Ten Places in Tirol You Simply Have to Visit in 2023

© Johanna Herzog

Escape the heat of summer, discover the Culinary Triangle, walk through one of Tirol's most spectacular gorges. With 2023 just around the corner, we sat down again with our team and asked them what is on their must-do list for this year. Scroll down to find out more.

1. Food & Drink at Fuchs & Hase

The German expression "Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen" is a way of describing a remote place where, literally, foxes and hares bid each other goodnight. It is this saying which inspired the name of the Fuchs & Hase bar, a recent addition Innsbruck's bustling gastro landsape. The bar is located in a medieval building with vaulted ceilings and opens at 15:00 for coffee. As evening approaches, sandwiches with appetising combinations such as smoked cheese and pear or leek and lemon soyannaise appear on the menu.

I recommend trying one of the many different sours on offer: whisky, gin, pisco, amaretto, vermouth or bitter. All sours at Fuchs & Hase are made without protein and are therefore vegan.

My personal highlight is the seasoned popcorn which served on the side with all drinks ordered.

One of those behind Fuchs & Hase is Georg Waldmüller, a man who has already had his fair share of success in Innsbruck's culinary scene with his Futterkutter concept. That's another one of my foodie tips for visitors to the city, but let's keep that story for another day.  – Maria 

© Maria Jatkovics

© Maria Jatkovics

2. Keeping it Cool(nest) in the Zillertal Valley

Opened in December 2021, the Coolnest in the village of Ramsau in the Zillertal Valley is one of the hippest hotel concepts I have come across in years.

I could give you a hundred reasons why I love it, but here are just ten:

1. It has an amazing location overlooking the valley and mountains – I always have the feeling of floating above the world below.
2. The staff are young, motivated and super-friendly. They always have time for a chat and a few tips on the best things to do in the region.
3. The hotel offers in-house yoga sessions. What's not to like!?
4. Attention to detail. The more you open your eyes, the more little bits and pieces you will see throughout the hotel. It really grows on you.
5. The rooftop pool and large spa area are also pretty okay I guess. 😊
6. I have munched my way through my fair share of breakfast buffets in my time. It's nice to have something different like what is on offer at the Coolnest.
7. The rooms! When I first arrived at the hotel I walked into my room, spent half an hour looking around, another half an hour admiring the view ... and then arrived late for our team-building session.
8. The hotel restaurant serves great food. My personal favourite are the truffel-flavoured French fries.
9. The Tweets Rooftop Bar has become a firm favourite not only with hotel guests but also with locals, who come here to admire the view of the place they are lucky enough to call home.
10. After a stay at the Coolnest you feel a little bit cooler than before.

Definitely my new favouite place in the Zillertal Valley. Check it out for yourself. But beware, once you check in you may never want to leave. – Jannis

3. Walk through the Wolfsklamm Gorge

The Wolfsklamm is one of the most spectacular natural gorges in Tirol, a region not short on spectacular natural gorges. There is a walking path in the gorge leading from bottom to top. It is made up of wooden walkways, bridges and paths carved into the rock. The walk takes around two hours and concludes at Tirol's oldest place of pilgrimage, St. Georgenberg.

After a short approach through the forest you reach the gorge itself with a thundering river throwing up plenty of fine spray – perfect for cooling off on a hot summer's day. Walkers must be sure-footed and will need a pair of sturdy boots. The path is also suitable for older children with a good level of fitness.

The next section is flat and leads along the riverbed. There you will find lots of 'Stoamandln' – piles of stones placed on on top of another. It is then time for the final approach up a series of switchback corners and across the High Bridge, a place and name of which Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien would himself have been proud. At the top you will find the Felsenkloster St. Georgenberg, a monastery and the oldest place of pilgrimage in Tirol, which just happens to have a café and restaurant with some of the best food and views in the area. – Klaus 

© Tirol Werbung / Bernhard Aichner

4. Tobogganing in Summer? Sure!

My boys and I gave ourselves a special challenge this year on our Bucket List 2022: to ride all the summer toboggan runs in Tirol. For all those who don't know, a summer toboggan run (also known as an 'alpine coaster') is a kind of single-seater rollercoaster winding its way down the mountain. There are more and more of them springing up across Tirol – and one of our personal favourites is just 10 minutes from where we live. Located in the village of Mieders near Innsbruck, this summer toboggan run is the steepest in the Alps and at 2.8 kilometres is also one of the longest (the only one which is longer is in Imst). The run down is a thrilling ride and I enjoy taking in a bit of the view and smelling the scent of pine in my nose as I try to catch up with my sons whizzing on ahead.

Tip! Before you head down into the valley, beck out the Serleswasser play area. Many of the attractions are water-themed, so remember to bring your swimming stuff in summer. 😊 – Julia

© Julia König

5. Discover the Culinary Triangle in Lans 

Home to around 1,000 people, Lans is a village just outside Innsbuck that is known for its Culinary Triangle – three excellent restaurants where you can dine out on some of Tirol's best food. The first of the three eateries is the Wilder Mann (dating back to the 16th century and proud owner of two Toques in the Gault & Millau guide since 1986), while the second is the Gasthof Isserwirt (first mentioned in 1313 and awarded the Golden Fork by the Falstaff restaurant guide) and the third – and youngest – is the Gasthof Walzl (four-star guesthouse opened in 1965).

It is unusual to find such a concentration of fine-dining restaurants in a place as small as Lans, but maybe it's linked to the fact that the village is on an old Roman road which used to be an important north-south trading route. I recommend coming here in autumn, when there is lots of game on the menu – hunted, of course, in the surrounding forests. Definitely a top tip for foodies visiting the Innsbruck area. – Julian

© Tirol Werbung / Franz Oss

6. Visit the 'Herb Witch of Zams'

Medicinal herbs have a long tradition in Tirol. They have been used for if not thousands then certainly hundreds of years to alleviate all manner of ailments. One of the few experts in Tirol who had managed to preserve this ancient knowledge is Michaela Thöni-Kohler, who is known to all as the 'Kräuterhex von Zams' (literally: 'Herb Witch of Zams'). Zams is a village in the west of Tirol where Michaela offers guided walks into the mountains to collect all manner of herbs, which are then taken back to her farmhouse and turned into tinctures, soaps, teas, etc.

She also offers herb workshops where participants can learn how to use the rich bounty nature offers us to make oils and incenses. And, last but not least, there is a small shop at the farmhouse where you can buy some of the best products made by Michaela herself. – Juliane 

Michaela Thöni-Kohler in her herb kitchen © Tirol Werbung - Marlena König

7. (Night) Tobogganing at the Rinner Alm Hut

If you like tip number 4, the summer toboggan runs in Mieders, then I am pretty sure you are also going to like this one. Tobogganing is great fun for all the family and particularly thrilling at night, especially if there is a nice hut at the top for you to warm up again with a hot drink before whizzing back down into the valley. One of my personal favourites is the run down from the Rinner Alm hut near Innsbruck. The walk up takes around 1 ½ hours. From the hut you can enjoy a fantastic view of Innsbruck by night and tuck into a heart meal inside the cosy wood-panelled dining room.

Try the 'Kaspressknödel' – cheese dumplings which are kind of the go-to food at mountain huts like this one.

It is then time to hop onto your toboggan and cruise down the 3.7 km into the valley back to the starting point. So much fun! We will be back. 😊 – Verena

© Verena Eichinger

8. Secco – French Cuisine in Hall in Tirol

After years spent travelling the world, cooking in some of the most famous restaurants on the planet, Johannes Nuding has come home to Hall in Tirol to open his own eatery. It is located in the 400-year-old Schwarzer Adler guesthouse and comprises a fine-dining restaurant and a more informal bistro.

The bistro is called Secco. Brightly coloured walls, minimalist wooden furniture, relaxed and cosy atmosphere – that's the best way to describe what you can expect inside. A place to enjoy a glass of good wine and enjoy simple French dishes: quiche, beef tartare, fish soup, lemon cake, etc. The menu, which varies depending on what is fresh and seasonal, is perfect for sharing. A real tip for foodies keen to enjoy the cooking of Johannes Nuding on a more modest budget. – Anna 

© Anna Lang

9. Escape the Summer Heat in the Mountains

There are few experiences in Tirol more special than watching the sunrise or sunset from the top of a mountain.

You will find a few spots around Innsbruck where the rising or setting sun can be admired. Some, such as the Saile (also known as the Nockspitze), can even get quite busy on warm summer nights. One place you won't find a crowd is the Pfriemesköpfl.

The views of Innsbruck below are fantastic and it is relatively easy to get to even early in the morning or late at night.

Drive or take the bus to the Axamer Lizum ski resort or the Mutterer Alm. From the bottom of the ski lifts in Axamer Lizum, the walk takes around 1 ½. From bottom to top there are 600 vertical metres of climbing.

Here are a few tips on how to enjoy watching the sunrise or sunset from a mountain top:

• Plan ahead and make sure you have all the maps you need.
• Only head into the mountains after checking the weather forecast.
• Don't forget to take a torch or headlamp.
• Find out what time the sun rises and sets.
• Wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes.
• You may also need gloves and a hat.

And don't forget to take something to eat so your stomach isn't rumbling as the sun comes up. 😉

© Johanna Herzog

10. ElisabethHotel in Mayrhofen: Time-Out in November 

For me, November is the best month of the year for a little spa relaxation. With the heat of summer a distant memory but the snow of winter not yet crisp and deep and even, the month of November is the perfect time to get away from it all and prepare for the hectic Christmas season ahead. My go-to place is the ElisabethHotel in Mayrhofen. It was included by the guide Gault & Millau in its 2023 list of the Best Designer Hotels and has a large spa area as well as a really good restaurant. And if you do ever manage to leave the hotel, I recommmend a visit to the Christmas market in the forest in nearby Mayrhofen.

© Marion Gallmetzer

© Marion Gallmetzer