Tyrol
Tyrol is the most important tourist region in Austria. Here, you will find rugged Alpine landscapes, glorious cities and a surprisingly varied landscape for touring by camper, car or motorbike. Two thirds of the territory consists of mountains where spectacular car routes are combined with beautiful valleys and villages where tradition is still alive. Tyrol is a winter destination par excellence, but also guarantees an unforgettable summer trip with a motorhome. Whether you are a peace seeker, nature lover, hiker or adventurer, Tyrol is sure to charm. This route starts in Bregenz at Lake Constance. Bregenz is not in the Tyrol, but in the state of Vorarlberg. However, Tyrol and Vorarlberg belong together very well and can be combined perfectly for a road trip. Most travel guides consider Tyrol and Vorarlberg as one tourist region. It is also possible to drive into Innsbruck (the capital of Tyrol), but then you are in the middle of the busy approach route to Italy. On this road trip, we tried to keep to a loop as much as possible, but unfortunately, in the mountains you can only drive through valleys and over mountain passes. Hence the somewhat unusual shape of this route.
Bregenz
Bregenz is a city that travellers usually pass by on their way to more catchy destinations. A shame, because it is a perfect starting point for this road trip. Bregenz is situated on the impressive Lake Constance and literally at the foot of the Austrian Alps. By the lake at sunset, along the boulevard with an ice cream or strolling through the lovely city centre, you will immediately be in a holiday mood. If you have time, you should definitely consider a boat trip on the lake, a hike in the Pfaender massif or a trip with the cable car up the 1064 metre high Pfaender. In just a few minutes, you can climb 600 metres and see the Alpine giants that lie on your route to the southeast.
Lech
From Dornbirn, you can drive towards Lech via an attractive Alpine road. The Dutch know Lech as the regular winter sports location of the Dutch royal family. But Lech is also a paradise for hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. The area around Lech is one of the last wild river landscapes in the Alps. The 'Green Ring' gives you the choice between 3 walks (total 28.5 km) each leading to a mountain lake. Of these 3, the hike to Lake Formarin is widely acclaimed. This emerald green mountain lake was voted 'most beautiful place in Austria' by the Austrians in 2015. But also those who like to mountain bike, climb, kayak, paraglide or do canyoning will crow with joy in this area. After Lech, there is the Arlberg Pass (the border with Tyrol), St. Anton (the equivalent of Lech for the jet set) and the motorway to Innsbruck.
Innsbruck
Innsbruck is the stately capital of Tyrol. This medieval city is located in a beautiful setting, along the river Inn and surrounded by mountains. A walk past the triumphal arch and the Annas column takes you to the old centre (Altstadt), the former walled medieval town. You can relax in the Hofgarten, a landscaped park where it is lovely to linger. Looking for a bit of excitement? Get on the Nordkettenbahnen, a cable car that takes you to the top of the Nordkette in 20 minutes and 2 stops to enjoy a spectacular panorama. On the way up you will find the Alpenzoo and several starting points for hiking trails. Those who like to dream away in a medieval castle can visit the 16th-century Schloss Ambras, south of Innsbruck.
The Achensee
Fans of Swarovski should definitely visit the Swarovski factory and museum in Wattens, right in the middle between Innsbruck and Lake Achensee. It is a unique place full of fantasy, wonder and ... crystals. Those who prefer to plunge into crystal-clear water head for Achensee, the largest lake in Tyrol. So get your SUP, surfboard or canoe out of the suitcase and enjoy the unique setting of this lake. With the exception of 2 villages (Pertisau and Maurach), the Achensee is surrounded by rock faces. Hikers and cyclists will find a wide range of hiking trails and cycling routes in the wide area around the lake (Karwendel Alpine Park and Rofan mountains).
The Kaisergebergte
Don't put the sup, surfboard or canoe too far away because there are several lakes in the region around our next stop. The largest is the Walchsee, some 30 km northeast of Kufstein. The latter is strategically located on the border with Germany and was the scene of wars for centuries. This is nicely illustrated in the local castle (Festung Kufstein). From Kufstein, a particularly beautiful car route leads west through the Thierseetal to the lake of the same name. East of Kufstein lies the Kaisergebirge, according to experts one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in Austria. The mountain range north of the valley is called "the tame emperor", the one south is called "the wild emperor". Numerous hiking trails start from the Stripsenjoch (1577m). A final attraction in this wonderful region is the cable car to the Hohe Salve from Söll.
The Zillertal
We set course for the Zillertal via the beautiful places of St. Johan in Tirol and Kitzbühel, known for the Hahnenkamm descent in Alpine skiing. Between Kitzbühel and Zillertal, enjoy the beautiful views from the camper, car or motorbike. After Königsleiter, the Gerlostal begins, the most beautiful part of this motorway which ends in Zell, halfway to the Zillertal, via the winding Zillertaler Höhenstrasse. Follow the road towards Mayrhofen, where the valley becomes narrower and splits into 4 side valleys. We follow the valley straight on towards the SchlegeisSpeicher, a reservoir near the Italian border. Hikers in good shape will find a hiking paradise around the reservoir with several mountain huts and magical mountain panoramas. On the way back, the valley after Zell becomes wider and authentically Tyrolean.
The Ötztal and the Wildspitze
On the way back, after Innsbruck, there are several valleys, each of which is a tourist attraction in its own right. We chose the Ötztal, a 60 km long valley surrounded by numerous three-thousanders. On the border with Italy is the Wildspitze, with 3774 metres the highest mountain in Tyrol. Sölden is an excellent base from which to admire the Wildspitze. Those who want to go a bit further uphill will find the highest Alpine village in Tyrol in Obergurgl. In this area, the 3,500-year-old ice mummy Ötzi was found in 1991. The body itself lies in Bolzano, but a village has been built in Umhausen that has reconstructed Ötzi's world. The Ötztal valley is the most diversified of all the valleys in Tyrol in terms of nature. Especially the contrast between the sloping orchards and vineyards and the rough snow-covered mountains makes this valley so beautiful.
The Paznauntal
The last part of this road trip leads through the Paznauntal, of which Ischgl is the most famous place. It is described by connoisseurs as 'one of the most beautiful places in Austria'. Between the start of the valley and Schruns, a wonderful road trip awaits you, culminating in the mountain road at the border to Switzerland. On the Bielerhöhe at the Silvretta Stausee, you will find a beautiful national park surrounding the Silvretta Massif. Here we leave the state of Tyrol and return to Vorarlberg, where only the route to the start and finish point of Bregenz awaits us. Those who still have time can consider a stop at the Lünersee (a reservoir at 1907 metres altitude) after a ride through the beautiful Brandnertal.
