Our favourite places to take the whole family to enjoy fresh, Alpine fun
If Instagram knows you are a parent, you've no doubt been served picturesque videos of children frolicking at one of these family hotels in Austria. Having travelled plenty with my smalls, I thought I had a good grasp of what a quality family-friendly hotel could entail. The hotels in Austria had other ideas – kids' clubs so swish they could double as private members' clubs, mile-long summer toboggan runs, happy-go-lucky farm animals eager to meet young guests and surreal swimming ponds surrounded by mountains. And who knew slightly cooler family saunas were a thing? But Austria is also ripe with wholesome natural pursuits, from family-friendly ski runs and sledding in the winter to hiking, biking and lake-swimming in the summer. Combine it all and you've got the kind of holiday where quality time together becomes the default, and screen-time becomes a distant memory – for kids and adults. If you're looking to book a trip where experiences are king and childcare feels effortless, look to our edit of the best family-friendly hotels in Austria.
In this article
Editor's picks of the best family-friendly hotels in Austria
- For winter: Das Edelweiss, Großarl
- For summer: Wiesergut, Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Cosy hotel interiors at Hotel Nesslerhof
The swimming pond at Hotel Nesslerhof
Photo by Bridget Knowles
Rosewood
Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, near Salzburg
Anyone who has ever checked into a Rosewood with children knows how much effort is made: toys and mini robes in the rooms can be considered standard, as well as individual meal requests. Rosewood Schloss Fuschl combines this level of care with a truly spectacular location in the Salzkammergut region, known for its numerous lakes, rivers, forests and limestone mountains. Altogether, it's a dream for families seeking a wholesome stay with a focus on the great outdoors: the shores of Lake Fuschl are barely developed. A whole range of family-friendly activities is included: fancy a trip to the nearby salt mines for an exploration? Or sliding down a 1.3-mile-long summer toboggan run? Baking bread on a mountain pasture? Kayaking or SUPing on the lake? Not a problem. Rosewood Schloss Fuschl is not only a hotel, but rather an entire resort. If you start missing the hustle and bustle of city life, you still don’t have to travel far. Salzburg is only 15 miles away, and the hotel operates regular transfers. In terms of rooms, roll-away beds and cots can be added to suites, while larger broods can spread out in the six in-house chalets, all located by the lake with their own fireplace and butler. Dennis Braatz
Price: Rooms from around £510 per night.
klaus peterlin
Wiesergut, Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Less Sound of Music and more modernist monastery, the Wiesergut hotel abandons Alpine twee for a contemporary take on mountain living. While there are nods to the history of this family-run farmstead harking back to the 14th century – young visitors can take a ride on the resort’s tractor, and bread freshly baked by Grandma Kröll greets guests each morning – the design embraces quiet luxury rather than anything overly rustic. Its latest addition, the BergLoft, epitomises this shift: 4,000 square feet of maximally minimalist living space now occupies what was previously a grazing patch for the owners’ cows, offering up to four guests a 50-foot pool, a fitness and yoga room, and a spa overlooked only by meadows and mountains. There’s a well-equipped playroom, but the best playgrounds are the surrounding mountains, meadows, and forests. The hotel's owner, Sepp, is pleased to introduce little guests to the chickens, Pinzgauer cows and steer in the barn, where they can feed and milk the animals while getting a taste of farm life – the most popular four-legged hosts are Lucky the pony and Elsa the donkey. Naturally, farm-to-table isn’t a trend at Wiesergut – it’s always been practised here, with seasonal produce like eggs, beef and milk coming straight from the family farm and fruit, vegetables and herbs growing in the raised beds behind the house. There's also a spa on-site that offers special junior treatments. Christine Mortag
Price: Rooms from around £520 per night.
Georg Roske
Das Edelweiss, Großarl
Das Edelweiss is the epitome of a family hotel and welcomes kids of all ages, which is obvious from the second you walk into the museum-sized lobby. Owned by the Hettegger family, whose friendly third generation are ever-present in the property’s daily operations, it’s refreshing to know that even at this scale, there’s that personal touch. Being just an hour’s drive from Salzburg, the hotel is easy to reach, and while Grossarl might still be something of a secret compared to Austria’s more popular ski resorts like Lech or St Anton, its quietude and proximity to Salzburg make it undeniably Sound of Music-esque. Das Edelweiss genuinely feels designed for a family ski holiday, and with its downstairs outfitting shop and next-door gondola, hitting the slopes straight after breakfast doesn’t get any easier. Back at base, the hotel has plenty to keep all ages entertained, from a cinema to mini football pitches and play caves. From double rooms that sleep two to a penthouse that sleeps up to 15, there is also serious variety when it comes to where you’ll bed down. Our favourite part? The sauna (with an infrared function) on our private balcony. Tamara Southward
Price: Rooms from around £655 per night.
Hotel Aurelio, Lech
This stylish mini gem of a boutique hotel in the heart of pretty Lech has just ten plus-sized contemporary Alpine rooms encased in a traditional pitched-roof chalet decked with balconies and wooden shutters. Inside, a flowing, muted contemporary design by Mlinaric, Henry and Zervudachi architects encompasses a restaurant and lounge bar with a roaring fire topped with antlers on ground level, and a cosy and sleek subterranean spa sanctuary. Connected by a tunnel, Chalet Club Aurelio, which sleeps 16, has the privacy of a chalet but access to the facilities of the hotel, though guests can retreat to its cinema, library, grand living room with Steinway and dedicated spa area. In the restaurant, which can be divided into sections by swishing curtains, friendly and welcoming staff serve proper, and beautifully presented, Austrian seasonal and regional cuisine. There’s a small herd of alpacas on site that young guests will love. In the subterranean ski room, there are dedicated lockers and changing areas. It’s decked out with heated boot rails, and snacks, water, sun cream and snoods are tucked into the lockers, gratis. In addition to skiing, you can plunge into other options including ice skating (there’s even a natural rink in Zürs), snow-shoeing, tobogganing on a dedicated trail down from Oberlech (great with kids) and sleigh rides. Lydia Bell
Price: Rooms from around £1000 per night for two adults.
Hotel Nesslerhof, Grossarl
From the heated whirlpool on the balcony of Hotel Nesslerhof’s suites, you might see thick cloud cover, drifts of snow or – on a clear, sunshiny day – Austria’s Grossarl mountains. Whatever the weather, it’s a slog to tear yourself away. Until you remember all that lies within. 84 rooms and suites challenge any preconceived notions of Alpine design: all Scandi-light wood and crisp linens (mine has a sauna and an open fireplace for extra wow factor). Holistic wellness is at the heart of this family-run mountain retreat: there’s an enormous, ever-expanding spa with multiple saunas – including a cooler family sauna – a knockout indoor-outdoor swimming pool, plus kids and teen spa treatments. All the usual baby kit can be provided, while a range of activities including horse riding lessons, football training, creative workshops and a games room is on offer. Mornings are best spent on the mountains where many of the ski runs are family-friendly; we spotted lots of budding winter sports nuts whizzing along from our people-watching spot on the balcony. As spring turns into summer, there are plenty of bike trails to explore. Be sure to stop at Wolke 7 for a hot chocolate with widescreen views in between. Sarah James
Price: Rooms from around £630 per night.
Stieg'nhaus, Mühlbach am Hochkönig
Nestled in the tiny, unassuming town of Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Stieg'nhaus isn’t your classic cosy alpine lodge. It’s slick, modern and carefully considered. Natural materials, such as stone and dark woods, bring an unexpected element to Alpine life and set the scene for a cool crowd. There are only six rooms here in total, and all sleep two, but can be reconfigured and joined if you have children or are holidaying as a larger group. Each has a huge bed (big enough for two to starfish), a deep bathtub and a dining space. The amenities are top-notch: a Dyson hairdryer and straighteners, a clothes steamer, a Marshall speaker and a pillow selection. The largest suite has its own sauna and outdoor whirlpool. Expect all the kit for little ones to be ready and prepped on arrival. In our room, a Bugaboo travel cot, a baby monitor, a changing station and a Stokke highchair. The tiny, fluffy bathrobe was also a lovely touch. Sophie Knight
Price: Rooms from around £360 per night.
Wilde Vienna Fleischmarkt, Vienna
If you want to base yourself in a brilliant part of Vienna, surrounded by striking contemporary art, and have one of the city’s most exciting new restaurants right downstairs, Wilde Vienna Fleischmarkt is a great place to book. Set within the capital’s former grand post office in the historic first district, the aparthotel brings new life to a landmark building while placing the best of the city within easy reach. The apartment-style layout makes it an easy choice for families travelling together. Studios and larger one and two-bedroom apartments come with kitchens, living areas and plenty of space to spread out, which is often far more comfortable than squeezing into a standard hotel room. Our two-bedroom apartment felt particularly well-suited to families, with separate sleeping areas and a small living space for downtime. The dramatic exposed beams add huge character, although very energetic little ones might need a gentle reminder to watch their heads. Being in the centre of the city also makes sightseeing straightforward, with many of Vienna’s main attractions within easy walking distance. Chelsea Hughes
Price: Rooms from around £170 per night.
PATRICK LANGWALLNER
Naturhotel Forsthofgut, Leogang
A llama farm, adventure playground, kids' club with an art studio and ball pit, an indoor water slide, a kids pool open 24 hours for those early morning wake-ups and a children's menu with all the trimmings (including the tastiest homemade chocolate cookies) all enjoyed with the grand backdrop of the beautiful Austrian Alps. There isn’t much this hotel doesn't have to keep littles and larges entertained. We quickly realised when booking in our 6-month-old and selecting the ‘baby package’ that little Daisy was just as important as we adult guests. A cot, baby changing station, daily homemade porridge, baby monitor and pram are all provided to make packing lighter. There’s entertainment all the way to teens, including horse riding trails, a games room and paddle boarding on the hotel's natural pool. The hotel is centred around a beautiful infinity pool which stretches out into a natural plant-filled pond, which you’ve most likely seen splashed on your Instagram. There’s also a wooden sauna with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the mountains, a steamy 45-degree adults-only onsen pool and a fine dining Japanese restaurant all sitting at the centre of the resort. Check the kids into the Minded Kids Club and make the most of the wellness haven adults-only WaldSpa, a huge complex with multiple floors of treatment rooms, saunas, steam rooms, a swim-out infinity pool, quiet relaxation rooms filled with loungers, open fires and tea stations. Sophie Knight
Price: Rooms from around £215 per night.
How we choose the best family hotels in Austria
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known boltholes that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We're always looking for beautiful design, a great location and warm service – as well as serious sustainability credentials. We update this list regularly as new hotels open and existing ones evolve. Find out more about our editorial standards and how we review hotels.
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Lauren Burvill is a senior commerce writer at Condé Nast Traveller, where she manages and commissions hotel guides and reviews. Originally from Australia and now based in London, Lauren joined Condé Nast in 2018 and has since written for British Vogue, Glamour, GQ and Brides. Prior to Condé Nast, Lauren ... Read More