There’s a special kind of hush that settles over Tyrol in the weeks between seasons — after the last hikers have gone but before the first snowflakes fall. Locals call it the Zwischensaison , the in-between season, and though visitors rarely see it, it’s when the Alps breathe out. After the frenzy of summer tourism — hikers, bikers, festivals, and cable cars humming all day — everything slows. Villages that were full of chatter and traffic fall quiet. Many hotels close for a

There’s something faintly surreal about stepping into a ski gondola in July, hiking boots on instead of skis, and watching the green world fall away beneath you. Across Tyrol and the Arlberg, the summer lift network has quietly become one of the most extraordinary ways to experience the mountains — a fusion of adventure, ease, and that unmistakable alpine sense of scale. Many people associate cable cars with snow, but in the warmer months they are lifelines for walkers, mount

Driving through Tyrol can feel like starring in your own travel film — winding mountain passes, lakes shimmering below, and church steeples in every valley. But the beauty comes with a few rules and customs worth knowing before you turn the key. First, Austria requires a vignette  — a toll sticker for motorways. You can buy it at petrol stations near the border or online before you travel. Without it, you risk a hefty fine. Certain alpine tunnels and passes (like the Brenner)

Tyrol’s skyline is a jagged gallery of peaks, each with its own character, legends, and challenges. Some are household names among mountaineers; others are beloved only by locals. The Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak at 3,798 metres, lies just outside Tyrol but dominates the imagination of climbers across the country. In Tyrol itself, the Wildspitze in the Ötztal Alps stands at 3,770 metres and is a favourite for guided ascents. Closer to the Zillertal, the Olperer (3,47

Walk in Tyrol in summer, and the meadows are alive with colour. The Alps are home to hundreds of wildflowers and herbs, many used for centuries in cooking and medicine. In early summer, alpine roses ( Alpenrose ) paint the hillsides pink, while gentians ( Enzian ) dot the grass with intense blue. Edelweiss — the most famous alpine flower — grows in rocky, high-altitude spots, its star-shaped blooms a symbol of love and bravery. Herbs are just as important. Mountain hay meadow

Tyrolean music isn’t just background noise — it’s part of the cultural DNA. It’s in the brass bands that parade through villages, the folk singers in Stube  (parlour) gatherings, and the accordion-led dances at summer festivals. The most traditional form is Volksmusik  — folk music often featuring accordion, zither, and brass. Songs are passed down through generations, many celebrating the mountains, seasons, and village life. You might hear it at Almabtrieb  celebrations, lo

Spend enough time in Tyrol’s mountains, and you’ll begin to notice you’re not alone. Wildlife here is rich and varied, from the tiniest alpine flowers buzzing with insects to the proud silhouettes of golden eagles circling overhead. The most famous alpine resident might be the marmot ( Murmeltier ). These plump, furry ground squirrels live in burrows high above the treeline, spending the short summer fattening up before a long winter hibernation. You’ll often hear them before

German is the official language in Tyrol, but step into a small mountain inn and you might hear something that sounds… different. That’s Tirolerisch , the local dialect, with roots in Bavarian but shaped by centuries of isolation between valleys. Pronunciation, vocabulary, and even grammar can vary wildly from village to village. “Guten Tag” (good day) in standard German becomes “Grüß Gott” in Tyrol, or simply “Servus” among friends. “How are you?” might be “Wie geht’s?” else

For more than 150 years tourism has been a key industry in Austria. Tourism in Austria, and particularly in Tyrol has a long and...

Tyrol is one of the world’s great skiing regions, with over 80 ski areas and more than 3,000 kilometres of pistes. But what makes it...

Tyrol is a year-round playground for outdoor sports enthusiasts. The winter sports are world-famous — skiing, snowboarding, ski touring —...

The Arlberg isn’t just a ski region — it’s a living, breathing alpine community whose rhythm changes dramatically with the seasons. Spend...

One of the most pleasant surprises for visitors to Austria is how easy it is to get around without a car. The public transport system is...

When people think of Austrian drinks, beer tends to come first to mind — and for good reason. Tyrol is home to a brewing tradition as...

Austria is a land that takes its food seriously — not with the formality of Parisian haute cuisine, but with a sense of comfort,...

Sanuas are a big deal in Austria. In Tyrol, a day in the mountains often ends in the warm embrace of wood-scented steam rooms, whether in...

Summer in Austria’s Tyrol region has a different rhythm. Gone is the crisp crunch of snow underfoot, replaced by the hum of bees in...

Walk through a Tyrolean village on a weekday morning and you might think you’ve stepped into an open-air museum of traditional skills —...

In Austria, cake isn’t just dessert—it’s an event. Afternoon coffee, is reason enough to slice into something rich, layered, and...

There’s a saying in the Tyrol: “The mountains teach patience, the valleys teach belonging.”  You feel it the moment you arrive in the...