The Best of the Alps
Our family has lived in Europe for several years and we have been lucky to travel to many of the jewels of Europe. Capital cities, coastline, and the beautiful Alps. Visiting the alps in Europe is one of the best decisions you can make when planning a European vacation. The Alps have become our absolute favorite part of Europe. There is something magical about the mountains here and it is one of the most kid-friendly places to be.
Hiking in the Alps is accessible for beginners and experienced hikers alike. The trails are well marked and there are usually restaurants at the start/end of a trail, many times with amazing playgrounds for kids. You can also find trails designed for families with activities along the way.
We spent three years living in the Bavarian Alps in Garmisch, Germany and had the opportunity to visit the Alps in several other countries. Now I’m putting together this list of the Best of the Alps to give you some ideas and inspiration on where to go and what to do in the Alps in summer.
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Best of the Alps-The Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites are a place that will literally drop your jaw. All mountains are beautiful, but these mountains bring the drama! It’s hard to describe and photos can only paint a little of the picture. When you see them in person, it is truly stunning. If I had to only pick one place for an Alps summer trip, it would be here.
Some of the best places to see in the Dolomites are Lago di Braeis, Tre Cime, Seceda, Geisler Alm, St. Magdalena Church, Val di Funes, and Alp di Suisse. There are endless hikes with beautiful views, plenty of playgrounds, biking trails all over the valleys, and thrill seeking adventure activities for the adrenaline junkies.
You can find my more detailed guide to 4 Days in the Dolomites here.
Dolomites Tips
Our favorite activity was hiking to Geisler Alm with this extraordinary mountain view, cows, a great playground, and delicious gourmet food. The Adolf Munkel trail or the easier version that we did (find info here) is one of the best hikes in the Alps.
Driving is the ideal way to experience the Dolomites. Sometimes distances are deceiving on the map and it takes longer to get to a place than you think.
The Dolomites used to be part of Austria so you will notice the influence of the German language and cuisine.
Closest airports: Innsbruck, Munich, Venice
Dolomites Hotels
We stayed here in Ortisei for our winter trip and would highly recommend it. Nice apartments, family owned, in the pedestrian area and walkable to several cable cars.
This is a nice resort in Ortisei if you would like a pool & spa, and more amenities.
This hotel is located conveniently near Lago di Braeis.
Here is a wellness hotel with good proximity to hiking Tre Cime.
There are a lot of great hotel options depending on what you are looking for. Everything from high-end wellness retreats, to basic guest house rooms and farm stays (agriturismos). My suggestion is to pick out the activities you want to do in the Dolomites first and then pick a hotel in the area. Driving can take longer than you think, make sure to check Google Maps first!
Extend Your Trip
To continue exploring, you can easily get to Verona, Lake Garda, Milan, or Venice. Combine your Italian alpine summer trip with Italy’s enchanting cities or the also well-worth visiting Lakes District. Northern Italy really is a stunning place to travel!
Best of the Alps-Zillertal Valley, Austria
The Zillertal Valley is the best destination of the Austrian Alps for families. When I say there is a lot of family friendly activities in the Alps here, I mean there is A LOT. More than you can cover in a week for sure.
In the Zillertal Valley you can visit the Hintertux Glacier (year round snow), visit the Ice Palace, hike with gorgeous vistas, find so many amazing playgrounds for kids, visit the Zillertal Brewery, Olperhütte bridge and so much more! Make sure to pick up an activities guide at your hotel, they do an excellent job of highlighting all the different hikes and attractions in the area.
If you spend your summer in the Alps here, you’ll be very entertained.
Zillertal Valley Tips
You need a vignette to drive on the autobahns (highways) in Austria, get them at gas stations.
This is also a great skiing destination.
Closest airports: Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Munich
Zillertal Valley Hotels
We stayed here for our trip to the Zillertal Valley and the rooms were very clean, modern, and spacious. There is an on-site restaurant as well.
Luxury
Moderate
Budget
Extend Your Trip
Visit nearby Innsbruck, Austria a beautiful mountain city. Don’t miss Swarovski Kristallwelten which deserves a day all to itself to experience. Salzburg is another nearby destination that is great for adults and children alike. Read also this 7 Day Austria Itinerary for more ideas.
Best of the Alps-Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
Kranjska Gora might not be the first destination you think of when planning a trip to the Alps, but trust me, don’t sleep on it! There are many beautiful places in this area to see. There is a ton of hiking available in the Triglav National Park as well as some of the most beautiful bodies of water to see at Lake Jasna and Zelenci Nature Preserve.
For some extra fun and thrills, don’t miss the Planica Ski Jump where you can watch ski jumpers fly, even in the summer months. There’s a zip line here as well if you want to get in on the adrenaline.
Kranjska Gora Tips
You need a vignette to drive on the Slovenian highways, get them at gas staions.
Closest airports: Ljubljana, Salzburg, Zagreb
Kranjska Gora Hotels
I didn’t love our accommodations enough to recommend it here, so here are some other places that I would consider booking:
Extend Your Trip
Take a quick road trip to the Soca River Valley for more waterfall hiking and kayaking on an icy blue river. Then head back over to Ljubljana to visit Slovenia’s charming capital city and spend time at Lake Bled for more beautiful scenery.
Best of the Alps-Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland
This Swiss Alps destination is one that truly lives up to all its hype. With views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau that are stunning from every angle, my best advice for this area is to splurge on a room with a view. We particularly loved staying at Hotel Alpina in Mürren for this reason. Each night we were rushing back for sunset so we could enjoy the panoramic views from our room.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley has 2 the best alpine playgrounds: Allmendhubel and Männlichen. It’s much easier to convince kids to hike when these playgrounds are the rewards. Find also the Lieselottle trail in Mannlichen that has activities for kids all along the way. I would say Mannlichen is one of the best mountains in Europe for its views and abundance of family activities. If you’re coming to Switzerland with kids, this place needs to be on your list!
We also tried a bucket list experience here of riding ON TOP of a cable car! Even as someone who is afraid of heights, I loved it. It was such a unique experience to ride in the open air on top of the cable car, I highly recommend it (and it was only 5 Francs more per person to do it-a bargain!). Get detailed tips on visiting the Swiss Alps in Summer here.
Lauterbrunnen Valley Tips
Mürren and Wengen are car free villages, park your car in the valley below and use trains and cable cars to get to your hotel.
Swiss outlets are different from German & Austrian outlets, bring plug adapters!
You need a vignette to drive on the Swiss autobhans (highways). Get them at gas stations.
Closest airports: Bern, Zurich, Milan
Lauterbrunnen Valley Hotels
We booked a basic hotel in Mürren with 5 Star views. I would stay there again for the view alone!
This hotel in Mürren also has great views.
This resort in Wengen has an indoor pool, gym, and an outdoor hot tub.
Staying in Grindlewald is another good location for accessing many of the area’s attractions like the First Cliff Walk and Eiger Express.
Extend Your Trip
Switzerland is best experienced in the mountains in my opinion. Nearby Oeschinensee is beautiful and worth seeing. Head down to Zermatt for views of the Matterhorn. If you head to Zurich, spend time on the lake and reserve your tour of the Lindt factory early! You could also go closer to the lakes district and stay in Ascona for a little taste of Italy in Switzerland.
Best of the Alps-Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
I know what you’re going to say…I’m biased. And yes, I am! But I promise you, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the best places in the Alps. I have a few detailed guides on Garmisch in the winter, in the summer, a custom map with all the best places saved, and everything I just mentioned combined into one guide with additional details and insider information all learned from my time living there.
Here’s my top things to do: visit the Zugspitze (Germany’s highest peak) and Eibsee (Germany’s most beautiful lake). Walk through the Partnachklamm, visit the ski jump, and walk around the valley trails. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a special place and I will never stop singing its praises. It’s an amazing place to spend summer in the Alps but it is a great year long destination too.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Tips
Bring rain jackets and layers, even in the summer, the weather is very unpredictable even a few days before.
Closest airports: Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Hotels
Here are some hotels I would recommend in the area.
Gasthaus Fraundorfer-in house restaurant often with live music and Bavarian dancing
Obermühle Resort with pool and on-site mini golf. Very close to a nice playground as well.
Splurge stay at the Werdenfelserei with on-site pool, spa, and very nice restaurant.
Extend Your Trip
Garmisch is an easy day trip from Munich, Germany, Innsbruck, Austria, Neuschwanstein Castle, and the Tiroler Zugspitze Arena (which I would put as number 6 on this list of best places in the Alps). You can add Garmisch onto a trip around the rest of Bavaria or continue on over into Salzburg and Austria.
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General Tips for the Alps in the Summer
Ticks are a big problem in the Alps. It’s a good idea to wear tick spray, carry tick removers, and always do tick checks each day.
Be very careful about booking trips in the shoulder seasons May/June, September/October. The cable cars close for maintenance in between the summer hiking season and the ski season. It can be very disappointing if you are planning an activity and then find out when you get there that you can’t.
Weather can change quite a bit and be chilly even in the summer. Always bring layers and at least some rain jackets.
Don’t forget your sunscreen! On sunny days the rays can be quite strong. I like European sunscreen better, I buy the type that is labeled some form of “sun milk” (sonnenmilch).
Most places will take cards or tap pay, but I still suggest having some coins and cash on you just in case. It is not uncommon to find a restaurant that still takes cash only.
Be careful with the cows. You will undoubtedly encounter cows when you visit the Alps in the summer. They are very cute and many of them don’t mind if you pet them. However, they are also very heavy animals that can cause serious injury if they are spooked. ALWAYS keep your dogs on a leash near cows.
If you visit in late August-September, check this website to find almabtreib festivals where you can see the cows parade down the mountain with flower crowns.
I’m sure some of you will say, “What About the French Alps?!” I visited Chamonix once in the ski season many years ago, but don’t have enough first hand knowledge to provide good recommendations. I’m also not sure it is as great for families with the amenities of kid-friendly trails and playgrounds conveniently located with hikes. If you’ve been and would like to add your comments about the French Alps below, I’d love to read them!
I can’t emphasize enough that if you’re planning a trip to Europe that only includes cities, you are missing out! Europe has so much natural beauty to experience and the Alps are my favorite place to spend time. If you have more questions, please feel free to drop them here! There’s many more videos and pictures saved on my Instagram page for you to see also.
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