Where to go on vacation in Tyrol and Vorarlberg?

Tyrol and Vorarlberg are the two most typical regions of the Austrian Alps. Although each valley has its own specificity, there is a sense of unity in this territory. A territory centered on the mountains, a deeply rooted ancestral culture, a modernity that has not gotten rid of traditions and a well-identified Alpine gastronomic culture that is partly found in the Italian Südtirol.

A visit to Tyrol often starts in Innsbruck before exploring the valleys that make up the region. And that's exactly what we're going to do.

Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol and the Alps

You're at Innsbruck, the heart of the Alps, the capital of the Alps for some. Certainly, the capital of Tyrol.

It's a little Vienna. You visit an imperial residence, an imposing cathedral, you sit down at a café to enjoy a Sachertorte, even if here logic would dictate that you accompany your hot drink with an apple strudel, or wild berry cakes. You wander through the city center, a maze of shopping streets, clean, with colorful facades decorated with stucco reliefs. Time has stopped in Innsbruck. At a time when horse-drawn carriages echoed on the cobblestones in the evening as they left the theater, ladies came out with their umbrellas and gentlemen in suits. It's an impression, certainly, because Innsbruck is a lively, dynamic and very modern city, but the strength of tradition, the hold of History on this city make you feel easily transported to another century. A bit like in Vienna.

During your walk, you arrive at the banks of the Inn. And there, the landscape opens up to the mountains. They surround you. From a museum city, you move to the world of an alpine city. Countless destinations to discover are offered to your eyes. Ski lifts take skiers directly from the outskirts of the city to the surrounding peaks.

West of Innsbruck, the green valleys of Tyrol

In each direction you see a valley, a gap in the silhouette of the mountains and you begin to imagine the landscapes you will discover there.

A deep furrow crosses the mountain until it touches the glaciers: this is the Ötztal valley, at the end of which you can ski in the Obergurgl and Sölden areas, or feel at the end of the world in Vent. On the Wellness side, the Langenfeld thermal spa is original and exceptional: you will enjoy its raised hot water pools which allow you to contemplate the snow-capped peaks and the stars.

Closer to Innsbruck, almost parallel to the valley that leads to Italy, in South Tyrol, via the Brenner, a train will take you to the Stubaital, with its very characteristic little villages.

The other passage to Italy is located in the far west of Tyrol: the Reschenpass, or Resia Pass. The last village with a castle at the bottom of the valley and a church overlooking it is a very old town that has gained importance thanks to its strategic border position. This is Nauders, today a very beautiful spot for winter sports.

Is your pleasure more in partying? Then Ischgl is the place to go! At the end of this same Paznauntal, Galtür opens the doors to the Montafon, which is already in Vorarlberg.

North of Innsbruck, the Olympic sites

And what if you prefer to discover a quieter Tyrol, with villages that enjoy the sun in beautiful and wide valleys? It will be a Tyrol of walks, hikes, forests, streams, chalets. You will find it north of the Lechtal to the west of Reutte, Lermoos, in Seefeld or at the foot of the Karwendel mountains. Here the mountains encircle large plateaus perfectly suited to walking in summer or Nordic skiing in winter. Bavaria being very close, you can take advantage of it to discover the beauties of the German Alps.

Further east of Innsbruck, the Zillertal and Kitzbühel

Since there are as many faces of Tyrol as there are valleys, continue your journey towards the East of Innsbruck and new landscapes, sometimes bucolic, sometimes harsh and glacial, will present themselves to your eyes.

Do you like the Tyrol of postcards with green meadows and very small and very cute villages that signal their presence at the bend of a path by the shape of their bell tower, tapered like a needle or rounded, with a bulb? The Zillertal around Mayrhofen and the Tux glacier on which you also ski in summer will give you nothing but happiness. The other side valleys, like that of Gerlos are full of ski areas in winter and crossed by very many hiking trails in green pastures in summer.

Finally, the road to Germanywill give you the opportunity to discover Alpbach and its wooden chalets, and the Achensee, a deep lake which is worth the detour for its wild nature and its blue color.

And if you continue your way to Salzburg, you will cross the Kitzbühel region, further east, a paradise for skiers and summer visitors, known for its ski competitions on its legendary black run, the Streif. This last region between the Wilder Kaiser massif and the Brixental is dotted with small villages with onion dome bell towers, so characteristic of this corner of Austria.

Vorarlberg, the land of snow between Tyrol and Switzerland

In the far west lies Vorarlberg, on the border with Switzerland, which slopes gently down to the shores of Lake Constance near the border town of Bregenz. It is no longer Tyrol, but this beautiful green region is also a skiing and winter sports region because in its northern part you will find the snowiest sites in the Alps: the Arlberg massif. Lech, Zürs, Warth connected to the very Tyrolean Sankt Anton.

In its southern part, on the edge of Grisons, from Bludenz, the Montafon is well equipped with ski lifts which allow you to access very beautiful high mountain trails which run through the entire region.

Tyrol and Vorarlberg, separated by mountain ridges and winding rivers, tell two distinct stories under the same azure sky. Tyrol, with its capital Innsbruck, intertwines the history of emperors and kingdoms, a land of traditions and legends where medieval castles watch over green valleys and snow-capped peaks. Its rugged nature and renowned ski slopes attract adventurous souls, while its rich cultural heritage is experienced in every folk festival and echo of yodeling. To the west, the more discreet Vorarlberg stretches between Lake Constance and the Alpine peaks, a patchwork of cultures where modern architecture dances with traditions. Here, picturesque villages and alpine meadows invite a more intimate exploration, where tourism is gentle, in harmony with nature. Vorarlberg, with its proximity to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, weaves a fabric where Germanic, Swiss and Austrian influences meet, offering a unique experience, where gastronomy, crafts and the art of living reflect this meeting of worlds. Between Tyrol, a land of history and alpine adventures, and Vorarlberg, an oasis of calm and cultural fusion, lies a panorama of diversity that makes up the heart of Austria, a mosaic of landscapes and stories where each mountain, each lake has its story, inviting the traveler to an endless discovery.

It's hard to choose from so many destinations, but the main thing is to get out there and start exploring these beautiful regions of Tyrol and Vorarlberg.

You will definitely come back to continue your discovery...

Activities not to be missed in Tyrol

Visit Innsbruck
Gain height in Innsbruck by the cable car of Hafelekar, after having borrowed the funicular from Hungerburg directly from the city.
An idea of Tyrol near Innsbruck: the Tyrol Valley Stubaital.
A relaxing stay in the spa center of theAqua Dome in the Ötztal
Discover the glacial landscapes of Ötztal
Cool off at the Ötztal water park, Area47
To ski In Ischgl, the festive
Skiing in the area of the Arlberg between St Anton and Lech am Arlberg, one of the snowiest massifs in the Alps.
Cross the border to Italy and to Switzerland in Nauders
Learn about cross-country skiing in Seefeld
Feel the adrenaline of a descent on the Streif, the black track from Kitzbühel, one of the most difficult in the world.
Admire the scenery from the Kaisergebirge region in North Tyrol around Ellmau.
Discover the wooden chalets from the Alpbach valley.