As the snow melts, the flowers bloom, and the cows return to their lush-green pastures, the Austrian Tirol gets ready for a vibrant summer season.

This year, the renowned Aqua Dome in the Tirolean Ötztal celebrates its 20th anniversary with a major refurbishment, a stylish Summit Spa now graces Das Central Hotel in Sölden, new hiking, running and biking trails criss-cross the mountains, and those with a love of heights can make the most of several innovative via ferrata routes.
NEW ACCOMMODATION

Retro Henri Hotel in Kitzbühel
Divided into seven categories, 84 rooms, from Petite Cabinets to XL Studios, are accommodated in the new Henri Hotel next to Kitzbühel railway station. Guests can look forward to a welcoming, retro style with warm hospitality and modern comforts. The hotel kitchen serves a hearty breakfast, a Tirolean ‘Marend’, or snacks, during the day, and a late-night drink in the evening. Guests can also relax in the small Henri Spa & Gym complete with sauna, steam bath, indoor pool and gym after a day exploring the alps. www.henri-hotels.com/en

Stay surrounded by nature, at Kurblhof Leutasch in Seefeld
The recently renovated Kurblhof in Leutasch offers plenty of space in which to relax. Young hotelier, Theresa Klimitsch, already runs the multi-award-winning Bio-Landpension Monika opposite; she has recently expanded her range of services with the addition of an organic-wooden house. Seven comfortable apartments, with stunning clay and silver-fir walls, are housed in the Kurblhof, powered and heated by geothermal energy and solar power. All units have a kitchen and sofa bed, while the top floor features saunas and a relaxation room with views of the Kurblhang. A farm shop with organic specialities from the region, massage room, yoga and exercise room and a large natural garden complete the facilities on offer. www.kurblhof.com

Wellness area at Family Resort Buchau in Achensee
Nestled between the peaks of the Rofan and Karwendel mountains and glittering Lake Achensee, Familienresort Buchau will open a new wellness area with infinity pool and sun deck in May 2024. The children’s water world and private beach (directly on the shore of Lake Achensee) are also being expanded. Guests will be able to look forward to relaxing in spherical loungers and comfy recliners by the lake. New suites, including the exclusive penthouse suite, will also ensure future magical holiday moments. www.buchau.com/en

Lakeside retreat in Kaiserwinkl
Lake Walchsee in Kaiserwinkl is set to welcome a superb new hotel on its shores. Walchsee Aktivresort is adding a Lakeside Annexe, home to 22 luxurious suites with exclusive facilities and direct access to the reflective waters. The hotel’s own restaurant offers an impressive breakfast buffet in the morning and fine dining in the evening, all accompanied by views of the lake. When there, sign up to the “Move & Relax” programme, which offers a varied exercise itinerary in nature and in the resort. www.daswalchsee.at/en

Relaxed stay at Der LERMOOSER in Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
Under the roof of a listed railway station, in Lermoos, Der LERMOOSER offers eight rooms with 26 beds, a modern communal kitchen, a welcoming waiting room, and a kiosk that is also open to non-residents. Der LERMOOSER is somewhere between a hotel and a bed and breakfast, wrapped in a homely and comfortable style that accommodates singles and families alike. All this can be found at the foot of Mount Zugspitze, a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers and nature lovers. www.lermooser.com

BIGSEVEN holiday apartments in Pillerseetal
The new BIGSEVEN holiday apartments are centrally located at the foot of the Buchensteinwand, with the imposing Jakobskreuz in Tirol’s Pillerseetal as a backdrop. All apartments come with spacious private balconies and a warming sauna with views of the surrounding mountains. The two “Panorama” and “Panorama Luxe” holiday apartments offer plenty of space and creature comforts, and have everything guests need to feel at home. Plus, services such as fresh bread deliveries, mountain railway tickets, and guided activities and equipment hire can be booked directly on site. www.fieberbrunn-ferienwohnungen.at

Peaceful retreat at Haus Aerli in Ehrwald
Simple and unpretentious on the outside, airy and clear on the inside – welcome to the new Aerli, a small residential and apartment building in Ehrwald, in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. Large panoramic windows, local materials, a façade made of natural wood and three pitched roofs create the modern interpretation of a Tirolean hay barn. Guests can rent three holiday apartments for two to four people, or the whole house, and enjoy a retreat with sauna, swimming pond and small library. www.aerli.at/en

Adult-only stay in Wipptal Valley
An old farmhouse in Navis, in the Wipptal Valley, has been completely renovated and will soon be welcoming guests (adults only) in three holiday apartments known as ‘Stadl’. Situated at 1,500 metres above sea level, the Feiserhof is the ideal destination for mountain sports enthusiasts. The holiday apartments are furnished in modern style, fully equipped and all have a balcony or terrace. www.urlaubambauernhof.at/de/hoefe/feiserhof

Sustainable concept at Zellrooms in Zillertal
The new Zellrooms in the centre of Zell am Ziller in the Zillertal valley now plants a tree for every night spent in an apartment. The host’s fundamental concept is simple: everyone can make a small contribution to a sustainable approach to nature. As a result, the four newly built holiday apartments for two to four people are not only stylishly furnished and fully equipped, but also created in accordance with a sustainable philosophy. www.zellrooms.at

NEW ROUTES

Hiking

Panorama-Schützensteig trail at Glungezer in Hall-Wattens Region
The new circular Panorama-Schützensteig trail in the Hall-Wattens region leads from the Tulfein cable car mountain station via the Hirschvogelsteig to Bärenbaderjöchl and back to the original starting point. The route is approximately four-and-a-half kilometres with an elevation difference of around 250 metres (and takes nearly two hours) on Mount Glungezer. While hiking, enjoy fantastic views of the Inntal Valley and the opposing Karwendel mountains. Thanks to its easy accessibility, the trail is suitable for all ability levels. https://inn-aktiv.at/en/2023/news/panorama-schuetzensteig-in-tulfes/

The sunny Sunnenseite’n trail in Stubaital
Guests can now hike on the sunny slopes of the Stubaital Valley on the new Sunnenseite’n trail from Fulpmes to Neustift. A suspension bridge longer than hundred metres forms the trail’s highlight, offering views of Neustift and the head of the valley with the Stubai Glacier. The trail is 7.5 kilometres long and leads from the middle station of the Schlick2000 Hiking Centre in Fulpmes along a new forest path to Kartnall Guesthouse in Neustift. Thanks to its sunny location at medium altitude, the Sunnenseite’n Weg is accessible almost all year round. www.stubai.at/en

Mountain Biking

Kaunertal signposts and authorises mountain bike routes for the first time
From summer 2024, Kaunertal Valley in the Tirolean uplands has officially signposted and authorised mountain bike routes for the very first time. The predominantly leisurely tours lead along forest trails to scenic locations and include great places to stop for refreshments at mountain huts. Choose from routes to the Aifner Alm, Mount Langetsberg or the Kaltenbrunn Pilgrimage Circuit. www.kaunertal.com/en/Your-kaunertal/In-Summer/Rad-Bike

An ambitious ride on the Marchkopf Tour in Zillertal
A new connection leading to the Rastkogelhütte offers a varied route via Sidanjoch and the Zillertaler Höhenstraße Alpine Road. The Marchkopf Tour is 43.6 kilometres long and, with 1,980 metres of ascent and a duration of more than five hours, it is relatively challenging. Ambitious bikers can even extend the tour to a mega ride encompassing five mountain passes, 76 kilometres in length, and 3,720 metres in altitude. www.best-of-zillertal.at/en

Thrilling “Silva Trails” in Galtür, Paznaun-Ischgl
From summer 2024, the new “Silva Trails” Bike Trail Park in Galtür will offer a range of paths from easy flows to technically challenging single tracks, as well as special routes for children and families. Home to a circuit, a practice area, two jump lines, pump track and four trails, the park is perfect for beginners and experienced bikers alike. Thrills are guaranteed thanks to a gradient of 2-10% on the trail that descends from 1,970 metres to 1,630 metres above sea level. https://www.ischgl.com/en/Active/Active-Summer/Biking-Ischgl/Bike-tours

Two fun trails in Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
A new flow trail on the Grubigstein in Lermoos provides biking excitement for every skill level. Take the Grubigstein cable car or ride up the mountain via the forest road, where guests will find the 2.8-kilometre new Bachl Trail at the middle station. Enjoy numerous bends, rollers and jumps – all of which provide adrenalin-inducing fun, while various lines offer great entertainment for beginners and advanced riders. In addition, the Schlägle Trail has undergone a major reshape; it offers an improved descent while retaining its natural character. www.zugspitzarena.com/en/Summer-in-the-Mountains/Biking

Climbing

First adaptable via ferrata in Nauders
The new Goldgrat via ferrata in Nauders, on the Reschen Pass, not only offers expansive, sweeping views, but its design allows it to be adapted to different levels of ability. Featuring five stations, it teaches climbers the most important basics of via ferrata climbing, making the route from Goldgrat to the 2,912-metre high Bergkastelspitze, the first educational via ferrata trail in the Alps with guests being able to improve as they climb. https://www.nauders.com/en/Your-Nauders/In-Summer/Climbing/Klettersteig-Goldgrat

A family-friendly climbing area in St. Jodok in Wipptal
The new climbing area at Stafflacher Wand in St. Jodok in the Wipptal Valley is ideal for families and easily accessible by public transport, thanks to its proximity to St. Jodok railway station. The six sections of routes, with difficulty levels ranging from three to nine, means both climbing novices and pros will be in their element. www.wipptal.at/klettern

Bigger climbing area at Verpeil Gorge in Kaunertal
Impressive rock formations and numerous boulders make climbing in the Kaunertal Valley in the Tirolean uplands particularly attractive, which is why the programme has now been extensively expanded. The family friendly “Verpeilschlucht” climbing area, with 15 new routes, has been created at the entrance to the Verpeilschlucht Gorge in the main town of Feichten. A 140-metre-long climbing route is also being built on the rock face in Feichten, which is more than 100 metres high. The new attraction is rounded off by the spectacular “Schwarzwand” viewing platform. www.nauders.com/en/Your-Nauders/In-Summer/Climbing/Klettersteig-Goldgrat

Trail Running

Five fresh trail running routes in Erste Ferienregion in Zillertal
Discover five new trail running routes in the Erste Ferienregion in the Zillertal Valley, inviting keen runners to explore as they run on fantastic Alpine trails up to Kellerjoch, through the mountain landscapes of Hochfügen, or over a long mountain ridge to three peaks in the upper Zillertal Valley. Several of the routes can be combined; easier or harder trail running laps can be completed depending on mood and fitness level. www.best-of-zillertal.at/sommer/sommeraktivitaeten/trailrunning-spieljoch-hochfuegen/

An original Cross-Trail powered by LEKI in Paznaun-Ischgl
“Cross Trail” is the name of the most original form of trail running, and the Paznaun-Ischgl region will be offering the perfect route from summer 2024. Nine new, signposted tracks lead through technically challenging and often rocky terrain. The starting points for the tours, which combine brisk hiking with running in the high mountains, are the cable car stations or bus stops in Paznaun. Plus, LEKI poles are available for hire in the sports shops in the valley. www.paznaun-ischgl.com/en/Active/Cross-trail

For more information about summer holidays in Tirol, please visit: www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/summer-holidays