The Austrian Alps stretch across the western half of Austria, covering the federal states of Tyrol, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Styria, and Carinthia. The range includes the Ötztal, Zillertal, and Arlberg ski areas in the west and the Hohe Tauern National Park — Austria’s largest protected area — in the center. Glacial lakes, medieval market towns, and a dense network of marked hiking trails connect these landscapes year-round.
What is the Austrian Alps region known for?
The Austrian Alps are known internationally for world-class ski resorts including St. Anton am Arlberg, Kitzbühel, and the Ischgl resort in the Paznaun Valley, alongside summer alpine hiking, the UNESCO-listed village of Hallstatt on the Hallstätter See, and the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße — Austria’s highest paved road, reaching 2,504 meters. The region also supplies much of Austria’s hydroelectric power through alpine reservoirs such as the Kaprun Stausee in Salzburgerland.
Best things to do in the Austrian Alps
- Ski or snowboard at St. Anton am Arlberg, linked to the Ski Arlberg area with over 300 km of marked runs.
- Drive or cycle the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße from Bruck an der Glocknerstraße to Heiligenblut, open roughly May to November.
- Hike the Kaiser Mountains (Wilder Kaiser) above Kufstein in Tyrol on marked trails from the Hinterbärenbad valley floor.
- Take the Hahnenkamm gondola in Kitzbühel and walk the ridge trail in summer.
- Visit Hallstatt village and the Salzwelten Hallstatt salt mine, the oldest working salt mine in the world.
- Explore Hohe Tauern National Park around the Krimml Waterfalls, Europe’s highest waterfall system at 380 meters total drop.
Where to eat in the Austrian Alps
Traditional alpine cuisine across the region centers on hearty mountain staples: Tiroler Gröstl (pan-fried potatoes with beef and egg), Kaiserschmarrn (shredded caramelized pancake), and Käsespätzle (soft egg noodles with melted cheese). Mountain huts called Berggasthöfe and Almhütten serve these dishes along hiking trails; the Berggasthof Hochalm above Zell am See and mountain restaurants on the Hahnenkamm above Kitzbühel are accessible by cable car and are well-regarded local options. In Innsbruck, the Altstadt streets around Herzog-Friedrich-Straße concentrate traditional Austrian restaurants and cafés.
How to get to the Austrian Alps
The Austrian Alps are accessible by rail via the ÖBB national rail network, with Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof serving as the primary western gateway, reachable from Vienna in roughly four hours on the Railjet express service and from Munich in under two hours. Salzburg Hauptbahnhof connects the central alpine areas. The A12 Inntal Autobahn and A10 Tauern Autobahn are the main road corridors. Innsbruck Airport (INN) and Salzburg Airport (SZG) receive direct European flights. Local RVT and VVT bus networks link villages to rail stations throughout Tyrol and Salzburgerland.
Where to walk in the Austrian Alps
The Austrian Alps contain thousands of kilometers of waymarked trails graded by difficulty, with major long-distance routes including the Eagle Walk (Adlerweg) crossing Tyrol in 33 stages from St. Johann in Tirol to St. Christoph am Arlberg. The Zillertaler Höhenweg traverses high ridges above 2,000 meters through the Zillertal Alps. Around Hallstatt, the Five Fingers viewing platform trail on the Dachstein plateau above Obertraun is reachable by the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car.
Best time to visit the Austrian Alps
The Austrian Alps have two distinct peak seasons: winter from December through March for skiing, with reliable snow above 1,500 meters in Tyrol and Vorarlberg, and summer from late June through September for hiking, cycling, and lake swimming when temperatures reach 20–25°C in valley floors. The Großglockner road and most high-altitude cable cars operate May through October. Shoulder months of April–May and October–November offer fewer crowds but limited high-alpine access due to snow or closures.
