Summer Holidays in Austria with Children

Welcome to a vast playground: where majestic peaks meet clear mountain lakes, every panorama is an invitation to explore with your children. Austria's nature provides the perfect backdrop for a summer vacation with your family, allowing you to spend time together and enjoy each other's company, light-hearted and carefree. Whether hiking across gentle alpine meadows and through cool forests, taking a speedy ride on an Alpine Coaster, or diving into refreshing waters, a wealth of family-friendly activities and destinations awaits. This will be a summer vacation that will strengthen family bonds and create unforgettable memories for your family album. Welcome to Austria!    

Summer Activities for Families in Austria

In Austria's mountains, can you "only hike?" Think again! Austria is full of adventures waiting to be discovered—whether on land or water, on foot, on two wheels, or with animals. Make this summer an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

#1 Hiking: Austria’s hiking trails? A game changer for those who want to conquer nature on two legs. There are paths for whatever you are in the mood for: from leisurely walks around crystal-clear lakes to challenging alpine treks that even the fittest mountaineer will find demanding. Did you know that Austria boasts 300 (!) themed trails and interactive nature paths? And the views? They speak for themselves—mountain panoramas that will make your eyes sparkle and your Instagram feed glow. Austria provides the perfect backdrop for your next hiking adventure during a family holiday. See for yourself: hiking can indeed be fun with the kids as well!

#2 Water: Austria is a great place for bathing in summer, too! For example, in Carinthia, the southernmost province with its famous lake resorts. From Wörthersee and Ossiacher See to Pressegger See, which, with temperatures up to 28° C, is almost like swimming in the warm waters of a bathtub. Or in Styria, with around 60 lakes of its own. Or at Lake Zell in Salzburg, from where you can gaze up at the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn.
But a day at the lake isn’t just about sunbathing and splashing around: Have you ever tried stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking? For adventure-seekers, rafting and canyoning tours are offered on numerous rivers and in the gorges of Austria. Moreover, mountain lakes and hiking tours by the water are especially appealing during high summer.   

#3 Animals: Encounters with animals are memorable, and not just for children: The ibex sunning itself near the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, the bearded vulture soaring in the skies of Rauris Valley, the bellowing red deer in autumn, or the falcon whose flight skills can be admired at Landskron Castle. Observing wildlife (in their natural environment) often provides educational insights that can significantly affect our understanding and appreciation of the environment. It allows us to relax and enjoy the moment: How cool is it to hear a whistling marmot alerting its friends to potential danger? And have you ever hiked with a llama? Speaking of animals: here you can check out our dog-friendly ALPS RESORTS.

#4 Cycling & Biking: Austria boasts a well-developed network of bike paths and exciting trails. Leisurely bike rides, trails of all difficulty levels, and pump tracks are available to you, for example, at the Turracher Höhe and in Nassfeld. On the Reiteralm in the Schladming-Dachstein region, even the little ones can race down the Junior Trails on their pushbikes. And Saalbach-Hinterglemm, together with Leogang Fieberbrunn, forms the largest bike park in Austria: more than 90 trails and lines await you. The vast spectrum of biking opportunities caters to gravel bikers as well as e-bikers and families, with legendary bike events taking place every summer.  

#5 And … Action!: There’s no shortage of action during a family summer holiday in Austria either (if that’s what you want): the region’s longest Flying Fox XXL in Saalfelden Leogang, the canopy path in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Alpine Coasters like the Nocky Flitzer on the Turracher Höhe or Pendolino in Nassfeld, high-ropes courses, children's via ferratas such as those in Ramsau in Schladming-Dachstein, and even a Slide Trail in Neukirchen.

Book Your Summer Holiday with Family in the Mountains of Austria Now!

What are you looking for in your family holiday in Austria? A modern apartment in the National Park region, a cozy holiday home on the edge of the forest, or an exclusive chalet with private pool? Are you drawn to Salzburg, Tyrol, Carinthia, or Styria? In our resort overview, you're sure to find the perfect accommodations for your summer holiday with children in Austria!

Photo materials © TVB Rauris / Rauriser Hochalmbahnen, saalbach.com, ALPS RESORTS