With its abundance of Alpine mountains, lakes and rivers, it can sometimes feel like there’s an endless display of magical scenery to view through the windscreen as you drive across Austria. Throw magnificent, historic cities such as Vienna, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck into the mix and you’ve got everything you need for a great holiday – little wonder that the country, with its well-maintained roads, is a popular touring destination.
Here, we have highlighted ten campsites that you might like to consider if you are looking for a holiday with a scenic backdrop this year.
Alpencamp Marienberg
Great views of surrounding mountains are available at this campsite, which is located on the outskirts of the village of Biberwier (named after the beavers that once lived in the municipality – a colony has recently returned to the area). Biberwier is in the west of Austria, close to the border with Germany, and just over an hour’s drive from Innsbruck.
Plenty of winter sports are available nearby, while in summer there are scenic hiking trails, mountain bike routes and even the longest summer toboggan run in the Tirol region to enjoy. The site has 75 hardstanding touring pitches each with electric hook-up point (16A).
Sportcamp Woferlgut
Just south of Lake Zell and the popular ski resorts by Zell am See, this campsite is at the northern end of the Großglocknerstrasse mountain road, with both Innsbruck and Salzburg within striking distance for days out. Again, spectacular scenery surrounds you, but the site facilities here are second-to-none if you feel like staying closer to your pitch.
The site’s own lake is popular for swimming and sunbathing and has an adventure ropeway and playground. Kids will enjoy the entertainment programme – provided for free during peak periods – and there are five swimming pools, including an adventure pool, a 50m-long sports facility with two lanes and an outdoor heated pool. Add the fitness centre, wellness centre and bar/restaurant and you’ll have everything you need for a relaxing stay in the Austrian mountains.
Alpencamping Nenzing
This campsite is in the far west of Austria, close to the country’s borders with Liechtenstein and Switzerland – the Rhine and the southern tip of Lake Constance are also a short drive away. It’s a well-run, all-year-round site, set in a natural bowl with splendid mountain views. All 150 level pitches are for touring with 16A electricity; all have fresh, wastewater, and TV connections. Most are set on neat terraces.
At the centre of the campsite are two atmospheric restaurants – one serving traditional Austrian cuisine and the other specialising in fish and steak; as well as campers, it has plenty of local customers, many drawn by the bar and terrace. During the summer season there are entertainment programmes for children and also for adults during the winter skiing months. There is a spa/wellness area with saunas and more, as well as a heated indoor and outdoor swimming complex (all year) and a bathing lake for adults only. Children will love the indoor climbing wall and cinema!
Euro-Camp Wilder Kaiser
This is another campsite close to a border – this time the one that Austria shares with Germany. You might want to cross to explore scenic Bavaria, while back on the Austrian side the city of Salzburg is just over an hour’s drive away from the campsite, so a great option for a day out. Other things to do include the Hochkössen cable car, which takes you into great hiking country during the summer and to a ski resort in winter.
The campsite sits at the foot of the Unterberg with views of the Kaisergebirge (the Emperor’s mountains) and is surrounded by forests. There are 190 touring pitches and facilities include a restaurant with terrace, mini market, adventure playground, small swimming pool and a children’s pool.
Camping Inntal
This campsite has a restaurant/pizzeria and open-air swimming pool as well as a room for older children featuring games machines, darts and a jukebox, so it’s a good option for families. Close to the A12, there may be some noise from the autobahn during your stay, but that’s a small price to pay for the lovely mountain views across the valley floor. Trains run every 30 minutes from nearby Jenbach to Innsbruck – the journey time is just 45 minutes – while Lake Achen, known as the ‘Fjord of the Alps’ is just a 15 minute drive away.
During summer you can enjoy boating and watersports on the lake, while the surrounding area includes hundreds of miles of marked hiking trails and bike routes, as well as two golf courses.
Wellness-Seecamping Parth
There are glorious views of Lake Ossiach from this campsite, which sits on the southern shore of the lake, in the south of Austria. It is close to the borders with Italy and Slovenia (the famously picturesque Lake Bled is less than an hour’s drive away) and offers spas, saunas and a range of health treatments. After your spa session, perhaps a few hours on the private beach will be the order of the day. There’s also a restaurant on site with its own distillery, and the lively hub of Villach for more food and drink isn't too far away.
If you’re after an active holiday, activities such as volleyball, golf, kayaking, climbing, canyoning, mountain biking, tennis, riding, sailing and surfing are among the many that are organised, and there are great facilities to keep children entertained.
Camping Grubhof
A beautifully laid out, level and spacious site set by the Saalach River in the former riding and hunting park of the 14th-century Schloss Grubhof. The 250 touring pitches have been carefully divided into separate areas for different types of visitors – dog owners, young people, families and groups, and a quiet area.
Although new, the attractive central building has been built in traditional Tirolean style using, in part, materials reclaimed from old farmhouses; it includes a reception, a cosy café/bar, a restaurant, a small shop, a deluxe sauna, a beauty and wellness suite, two apartments and a relaxation room. The Lofer mountains provide a magnificent backdrop, and Salzburg is less than an hour’s drive away.
Seecamping Kleblach-Lind
Found within the picturesque Upper Carinthian landscape, Seecamping Kleblach-Lind is another campsite with beautiful views as well as plenty of lakes, valleys and mountains to explore in the wider area on foot or by bike (the Drau or ‘Drauradweg’ cycling path runs right past the campsite and you can hire bicycles if needed). On-site, there are 45 touring pitches and facilities include a bar/restaurant, fresh bread delivery, sandpits and table tennis.
Tirol Camp
Catering for summer and the winter ski season, Tirol Camp in northern Austria combines beautiful mountain views – the campsite is situated in the Kitzbüheler Alps – with excellent facilities. There is a fitness and wellness centre (free to campers) as well as an indoor/outdoor pool complex, sauna, steam room, solarium and aromatherapy massage – perfect if you want to treat those aches and pains after a long hike or ski session! Afterwards, why not enjoy a meal in the on-site restaurant (check website for opening months) or one of the other eateries nearby?
Camping Ossiacher See
This large, gently terraced site looks down Lake Ossiach in the south of Austria – keen photographers will be in their element with hills, mountains and sky reflected in the water! Trees, flowers, hedges and bushes abound at this neat and tidy site, and a separate area (40-50 pitches) is provided for campers with dogs.
There is a small beach for bathing and a jetty, and the campsite has a lively atmosphere, with entertainment for all ages to enjoy daily during the high season and sporting/outdoor opportunities to be had in abundance.
