Tyrol & Arlberg Alpine Road Trip
A road trip starting and ending in Innsbruck, connecting Arlberg, Ötztal, and Zillertal
A summer-only route through Western Austria, covering Arlberg, Ötztal, Zillertal, and Kitzbühel, passing the Krimml Waterfalls, and ending at the Wilder Kaiser and Kufstein. The itinerary focuses on alpine lakes, gorges, cable cars, and light hiking. While there are many mountain roads, daily driving distances are short. Bypassing the Grossglockner and eastern cities, this is perfect for return visitors who love the mountains and are in good physical shape.
Summer cable cars and buses around Lech mostly run until late September; alpine trails are best hiked from mid-July onward.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Innsbruck Old Town
Innsbruck（Golden Roof & Old Town、Maria-Theresien-Straße & St. Anne's Column、Imperial Palace & Court Church）
Drive from the airport to the Old Town (approx. 15 mins). You can delay picking up your rental car and explore the Old Town on foot.
Stay: Innsbruck Old Town
Day 2 · Nordkette & Bergisel
Innsbruck（Nordkette Cable Car (Hafelekar)、Bergisel Ski Jump）
Take the cable car system from the Old Town up to Hafelekar. In the afternoon, take the tram to Bergisel.
Stay: Innsbruck Old Town
Day 3 · Drive West to St. Anton
St. Anton am Arlberg（St. Anton Village Centre、Verwall Valley & Verwallsee）
Pick up your car and drive the A12 and S16 to St. Anton (approx. 1.5 hours). Walk in the Verwall Valley in the afternoon.
Stay: St. Anton
Day 4 · Cross Flexen Pass to Lech
St. Anton am Arlberg（Zürs、Formarinsee、Lech am Arlberg）
Drive via the Arlberg Pass and Flexen Pass to Lech (approx. 40 mins), then take the local bus to Lake Formarin.
Traffic is restricted on the road to Lake Formarin; take the summer shuttle bus and check schedules in advance.
Stay: Lech
Day 5 · Enter Ötztal for Thermal Baths
Ötztal & Sölden（Ötzi Village Umhausen、Stuiben Falls、Aqua Dome Längenfeld）
Drive from Lech to the entrance of the Ötztal Valley (approx. 1.5 hours), then continue 30 minutes to Längenfeld.
Stay: Längenfeld
Day 6 · Sölden Glacier Views
Ötztal & Sölden（Gaislachkogl、007 Elements、ice Q Restaurant）
Drive to Sölden (approx. 20 mins) and take the cable car up Gaislachkogl. The mountain excursion takes about half a day.
Summer cable cars undergo maintenance; check schedules if traveling in September.
Stay: Sölden
Day 7 · Via Swarovski Crystal Worlds to Zillertal
Innsbruck（Swarovski Crystal Worlds） → Zillertal & Mayrhofen（Mayrhofen）
Drive the A12 to Wattens (approx. 1.5 hours), then continue to Mayrhofen (approx. 45 mins).
Stay: Mayrhofen
Day 8 · Schlegeis Reservoir Hike
Zillertal & Mayrhofen（Schlegeis Reservoir、Olpererhütte）
Drive the toll road to the reservoir (approx. 1 hour) or take Bus 4102. The round-trip hike to the mountain hut takes about 4 hours.
During peak season, purchase your toll road ticket online in advance and head up the mountain as early as possible.
Stay: Mayrhofen
Day 9 · Gerlos Pass & Krimml Waterfalls
Zillertal & Mayrhofen（Gerlos Pass & Alpine Road） → Zell am See-Kaprun（Krimml Waterfalls）
Drive over the Gerlos Pass to the waterfalls (approx. 1 hour), then continue via the Thurn Pass to Kitzbühel (approx. 1.5 hours).
Stay: Kitzbühel Old Town
Day 10 · Kitzbühel Old Town & Mountain Lake
Kitzbühel（Kitzbühel Old Town、Hahnenkamm & Streif、Schwarzsee）
Walk from the Old Town to the Hahnenkamm cable car station. After descending, take a short 10-minute drive to Lake Schwarzsee.
Stay: Kitzbühel Old Town
Day 11 · Wilder Kaiser to Kufstein
Kitzbühel（Wilder Kaiser、Hintersteiner See） → Kufstein（Kufstein Fortress、Römerhofgasse）
Drive to the southern foothills of the Wilder Kaiser (approx. 30 mins), then continue to Kufstein (approx. 30 mins).
Stay: Old Town
Day 12 · Kaisertal Valley & Return to Airport
Hike into the Kaisertal Valley in the morning. In the afternoon, take the A12 to Innsbruck Airport (approx. 1 hour).