Family Holidays in Styria: Adventure, Culture & Pure Nature

Holidays in the Green Heart of Austria: Styria is a popular holiday destination for families, active travelers, and lovers of good food due to its lush nature, diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and delectable regional delicacies.

Good Reasons for a Family Holiday in Styria

Nature: Styria is renowned for its impressive natural landscapes, ranging from gentle hills and vineyards to imposing mountain peaks and virgin forests. Approximately 60% of the region is forested, giving Styria its characteristic green appearance.

Agriculture and Viticulture: Styria is one of Austria’s leading agricultural regions, acclaimed for its high-quality agricultural products. Styrian agriculture is notable for its sustainable practices and the cultivation of quality products such as pumpkinseed oil, apples, runner beans, and Styrian cheese. Wine growing also plays a significant role, especially in southern and western Styria, where some of Austria’s finest wines are produced.

Environmental Awareness: The people of Styria are proud of their environment and actively work to protect nature as well as promote a sustainable lifestyle. Numerous initiatives and programs support environmental protection and the use of renewable energies within the region.

Activity and Relaxation: Styria is a popular destination for families, nature lovers, hikers, skiers, and relaxation seekers. The numerous lakes, rivers, mountains, and forests offer countless opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation in nature.

Cultural Heritage: Besides its natural beauty, Styria also boasts a rich cultural heritage closely linked to the region’s nature and history. Traditional festivals, customs, folk music, and regional specialties shape the cultural life of Styria.

Styria for Children

Conquering mountains and visiting a real chocolate factory. Adventure-packed hiking trails and vanilla ice cream with pumpkin seed oil. Walks through the forest and a ride on a steam locomotive. Styria offers all kinds of adventures and experiences for families, making it an ideal combination of adventure, nature, great food, and total relaxation for children and parents alike.

Discover Natural Beauty in the Green Heart of Austria

Planning to explore nature with your children during a holiday in Styria? Here are our tips for visiting a glacier, wild animal encounters, and fun at the lake:

Dachstein Glacier, Schladming-Dachstein: Your glacier adventure begins with a ride on the panoramic gondola, which carries you up to the mountain station in about 10 minutes. Dachstein Glacier World offers a fascinating experience including a suspension footbridge, the Skywalk, the Stairway to Nothingness, and the Ice Palace.

Leopoldsteiner See, Erzberg: Cameras at the ready: Leopoldsteiner See, just 2 km from Erzberg Alpin Resort, is one of the most beautiful photo motifs in Styria. You can walk the 3 km around the lake in about 1.5 hours, and the hike is even doable with an all-terrain baby stroller.

Wilder Berg Mautern: Take the chairlift up the mountain to see wild animals. Foxes, brown bears, and bisons live there, and wildcats roam the Cat Walk between their enclosures. With 300 alpine animals, a bird of prey show, a petting zoo, a play park, and a mountain kart ride back to the valley, your children will have plenty to talk about after a day spent at this Styrian wildlife park!

Adventure Trail, Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park, Murau: The exciting adventure trail inside Zirbitzkogel-Grebenzen Nature Park invites children to explore nature playfully. They can wade barefoot through cool water, clamber through the forest ropes course, and play on the forest playground.

Cultural Highlights during Your Holiday in Styria

Stift Admont, Gesäuse: The oldest abbey in Styria houses the world’s largest monastic library with more than 70,000 books plus a modern museum. In summer, a museum workshop is also offered for young visitors.

Wolkenstein Castle Ruins, Wörschach: Walk in the footsteps of the Middle Ages as you visit the Wolkenstein castle ruins, inhabited until the 18th century. The remains of the courtyard walls and bailey are fascinating, as is the view from the former hilltop castle. A visit to the ruins combines perfectly with a hike through Wörschachklamm Gorge.

Zotter Chocolate World, Riegersburg: A real chocolate factory! See cocoa beans in their raw state, vegan chocolate fountains, and chocolate-covered popcorn. They have a mini gondola serving chocolate, a chocolate shocker, and even a chocolate leaf salad... After so much chocolatey indulgence, it will be high time for a spot of physical activity in the "edible zoo" on various playgrounds. Zotter, named the “best chocolate manufacturer in the world,” makes this visit an absolute must during your holiday with children in Styria!

Wood & Water Playground, St. Ruprecht Wood Museum, Kreischberg: The Wood Museum in St. Ruprecht ob Murau is a fascinating destination for the whole family. Learn about the history and significance of wood in the region through interactive exhibits, workshops, and guided tours. Children can work with wood and develop their creative skills. The Wood & Water Playground is extremely popular with the youngsters.

Activities for Children

Hopsiland Planai, Ennstal: Reach this mountain playground in the Schladming-Dachstein region using the Planai lifts. The 15 play and adventure stations include marble runs, a water playground, swings, slides, and climbing attractions. With the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard, the lift ride is free.

Steam Locomotive in Murtal: Enjoy a special vacation experience by taking a ride on the steam train operated by the Murtalbahn. Discover the Upper Murtal as you sit comfortably in a historic railway carriage. And thanks to the Murau-Murtal guest card, you will even receive a 30% discount on the ticket price.

Nocky Flitzer, Turracher Höhe: This Alpine slide on the Turracher Höhe is 1.6 km long and runs from the mountain station of the Panoramabahn through a series of spirals, waves, jumps, and a bridge back down to the Turracher Höhe. Children ages 3 and up are allowed to ride, and if they are 8 or older, they even get to ride on their own.

Gröbming Adventure Park: One of the biggest adventure parks in Austria greets you with 22 courses, 3 ziplines, and 5 obstacle courses just for kids – a huge vacation adventure for the whole family!

Regional Delicacies during Your Styrian Family Vacation

Yum! The Styrian delicacies you can savor during your vacation in Styria are sure make everybody’s mouth water: fried chicken salad, crispy breaded chicken schnitzel with potato salad, cheese spaetzle, apple strudel, and Kaiserschmarrn are all on the menu. A naturally cloudy apple juice offers a refreshing alternative to sugary sodas.
Styria is famous for growing pumpkins, apples, and wines. The popular Styrian pumpkinseed oil is delicious and healthy: it can be drizzled over salads, soups, or even vanilla ice cream. Kids love the nutty taste. Traditional dishes like cheese dumpling soup or cold cuts with cheese are often served at mountain huts, while in southern Styria, your family can enjoy delicacies from locally produced meat, milk, and cheese served at the traditional wine taverns.

cheese dumpling in Schladming Dachstein © ladyvenom

Family-Friendly ALPS RESORTS in Styria

Bergresort Hauser Kaibling: Enjoy private wellness areas with saunas, outdoor bathtubs, or pools in these exclusive holiday homes and holiday apartments. Right by the piste (Hauser Kaibling) in the Schladming-Dachstein region, it also boasts its own playground. Particularly exciting for families: the Schladming Dachstein Sommercard, with more than 100 different vacation experiences, is automatically included in the cost of your stay from May to early November.
» more about Bergresort Hauser Kaibling

FerienPark Kreischberg: Located about 200 meters from the valley station of the Kreischberg gondola, we welcome you to our dog-friendly Ferienpark Kreischberg with cozy holiday apartments and holiday homes. The resort offers a wellness area with indoor pool and saunas, a restaurant, a playroom, and table tennis. Other family-friendly ALPS RESORTS right on the Kreischberg include: Kreischberg Suites, Kreischberg Chalets and Kreischberg Pool Villas & Penthouses.
» more about FerienPark Kreischberg

Alpenpark Turracher Höhe: Spend your holidays at about 1800 meters above sea level, in holiday apartments and holiday homes with saunas and/or whirlpools. The Alpenpark is located amid pine forest, not far from the Kornockbahn valley station, with hikes starting right outside your front door. Highlights during your family holiday on the Turracher Höhe include the Butler Card and Alm & Piste Butler Service.
» more about Alpenpark Turracher Höhe

Complete Relaxation for Parents and Children in a Holiday Home

There is much to experience during your family holiday in Styria. Back at your chalet or apartment, you will be able to relax with your children after an active day: the various rooms in the holiday homes and holiday apartments at ALPS RESORTS offer plenty of space to retreat, unwind, and reflect on your adventures. Cook together, eat together, maybe even give a new board game a try. You will quickly see: especially on days that teem with new impressions, the peace and privacy inside your own home-away-from-home are invaluable!

Book Now: Holiday Home for Your Holiday with Children in Styria

Want to experience Styria on vacation with your children? At ALPS RESORTS, you are certain to find the perfect accommodations! Check out our resort overview, filter for holiday apartments and holiday homes in Styria, and pick your favorite. Whether a spacious chalet with private wellness area, pool, or sauna, a modern apartment, or a holiday home next to the slopes – the selection is enormous! Find more information about holiday destination Styria on our regional page about the Green Heart of Austria.