Where will I like if I like the Austrian Alps?

[HerbertVonDoodlebug]

Just had a lovely break in Austria. Stunning scenery - cable cars and peaceful panoramic walks - and apart from a couple of hotspots, not too overtouristed. Where else in Europe is like this? I know Swiss Alps are gorgeous but really concerned about it being too crowded.

@KeptWomanSummer funnily enough the Canadian Rockies are also on our shortlist but that seems even more of a tourist-packed nightmare!

Lake Bohinj in Slovenia.

The Pyrenees, staying in Andorra. We stayed in Soldeu but Andorra La Vella would give you more if a transport hub. Great public transport, beautiful scenery and the influencer types have never heard of it. Depending when you go, it will be hot though (as will anywhere around the Alps).

Iceland is stunning and even the Golden Circle wasn't particularly crowded when we went in the last week of August. Again, fantastic public transport. We enjoyed the hot springs - didn't go to the overpriced Blue Lagoon. ££££ though. We stayed at Midgard Base Camp in Hvolsvollur.

Lake Bled in Slovenia is absolutely gorgeous. Busy but not ridiculously so, i.e. we could walk into a restaurant and get a table every night. Surprisingly cheap for food spends. Very walkable, good bus network and there's a brilliant cycle path between Bled and Lake Bohinj.

Morzine as already mentioned is beautiful. Most accommodation providers offer the Morzine Pass in the summer, which gives you free swimming, free bus and ski lift use, discounts on various activities. Very busy with mountain bikers but if you're into swimming and walking then you'll find yourself out of the crowds in no time.

The Black Forest is slightly different but similar vibes.

We were there in mid July. It was pleasantly ‘busy’ in the town. Transport was fine. We have also visited in early June. Weather good both times. Empty alpine meadows to roam. No long queues for lifts/gondola etc.

@HerbertVonDoodlebug Wolfgangsee is east of Salzburg and a beautiful area with the lakes and small towns but it is just one small part of Austria. As an alternative you could look at the areas west of Salzburg - e.g. Hinterglemm, Hochkonig, Zell am See, Saalbach - which have more in the way of mountains than the Salzkammergut/Wolfgansee area has, but which of course don't have the lakes (except Zell am See). All are accessible by free public transport from Salzburg.

Further west there is Tirol - fly to Innsbruck and search out the mountain towns such as Kitzbuhel accessible from there. South of the Tauern National Park takes you to East Tirol (Lienz as a centre) and then on into Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, the part of Italy that was part of Austria until the end of WW1.

Further west again is Lake Constance (Bodensee) which is a great area - choose between staying in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. Or look at Lake Garda (although this area can get very busy) or Slovenia or ..... there are hundreds of places with a similar vibe but all slightly different 😎

Slightly further afield than Europe but try New Zealand!

Andorra would fit the bill. I've been skiing there for years. The Pyrenees are very well set up for summer tourism with lots of great hiking trails, stunning scenery & it's very affordable as it is a tax free country. Would recommend Soldeu or Arinsal. The capital city has excellent shopping.

Switzerland. Specifically the Bernese Oberland. Stunning and so many lovely walks.

Tatra mountains are lovely and you have the choice of Poland and Slovakia.

Following! Love Austria (Seefeld, Saalbach, Zell and See and Achensee) Slovenia (Bled, Kranjska Gora) Germany (Schwangau) Switzerland (Wengen). Looking in Italy this year. Looking at staying somewhere around Lake Garda because we then want to spend a few days in Rome and get there by public transport but not sure how easy it is to get to a cable car for a mountain view or hike from Lake Garda (probably the north bit?) Any recommendations?

@AliceinNumberland The Lake Garda area is very different from the towns that you've visited in Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland. Activities are very much focussed on the lake and in the towns around the lake rather than on the nature and mountains. It's beautiful in its own way and certainly worth a visit, and you've avoided the busiest periods of July and August. There is a cable car for you to enjoy on the eastern side of the lake at Malcesine which takes you to the top of Monte Baldo, from where there are stunning views of the lake.

Lake Garda is quite a way from Rome - over 500km from the southern end and almost 600km from Riva del Garda at the northern end. It is also not an easy journey by public transport (it takes between 6 and 9 hours) and connections from Riva to Rome are limited.

@HerbertVonDoodlebug You asked about Switzerland and recommendations for places to stay. Most recently I've stayed in the heart of the tourist area, Interlaken, in both summer and winter and found that a really good base from which to travel to quieter areas. Yes, it can be busy in the popular spots - Jungfrau, Schilthorn, Zermatt, etc. - but there are plenty of quieter areas for exploration. You mentioned Murren as a possibility but thought it would be crowded. It is popular but not commercialised in a typical British way - It's a beautiful Alpine village and it wasn't particularly busy even in the ski season. There are lots of beautiful hikes and views around the area, and Lauterbrunnen (the valley of waterfalls) is stunning.

One of the advantages with Switzerland is that it's so easy to travel around. The trains, buses and lake transport are integrated and bookable via a single app and everything runs like clockwork. It's much easier and more enjoyable than driving. We plotted possible routes using a local transport map and our guide book/websites and had a very enjoyable time.

I've also had enjoyable summer holidays (as well as skiing) in the Austrian Tyrol, which I'd recommend, although transport is a little more sparce. We stayed at St Gilgen, a pretty traditional village where Mozart and family lived, and explored the area by bike, boat and bus, travelling to Salzburg and Bad Ischgl for sight seeing, as well as local mountain transport.

@pandora206 St Gilgen is where we just came back from! A beautiful place that I’d recommend to all.

Both beautiful

@Havananananathank you! Your comments on threads when I was planning Saalbach were invaluable. I am resigning myself to the fact that Lake Garda will be different. The kids have asked to go to Italy for a while, otherwise I would be back to Austria! So I think we will be lake swimming/paddle boarding etc rather than mountain climbing.

Does anywhere on Lake Garda have jumping platforms like Zell?

Following! Some great recommendations here

Not the same scenery as its volcanic rather than mountainous but the Azores are fairly quiet and good for walks /lakes / hot springs / botanic gardens / dolphins and getting away from people. Though can be trickier to get to.

Ooh literally on the way home from
zell am see now and getting inspiration for the next one. We’ve used night trains and public transport which was all free with the mobility card (not the night train that was £££)