Think a beach holiday is pure relaxation? Then perhaps you’ve never been on a hiking holiday in Austria! The endless mountain landscapes of the Alps, fresh mountain air, and being active all day are the ingredients to clear your mind completely. Walking through the stunning landscape is where you truly find peace. Whether you’re scaling high peaks during a multi-day hut-to-hut trek or taking easy-going hikes, a hiking holiday in Austria is pure enjoyment! Austria is a destination that is perfect for both experienced hikers and beginners. There are countless multi-day hut-to-hut treks to undertake, even if you’ve never done it before. Such a multi-day hike from hut to hut through the mountains is the perfect way to explore an area on foot. But what if you’ve never done this before, where do you start? And how do you plan such a hiking holiday in Austria? And what’s it like to sleep in a mountain hut? To help you with this, we’re sharing practical information and useful tips for hiking in Austria and planning a hut-to-hut trek for beginners.
Is Hiking in Austria Right for You?
Have you been considering going hiking in Austria for a long time? I highly recommend it to everyone. Whether you start with easy day hikes or two-day hikes, or you tackle some serious elevation gain. With the tips below, I hope to remove any barriers and encourage you to simply plan that hiking holiday in Austria! I’ve written this article for beginners, people who don’t have much experience with hiking holidays but would like to try it out, just don’t know where to start. I’ve tailored the article to Austria because over the years I’ve done several hut-to-hut treks there, both in my youth and in recent years. The same principles should generally apply to other Alpine countries, although the mountain huts may vary. But fundamentally, you can use the tips from this article for (multi-day) hikes in other mountain areas in Europe.
Hiking Holiday with Children
I can wholeheartedly affirm that you can have a fantastic time hiking with children in Austria. I am eternally grateful to my parents for taking our family hiking in Austria during the summer vacations. When I was around 6 or 7 years old (my brother is two years older), we started with light, short hikes, often including a mountain lift as part of the journey. When my brother and I were a bit older (around 8 years old, I think), we also started doing hut-to-hut treks. Initially, these were two-day hut-to-hut treks with one night in a mountain hut. Later, when we were teenagers, we also did three-day hut-to-hut treks, walking from hut to hut. Sleeping in a mountain hut was, of course, incredibly exciting and fun as a child, and I have very fond memories of it. Plan enough breaks, go swimming in a mountain lake along the way, incorporate a ride on a mountain lift (or even a toboggan run) into the journey, and try to keep the route interesting (not too many ‘boring’ roads, forest and mountain trails are much more enjoyable for both children and adults).
Tip for hiking with children: In the mountains of Austria, you can collect stamps at alpine pastures and huts, among other places. You can get a stamp booklet from the local tourist office in each valley. When you fill up a stamp booklet, you receive a pin. For children, this provides extra motivation during the hiking holiday. At least, that’s how I experienced it myself.
Which area do you choose for your hiking holiday in Austria?
Tyrol is, of course, the most famous hiking area in the Alps, but you can also plan a beautiful hiking holiday outside of Tyrol. Actually, all of Austria is suitable for mountain hiking. It’s wise to choose one region where you’ll be on vacation. For example, the Ötztal, Kitzbühel Alps, Vorarlberg, Carinthia, High Tauern, or the Zillertal, to name just a few. You can use one place as a base, for example, by booking a campsite or apartment there, and from there make various day trips and/or short multi-day trips. But you can also spend your hiking holiday in Austria on one hut-to-hut trek and thus trek through an area from hut to hut with your luggage. It is also possible in Austria to hike from hotel to hotel with luggage transport, if you’re looking for a luxury hiking holiday. Which area you choose for hiking in Austria depends on what you’re looking for. There are areas that are more undulating and therefore ideal for the novice hiker, or for those who want to hike with children, and there are rougher areas with high mountain peaks and challenging trails. But even in the high areas, beginners can find their way, because Austria has a large network of cable cars that can take you up. This way, you can make the hike a bit less strenuous.
How do you choose a hiking area in Austria?
Don’t know which hiking area to choose in Austria? It actually doesn’t matter that much. Just choose one of the areas for your first hiking holiday. For example, find a nice campsite, cozy guesthouse, or beautiful apartment where you’d like to stay. Popular places for hiking in the summer include Mayrhofen, Tschagguns, Kitzbühel, and Lech. But you’ll be fine almost anywhere in Austria. You can even use Innsbruck as a base if you want to do more fun activities besides hiking. You can also choose a place near a lake, such as the Pillersee in the Kitzbühel Alps or the Millstättersee in Carinthia, so that you can also do water sports activities besides hiking.
Choosing Hiking Routes in Austria
One of the reasons why Austria is such a prime destination for beginner hiking holidays is the excellent and extensive information provided by the local tourist offices. No matter which area of Austria you travel to, step into the local tourist office and you’ll receive all the information you need. It’s handy to purchase a good hiking map of the area where you’ll be mountain hiking upon arrival (or beforehand online). You’ll use the hiking map to plan your routes. Nowadays, there are also good apps available that allow you to do this. Most mountain guides in Austria use the Bergfex Trails & GPS tracking app. Want to plan routes online in advance? Then the website of the Austrian Tourist Office is a good site to gather all your information. Each region in Austria also has its own website where you can find all the information about hiking trails. The Austrian Tourist Office also links to these.
Signposting of Hiking Trails in Austria
All hiking trails in Austria are marked with red and white paint. This way, you always know if you’re still on an official hiking trail. All mountain huts and other important landmarks are indicated with signs. Important hiking routes are also well signposted. During a hut-to-hut hike, you walk from hut to hut and therefore follow the signposting to your next mountain hut. Getting lost in Austria is therefore not very likely. The signs also always indicate how many hours it is still to walk to the destination point. Keep in mind that these times are calculated without breaks, so generally you can add some more time, depending on your hiking pace.
Going on a Hut-to-Hut Trek in Austria
Even if you have little hiking experience, a hut-to-hut trek is a great way to explore an area. A hut-to-hut trek is a multi-day hiking trail where you overnight in mountain huts. You walk with your luggage from hut to hut. Often, these are beautiful routes with both easy and challenging stages. You can gather information about the different stages online or at the local tourist office. You can choose to hike the entire route or just select a few stages. Especially hut-to-hut treks with more than 10 stages are often divided into multiple hiking holidays by hikers. Multi-day treks of which we have walked small sections ourselves are the Kitzbühel Alps Trail (KAT Trail), Alpe Adria Trail, and the Ötztal trek. But there are really many more long-distance trails in Austria that are worth it.
Short Hut-to-Hut Trek of Two or Three Days
A hut-to-hut trek is not always a long-distance trail. Usually, you spend one, two, or three nights in a mountain hut, before returning to the valley. Staying overnight in a mountain hut allows you to venture higher into the mountains or explore a larger part of the hiking area. Moreover, staying overnight in a mountain hut is a super fun experience! The advantage of doing a short hut-to-hut trek is that you don’t have to carry so much luggage.
Can Everyone Do a Hut-to-Hut Trek?
When embarking on a multi-day hike, it’s useful to have a good basic level of fitness. After all, you walk for several days in a row. And you can’t just turn back if it gets too hard. But a hut-to-hut trek doesn’t always have to be super strenuous. For example, my parents took my brother and me on hut-to-hut treks in Austria from a young age. A hut-to-hut trek doesn’t mean you’re always hiking for days on end. Especially if you’ve never done a hut-to-hut trek before (or for example hike with children), you can try it out by hiking to a mountain hut, staying overnight there, and walking back the next day. Or hiking to a second mountain hut and returning the day after. You can make it as long as you want. Actually, there is a hiking route back to the nearest valley from every mountain hut. Once you’ve reached the valley, you can take a bus or taxi back to your accommodation. If you want to make a trek less strenuous, you can often go up or down from the valley with a cable car. Most major ski lifts are also active in the summer in Austria, so you can use them to go up or down. Especially with children, this is a fun way to make the trek easier for them.
Staying in a Mountain Hut in Austria
During a hut-to-hut hike in Austria, you stay in mountain huts (Hütten). Mountain huts can best be described as guesthouses, often located in the most stunning locations amidst the mountains and generally only accessible on foot. The atmosphere in a mountain hut is extremely convivial. Typical for mountain huts in Austria is the wooden interior with red-and-white checkered tablecloths, curtains, duvets, and of course, the geraniums in the windows. This may not always be the case, but you can still find this interior in many huts in Austria. Personally, I find staying in a mountain hut truly adds to the hiking experience in Austria. Away from the crowds, surrounded by nature, enjoying a good hearty meal, and having a drink with fellow hikers. The creaking wooden floors are also part of the charm for me. Yes, it’s not luxurious, and it may not be the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had, but it’s certainly not uncomfortable either.
Sleeping Arrangements in a Mountain Hut
Most mountain huts have private rooms, shared rooms (similar to a dorm in a hostel), and rooms with dormitory beds. In a dormitory, there are often 6 to 8 mattresses lined up next to each other in a large wooden box. So, you sleep quite close to each other. It’s not really comfortable, but it’s the most budget-friendly option and a unique experience. Especially if you’re hiking with a group of friends or family, this can be a good choice. If you’re looking for a bit more comfort, then a bunk bed in a shared room or a private room is a good option. If you’re hiking in the high season, it’s advisable to reserve a bed well in advance, as there is often only a limited number of sleeping places available, especially in small mountain huts.
Facilities in a Mountain Hut
Generally, a mountain hut in Austria has good facilities. You can take a hot shower, but you often need a shower token for this. Costs vary from €2 to €3. Wifi is not always available, but depending on the location of the hut, you may have mobile data coverage. If a hut is at high altitude or surrounded by high mountains, this may not always be the case. So, don’t count on having internet access. Furthermore, almost every mountain hut in Austria has a drying room for shoes and jackets. If you got wet, your hiking boots and rain gear can dry well overnight (tip: put old newspapers in your shoes if they are very wet, as they absorb moisture). Generally, there are no lockers for valuables, but theft is rare to nonexistent here. The door of your room can often be locked, but hardly anyone does this, and it’s also not necessarily necessary. Additionally, there is usually bedding provided, but you often need your own sleeping bag liner. Towels are not always provided either. A lightweight, quick-drying microfiber towel is the most convenient for this. It dries fast enough to be packed back into your backpack the next day. It’s recommended to choose quality over price for these items. For example, a silk sleeping bag liner and a good microfiber towel are considerably lighter than cheap materials.
Food in a mountain hut
Mountain huts in Austria almost always have a restaurant. Often, you can eat exceptionally well there. Most huts offer an à la carte menu and a cheaper daily menu. The daily menu is served at a fixed time in the evening, and all guests eat together. On the menu, you often find nutritious dishes like schnitzel, dumplings, pasta, and kaiserschmarrn, but the choice is sometimes surprisingly extensive. Keep in mind that the prices for food and drinks are higher than in the valley. After all, everything has to be brought up. In general, the more inaccessible a hut is, the higher the prices.
Socializing with fellow hikers during a hut-to-hut hike in Austria
In a mountain hut, there’s not much to do in the evening besides playing games, reading a book, or planning the route for the next day. You might have a beer, chat a bit, and go to bed early. After all, you’ve had a day of hiking. During dinner, you quickly strike up conversations with fellow hikers staying in the hut. Stories about routes and weather conditions are enthusiastically exchanged at the table. There’s a certain camaraderie present. Everyone staying there is hiking, and chances are you’re walking the same routes. It varies from hut to hut, but generally, there’s a very social, relaxed atmosphere.
