Enjoy a summer holiday in Pertisau, set on the Tyrol's largest and prettiest lake, framed by the Karwendel and Rofan mountains
Free use of local buses, guided walks, children’s activities, and discounts on cable cars, boat trips, and attractions. Pay locally to upgrade to Achensee Holiday Card.
Book your Austria 2025 walking holiday and take advantage of savings of up to £400pp
Depart on: Saturday or Wednesday
Fly into: Innsbruck
Transfer time: approx. 1 hour by coach
Achensee Guest Card (upgrade to the Achensee Holiday Card payable locally)
Inghams Digital Resort Guide with things to do, walks and useful information on holiday
Pertisau offers excellent walking opportunities, with over 500 kilometres of marked hiking paths above the village and into local valleys Gerntal, Falzthurntal and the Tristenautal. Terrain ranges from flat walks to steeper trails up to the highest peaks accessed by two cable-cars. From most paths there are wonderful views of the lake and a great number of excellent mountain huts for refreshment stops.
The Achensee Tourist Office run their own hiking programme, included as part of your Achensee Guest Card given to you by your hotel.
Walks take place across different days of the week and different dates in the season and examples of walks that may be included are:
Please note cable cars, tolls and parking fees are not included and will incur an additional charge. These guided walks must be booked directly with the tourist office online no later than 8pm the day before the walk is set to take place.
Subject to change.
Pertisau, Lake Achensee, Austria
Beautifully situated on the scenic western shores of Lake Achensee, the largest and deepest lake in the Tyrol, Pertisau is known for its striking emerald waters, framed by the picturesque Karwendel and majestic Rofan mountain ranges. Popular day time activities include boat trips across the lake or exploring the lakeshore villages by bike or the famous Achensee steam railway. As well as easy promenade strolls around the lake, there is also extensive hiking above the village and an abundance of wildlife in what is Tyrol's largest nature reserve.
Pertisau is a compact and tranquil village, with a handful shops, cafés and restaurants, and there is regular live music and folklore entertainment at hotels and local alms throughout the summer.
It's a village with a great amount of history including being the getaway location for the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire – Emperor Maximilian. It's also known for its dark, rich, stone oils which have been extracted for an extraordinarily long time, which can be discovered at the Tiroler Steinöl Vitalberg visitor centre.
Stay put in Pertisau, or head down the lake to discover Maurach. Valleys leading from both villages will have you going deep into the surrounding mountain ranges, with many diversions and paths along the way – perfect for exploring on foot or by bike.
Pertisau’s location is ideal for all water lovers with its setting on the Western shore of lake Achensee. The Strandbad Pertisau Lido is great for soaking up the sun and soothing your skin in the cool glacier water. Or, feel the light spray as you glide across the lake on a boat. Within minutes you leave the sights of Pertisau to enjoy stunning greenery and shallow shores. Stroll along the lakefront, switching sights between the lake and the Karwendel Mountains - the largest mountain range of the Northern Limestone Alps. A popular lakeside walk is to follow the undulating path from Pertisau to Gaisalm, then finish off with a boat ride back to where you started.
Head up the Rofan cable car to check out the breath-taking views of Lake Achensee from above. See how the region takes to responsible tourism along the educational nature trail, located close to the mountain lift station - featuring seven stations across 1.9 kilometres of trail, you’ll step into nature and see how to respect the local people, wildlife and environment – all while enjoying the spectacular views below you. If you're feeling brave, take to the skies in a paraglide and effortlessly float high above the pristine blue lake. Or, keep your feet on the ground and explore the 500 kilometres of marked hiking paths at your own pace.
Bathe in the lake's clear waters, or relax on the lawn with an ice lolly in-hand. Let the kids go wild with the other little ones within the Pertisau beach area. They can swim in the children's pool, jump off the tower, slip down the slide and play in the large playground – plenty to keep them occupied. Or, discover beautiful shallow water spots in Maurach for a splash around with the kids.
Prefer to be on the lake, rather than in the lake? What better way to cool down than the refreshing spray of fresh lake water as you glide across the surface. You can rent pedalo boats, balance on stand-up paddle boards, relax in a canoe or get those arms working on a rowboat. The whole family will love the water sports on Lake Achensee.
Away from the water, in the heart of Pertisau the little ones can get their imagination fired up as they visit the adventure fire station playground. Climb to the top of the house, crossing obstacles before escaping down the yellow slide.
Pertisau and lake Achensee has a great network of public transport and lifts that make getting around the area really easy.
There are two lifts around Lake Achensee that operate during the summer, helping you reach the mountain tops to unlock a hiking paradise.
The Karwendel cable car departs from Pertisau and transports you to the Zwölferkopf area, where you can then walk onwards to the Bärenkopf or even further to the Stanserjoch.
The Rofan cable car departs from the south of the lake, in the village of Maurach. This cableway takes you up to heights of 1,840 metres, where beautiful walking routes start from the second you step foot out of the lift.
Tickets can be purchased locally from the ticket window in each of the lift stations.
With use of your included Achensee Guest Card, you can hop on the barrier-free regional buses, offering frequent services between the villages of Pertisau, Maurach, Achenkirch and Steinberg. Wiesing and Jenbach can be reached too, however these routes are not included in the Guest Card and will be payable locally. This is an excellent way to reach new hiking areas, increasing your walking route options excessively.
The boats on Lake Achensee take you to multiple destinations efficiently, saving your time and energy reaching new hiking points to try out.
The piers around the lake are:
Tickets for the boat services can be booked online in advance, directly from Achensee Schifffahrt, or purchase an Achensee Holiday Card from the hotel reception to include ships, lifts and more to make getting around the area simple.
Achensee Guest Card
When staying in the Achensee region, you'll receive a complimentary Guest Card from your hotel. This handy pass includes free use of the local Regiobus, access to a guided walking programme, a children’s activity programme, and discounted rates for cable cars, lake boat trips, and various local attractions. It’s a great way to explore more of the region while keeping costs down. (Offers are subject to change.)
Achensee Holiday Card
For even more benefits, you can upgrade to the Achensee Holiday Card (Erlebnis Card), available locally from hotel receptions, lift stations, or Tourist Offices for around €98 for seven days. This upgraded pass includes unlimited rides on the Karwendel and Rofan cable cars, the Achensee lake boats, and the scenic Achensee steam cog railway—just show your card before boarding. You’ll also enjoy free entry to selected museums. Cable cars run from early May to late October, with the cog railway and lake boats typically operating from late April to late October. (All services subject to seasonal changes.)
Flights to Innsbruck depart on Saturdays or Wednesdays between 24 May - 13 Sep 25 and 23 May - 19 Sep 26
Fly from:
Transfer time:
Please be aware transfer times may vary depending on weather conditions and volume of traffic, especially during peak season.
