Holidays to Oberau

Walking, cycling, paragliding, museums and more… For a peaceful patch of the Tyrol, there’s lots to do in Oberau

Oberau lies right in the heart of the Wildschönau valley, a region named for its wild beauty. Whoever came up with that moniker certainly wasn’t exaggerating. This is a postcard-perfect picture of rolling hills and not-too-distant peaks – a promise to hikers who prefer more challenging trails. Walkers and cyclists aren’t the only people exploring the valley. Buses dip between the villages, including Niederau and Auffach, which have cable cars that extend explorations to the rugged mountaintops of the Kitzbühel Alps.

Wanders of the Wildschönau Valley

The Wildschönau valley makes accessing all those spectacular views easy. There are half-hour strolls along the sculpture-spotted St Francis’ Path to Niederau village and family-friendly riverside rambles along the dramatic Kundl Gorge. Adventurous hikers, don’t fear; you haven’t packed your poles for nothing. Summer lifts in the neighbouring villages of Niederau and Auffach open up longer paths to peaks. Clamber up to Gratlspitze, which has swapped a silver mining past for its status as one of the best sunset spots in the Wildschönau.

Enjoying life in the rural lane

Oberau rests between mountain pastures and wildflower meadows. It’s pretty much a one-road village, with a couple of lanes leading to bakeries and restaurants. The z’Bach Mountain Farm Museum offers some great insights into life in the Wildschönau – an easy stroll along the St. Frances Path. Looking for Wildschönau Cathedral? That’s the nickname for the grand baroque church of St Margaret’s; stick your head in to admire the painted ceilings and glittering altar.

Mountain hut welcomes

Wooden mountain huts dot the trails of the Wildschönau – and they’re all ready to welcome weary walkers. Achentalalm, which perches on the path between Oberau and Kragenjoch, is a local favourite, serving weekly specials like schmalznudeln doughnuts. Wherever you go, you’ll encounter a warm Tyrolean welcome and farm-fresh food… as well as the chance to try the heady Wildschönauer Krautinger schnapps, which is only made in the valley thanks to a 300-year-old royal decree.

For families: pools, peaks and parks

The open-air pool and slides of Mountain Pool Wildschönau sit on a scenic path between Oberau and Niederau. There’s room for diving boards, waterslides, playgrounds, gardens and a café – and all with lovely views of forested valley slopes. Drachental Family Park is a must-visit too. The Dragon Flitzer rollercoaster rockets riders down the valley, plus there’s a play lake, tubing track, trampolines, bike tracks, a mini golf course and a 5D cinema – and, of course, a large sun terrace where the grown-ups can observe with an ice cream in hand.

Why book a summer holiday in Oberau 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 Wildschönau’s best walking routes and activities at your own pace.

With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Oberau 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

Free use of lifts in the Wildschönau Valley - with resort card

Free Guided Walks with resort card

Hotels in Oberau

  • from£919pp
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    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.

  • 59 rooms
tirolerhof-terrasse-garten.jpg

The traditional and homely Hotel Tirolerhof is in a quiet location in central Oberau with beautiful countryside views. The location's perfect for exploring, with plenty of walks starting nearby. You can dine al fresco in the garden on sunny evenings, and enjoy local dishes and live music.

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 The Wildschönau Valley

  • Over 300km marked walking trails
  • Popular area for cycling and E-Bike hire
  • Outdoor pool in Oberau
  • Nordic walking
  • Tree-top rope walk
  • Horse riding
  • Horse-drawn buggy rides
  • Tennis
  • Silver mine
  • Sculpture park
  • Kundl gorge
  • Cheesemaking farm
  • Herb and spice garden
  • Various museums

From mid - June there are weekly band concerts in Oberau that are free to attend

Wildschönau Card - free to all guests

The Wildschönau Card is provided by your hotel upon arrival and gives you:

  • Free use of the lifts in the Wildschönau Valley (Markbachjoch and Schatzberg)
  • Wildschönau hiking bus between Niederau, Oberau and Auffach
  • Hiking bus between Roggenboden, Thierbach and the Schönanger Alm
  • Free entrance to the outdoor swimming pool
  • Free use of tennis courts in Oberau
  • Free entrance to silver mine and museums
  • Free guided walks (Mon-Fri)
  • Free children’s activity programme (Mon-Fri, from around 3 Jul - 1 Sep)
  • Discounted rates on many other attractions

Subject to change.

Lift and cable-car approx. opening times 

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

  • Markbachjochbahn, Niederau (normally open from around 6 May - 15 October)
  • Schatzbergbahn, Auffach (normally open from around 8 Jun - 8 Oct)
Walking

A wonderful area for walkers with over 300km of marked hiking paths, from rambles through meadows and hillsides up to higher peaks and trails accessed by gondola. Popular walks include the ‘Path of Contemplation’ (1 hour) between Niederau and Oberau, and the stunning Kundl Gorge at the end of the valley. There are many mountain alms dotted around the walks including the ‘Käsealm’ above Niederau for fresh milk and cheese. For more adventurous walkers there are plenty of longer trails and peaks to climb and the tourist office operates a hiking badge system for those that complete various ‘bronze’, ‘silver’ and ‘gold’ levels walks.

GETTING AROUND | Villages are easily connected by an efficient bus service which transports walkers to all points around the valley. 

The Tourist Office runs a fantastic programme of five FREE guided walks each week, which are very popular with Inghams guests. Example itinerary:

Markbachjoch to Norderberg Alm | 4 hrs | Moderate
Take the gondola to the top of the Markbachjoch and via Halsgatterl to the Rosskopf Peak. Purple and white crocuses cover the meadows and beautiful yellow globeflowers grow beside the mountain streams. A peek into the tiny Horler Stiege Chapel and the Käse Alm and a rest stop at the Norderberg Alm Hut, then it’s back to the gondola for the return trip.

Sonnberger Joch and Eisstein | 3 hrs | Easy
A gentle walk to Zauberwinkel in Oberau and then along the forest path to the demanding Eisstein ascent to enjoy the marvelous view into the Inn Valley. After a short break continue on towards the lovely farms of Leitschwend and Adelsberg and inspect the alpine flora along the way. (Option 2: 5 hrs challenging hike to Feldalphorn).

Schatzberg and Joel Spitze | 4 hrs | Moderate
Take the cable car to the top (accessible by car or foot) of the Schatzberg Mountain and start the walk at 1.903m to the Joel Spitze. Enjoy fantastic views on the way into the Alpbach and Inn Valleys. Make a stop on the Joel peak at 1964m to enjoy the peace and take. Return to the Schatzberg via the Gern Alm and take a refreshment break at the end of the walk in the Schatzberg Alm.
(Option 2: 3 hrs easy Family walk around the Thierbach Kogl).

Kragenjoch Mountain | 4 hrs | Moderate
Start at an altitude of 938m, highest point 1356m, continuous climb, partially steep. Take the Minz path from Oberau up to one of the loveliest viewpoints in the valley, the Boarstadl hut. A further 20 minutes uphill and you arrive at the Achental hut. From here it’s just a short ascent to the wonderful Kragenjoch peak. Stop at the hut on the way back for a well-earned rest. The return journey takes you through blueberry fields and mountain moors back to Oberau. (Option 2: 6 hrs challenging hike to the Gradlspitz Mountain).

Filzmoos Moor in Niederau | 3 hrs | Easy
The Filzmoos Moor on the Niederau Bruggberg is a wide plateau which offers a fascinating insight into the alpine plant and animal life. Frogs, dragonflies, butterflies and song birds can be observed in this untouched biotope. Afterwards, watch the deer in a nearby deer park. The gentle walk takes you north to Stockeben through the fragrant pine forests full of bilberries. After about an hour and a half, you reach the moor at 1,000m altitude. Return via Klausen and back to Niederau.

NB. No mountaineering experience is required but participants should have good physical fitness and suitable footwear with ankle support and programme is subject to change at short notice.

Good to know

Walking trails: 300km of walking trails

Terrain: Diverse terrain from Alpine meadows, forest trails and rolling hills with some steeper routes

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

Recommended for: Walkers of all abilities, families with kids, nature

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

Transfer time: approx. 1 hour 15 mins from Innsbruck or 2 hours 30 mins from Salzburg by coach

Rep service: In resort (rep is based in Niederau but visits Oberau)

Resort card: Wildschönau card included

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