If you’re not a freakishly fit Mark Cavendish but fancy an epic bike ride in the mountains, E-Bikes are just the solution. These battery-powered contraptions are just like ordinary bikes but with electric motors to give you a helping push along the way. They’re a perfect solution if you’re on a family or group bike trip where some members are less enthused than others about climbing mountains! E-bikes usually have four power levels, so you can pedal normally when you want to and then ramp up the power for a little boost up those tricky hill climbs.
E-Biking is a big thing across Austria – Tyrol alone has over 20 E-Bike regions, and the country is home to ‘E-Bike Welt’ - the biggest E-bike region in the world. Even so, some resorts really stand out because of their excellent hire services, great trail infrastructure and beginner-friendly bike paths. Here you’ll find the top 10 resorts in Austria for E-biking – check them out and get your battery-powered adventures underway!
It’s easy to fall in love with Zell am See (there’s even a mountain called ‘Schmitten’...) and the surroundings will certainly take your breath away, but not just because they’re so beautiful – the area’s a super base for activities; climb, hike or bike the mountains, sail, paddle or swim the lake and do tonnes more in between.
At the shore of Lake Wolfgansee, St. Wolfgang is an attractive old town characterised by its colourful chalets and landmark gothic church. Pilgrims have been visiting here for a millennium, nowadays it’s best known as a mecca of outdoor pursuits – with water sports, lakeside cycle routes and hiking in the Alps just some of many possibilities.
Summer in Ischgl is a way more relaxed affair than the raucous scenes of winter - think lazy days by the river and chilled evenings listening to live bands on pub terraces. When it comes to picking up the tempo, the mountain biking is legendary and the hiking, paragliding and white water rafting are pretty good too...
Surrounded by dreamy meadows and thick forests, this small mountain village is beautifully tranquil - one of the walking trails is even called the ‘Path of Contemplation’! The area’s perfect for a relaxed walking or cycling holiday, with stunning mountains dotted with ‘alms’ – alpine pastures where you’ll often find farmers grazing their cattle.
It’s little wonder that the scenic Glemm Valley surrounding Saalbach is known as the ‘Valley of the Games’. With 400km of hiking and biking trails, this is a massive playground of outdoor pursuits - the infamous Seven Summits have their home here and the Pinzgau Bike Circus and 280km Tauern network are sure to keep you amused on two wheels.
Yes it’s the king of ski resorts but St Anton is also an incredible place in the summer. Roam the region on bike or foot and soak up glorious views of mountains, meadows, lakes and waterfalls all day long. Unlike the winter months, the summer evenings are pretty chilled – ask the barman for a local beer or wine and get some tips on where to explore tomorrow...
Mayrhofen is ‘traditional Austrian’ from head to toe and the town has a refreshing buzz to it all summer long. Cross alpine pastures, speed down the Penken and discover deep gorges and canyons before letting your hair down with a stein and some Austrian folk music – you’d struggle to find a ‘best for Alps activities’ list that this place doesn’t crop up on.
Söll rests snugly in a wide valley between the Wilder Kaiser and Hohe Salve peaks. With lush green meadows, alpine dairy farms and chalet-style buildings, the village is a Tyrolean gem that just oozes chocolate-box appeal. Visitors soon fall head-over-heels for the panoramic walks, mountain runs and gnarly bike routes – and to really make it above par, the area’s a haven for golfers.
One of the top destinations for Alpine activities, Kitz it’s also a feast for the eyes, with a colourful medieval village, stunning lakes and bright, flowery meadows. There’s oodles to do, from hurtling down the Streif to wandering round the posh boutiques - on top of mile after mile of cycling and walking trails.
The Tyrolean architecture, flower-covered meadows and glimmering Wildsee lake are enough to stop you in your tracks but Seefeld is more than a pretty face; Mother Nature has made a real adventure base here. With hundreds of kilometres to walk and cycle, 17 tennis courts, 2 golf courses and a paragliding academy, you’ll have to remember to hit pause and enjoy the sights.