Our Favourite Huts in Austria
Regardless of whether it’s summer or winter, after a long or short walk, you can recharge your batteries here. From fishing huts by the lake to 100% vegan-vegetarian food on the mountain top and architectural eye-catchers within the ski area - our colleagues from around the world reveal their favourites.
Huts in Lower Austria
Our colleague Blanka works in the Austrian National Tourist Office’s Spanish office in Madrid. Here are her three tips for Lower Austria:
· Habsburghaus on the Rax: This hut is located at 1,785 metres above sea level on the Grieskogel and offers rooms and dormitories for overnight stays.
· Fisherman’s Hut on the Schneeberg: The Alpine Club’s shelter is Lower Austria’s highest hut at 2,049 metres.
· Rudolf Proksch Hütte: Find this hut on the Beethoven long-distance hiking trail in the Vienna Woods between Gumpoldskirchen and Baden.
"My favourite is the Habsburghaus. You don’t have to travel far from Vienna to get there and it’s something I like to do when I am on holiday in Vienna. The hut can be reached via a variety of trails, ranging from easy to moderate difficulty."
SalzburgerLand’s Top Huts
A veggie hut with a view: Dieter from our Peking office recommends the Franz Fischer Hütte in Lungau’s Riedingtal. It is known as the first vegan-vegetarian hut in the Alps and also offers accommodation for up to 34 people. You can reach the Franz Fischer Hütte on foot, with the valley bus or by car outside of the holiday seasons.
Our colleague Dieter further recommends the Pritzhütte on the Katschberg, which provides a delightful atmosphere in both summer and winter. What really makes it stand out for him: "You reach the hut via a four kilometre long forest trail with views of the valley. And romantics can even travel by horse and carriage."
Fanny lives in Vienna and likes spending her holidays in SalzburgerLand. Her favourite hut is the Hendl Fischerei: "Probably the coolest hut, if that’s what you can even call it." Architecturally it actually looks more like a sky bar in the middle of the ski area, serving dishes such as steak, lobster and caviar alongside excellent grilled chicken.
The Hendl Fischerei can only be visited in winter. It is located right by the top stations of the Asitzbahn and Steinbergbahn in the Saalfelden Leogang ski area.
Verena’s Favourite: The Schüttalm in Kleinarl
Verena works in our Berlin office. Her family is from Austria and has enjoyed spending time in Kleinarl for many years now: "The Schüttalm scores with its rustic atmosphere and incredible view. I myself have spent many wonderful moments there with family and friends. It is run by a couple with a young daughter and can only be reached on skis in winter."
Sören’s Hut Recommendation for Upper Austria
"I stopped at the Plankenstein-Leutgebhütte as part of the Berge-Seen-Trail. When I need a break from the office in Berlin, I enjoy going to the mountains. The hut may be simple and unpretentious, but the hosts are incredibly nice and you feel comfortable there!"
Styria’s Top Huts
Marlene’s Recommendation: The Fisherman’s Hut at Lake Toplitz
Those who prefer to remain closer to the ground are in for a treat in the Salzkammergut. Marlene from our Vienna office recommends the Fisherman’s Hut at Lake Toplitz, which is her favourite hut, mainly "because they serve incredibly good regional fish there, such as the arctic char. My tip: embark on a ‘Plättenfahrt’ (trip on a wooden boat) across Lake Toplitz right from the hut."
Or you could make the Fisherman’s Hut your halfway goal on a walk around the lake. Another tip from Marlene: "You can park in the village of Grundlsee. There is a leisurely trail from here that leads slightly uphill and offers beautiful views." Green forest paths and a few meadows finally lead you to Lake Toplitz and the Fisherman’s Hut. You can return to Grundlsee by taking the ferry across the lake of the same name.
The Schiestlhaus on the Hochschwab is of special significance to our colleague Christina from Vienna: "My brother worked on the construction of the Schiestlhaus and he took me there on my first multi-day hike with overnight stay in a hut about 13 years ago. It is a lovely, modern hut and also serves good food." By the way: the hut is a passive house, which makes it particularly energy-efficient.
Christina also recommends the Gollinghütte, located by a waterfall just before the valley head Gollingwinkel. "This hut was the starting point for a fantastic tour that I took of the Klafferkessel nature reserve last summer. Horses roam freely around the hut. It was a great experience!"
At 1,600 metres above sea level, in the heart of the Ramsau skiing and hiking area, you will find the Brandalm, which Fanny recommends. It highlights are, without a doubt, the view of the impressive Dachstein, Styria’s highest mountain that is so close from here, and the adorable children’s playground with authentic miniature wooden hut.
Tiroler Almhütten
Modern and Yet Rustic
The Umbrüggler Alm near Innsbruck is one of Marlene and Caroline’s favourite places to go. Caroline works at our Milan office and Marlene lives in Vienna. Caroline: "You won’t find the traditional 'Lederhosen style' here. The bright, modern architecture is inviting and very comfortable, thanks to the open fireplace and homely ambiance."
This fusion of traditional and modern can also be found in the hut’s cuisine: "In addition to Tirolean cheese dumplings and beef soup, the Umbrüggler Alm kitchen also surprises with dishes that you wouldn’t expect to find at a hut, such as smoked duck with roasted celeriac purée, blueberries and young leek, vitello tonnato with apricot, herb oil and smoked veal or a wild garlic risotto with asparagus."
Carinthia’s Top Huts
Ortnerhütte and Alexanderhütte
Self-Catering Hut
Andreas from Vienna recommends the Ortnerhütte in Obermillstadt, which can be reached on foot, by bike, car or motorbike: "It offers space for four people, a barbecue area and terrace with a view."
Organic Cheese Next Door
You could also bump into Fanny at the Alexanderhütte: "The calming view of Lake Millstatt and the organic cheese dairy next door are its highlights for me!"
"The Huaba Hittn on the Gerlitzen is located on the slopes. In summer, the owners tend to their farm in order to have the produce for winter."
Teresa’s Recommendation: Schwussnerhütte in Carinthia’s Seebachtal
The Schwussnerhütte can only be reached on foot, which is anything but an obstacle, as it is a leisurely hike through the Seebachtal in the Hohe Tauern National Park that can also be enjoyed with children. Having arrived at the hut, Carinthian delicacies await:
"The hardest part is deciding whether you will have the legendary 'Schwarzbeerschmarrn' (blueberry pancakes) or the 'Kärntner Kasnudln' (cheese ravioli). The Schwussnerhütte quite simply shows Carinthia at its best! A great experience for young and old”, raves Teresa from Vienna.