Mountains calling? Austria’s got you covered! From leg-pumping hikes to epic ski runs, white-knuckle mountain biking to heart-pounding trail runs, this outdoor paradise is overflowing with year-round adventures. And after a day of conquering peaks (or maybe just conquering that delicious apple strudel), finding the perfect base for your adventure is easy.
Snuggle up in a fireside chalet or unwind in a chic, modern haven – Austria’s top hotels cater to all travel dreams. Feeling fancy? Some hotels even have Lipizzaner horses you can meet or Teslas you can rent to zoom through breathtaking scenery.
The Austria Hotel Collection has handpicked the best of the best. Here are their top picks for Alpine stays this year.
Hotels in Tirol and Vorarlberg
Steeped in history and family traditions, four-star Hotel Gotthard in the heart of Lech am Arlberg combines luxury with authenticity, and cosiness with modernity. Run by the third generation of the Walchs, every guest is treated like a member of the extended family. The hotel opened its doors in 1931 and has since become a top-notch home away from home with comfy rooms, a restaurant serving all the classic Tyrolean delights as well as international cuisine, and a spacious wellness area (think indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, relaxation spaces with waterbeds and loungers, massages, and treatments).
Insider tip: Host Clemens has fulfilled a dream with the OMES 2257 brewery. The various beers are brewed using regional, high-quality ingredients – quality you can taste!
Stanglwirt Green Spa Resort in Kitzbühel is an organic farm and luxury hotel in one. Having welcomed guests for over 400 years, the hotel – with the Wilder Kaiser range as its dramatic backdrop – was transformed from a rustic inn into a five-star complex but has kept its Tyrolean charm over time. It is the first sustainable resort in Austria and the first Austrian hotel on Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List of the 142 best hotels worldwide. Stanglwirt’s signature spa features a saltwater, rock and sports pool, a waterfall grotto, a natural swimming lake, saunas, steam baths, and a kid’s area. The hotel also has its very own Lipizzaner stud and riding school.
Insider tip: Even though Stanglwirt is a paradise, guests shouldn’t miss out on the great outdoors at their doorstep. Explore the region on foot or a bike.
Nestled amid green meadows with stunning mountain views, Burghotel Oberlech in the Arlberg region is a great choice for nature lovers and gourmands alike. Guests can start their hiking or biking adventures right from their doorstep and cap off the day in the hotel’s spa and award-winning restaurants. The ‘Burg’ has one of the largest wine cellars in Western Austria! The Lucian family started out with a small milk bar offering refreshments to skiers before transforming into an inn and eventually the luxury retreat the hotel is today.
Insider tip: Explore the culinary heritage of the family and the region by joining a cheese spaetzle cooking course at the renowned Kriegeralpe mountain hut, featuring Grandma Helga Lucian’s cherished family recipe.
A-ROSA is another luxury mountain retreat in Kitzbühel not to be missed. Here, guests enjoy Alpine tradition and modern amenities in a castle-like environment, breathtaking views of the Streif, the Hahnenkamm, and the Wilder Kaiser included. Guests can choose between the Sissi and Franz Suite (with a private terrace and a fireplace), the Spa Suite (private sauna and massage area included), or the Eagle Suite (all of the above, plus XXL living and dining areas) and make the most of all the luxury amenities, including a 3,000 m² spa area, two top-notch restaurants, a sushi lounge, and a cocktail bar.
Insider tip: Need a break from hiking and biking? Play a round of golf at A-ROSA Kitzbühel with the mountains as a picture-perfect backdrop.
Ötztal is a popular alpine destination all year round and Aqua Dome – Tirol Therme Längenfeld the perfect base. The charming resort right in the mountains is home to Tirol’s largest spa with a whopping 12 indoor and outdoor pools, seven saunas, and massage and beauty treatment options! Relax in thermal water while watching the sunset after a fun-packed outdoorsy day, then enjoy Austrian dishes with a modern twist. Aqua Dome has more than 200 state-of-the-art rooms and suites and is suitable for both a romantic break and a relaxed family holiday.
Insider tip: The hotel offers daily guided hikes in the surrounding mountains. Alternatively, head to nearby Stuiben waterfall, Tirol’s tallest waterfall.
Five-star Das Central in Sölden is surrounded by more than 250 three-thousanders. The resort welcomes guests with 125 luxurious rooms and suites, award-winning dining, and their own wine cellar with more than 30,000 bottles. What makes Das Central extra special though is their new Summit Spa, overlooking the rooftops of Sölden, with a 17-metre-long outdoor infinity pool (17 m above the ground) and a sun terrace with a whirlpool. There are also saunas, massages, beauty treatments, and a gym with personal trainer. Das Central is perfect for outdoor fans wanting to relax in style after hiking, biking, or skiing all day long.
Insider tip: Visit the James Bond installation 007 ELEMENTS. Nearby ‘Spectre’ filming location ice Q welcomes guests with Austrian gourmet cuisine.
Hotels in Salzburgerland
Forsthofgut in Leogang was a simple forestry business and farm in the early 17th century before the Schmuck family turned it into a luxurious hotel. Five generations later, the stunning complex boasts Europe’s first forest spa. The adults-only oasis has an old-wood sauna, herbal and steam paths, and a 25m-long sports pool with stunning mountain views. A standout feature is the onsen-style pool (42°C) and an authentic onsen washing area where traditional cleansing rituals are practiced. Love Austrian food? Look no further than their in-house restaurant serving all the traditional delights.
Insider tip: Forsthofgut runs a special sustainability project, inviting guests to plant a tree on the hotel premises. Choose your place, dig a hole, and receive a tree certificate.
Experience luxury and relaxation at DAS EDELWEISS Salzburg Mountain Resort, a 5-star haven nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps. The 7,000 m² Mountain Spa, featuring several saunas, indoor and outdoor pools, and diverse treatment options, offers the ultimate wellness experience. Food lovers will be spoiled for choice, with diverse culinary adventures from around the world and a focus on local ingredients. DAS EDELWEISS is run by no less than 13 members of the Hetteger family, all ensuring that holidaymakers will receive personal service and an authentic Austrian experience.
Insider tip: Test-drive one of the latest Mercedes Benz cars on a tour through the picturesque Großarl valley, or head down the highway towards the city of Salzburg.
Hotels in Carinthia
Mountain Resort Feuerberg is a four-star alpine retreat on Carinthia’s Gerlitzen Alpe perfect for everyone travelling with kids (and dogs!). The family-run hotel features spacious, rooms and chalets, a spa area with eleven pools, one natural swimming lake and saunas as well as a weekly activity programme, think herbal walks, archery, forest bathing, and yoga. Children and parents will love the new Feuerberg Adventure Park (playgrounds, a low-rope course, a tree house, a cross-fit and motor skills park), the kids club, babysitters, guided hikes, the children’s buffet, and discounts, while dogs are welcome to join their two-legged family in designated chalet suites.
Inside tip: Need a break from reality? The ‘Spirit am Berg’ event series features workshops and talks with monks, philosophers, therapists, qigong, yoga, and tea ceremony masters.
When heading to southern Austria, Hotel GUT Trattlerhof (GUT meaning “GOOD” in German) in Carinthia’s Nockberge region is the perfect mix of rustic cuisines and modern cool. The hotel in Bad Kleinkirchheim, run by the fifth generation of the Forstnig family, has prime access to hiking and biking trails, and offers tons of amenities such as a stunning spa (steel pool with massage jets, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, several saunas) and a fitness room for yoga sessions. Guests can book ‘GUTshof’ experiences like riding sessions, e-bike tours or explore the region in a vintage tractor or Tesla Y.
Insider tip: Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage tour around Bad Kleinkirchheim followed by a candle-light dinner at the mountain inn ‘Trattlers Einkehr’, where aperitif is served right at the fireplace.
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