At a glance
Taking the kids to the mountains? Austria scores highly with themed hiking trails and natural spectacles.
Vacationing with toddlers in Austria
Family-friendly holiday apartments
A holiday apartment makes vacations with toddlers much easier: enough space for breaks, a safe environment, and the option of self-catering all contribute directly to relaxation. And even if things get a little "livelier" within your four walls, it won't bother anyone.
We present family-friendly vacation rentals, top regions, and tips for planning your vacation in Austria with toddlers and preschoolers.
Why a holiday apartment is a good choice with a toddler
#1: More space, more flexibility
With a (small) child, you need space. For toys, strollers, naps—and for everyone. A holiday apartment offers (depending on the category) several bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and often a balcony or terrace. No tiptoeing around the hotel room, no fixed schedule. You decide (or rather, your child ☺️) when to eat, sleep, or get started. This reduces stress and creates structure.
#2: Your own kitchen, your own rhythm
Especially with a baby or toddler, self-catering on vacation is a clear advantage. Warm up porridge, prepare snacks for on the go, cook your favorite meals, or simply enjoy a flexible breakfast—without buffet times.
A fully equipped kitchen saves time, money, and stress. Food intolerances or special dietary requirements can be easily accommodated. You can stick to your usual routine.
#3: Security & Privacy
Less hustle and bustle, more control. In a holiday apartment, you have manageable spaces and no constant background noise. You enjoy privacy, and your toddler can play carefree within your own four walls. They can process the exciting impressions of your day's holiday in peace.
Many facilities are geared towards families. They offer play areas, safe outdoor spaces, and parking directly at the building.
Checklist: What does a holiday apartment need for small children?
- Are a baby cot, safety guard & high chair available?
- With a washing machine in the apartment, you can keep clothes and burp cloths fresh and clean.
- Find out about the kitchen equipment in your holiday apartment: Are there a kettle, microwave, stove, and oven?
- Make sure the room layout is stair-free.
- A playroom is a nice addition to the playground, and not just on rainy days.
- Parking: Park right next to the house, quickly stow your luggage, and head off to your next destination!
- Balcony or terrace: Fresh air and a view while the children play safely within reach.
- Wellness area: Parents should not miss out on relaxation when vacationing with small children. Does your aparthotel have a pool? Or does your vacation apartment have a private sauna?
- Proximity to mountain railways, outdoor pool, or thermal baths: Short distances to the nearest excursion destination save time and stress for parents and children.
- With a guest card, the best excursion destinations, summer mountain railways, and outdoor pools are often discounted or even included.
Planning security for young families
- Flexible cancellation policy: This allows you to remain flexible in case plans change or someone falls ill at the last minute. Travel cancellation insurance is particularly recommended for families with children.
- Good accessibility: Short travel distances and easy orientation make for a relaxed start to your family vacation.
- Local shopping facilities: Are there supermarkets, bakeries, and small shops in the immediate vicinity? This makes everyday life on vacation with small children much easier!
- Doctors & infrastructure: With medical care and important services close to your vacation rental, you can enjoy your vacation even more carefree.
Summer vacation with small children in Austria
Hiking & Theme trails
- Easy hikes lasting between 30 and 90 minutes are ideal for toddlers in strollers or baby carriers. Stroller-friendly trails are signposted and have little or moderate inclines. All-terrain strollers/buggies with large wheels are best suited for these trails.
- Mountain railway rides: Austria's summer mountain railways offer exciting experiences for families – and just riding the cable car is a highlight for children!
- Recommendations: Pirate Trail in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Tyrol: approx. 2.3 km long circular trail with puzzle stations, Hopsiland Schladming, Styria: 1.5 km long with play stations
Refreshment & Nature experiences
- Swimming lakes & Outdoor pools: Look for shallow entrances, shallow children's areas, and shaded sunbathing areas. Austria's outdoor pools offer colorful slides and safe children's areas for little swimming fans.
- Recommendations: Krimmler WasserWelten, Salzburg region: A few metres from the Krimml Waterfalls is the Waterfall Center with the House of Water and the new water park. A rafting facility, water wheel, ball track, and much more make this a paradise for families.
Summererpark Rauris water playground, Salzburg region with rafting facility, water and sand play equipment
Adventure & Animals
- Animal parks & petting zoos are a popular destination for families with small children thanks to their short, easy paths.
- At adventure farms, little ones can pet animals, take short tractor rides, and visit the barn.
- Recommendations: Waldhäuslalm in Schladming-Dachstein, Freizeit & Wildpark Untertauern (Salzburger Sportwelt) or Wildpark Ferleiten (Hohe Tauern National Park holiday region).
Winter experiences with the family in Austria
Winter vacations in Austria are also possible without skiing. For the little ones, just their first contact with snow is exciting—whether walking or simply playing in the snow.
Toboggan runs are also a great alternative to skiing. Look for flat slopes, safe paths, and cozy places to stop for refreshments – these make tobogganing with small children possible and entertaining.
For those who prefer to travel on foot, there are winter hikes that are stroller-friendly or short and manageable. Snow games keep the little ones entertained.
The first children's ski course is recommended from around 4 years of age. Mitch Schweighofer from the Adventure Rauris ski school tells us how a children's ski course works and what to look out for in the blog post "Pizza, French fries, munchkins." And if you can't wait, look for ski schools that offer children's ski lessons for ages 3 and up, such as in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Ski schools often have their own practice slopes and children's areas.
Our top 5 vacation destinations for holidays with young children
- Top destination for family vacations
- Adventure playgrounds such as Murmliwasser, Sommer Funpark Fiss
- Hiking trails suitable for strollers: Piratenweg, Kunstweg
- Rental of strollers, electric/mountain buggies
- Free mountain railways with the Super.Sommer.Card
- Childcare, Murmlikrippe & Berta's Kindergarten
- TAUERN SPA Zell am See-Kaprun
- Outdoor swimming pools at Lake Zell
- Pram path on the Motorikweg trail towards the castle
- Children's playgrounds on the mountain, by the lake and in the village
- Ferleiten Wildlife Park
- Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card
- Rauriser Hochalmbahnen
- Stroller & Backpack Rental
- Summererpark Water Playground
- Playgrounds Landgasthof Weixen & Naturfreundehaus Kolm Saigurn
- Sonnblick outdoor pool
- Alpine huts in the Seidlwinkltal valley accessible with strollers
- Snow sliding at the valley station of the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen cable cars
- Summer mountain railways with adventure worlds such as Hexenwasser, Alpinolino, Triassic Park
- Outdoor pools, indoor pools such as Panoramawelten St. Johann
- Hiking trails suitable for strollers, such as the Höhenweg trail at Kreuzjöchlsee (Alpenrosenbahn) or valley hikes
- Summer mountain railways with children's adventure worlds (Hopsiland, Rittisberg)
- Swimming lakes and outdoor pools such as the Schladming adventure pool
- Waldhäuslalm children's paradise with petting zoo
- Schladming Dachstein Summer Card
Vacation rentals for your break with toddlers
Book family-friendly accommodation in Austria
Aparthotel with pool and children's playroom, vacation rental near a playground, or an entire vacation home: you can choose from more than 40 ALPS RESORTS in Vorarlberg, Tyrol, the Salzburg region, and Styria. Here are our top 3 picks for vacations with toddlers:
#1: Carpe Solem Kaprun
Zell am See-Kaprun, Salzburg region
Families can enjoy a relaxing vacation at the new 4-star hotel in Kaprun – from toddlers to teenagers. Well-designed retreats, age-appropriate play areas, and separate wellness zones ensure that every generation gets their money's worth.
- Family spa with indoor pool and textile saunas
- Adults-only spa with rooftop pool with views of the Kitzsteinhorn, panoramic saunas
- Lovingly designed playroom for small children
- Separate youth room with places to retreat and chill out
- Modern hotel rooms and vacation apartments
- ALPS KITCHEN restaurant
- included Zell am See-Kaprun summer card
Excursion tips for families with small children
- TAUERN SPA Zell am See-Kaprun, outdoor pools at Lake Zell
- Klammsee lake with playground (Sigmund-Thun-Klamm gorge with baby carrier)
- 5 playgrounds within a radius of 1.5 km
- Maiskogel family mountain with playground & marble run at the mountain station
- Motorikweg walking trail suitable for strollers (with playground) towards the castle
- Adventure trails on the Schmittenhöhe
- Lechnerberg practice slope in winter
#2: Carpe Solem Rauris ****
Rauris Valley, Salzburg region
At Carpe Solem Rauris, the focus is on family vacations: spacious apartments, a wellness area with indoor pool, just a few steps from the mountain railway, and nature right on your doorstep.
- Spacious vacation apartments
- Wellness area with indoor pool with toddler pool, panoramic saunas, alpine roof garden, fitness room
- Playroom for toddlers
- Restaurant Das Albert
- At the mountain railway, stroller-friendly walking trails starting right outside the door
- Ski rental, sports shop & ski school in the building Practice slope & children's area of the ski school right outside the door
- Included National Park Summer Card
Excursion tips for families with small children
- Rauriser Hochalmbahnen with water playground, ball track, and Tilly's Forest Trail (baby carrier rental)
- Summererpark water playground
- Stroller-friendly walking trail to Wörth/Vorstanddorf (playground)
- Sonnblick outdoor pool
- Kolm Saigurn (playground at Naturfreundehaus)
- Practice slope at the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen valley station for snow sliding
- Tilly's Ziachschlittenfahrten (sled rides)
#3: Fiss Suites
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Tyrol
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is one of Austria's best family regions. At Fiss Suites, you can expect spacious vacation apartments, a wellness area with saunas, and mountain adventures right on your doorstep.
- Spacious vacation apartments
- Wellness area with saunas and relaxation room
- Walking trails starting right outside the door
- ALPS KITCHEN restaurant, breakfast included
- Included Super.Summer.Card
Excursion tips for families with small children
- Free use of summer mountain railways with the Super.Sommer.Card
- Stroller-friendly walking trail to Wolfsee lake from the house
- Berta's playground (350 m)
- Fiss Summer Fun Park, Hög Adventure Park, Murmliwasser
- Young family ski ticket: 1 ticket for parents with children under 3 years of age
- Berta's Kinderland, Schneealm
- Murmlikrippe, Berta's kindergarten
FAQs: Frequently asked questions about vacationing with small children in a holiday apartment
Yes, if the infrastructure and trails are suitable. Many regions offer stroller-friendly hiking trails, shallow lakes and outdoor pools, family ski resorts, and easily accessible mountain railways.
Younger children enjoy toboggan runs, winter walks, and snow experiences in the valley. From around the age of 4, children can attend their first ski lessons in a playful way.
A vacation apartment offers a place to retreat and space to play. In addition, indoor play areas, thermal baths, museums, and adventure worlds in the region help to fill the day.
Early summer (May/June) and early fall (September) are ideal. Temperatures are pleasant, tourist destinations are less crowded, and infrastructure such as mountain railways are already up and running or still in full swing. In winter, January and March are ideal, when ski resorts are family-friendly but the main holiday rush is over.
Images © ALPS RESORTS, TVB Rauris/Gruber/MAYA Inspiranto, Zell am See-Kaprun Tourism, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis/Waldegger
Verena Junger
Content Manager at ALPS RESORTS
Millennial with a passion for solitary mountains and compelling stories, always on the lookout for exciting destinations and experiences.
Would you like to learn more about ALPS RESORTS? Feel free to use our contact form or submit a non-binding inquiry.
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