and opening/closing times etc.

Innsbruck is great. Lots to do and all include on the Innsbruck pass.

Achensee also looks fabulous. It's so beautiful there!

So my next question is, how's the mozzie and tick situation?

I ask because it's only me that they seem to like...

Saalbach-Hinterglemm has everything on your list and is only 90 mins from Salzburg airport.

Cable cars, views, Zip-wires, Europe's largest Go Ape style park, rafting, lake swimming, balance park, slack-line, hiking, paragliding, mountain biking, outdoor pool, veteran steam train, caves, old silver mine - all either in the village itself or within 20 minutes drive in Zell am See or Leogang.

Saalbach also has a summer card - the Joker Card - which is free if you stay in a hotel or apartment that is part of the scheme, which most accommodation is. This gives free access to the cable cars, to the local buses and the outdoor pool and discounts on other local attractions. The Tourist Office website has details:

www.saalbach.com/en/summer

Used to go to the Dolmites (Tyrol) staying at San Cassiano every July, i ve stayed in the Austrian Tyrol too and i have to say imho, the Italian version, just an hour or two further on, is better, just seemed a lot more to do, esp walking, mountain restaurants, cable cars etc.

@SkunkButtRug Re: mozzies and ticks.

There are few, if any mozzies - certainly not enough to be noticeable. Ticks might occasionally be found in the meadows, but stick to paths and stay out of the long grass and there should be no problems, and they don't seem to live much above 1,000m.

The Domites look stunning too. I hadn't thought of that!

Saalbach seems to have it all - great about the joker pass too, that's so useful. Thanks so much for the link that's great.

Would you recommend hiring a car then? We happy to use public transport but just wondering if it's better to self drive?

Re Mozzies/ticks thanks that's great to know!

I had a great holiday with two teens in Neustift in Tirol. Less than an hour from Innsbruck. We got a flight from Heathrow. There was a pass which we got free with the hotel stay and it allowed us to use all the buses and cable cars. There were glaciers, waterfalls and loads of beautiful walks. The views were honestly spectacular. The hotel was lovely too and in a great spot for lazing by the freshwater pool while watching the paragliders after a long hike. The whole place was just really clean and efficiently run. Plus some spectacular thunder storms in the evening.

Alpeiner Natue Resort

Most of the big resorts do guest cards with discounts or included activities, buses, lifts etc

It is probably difficult to find somewhere in Tyrol/Salzburgerland/Sud Tyrol(Italy) where you won't have a good holiday.

Some places though are in danger of becoming too busy - Hallstatt for example is stunning, but not when a tiny village is invaded by thousands of tourists and coach parties every day during the summer.

A car is useful for getting around and some attractions such as the Grossglockner High Road can only really be done by car, but public transport is cheap, clean and reliable. For convenience and for being able to get around more easily and to get further afield, then by all means hire a car, but somewhere like Zell am See or Saalbach can easily be enjoyed without.

For those who would prefer not to fly, it is also possible to take the night sleeper train (Nightjet) from Amsterdam (and I think from Paris this summer too) to Salzburg. Take the Eurostar to Amsterdam/Paris from London. Family compartments are available.

We booked last minute to go to Seefeld for a week last July and it was one of the best holidays we've had! Lakes, mountains, bikes, walking, pretty chalets everywhere, not too busy, not too quiet - and so beautiful. Everywhere you look there's an Alp or a meadow, or both! I loved it.

We flew with TUI into Salzburg (from Scotland) then coach to Seefeld. Great transport links when we were there - free bus travel I think with a tourist card and reasonable train tickets. Innsbruck is lovely and not far, we also went over the border into Germany and up a huge mountain in cable cars.

DDs are 12 and 16 so similar ages and they also thought it was great. DD2 is very keen to go back!

Excellent, thank you so much for all your helpful replies! I am utterly sold.

I like the idea of a sleeper train if budget allows. I will look up all these places and see what we can do.

You guys are awesome!

We've stayed in Seefeld before too in the summer. A couple of outdoor pools, nice walks, horse and carriage rides, funicular and cable car. Lots of places to eat. 30 mins from Innsbruck one direction and Mittenwald in Germany in the other. Leutasch Gorge is stunning. Free bus pass in the summer. Our hotel had a daily activity programme. And very nice food. www.haymon.at/en/sommeraktiv.html Also been to the Ziller valley in the summer which has lots going on. Train to Achensee, Mayrhofen, the Krimml waterfalls and the Hintertux glacier - freaky to have fresh snow and people skiing in the summer.

For info about train services, including the NightJet service, look at the Seat61 website (Seat61.com)

Thanks a lot, I'll take a look!

We have been to the Serfaus/Fiss area twice and had great holidays. 1 hour from innsbruck airport. Loads of activities for kids, mountain coasters, zip wires, lakes, amazing adventure playgrounds in the mountain, summer cards for the cable cars.