Best Nordic Walking Resorts in Austria

Ellmau is a little mountain village with Austrian charm by the bucketload. It’s nestled in a lush green valley overlooked by the huge Wilder Kaiser Mountains (on a clear day the view is unbelievable!). There’s lots to keep you occupied, whether you fancy a long walk, a bike ride or even a round of golf.

This stunning lakeside town is surrounded by rolling hills and pine forests in Austria’s beautiful Salzkammergut region. The lake itself is said to be one of the cleanest in Austria, and you can tell – the amazing aquamarine water is crystal clear. The area’s great for rambling and cycling – if it’s sunny, hire a rowing boat or pedalo for a day on the lake.

Galtur is a charming resort nestled in the Paznuan Valley. Less than 1,000 people live here year-round, making it an incredibly peaceful place for a mountain getaway. If for any reason you feel like moving from the beer gardens, you’ll find 300km of walking trails on your doorstep – and some world class mountain biking, too!

Summer in Ischgl is a way more relaxed affair than the raucous scenes of winter - think lazy days by the river and chilled evenings listening to live bands on pub terraces. When it comes to picking up the tempo, the mountain biking is legendary and the hiking, paragliding and white water rafting are pretty good too...

Mayrhofen is ‘traditional Austrian’ from head to toe and the town has a refreshing buzz to it all summer long. Cross alpine pastures, speed down the Penken and discover deep gorges and canyons before letting your hair down with a stein and some Austrian folk music – you’d struggle to find a ‘best for Alps activities’ list that this place doesn’t crop up on.

This Wildschönau Valley village is perfectly picture-postcard, with Oberau’s baroque chapel and rustic farmhouses feeling like they’re from another time. Pass grazing cattle as you stroll through Alpine pastures, hop on the train to the amazing Kundl gorge or simply hit pause for some R&R (best accompanied by a cold stein and some sunshine).

Surrounded by dreamy meadows and thick forests, this small mountain village is beautifully tranquil - one of the walking trails is even called the ‘Path of Contemplation’! The area’s perfect for a relaxed walking or cycling holiday, with stunning mountains dotted with ‘alms’ – alpine pastures where you’ll often find farmers grazing their cattle.

The Tyrolean architecture, flower-covered meadows and glimmering Wildsee lake are enough to stop you in your tracks but Seefeld is more than a pretty face; Mother Nature has made a real adventure base here. With hundreds of kilometres to walk and cycle, 17 tennis courts, 2 golf courses and a paragliding academy, you’ll have to remember to hit pause and enjoy the sights.

Yes it’s the king of ski resorts but St Anton is also an incredible place in the summer. Roam the region on bike or foot and soak up glorious views of mountains, meadows, lakes and waterfalls all day long. Unlike the winter months, the summer evenings are pretty chilled – ask the barman for a local beer or wine and get some tips on where to explore tomorrow...

At the shore of Lake Wolfgansee, St. Wolfgang is an attractive old town characterised by its colourful chalets and landmark gothic church. Pilgrims have been visiting here for a millennium, nowadays it’s best known as a mecca of outdoor pursuits – with water sports, lakeside cycle routes and hiking in the Alps just some of many possibilities.