The Austrian Tirol is open for summer, and it’s awesome

Direct UK flights to Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian Tirol, take from two hours all summer long. Warm and sunny weather in July and August is pretty much the norm. And if you’re looking for a family activity holiday with unlimited potential, this is the land where they practically invented adventure.

There’s something for every type of family in the Tirol this summer. Active families will love child-friendly hiking paths, rock-climbing areas and cycle routes for road bikes, mountain bikes and even e-bikes. If history and culture is your collective passion, Tirol is traced all over with museums, monuments, castles and experiences to enthral everyone from toddlers to teens.

And if that isn’t enough to persuade you to discover Tirol this summer, several top family regions are offering free weekly activity programmes for the entire season. So you can try out anything from rock climbing and star gazing to forest camping and family-friendly foodie adventures. Want to know more? Have a look at three regions highly recommended by Tirol Tourist Board for fabulous – and free – family fun this summer.

1/3 Innsbruck

You’ll love Innsbruck in summer. Not only is the city itself incredibly pretty and easy to explore with kids, catch the funicular railway in its historic centre and you can be adventuring on the magnificent Nordkette Mountains in just 10 minutes.

Family friendly bike paths cover hundreds of kilometres round Innsbruck, but divide neatly into easy-going shorter rides so even younger kids get in on the freewheeling excitement.

And if you want to find out why everyone raves about Tirolean mountain huts and restaurants, this is the region to find them at their finest and friendliest, serving up fantastic food in spectacular surroundings.

Innsbruck summer holiday highlights

• Muttereralm Mountain of Adventure might soar over Innsbruck but it’s surprisingly easy to reach and makes for a great day out with kids. You’ll find heaps of family-friendly hiking trails here – you can even kick off your boots and tiptoe along the sensational Barefoot Trail. Thrill seekers should hop aboard Mountain Carts for all natural, white-knuckle rides. And when you need to refuel Muttereralm’s also the place to try out traditional mountain huts and restaurants where food and views are equally astonishing.
• Innsbruck is mountain biking heaven. And while the likes of the Nordkette Singletrail (said to be Europe’s toughest) is best left to experts, there are loads of other less daunting trails through forests and on the mountains. Several beginner and intermediate trails start out at Bikepark Innsbruck which also has a challenging pumptrack, skills’ area and fun kids’ park.
• Lace up your family boots for Meadow Hike Mutterer Alm. A lovely walk with breathtaking views of the Inn Valley and Nordkette Mountains, it’s perfect for kids of all ages and packed with activities along the way. Plus the excellent Mutterer Alm mountain restaurant on-route is known as one of the most child-friendly in the region.

Find out more about Innsbruck for active family holidays this summer

2/3 St. Anton am Arlberg

St. Anton am Arlberg is so keen to get everyone into the great outdoors this summer it even has buggy-friendly hiking routes. Older kids can join guided nature walks and fun expeditions where they’ll learn skills like dam-building. And if you swap mountains for rivers and lakes, this is also a great region for families to pick up the basics of kayaking and rafting.

High and low rope-courses and gorge-spanning ziplines challenge the boldest teens. Young daredevils in training have a pick of playgrounds all over the region packed with cool stuff like trampolines and hanging bridges. And, on the odd rainy day, St. Anton am Arlberg has everything from indoor swimming pools and climbing walls to covered football and tennis, to keep families happy till the sun’s up again.

St. Anton am Arlberg summer holiday highlights

• On the banks of the Rosanna River, expert mountains guides have created challenging high and low rope-courses designed to make the most of the lush Verwall Valley landscape of mighty trees, grand gorges and thrilling natural phenomena. The routes run across eight stages, and courses always begin with training and are led from start to finish by qualified professionals.
• Engaging kids with nature, history and new skills is easy on themed hikes. Try the intriguing Faith & History Trail in Schann. Not only does it lead in and around one of the region’s most historic villages, it includes a tricky 13-clue treasure hunt made for junior puzzlers.
• Mountain bike fiends don’t want to miss the new EldoRADo Bike-Areal Verwall this summer. Between the demanding pump-track, all-natural technical trails and serious ‘drop offs’, there’s plenty to keep experienced riders interested. And the fun kids’ obstacle course is a brilliant start for first time MTB-ers.
• Buggies are the perfect walking companions on the easy-going Verwalltal Hike which takes in lush alpine meadows and forest, pretty streams and the showstopping beauty of dazzling green Lake Verwallsee.

Find out about St. Anton am Arlberg for active family holidays this summer

3/3 Zillertal

The glorious Zillertal Alps make this region a paradise for climbers during summer. Although families don’t need any technical expertise to hike in the beautiful Zillertal Alps Nature Park or follow fun forest routes themed round ancient myths or cute woodland creatures. This is the area where kids can spot adorable whistling marmot in July and August, feel like legends on the super-flat Zillertal Valley Cycle Path and get up to anything from river rafting to cheesemaking in between.

• For jaw-droppingly amazing views of the Zillertal Alps take kids on The Hubertus Chapel Circular Hike in Fügen-Kaltenbach. The scenic route runs from the Kaltenbacher ski hut to the lovely chapel of St. Hubertus the patron saint of hunters. And on the downward loop, there’s an adventure playground and marmot park.
• The Putzi sucht die Wundernuss Trail is another easy themed trail for kids. Expect them to be enchanted by Putzi the Squirrel and his tale of the forest’s ‘miracle nut’. This fun walk incorporates a playground too, this time with climbing towers, water play and ziplines.
• Zillertal Adventure Park in Kaltenbach has one of the best tree-top adventure courses in Tirol, as well as fabulous climbing challenges and even zipline-come-kayaking experiences and waterfall trails. Some of the park is definitely for bolder, older kids and adults. But, seven trails graded in order of difficulty, make sure younger adventurers don’t feel left out of the action.
• Hire bikes and take a leisurely ride along the 31km long Zillertal Valley Cycle Path. It’s almost totally flat all the way, which is perfect for families and gives little first time cyclists a great sense of achievement.

Find out more about Zillertal for active family holidays this summer

Whether you want to take toddlers on first time hikes, give mountain biking older kids something to boast about back home or get bold teen adventurers off devices and into the great outdoors, have a look at how Tirol Tourist Board can help plan the perfect activity holiday for your family this summer.