Austria has quickly become one of our favorite family travel destinations — and for good reason. It’s incredibly kid-friendly, beautifully scenic, and packed with outdoor adventures that every age can enjoy.
We found that children under 6 ride gondolas for free, and older kids, teenagers, and seniors receive generous discounts across most mountain resorts. Beyond that, what really stood out to us was how welcome we felt as a family. There are places where traveling with children can feel like an inconvenience — but Austria was never one of them. From the playgrounds perched high in the Alps to the friendly staff at every gondola station, this country embraces families.
A few things to keep in mind if you’re planning your own Austrian alpine adventure:
- Check official websites before visiting — opening dates, gondola schedules, and seasonal amenities can vary depending on the time of year.
- Dress in layers. Mornings can be chilly, but afternoons often warm up quickly.
- Bring plenty of water and sturdy footwear. Even easy hikes and playgrounds can have steep sections or slippery rocks.
- Be prepared to research! I’ll be honest — figuring out these stops took a lot of time and digging. The information isn’t always clear or centralized, so hopefully this guide helps take out some of the guesswork.
We based ourselves in Sautens, located in the Ötztal Valley, and spent six nights exploring surrounding valleys including the Zillertal and Stubaital. I’m by no means an expert on this region — this is simply what we did, what we enjoyed, and what worked for our family. Make sure to read through to the end of this post to download a copy of our 5-Day Itinerary.
How We Save on Flights for Our Family
Thrifty Traveler Premium – We don’t constantly search for flight deals — we let Thrifty Traveler email us when good ones pop up. It’s helped us book family trips for far less than we budgeted. Planning travel this year? You can save $20 off your first year with our link and code “RYAN.”
Google Flights – Quick comparison of dates, prices, and routes. Track prices and get notified when they drop.
Hopper – Tells us when to book or wait to get the best deal.
Using all three together helps us travel more for less, even as a family of five.
Day 1 – ZirbenPark Hochzeiger (Jerzens, Ötztal Valley)
We kicked off our Austrian adventure in Jerzens, where we parked at the base and took the gondola to the middle station. The parking lots were about a 3–5 minute walk from the lift, making it super convenient for families.
Tickets were €28 for adults and €13 for children over 6 (subject to change). Kids under 6 rode free, and we noticed many families taking advantage of the Zirbencart option — a mountain cart you can ride down instead of taking the gondola. We skipped this since children must be at least 12 years old and 150 cm tall to ride solo, and we were outnumbered (three kids, two adults). Still, it looked like a lot of fun!
At the middle station, we stopped at the Adventure Tower, tried out the ball tracks (you can buy a wooden ball for €2), and spent time at the Swiss Stone Pine Water playground. This was a big hit — it’s a natural water play area with streams, wooden channels, and even walk-in pinecones. It was the perfect spot to cool off after our hike and playground time, surrounded by gorgeous alpine scenery.
Day 2 – Murmliwasser & Piratenweg (Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis)
For Days 2 and 3, we explored the incredible Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis region — an absolute paradise for families, filled with playgrounds, themed hiking trails, and alpine slides. There are tons of accommodations here, and many include free gondola access with your stay. We opted for an Airbnb about 45 minutes away, but in hindsight, staying closer would have been worth the splurge.
We parked at the Parkhaus in Serfaus and took the U-Bahn to the Talstation, where we caught the gondola up to the second stop (don’t get off at the first stop like we did!). From there, it was a short 5-minute downhill walk to Murmliwasser, a massive water-themed playground centered around the marmots that live in the region.
This playground had everything: a 200-meter marmot cave, sand and climbing areas, a ball tower with a slide, a gem panning area, and more. Bathrooms and food were available on-site, and the drinking water fountains are safe and clean. Definitely bring swimsuits and towels, as kids are guaranteed to get wet!
After Murmliwasser, we headed to the Piratenweg (Pirate Trail) — one of several themed hikes in the area. Before you ride up, make sure to buy the children’s adventure book at the Talstation Sunliner. The book includes three trails — Piratenweg (Pirate Trail), Hexenweg (Witch’s Trail), and Forscherpfad (Explorer’s Trail) — and comes with stickers, questions, and scavenger hunts to engage kids along the way.
The Piratenweg took about 1.5 hours and was a nice, easy hike with just a few drop-offs to watch out for. It was fun, interactive, and a great way to get the kids excited about hiking.
We finished the day by riding the Schneisenfeger Family Coaster — a thrilling alpine coaster that pulls you up the mountain before sending you flying back down through tunnels and turns. Backpacks must be stored in lockers (€2 coin deposit, refunded afterward). Our 5- and 8-year-olds were able to ride with us, and they absolutely loved it!
There’s also a swimming lake nearby (Seealm Hög), which looked like a beautiful place to unwind if you have extra time. Just note that gondolas stop running around 5 PM, so plan your timing carefully.
Day 3 – Hexenweg Hike & Sommer-Funpark Fiss
On Day 3, we explored the Fiss side of the region, parking near the Talstation Schönjochbahn and Moseralmbahn Sonnenbahn. We started by taking the Moseralmbahn up to the Sommer-Funpark Fiss, which was another family favorite.
This park had a playground and marble run (both free), plus extra activities like tubing, trampolines, and a petting zoo. My wife braved the Fisser Flieger, where you soar 47 meters above the ground at 80 km/h — she said it was both thrilling and beautiful. There’s also a massive Sky Swing for thrill-seekers.
Afterward, we took the Fisser Flitzer, a themed 2.5 km toboggan run that winds through tunnels and caves — easily the best of the trip! Younger kids can ride with parents, and backpacks are allowed.
Later in the day, we rode the Schönjochbahn all the way up to the top to visit Kinder-Bergwerk Fiss, a mining-themed playground with a sand area, playhouse, and stunning views. We grabbed lunch at the Panoramarestaurant BergDiamant, which offered great food and even better scenery.
On the way back down, we stopped at the Mittelstation to do the Hexenweg (Witch’s Trail) — another hike from the children’s activity book. This trail follows Peppina and Fips, two characters whose flying cottage crashes and scatters items throughout the forest. The kids loved finding the clues and ending at the upside-down cottage.
Be sure to wear good shoes — the terrain can be slippery in places — and enjoy a post-hike treat at Familienrestaurant Sonnenburg, where we had excellent desserts and the kindest service.
Day 4 – Fichtenschloss, Zillertal Arena
For Day 4, we drove to Rohrberg to visit the Fichtenschloss (Spruce Castle) in the Zillertal Arena. We parked at the Rosenalmbahn valley station and started our day on the Arena Coaster — a fun alpine slide that kids (4+) can ride with parents or solo if they’re 10+ and 1.3 meters tall. The track is 1,450 meters long and includes 360° and 540° turns!
Next, we took the Rosenalmbahn cable car to the top station, where we spent the rest of our day exploring the Fichtenschloss area. Be sure to grab a kids’ map/scavenger hunt when you arrive — it leads kids through stations to collect stamps while learning about the Fichtenwunder, tree-spirits with magical powers. A completed map earns a special prize back at the bottom station!
The playground here is incredible — a castle integrated into the mountain, a lake for swimming and jumping, a marble run, and a hammock forest (the largest we saw in Austria).
Do note that the area closes after August 31st for maintenance, so check reopening dates before you go. It was a bit busier here (thanks to social media fame), but still an absolutely beautiful and relaxing day.
Day 5 – Serles Mountain Park, Stubaital Valley
Our final Austrian stop before heading to Italy was in the Stubaital Valley at Serles Mountain Park in Mieders. This was a great half-day adventure and perfect for families.
We parked by the Serlesbahn valley station and took the gondola up to the Serles Lakes area, home to three crystal-clear lakes surrounded by breathtaking alpine views. There’s a shallow water play area, floatation rafts, sand playground, ball run, and other fun activities. The scenery here was unreal — think mirror-like reflections of the mountains on turquoise water.
After cooling off and playing, we capped our Austrian adventure with one final toboggan run back down the mountain. This one covers a 640-meter height difference and runs 2.8 km down the slope. Backpacks were allowed, and children under 6 ride the gondola up for free (though you’ll need to pay for the descent).
It was the perfect farewell to Austria — fun, beautiful, and just the right amount of adventure before driving onward to the Dolomites.
Final Thoughts
Austria completely won us over with its blend of alpine adventure, thoughtful family amenities, and genuine hospitality. Whether you’re hiking through marmot caves, racing down toboggan runs, or cooling off in mountaintop lakes, it’s a place that makes travel with kids feel natural and exciting.
If you’re planning a family trip to the Alps and aren’t sure where to start, I hope this itinerary helps take out some of the guesswork — and inspires you to discover a few hidden gems of your own along the way.
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