Austria has always appealed to us because we love nature and the mountains. From Belgium, it's not that far, which saves us from having to take a plane. We dreamed of exploring the most beautiful trails in Tyrol and the Salzburg region, testing ourselves on impressive via ferratas, and treating ourselves to true moments of relaxation.
Between turquoise mountain lakes, nights in alpine huts at nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, panoramic cable cars, and wellness breaks at the hotel, here is the day-by-day story of our summer road trip through the heart of the Austrian Alps.
Drive to Tyrol and arrival
Sunday marked the beginning of our vacation, for which we rented a car from Brussels. The drive takes about ten hours to reach northern Tyrol. We chose the German autobahns, which, apart from the overpriced fuel and limited food options, was a success.
Don't forget to buy your Austrian vignette!
Arriving around 7 p.m. in Seefeld, we dropped off our bags at our first accommodation, the Vaya Hotel. We were going to enjoy our room, the spa, and half-board for 4 nights. This first evening meal introduced us to the routine: starting with a soup, continuing with a starter buffet, followed by a main course, and finally dessert. Sometimes a bit too salty, their food is nonetheless excellent.
Hike in Scharnitz and its gorges
Monday, we got up and headed straight for breakfast. Served buffet-style, there's something for everyone, and everything is delicious. Eggs, bread, pastries, cereals, vegetables, fruit, juice, coffee...
After a quick walk around the center of Seefeld, we drove to Scharnitz, where we had spotted a hike. A lovely 14 km loop to fully soak in our first Austrian landscapes, walking along a river, then through gorges, and finally across forests and fields.
In the evening, we were able to unwind in the hotel spa, which features a large pool and a sauna, before enjoying another hearty evening meal.
Seebensee and Drachensee hike
Tuesday, we thoroughly enjoyed the buffet before driving to Ehrwald and its parking lot for a more serious hike. Busier than the others, its approachable distance of 11 km hides a solid elevation gain up to the magnificent Lake Seeben, followed by an even steeper climb up to the Coburger Hut and its lake. You can grab a bite to eat there, including traditional soups.
For the descent, we took the path on the left (with Seebensee behind us). This side is clearly more difficult, with lots of small, unstable rocks fortunately compensated by typical via ferrata cables. We actually preferred this section, though it’s probably not for everyone.
The evening was very similar to the previous one. Swimming for the legs, a quick sauna session, and an abundant dinner. We're starting to realize we eat far too much with this half-board package.
Tour of Seefeld and relaxation
Wednesday, we granted ourselves a rest day. After sleeping in for breakfast, we further explored the village of Seefeld by walking through the center and taking a stroll around the pleasant nearby lake.
The entire afternoon was dedicated to the spa, relaxing on the outdoor sun loungers to read and, of course, enjoying our usual pool and sauna routine. To cap off the day, we savored our last meal at the Vaya Hotel, which completely won us over.
Innsbruck and climbing competition
Thursday, we ate even more than usual at the buffet to celebrate our departure. The drive to Innsbruck is quite short, so we made a detour via the Swarovski Crystal Worlds museum. A great activity even for non-jewelry enthusiasts, as it features actual art installations spread across different rooms.
The main purpose of our visit to Innsbruck was a sporting event: a stage of the World Cup in boulder climbing. In the early afternoon, we went to watch the women's semifinals.
A long break allowed us to wander around the city center to admire many charming little streets, grab a drink, and share a pizza. Back at the competition, we were fully immersed in the electric atmosphere for the finals.
It was already late, so we sped off toward Gerlos to reach our hotel for the next two nights: MyGoodLife Hotel.
Via ferrata in Zell am Ziller
Friday started with a buffet, as per usual. Less varied but just as delicious, and the friendliness of the owners is worth highlighting. We planned our day using the brochures on site: Via ferrata.
Located in Talbach, you can park next to an inn that also offers equipment rentals. This via ferrata varies in difficulty and allows you to bypass the sections considered the hardest. It is breathtaking all the way through, with the waterfall cascading beneath your feet.
After a well-deserved drink at the inn, we set off toward Leitenkammerklamm for a short hike along a powerful waterfall. There is also a large lake with stunning green colors.
For once not being on half-board, we went to get burgers at the Duhamas restaurant in Gerlos.
Hike to the alpine hut
Saturday, after a good meal and check-out, we drove toward Spöttling-Taurer to leave the car and kick off two days of trekking. The entire first half was quite intense with a steep uphill climb, offering increasingly dominant views over the valley.
What followed was stunning: views of the mountains, a few marmots, and challenging sections navigating slippery rocks, rivers, and snow patches. We reached the day's destination at over 2,900 m in altitude: the Sudetendeutsche Hütte refuge. Given the lack of showers, we tested the nearby lake based on the hosts' advice.
For the rest of the evening, we sampled local drinks, played cards, and shared a hearty meal with other hikers before finally heading to our dormitory and sleeping despite the snoring.
Hike from the alpine hut
Sunday, we woke up early in the refuge and enjoyed a lovely breakfast despite the remote location. We set off early to complete the second half of our loop. A bit early in the season to cross above 3,000 m in altitude, we loved the experience of navigating large snowfields to avoid while trying our best to stick to the marked trail.
After spotting goats and more marmots, and taking in breathtaking views of neighboring peaks, we completed this long descent by walking alongside magnificent, deep gorges.
We then drove toward Bad Gastein to check in to our final hotel, AlpinSpa Zur Post in Bockstein. Back on half-board once again, we took advantage of the spa first before enjoying a delicious meal.
Bad Gastein
Monday, we tried a new buffet to start the day on the right foot. The hotel includes access to regional buses and cable cars. We took the bus to Bad Gastein to explore this unique town built around an impressive waterfall.
We followed a pleasant walking tour through town before cooling off on a terrace. Afterward, we took the cable car to the summit for breathtaking panoramas and a dizzying Himalayan suspension bridge.
A classic evening considering our trip: relaxing at the spa and enjoying a generous Austrian-style meal.
Via ferrata in Bad Hofgastein
Tuesday, after another sweet and savory buffet, we headed to Bad Hofgastein and rented harnesses and helmets at the sports shop. At the top of the cable car, numerous routes were listed, but we struggled a bit to locate the ones we wanted to climb. Still, we had a blast on two long routes and a shorter via ferrata.
Back at the bottom, we set out to explore the small town center of Bad Hofgastein for a drink and ice cream. Returning to our hotel, we treated ourselves to the jacuzzi for once before enjoying another traditional meal.
Graukogel hike
Wednesday, we fueled up at the buffet before taking the bus to the Graukogel chairlift in Bad Gastein. A long and magnificent hike awaited us. The first lake, Palfnersee, was beautiful, but it paled in comparison to the second, Reedsee—easily the most beautiful lake of our entire trip.
The 12 km distance and elevation gain certainly put us to the test, but it was well worth the effort. After a minor setback missing the bus once, we finally made it back to the hotel for a quiet dinner.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Thursday, the itinerary was much lighter. After a delicious breakfast, we set off by car for the famous Grossglockner High Alpine Road. There are several scenic stops along the drive, but the highlight is the end. Offering views of the peak and its glaciers, it's also home to many marmots that aren't shy about hanging around visitors.
We then made a quick stop in the village of Heiligenblut, where we shared a small pizza at the Casa Antica restaurant. To get back to the hotel, we tried a unique route from the south: the car gets loaded onto a train to travel through the mountain tunnel. We spent the late afternoon at the spa under bright sunshine, followed by another good meal.
Sportgastein hike
Friday, we had nothing planned and took advantage of the breakfast buffet to decide on a game plan. We headed to Sportgastein for a scenic 10 km hike passing by Lake Bockhart, aiming for the upper section of that same lake. On the way down, we stopped at a traditional alpine hut for a refreshing drink.
We then enjoyed a long, free afternoon at the hotel to unwind around the pool on the sun loungers. For our ultimate evening at AlpinSpa Zur Post—and the final night of the trip—we savored dinner all the more.
It was then time to head to bed, our heads full of alpine memories, to recharge our batteries before the long drive home the following day.
This two-week road trip between Tyrol and the Salzburg region proved to be a fantastic playground for combining challenging hikes, spectacular via ferratas, and moments of pure relaxation thanks to the many spas and half-board hotels.
If you are looking for a summer destination combining nature, sport, and comfort less than 10 hours away from Belgium by car, Austria is definitely an option to prioritize!
Enjoy your next trip!
