Best Fishing Resorts in Austria

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.

A sunny little village, Pertisau sits on the shores of the incredible Achensee – the largest and deepest lake in the Austrian Tyrol. Bordered by mountains as well, this is a top spot for an active summer holiday. The village itself is lovely, too, and usually hosts live music events in the summer.

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.

Kaprun is classically Austrian with wooden chalets and an imposing castle and the surrounding pine forests and pastures are ideal for enjoying the open air. You’ll find a fantastic range of cycling routes from short, gentle jaunts to challenging mountain descents and hiking and walking trails will guide you past Salzberg’s iconic rugged mountains, reservoirs and the glittering Lake Zeller.

Tucked away in the foothills of the majestic ‘Bishop’s mitre’ mountain, Filzmoos really comes into its own in summer, with all sorts of festivals and celebrations (if you’ve ever wondered what a doughnut or dumpling festival would be like, you’ve come to the right place!). With graded paths for scenic strolls, themed walks and mountaineering as well as cycling, climbing, rafting and pony trekking on the ‘to do’ list, there’s plenty to fill your week in this traditional Austrian village.

Often ranking high on lists of ‘the prettiest’, this posh Alpine resort is one of Austria’s classics. The village is traditional and the Arlberg mountains jaw-dropping but Lech’s not just somewhere to feast your eyes upon – this is a real hotspot for walking, with a mix of easy family trails and more demanding climbs. The river dissecting the town is great to get to grips with canoeing, paddle boarding and canyoning and cyclists are spoiled for choice on a variety of paths.

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...

Galtur is a charming resort nestled in the Paznuan Valley. Less than 1,000 people live here year-round, making it an incredibly peaceful place for a mountain getaway. If for any reason you feel like moving from the beer gardens, you’ll find 300km of walking trails on your doorstep – and some world class mountain biking, too!

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.

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.