Tyrol is Austria's most spectacular alpine state, home to the historic city of Innsbruck and some of Europe's finest mountain scenery. Bordered by Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the Austrian states of Salzburg, Vorarlberg, and Carinthia, Tyrol offers world-class skiing in winter and superb hiking in summer.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Salzburg — City of Mozart and the Sound of Music
Salzburg is arguably Austria's most beautiful city, with an extraordinarily preserved Baroque old town (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress, and the birthplace of Mozart. The city's museums, galleries, cafés, and Getreidegasse are a full day's exploration. The Sound of Music filming locations attract visitors from around the world.
Highlights: Hohensalzburg Fortress · Getreidegasse (Mozart's birthplace) · Mirabell Gardens · Hellbrunn Palace · DomQuartier museums
Munich — Bavaria's Capital City
Munich is one of Germany's finest cities — the Marienplatz, Englischer Garten, Deutsches Museum, BMW Welt, Nymphenburg Palace, and the legendary Hofbräuhaus beer hall are all within easy reach of the main station. The city is vibrant, walkable, and has exceptional public transport.
Highlights: Marienplatz and Glockenspiel · Englischer Garten (beer gardens) · Deutsches Museum · Nymphenburg Palace · Pinakothek art museums · Hofbräuhaus
Brenner Pass and South Tyrol (Italy)
Cross the historic Brenner Pass into South Tyrol — the German-speaking province of northern Italy that was part of Tyrol until 1919. Bolzano (Bozen) is a fascinating bicultural city with Italian piazzas and Germanic castles, and home to Ötzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. The Dolomites begin south of Bolzano.
Highlights: Brenner Pass historic border crossing · Bolzano Walther Square · South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology (Ötzi) · Castel Roncolo above Bolzano · Dolomite views
Zugspitze — Germany and Austria's Highest Peak
The Zugspitze at 2,962m is the highest peak in Germany and straddles the Austrian-German border above Ehrwald in Tyrol. Two cable car systems reach the summit — the Austrian Tiroler Zugspitzbahn from Ehrwald or the German system from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Summit views across four countries and a glacier ski area make this an unforgettable day.
Highlights: 2,962m summit views across Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland · Glacier ski area · Summit cross and border marker · Zugspitzplatt plateau
Kufstein Fortress and Inn Valley
Kufstein is a charming Inn Valley town on the German border dominated by the mighty Kufstein Fortress (Festung Kufstein) — one of Austria's best-preserved medieval castles. The fortress houses a Hero's Organ (Heldenorgel), the world's largest outdoor organ, which plays a daily memorial concert. The old town is charming with the Alps as backdrop.
Highlights: Kufstein Fortress (medieval castle) · Hero's Organ — world's largest outdoor organ (daily 12:00) · Kufstein old town · Inn River promenade · Zahnradbahn rack railway
Rattenberg and Hall in Tirol — Medieval Towns
Two beautifully preserved medieval towns within easy reach of Innsbruck. Hall in Tirol was once more important than Innsbruck, with its salt-mining wealth and historic mint (Burg Hasegg). Rattenberg is Austria's smallest official town with a fascinating glass engraving tradition. Both towns can be combined in a pleasant half to full day.
Highlights: Hall in Tirol — Burg Hasegg castle and mint museum · Rattenberg glassblowing studios · Both medieval old towns · Inn Valley views
Achensee and Zillertal Valley
An excellent nature day from Innsbruck: take the world's oldest operational cog railway (Achenseebahn, 1889) from Jenbach up to Achensee for swimming, boat hire, and hiking, or continue on the scenic Zillertalbahn narrow-gauge railway through the Zillertal to Mayrhofen. Both offer spectacular alpine scenery.
Highlights: Achensee lake swimming and boat hire · Achenseebahn steam cog railway (historic) · Zillertalbahn narrow-gauge railway · Mayrhofen skiing and hiking
Vorarlberg and Bregenz — Lake Constance
Bregenz, the capital of Vorarlberg at the eastern end of Lake Constance (Bodensee), is a fascinating combination of charming old town and cosmopolitan lakeside culture. The floating stage of the Bregenz Festival is one of Europe's most spectacular opera venues. Lake Constance is shared by Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
Highlights: Bregenz Festspielhaus floating stage on Lake Constance · Pfänder cable car and summit · Lake Constance waterfront · Bregenz old town
Multi-day tours from Tyrol
If you have longer than a day, these are organised multi-day trips that start here.
Browse multi-day tours from TyrolWe may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.
Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.
Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.