Holidays to Westendorf

Westendorf welcomes mountain lovers to the Brixen Valley - with over 800 kilometres of walking trails to explore

On a plateau in the Brixen Valley, Westendorf is surrounded by patchwork fields, forests, rolling hills and mountain peaks. Buses, trains, gondolas and a network of walking and cycling paths link it to popular summer villages such as Söll, Ellmau and Kitzbühel. The Austrian Hiking Seal of Quality glimmers on many a trail too, so expect superbly signposted and maintained routes. On bright days, the village basks in full sunshine – ideal for kicking back with a schnapps on a mountain-view terrace.

Pull on your hiking boots in the beautiful Brixen Valley

This patch of the Alps offers every flavour of footpath. The Westendorf Wellbeing Trail ambles by dappled forest glades and rivers. For a longer stroll, walk over wooden bridges and past waterfalls to neighbouring Hopfgarten – a market town and gateway to Hohe Salve’s mountain trails. The Windau Valley carves its way south from Westendorf, steering cyclists and hikers to green riverside paths, while more challenging routes scale the local mountain of Nachtsöllberg via pretty alpine mountain huts. Fancy saving your energy? The Alpenrosen cable car takes out much of the leg work in reaching the Nachtsöllberg summit, and the Brixen lift rises from Brixen village into the Bergwelt, where trails lead in all directions.

Summer in Westendorf

Both villagers and visitors wholeheartedly embrace summer in Westendorf, taking to the café terraces with plates of schnitzel, alpine ales and herby lemonades. In fact, the whole town seems to burst into flower, with streets that once won gold as Europe’s most beautiful village in bloom. Even the St. Nicholas church is painted a cheery buttercup-yellow; the dome has watched over the village for centuries. Don’t miss the weekly market, where local craftspeople set out stalls piled high with hand-knitted gloves, truffle cheeses, wooden bird houses and bottles of berry schnapps.

Alpine adventures for families

Family activities in Westendorf come with a side of mountain views. The swimming pool is open-air, enclosed in gardens and views of the Kitzbühel Alps. Meanwhile, the Alpenrosen cable car takes families to the Alpinolino playground, where kids can put on their detective hats while learning about the animals and wildflowers of the Alps. Catch the gondola from neighbouring Brixen for the Filzalm Lake – a sky-high picnic spot with play areas and wildlife hides.

From the mountains to Munich

Trains depart like clockwork from Westendorf station, about a 10-minute walk away from the village centre. The swish summer resort of Kitzbühel is only a 15-minute trundle along the valley and you can also swap the mountains for Munich in just one hour. This Bavarian city might be best known for Oktoberfest, but there’s also an old town with a turreted city hall straight out of a Brothers Grimm tale.

Why book a summer holiday in Westendorf with Inghams?

At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of the Brixental's best walking routes and activities at your own pace.

With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Westendorf include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.

Added value

Up to 40% off green fees for local golf course at selected hotels

Hotels in Westendorf

  • from£1089pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    4.5 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

  • 67 rooms
Lounge III

Enjoy sunny days in the garden by dipping your feet in the pond, lazing on a sun lounger, and cooling off in the outdoor pool. Vitalhotel Schermer is one of Westendorf’s leading hotels and guests return year after year for the warm welcome and excellent facilities.

  • from£839pp
  • @accommodation.PropertyRating

    3 Rating

    We rate all of our accommodation based on their facilities, service level, character and customer feedback. Our ratings may vary from the official star rating.

  • 45 rooms
Hotel Briem, Westendorf, Austria - Exterior.jpg

The traditional Hotel Briem sits on the outskirts of Westendorf in a quiet and sunny location, looking out over lush green meadows. Just four minute's walk from the centre of the village and 12 minutes' walk to the nearest lift, you'll be in the ideal position to explore the walking trails of the Brixen valley.

Excursions

Pre-book your excursions online or give us a call

Grossglockner from £48/32 per adult/child (full day)

This spectacular journey takes you over the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, an incredible feat of engineering with stunning views. From the Franz-Josef's Höhe you'll see the Pasterze glacier and maybe catch a glimpse of 3,798-metre summit of the Grossglockner. Keep a look out for the wild marmots and Ibex too - they love the high alpine conditions. You can visit the free museums and exhibitions to learn about the National Park or enjoy a walk round the area and a tasty Austrian mountain meal.

Departs: Tuesdays

Salzburg from £42/26 per adult/child (full day)

Salzburg is a city full of culture, history and music. Visit Mozart’s birthplace, enjoy the view from the Hohensalzburg Fortress, or wander the famous Getreidegasse shopping street. Immerse yourself in history as you explore the medieval Old Town, discover museums and Baroque churches or visit the Salzburg Residenz Palace - the DomQuartier. There is an optional guided walking tour which is a great way to see more of the city (payable locally, approx. €12 per person).

Departs: Thursdays

Berchtesgaden from £42/26 per adult/child (full day)

There's a few options for you to choose from on this interesting trip to Berchtesgaden. Spend the day discovering the pretty Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden itself, or choose one of the optional extras that you can add on to your day (difference payable locally).

The most famous is the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest). Explore the historic building and surrounding area, with spectacular views on a clear day over the King's Lake. The house is famous for being Nazi-constructed and was used for government and social meetings by Hitler and the Nazi Party. Alternatively, head underground to see the Salt Mines. A network of tunnels and slides take you on an underground adventure discovering this once very important industry (optional add-ons are payable locally - Eagle's Nest approx. €30.80 per person, Salt Mines approx. €22.50 per person).

Departs: Fridays

Bookable Locally

Hidden Treasures from approx. €45/25 per adult/child

Discover some of the area's best kept secrets on this trip which combines three unique destinations. Our first 'treasure' is Kufstein, located on the banks of the River Inn. You'll have time to explore and admire this border town with its dominating Fortress. Next, you're off to the beautiful local Hechtsee lake, surrounded by forests and steeped in folklore. Our final destination is Rattenberg, rich in history and famous for Kisslinger glass - watch a glass-blowing demonstration and explore the picturesque streets of this tiny city.

Departs: Wednesdays

We act at all times as a selling agent for the suppliers. All excursions require minimum numbers to run and are subject to change. Some excursions may not be available to pre-book in low season but may be available to book locally subject to numbers. Prices will be confirmed at the time of booking. Please see our terms & conditions.

Things To Do

In & Around Westendorf

  • Over 250km walking paths
  • Selection of cafés and shops
  • Swimming at the local pool or the bathing lake in nearby Brixen
  • Cycling and mountain biking and Electric bike hire
  • Horse-drawn buggy rides
  • Horse-riding
  • Mini-golf
  • Tennis
  • Visit to the schnapps distillery
  • Visit to 100 year old farmhouse
  • Visit to cheesemaking farm
  • Alpinolino adventure playground
  • Lovely 1 hour bike ride to Kitzbühel via Lake Schwarzsee
  • 18 hole golf course

 

Festivals & Events

Westendorf has a full programme of events each week including:

  • Weekly brass band concerts from June
  • Weekly market in July
  • Weekly Tyrolean evenings (High season)
  • Regular live music at hotels
  • Annual Dorf Fest Village festival/carnival (August)
  • Almabtrieb Cow Festival (approx 21st September )

Things to do in Westendorf

Summer in Westendorf has many events. Lots of brilliant events and a weekly programme mean a holiday in the Kitzbüheler Alpen is something quite special indeed. Make the most of the opportunity to enjoy local traditions. Weekly brass band concerts start in early June.

Family fun

The Alpinolino Westendorf, the Alpine Explorer Park on the adventure terrain of the Talkaser (1,770 m) in Westendorf, is all about fun and adventure for different ages. The Alpinolino kids’ festival, open to all children from 4 to 12 years of age, is an especially cool event held each Monday in July and August from 10.30 am to 2 pm. The variety-packed programme of children's events provides fun and games during a holiday in Tirol. In the summer months, there is an action-packed programme on offer through the tourist office for action-hungry children and families, every day of the week.

 

Lift and cable-car approx. opening times 

The opening dates of summer lifts vary in resort. Please find the latest update for the summer:

  • Alpenrosenbahn 1 and 2 in Westendorf (normally open from 21 May)
  • Hochbrixen and Zinsbergbahn in Brixen (normally open from 21 May)
  • Salvenbahn 1 and 2 in Hopfgarten (normally open from 21 May)
  • Hochsöll, Hohe Salve and Keat in Söll (normally open from 7 May)
  • Hartkaiserbahn in Ellmau (normally open from 12 May)
  • Astbergbahn in Going (normally open from 4 Jun)
  • Brandstadlbahn in Scheffau (normally open from 21 May)
  • Kaiserlift in Kufstein (normally open from beginning May)
  • Salvistabahn in Itter (limited opening days throughout the season)
Festivals

 

Almabtrieb

 

Almabtrieb

September (approx 15-30) is when the villages in the Tyrol celebrate the annual ‘Almabtrieb’. The festival celebrates the end of the summer when the cows are led down the mountain to their stables for the winter. Cowbells echo through the valley as hundreds of cows pass by, all highly decorated in traditional costume. You’ll be welcome to join in the festivities!

 

Walking

A wonderfully tranquil and picturesque area with hundreds of km of marked walking trails, through rural meadows and rolling pastures, and up to lakes and summits accessed by a network of lifts across the Bergwelt valley.

 

Popular Walks include:

The ‘Waterfall way’ from the middle station through woodland to reach the top for panoramic views; the Wanderweg route which takes in beautiful views of the village and the Brixen valley; many walks to local dairy farms and over to Kirchberg; up to the stunning Kreuzjochsee lake and to the Gaisbergjoch summit.

Getting Around | The start points of many walks are easily reached by foot in Westendorf. There is a superb network of chairlifts and gondolas in the valley making access to summits and linking walks very easy.

In Westendorf alone, there are over 200 kilometres of perfectly tended and signposted hiking trails to explore. The Kitzbüheler Alpen provide a sheer inexhaustible area for hiking, with a legendary 2500 kilometres of hiking trails. Hike across lush pastures and gentle grass mountains to traditional alpine huts where the traditional culinary delights await - ideal for the gourmet hiker!

The Hiking and Stamp Book serve as an inspiration and motivation to go hiking in the mountains and you can collect points at most summits and at many of the mountain huts along the routes. Earn enough points and you will be presented with a "Hiking Pin" in bronze, silver or gold.
The Hiking and Stamp Book, as well as the hiking pin, are available free-of-charge in the Tourist Information Offices in Brixen im Thale, Kirchberg in Tyrol and Westendorf.

Westendorf Guest Card

Your Guest Card will be given to you on arrival at your hotel. Included in the guest card is local bus and train travel and discounts on cable cars and bonus partners.

Mountain Experience Card - buy locally | from €94.00 - 6 days | from €69.00 - 3 days | please present your guest card for a reduced rate. 

Consecutive days only. Other durations are available.

Includes up to 15 lifts in the Wilder Kaiser - Brixental region plus discounts on various bonus partners throughout the area.

  • Hochsöll, Hohe Salve and Keat in Söll (normally open from 7 May)
  • Hartkaiserbahn in Ellmau (normally open from 12 May)
  • Astbergbahn in Going (normally open from 4 Jun)
  • Brandstadlbahn in Scheffau (normally open from 21 May)
  • Hochbrixen and Zinsbergbahn in Brixen (normally open from 21 May)
  • Salvenbahn 1 and 2 in Hopfgarten (normally open from 21 May)
  • Alpenrosenbahn 1 and 2 in Westendorf (normally open from 21 May)
  • Kaiserlift in Kufstein (normally open from beginning May)
  • Salvistabahn in Itter (limited opening days throughout the season)

Kitzbühel Alps Summer Card - buy locally | from €103.50 - 6 days | from €76.00 - 3 days | please present your guest card for a reduced rate.

Consecutive days only. Other durations are available.

Includes up to 38 lifts in the Kitzbühel Alps region plus discounts on various bonus partners throughout the area, so is ideal for people staying longer durations or wanting to explore further afield.

The lifts included are the 15 listed above, plus operating lifts in Kitzbühel, St Johann, Wildschönau, Alpbachtal, Fieberbrunn, Steinplatte Waidring, Pillersee and Lofer.

 

Free Guided Walks

Westendorf Tourist Office offers an excellent programme of guided walks, hikes and E-bikes tours (some are at extra charge). Walks are available for all abilities and include a range of easy level ‘gourmet’ walks to local cheese and dairy farms, as well as a unique ‘woodcutters’ breakfast on the mountain, for early risers!

Please note: Programme is subject to change. A small local charge may apply to some walks.

Good to know

Walking trails: 800km of walking trails with great lift network

Terrain: Rolling hills and wide valleys with some steeper routes

Best time to go: end of May to end of September. It can get hot in July and August but a dip in the outdoor pool is a great way to cool off

Recommended for: Walkers of all abilities, families, nature, activities

Fly into: Innsbruck or Salzburg (approx. 2 hours)

Transfer time: approx. 1 hour 30 mins from Innsbruck or 1 hour 45 mins from Salzburg by coach

Rep service: In resort

Resort card: Brixental guest card included for all hotels

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