Summer fun in Austria with the whole family

Austria is a top destination for summer holidays for families with adventurous children! Austria is known for its high mountains, fresh alpine air and beautiful nature, so you should definitely pack walking shoes so you can move from one stunning viewpoint to another while climbing and clambering. Take a bicycle or mountain bike for a little more speed, which you can also rent on site for a day or several days. But there's more!

We have put together a number of activities for an unforgettable family holiday. Read this carefully and make your bespoke wish list. Are you planning to do a lot? We recommend purchasing a summer card for the region where you are staying. This card gives significant discounts and sometimes even free entry to cable cars and chair lifts, museums and castles, swimming pools and many other attractions. The National Park Summer Card or one of the other summer cards is included in various ChaletsPlus holiday homes, which you can tick in the preferences.
 

Our top ten tips for families

The Baumzipfelweg: close to Saalbach Hinterglemm, you will find one of the most beautiful treetop paths in Europe. This path starts with the so-called 'Golden Gate Bridge' of the Alps, 200 metres long and 42 metres high. Then, you continue your way at the height of 30 metres between the treetops, thanks to a huge wooden structure over which the path runs. Finally, after about 600 metres, you descend, and you can also admire the whole thing from below. Extra fun for children is the train that takes you back to the starting point in the summer. So no one complains about tired feet.

Adventure underground: on a rainy day or during a heatwave, a visit to Salzwelten near Hallein is recommended. Here you will get a tour of the old salt mines to which Salzburg owes its wealth. Both adults and children are given protective white clothing and then go into the small train that drives into the mine. In the mines themselves, you slide deeper down wooden slides. There is also a light show at the underground lake, and of course, you will hear a lot of interesting information. Allow enough time because the ticket to the salt mines also allows you to visit the adjacent open-air museum completely free of charge, where a Celtic village has been recreated.

The Family Park in Hinterglemm: a super playground that can be visited for free, and in addition to swings, a large slide and climbing equipment, it also has several shallow pools in which to splash around. You can also combine a trip to this playground with the adjacent mini-golf.

The Weißsee glacier: by car, you drive on a road with hairpin bends (alert in case of motion sickness) to the village of Uttendorf. From there, a gondola goes up via a middle station, towards the lake 'the Weißsee' and the glacier where you can take beautiful walks. There is also a hotel/restaurant where you can have a nice lunch. At the lake, you will also find a via ferrata especially designed for children who already have some experience with climbing. You'll find unique flat stones lying about everywhere and with which you can build everything, another popular activity.

By train: Sometimes you just want to relax but, in Austria, that doesn't mean you have to stay indoors. With the steam locomotive of the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn, you can go from Zell am See to Niedersill and vice versa. However, to be sure of a place on the electricity train during the high season, it is advisable to make a reservation.

Cool off in the water: it can get quite warm in the summer, but luckily Austria has beautiful blue lakes with beaches or sunbathing areas and lovely swimming pools with fun slides, rapids, sprinklers, etc. Read all about it in our blog about 'Water fun in Austria'.

Waterfalls, canyons and gorges: okay, it also falls under walks, but they are spectacular! For example, walk along Europe's highest waterfall, the Krimmler Wasserfälle, about which you can read everything in this blog. The Salzburgerland is also known for the beautiful gorges and ravines through which you can walk on exciting trails such as the Liechtensteinklamm in St. Johann and the Sigmund Thun Klamm in Kaprun.

Summer tobogganing: yes, you can also have fun tobogganing in the summer! Most summer toboggan runs are open from mid-spring. Children from the age of three can already join the toboggan—for example, race down the mountain with the Maisiflitzer in Kaprun, over 1,300 metres long.

Castles: visit one of the many castles in Austria with your own princes, princesses and knights. For example, in the middle of the city of Salzburg is the 'Festung Hohensalzburg', where you can take a cable car and imagine yourself in the Middle Ages for hours. The beautiful 'Burg Hohenwerfen' is very impressive, ideal for visiting on a day with less beautiful weather and a great bird of prey show. Buy your tickets online; that saves waiting in line!

Visit a village or town: the locations of our holiday homes are not only worth visiting during the winter sports season. During the other months, it is also recommended to wander through the Austrian streets with lovely buildings, beautiful flower boxes, cosy shops, and charming terraces.

Have you used the activities from our top ten for your holiday? Share your experience with us in the comments, or complete the list with personal tips.

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