Attractions and Travel in the Zillertal Valley
The Zillertal Valley, located in southwestern Tyrol, Austria, is an impressive and breathtaking region that is highly recommended. Skiers know it as a fantastic winter skiing destination, but during the summer, it is also a charming destination brimming with attractions and activities.
Recommended Accommodations:
Aparthotels in Mayrhofen:
Hotel Appartement Neuhaus – An apartment hotel featuring 16 vacation apartments, located 500 meters from the center of Mayrhofen. The property offers studio apartments for couples as well as two-bedroom apartments with a living room suitable for families of up to 5 people. Free parking and free Wi-Fi. Guests can use the spa facilities of the neighboring Hotel Neuhaus and add meals (breakfast or half board) at the adjacent hotel.
Aparthotel Landhaus St. Joseph – A 4-star apartment hotel with 10 apartments featuring one bedroom and a living room or two bedrooms and a living room, accommodating families of up to 6 people. Located in the northern part of Mayrhofen, it features an indoor swimming pool and a sauna. Free parking and free Wi-Fi are available for guests.
Apparthotel Ederfeld – Another 4-star apartment hotel with 10 apartments, located in the town center. Each apartment has two bedrooms and a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, and a balcony. Free covered parking and free Wi-Fi. The apartments accommodate up to five guests. The property features a spa with a sauna, hot tub, and gym, as well as a large garden with playground facilities for children.
Accommodations in the Northern Zillertal Valley:
Hotel Aktiv- und Wellnesshotel Kohlerhof - A 4-star hotel situated right next to the Spieljochbahn cable car in the Zillertal Valley. The hotel features a 3,000 m² spa area that includes excellent indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, hot tubs, a steam room, and a sun terrace. In addition, the spa offers a wide range of massage treatments. The rooms are spacious and feature balconies with stunning mountain views. The hotel also boasts a restaurant serving local and international cuisine, a pizzeria, and a wine bar. Guests can enjoy table tennis, a children's playground, and more. Free Wi-Fi is available in all rooms.
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Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen is a picturesque and charming ski resort town in the Zillertal Valley in the Tyrol region. Mayrhofen is located about an hour's drive from Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol. The town offers a variety of winter and summer sporting activities such as skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, cycling, horseback riding, paragliding, hiking, glacier climbing, a gold mine visit, and more. Mayrhofen is situated near the Hintertux Glacier, which rises to an elevation of 3,250 meters and allows skiing all year round.
Mayrhofen lies between Mount Penken and Mount Ahorn, which provide 170 km of ski slopes in winter and hiking and biking trails in summer. The state-of-the-art Ahorn cable car departing from the south of the town can carry up to 160 passengers and is considered the largest cable car in Austria.
Mayrhofen is considered a popular destination among snowboarders and features a large snowpark sponsored by Vans.
Snow enthusiasts will be thrilled to discover that even in the middle of summer, they can enjoy snow in the area.
Hintertux Glacier
A visit to Mayrhofen can be combined with an ascent to the Hintertux Glacier (Hintertuxer Gletscher), where you can find plenty of snow activities even during the summer months.
Ascending the glacier is highly recommended and considered an exceptionally enjoyable attraction. The ascent is made via three cable cars, and you can get off at each station to explore before continuing to the peak. At the first station, there are play areas for children and a restaurant, and at the top station, there is a small snow park that is especially popular with kids. This station also features a beautiful and highly recommended viewpoint. If you want to ski, the transfer is between the second and third stations—pay attention to which cable car you board. In addition, there is the option to take a guided tour for an extra fee (highly recommended!) to the Nature's Ice Palace cave, which includes climbing ladders inside the deep, narrow ice crevasse. Be sure to dress warmly and wear appropriate footwear for the tour.
Schlegeis Alpine Road
Located south of Mayrhofen, this is a wonderful starting point for hiking enthusiasts. Along the way, you will pass through green forests, magical scenery, and breathtaking mountains, arriving at an impressive dam (24 km south of Mayrhofen) that you can visit and walk upon while taking in the turquoise lake bordered by the dam. Toll road fee applies.
A Visit to the Cheese Factory ErlebnisSennerei Zillertal
North of Mayrhofen lies a small family-run dairy and cheese factory where you can take a self-guided tour and see the various stages of cheese production—from raw milk to the finished product—through large viewing windows overlooking the dairy, which has been making cheese using traditional methods for generations. The site includes 11 interactive and entertaining stations explaining the cheese-making process. For an additional fee, you can also taste different varieties and ages of cheeses. There is also a spacious farm shop selling assorted dairy products and kitchenware.
This activity is especially suitable if the weather is rainy or stormy and not ideal for mountain hiking, cable cars, and outdoor nature exploration.
More details about the Tyrol region in the article: Trips and Attractions in the Tyrol Region