Trying to plan a summer trip to Austria that ticks the boxes for both adventure and fun with kids? Skip the usual tourist traps and consider Kufstein — a small Tyrolean town that blends Alpine charm with convenience.
You’ve got castles and cable cars for the wow factor, easy hikes that even little legs can handle, plus a family-friendly swimming pool, walkable streets, and plenty of useful shops that make family travel smoother; a proper supermarket for easy lunches, plus a solid outdoor gear store if you need to grab a map.
I spent a few days there in June, checking it out with my kids in mind. The combination of things to do and everyday convenience makes it a strong choice for families. There’s the striking hilltop fortress, a lovely old town to wander through, and the Kaiserlift (a one-man summer chair lift) that opens up easy access to Alpine trails.
The Kaindlhütte is an ideal first overnight stay for the smallest hikers, there’s a local outdoor pool that’s properly set up for families, and even the option to cycle across the border into Germany.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best things to do in Kufstein with kids, including tips on where to stay, how to get there without a car, and why it’s one of Tyrol’s more underrated bases for a summer family adventure. (Oh, and if your kids love a good water slide, just wait until you hear about the one with snazzy lights at the outdoor pool…)
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Wander Kufstein’s Old Town
Kufstein’s Old Town might not be huge, but it’s packed with charm; especially around the atmospheric Römerhofgasse, a narrow cobbled street just between the castle and the river. It feels like something out of a fairytale: hand-painted facades, brightly coloured bay windows, and intricate wrought-iron signs that mark the next Gasthaus or wine bar.
This is where you’ll find the Auracher Löchl — a traditional inn over 600 years old, where you can still eat local dishes served in dark wood-panelled dining rooms that haven’t changed much in decades… or maybe even centuries!
And if all of that makes you want to linger longer, you can even see the world’s smallest bridge restaurant, perched above the street.
For families, this area is small but fun to explore. Kids can spot the fanciest house fronts, many of which are decorated with beautifully detailed murals and paintings that tell stories or hint at the building’s past. It’s quirky, historic, and its well worth experiencing the atmospheric Brothers Grimm vibes!
Römerhofgasse, Kufstein
Explore Kufstein Fortress with kids
You can’t miss the Festung Kufstein. Perched dramatically above the town, it’s a real castle, with towers to climb, tunnels to explore, and sweeping views.
There’s a funicular that takes you most of the way up (helpful if you’re with smaller children or avoiding a steep climb in the summer heat), and the site itself is family-friendly.
Inside, you’ll find open courtyards perfect for a snack break, interactive exhibits, and even a dungeon if your kids are becoming particularly annoying! Older children will enjoy the historic displays and audio guides, while younger ones tend to just love the freedom to roam somewhere that is fun to explore.
You’ll want a couple of hours to take it all in without rushing. It’s easily walkable from anywhere in town, and it’s even got it’s own restaurant if you fancy a proper meal inside the fortress walls.
The Kufstein Castle
Ride the Kaiserlift and hike to (and stay at) the Kaindlhütte
The Kaiserlift is a single-seater chairlift that takes you gently up into the Wilder Kaiser mountains. It was deliberately restored this way (instead of replacing the original lift with a giant gondola) to preserve the peaceful, nature-first experience of the journey.
Unlike modern gondolas, it’s all open air and slow-paced, giving you uninterrupted views and the sound of cowbells instead of machinery.
Children from 115 cm tall can ride alone (if they’re confident), but younger kids can go up on the lap of an adult; the lift attendants are used to helping families board safely. You can also bring a pushchair on board using a transport hook (check weight and size limits here).
It takes approximately 15 minutes to get to the middle station, where you have to get off and change lifts, and then the Brentenjoch top station is another 15 minutes.
The Kaiserlift (c)Mathäus Gartner
At the top, you’re straight into Alpine hiking territory with trails that suit all ages and energy levels. The route to the Kaindlhütte is a standout if you’re with little kids. It’s only 3 kilometres, wide and not too steep, and even doable with a robust pushchair, making it a brilliant option for families with toddlers or anyone trying hut hiking for the first time. You’ll pass meadows, grazing cows, cross streams on wooden bridges, and go through forests.
I stayed at the Kaindlhütte as part of a longer hut to hut hike, but it would also work perfectly as a gentle overnight for younger families. While I was there, I met a local family using it exactly that way — as a low-key weekend escape with small children. You could also plan a longer hike to reach it if that suited your family!
Buy the hiking map for this region here
The hut sits in a quiet hamlet, set within an alpine pasture only accessible on foot, and the whole area feels like a safe, car-free playground. There are goats to visit, wildflowers to spot, and enough space that kids can be pretty free-range while you relax on the wooden terrace.
The hut itself is wonderfully traditional; lots of wood, window boxes and creaky floors. The bedrooms are simple but charming: wooden beds with crisp duvets, tiny windows looking out over the meadows, and a smell that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a Heidi storybook. I slept like a log! The bathrooms are shared but there is warm water and a shower.
There’s also a lovely garden for relaxing (with a well-earned drink), and the food is excellent; comforting, home-cooked, and generous, along with the staff, who are also exceedingly kind and generous. I must admit, for a first-time overnighter, this would spoil you for future hut stays, but don’t let that put you off!
- The Kaindlhütte on the right
Hike the Nature Discovery Trail Kufstein
The Naturerlebnisweg Kufstein (Nature Discovery Trail) is worth adding to your list. I didn’t get the chance to walk it myself, but local families and the tourist office staff spoke highly of it, especially for younger kids.
The trail starts at the middle station of the Kaiserlift and heads back down to the bottom station. It is set up to spark curiosity about the natural world, with hands-on activity stations and play areas. Along the way, you’ll find bug hotels, sound funnels, balance beams, and small woodland challenges that keep little legs moving and brains engaged.
Outdoor swimming at the Kufstein Stadtbad
If your kids are anything like my kids in the summer, a good swimming spot is basically non-negotiable. Kufstein’s outdoor pool is absolutely brilliant. It’s not just a place to cool off; it’s a full on summer highlight with something for everyone from splashy toddlers to bigger teens, and parents too.
There’s a full 50 metre competition pool with starting blocks if anyone in your crew wants to swim laps. For the more daring, the diving pool has both 1 metre and 3 metre boards over a deep 3.8 metre pool. But the real draw for most kids? The slides.
Kufstein’s outdoor pool has three water slides; the best is a classic large tube slide that lights up inside and has a timer so you can race your kids to the bottom (or they can race you – was I even racing?!).
There’s also a large adventure pool with underwater bubble loungers, massage benches, a wide water jet and a torrent-style current whirlpool. Younger kids are brilliantly catered for too: the baby and toddler pool has two staggered levels, mini slides, splash features, and plenty of shade from pergolas and sun sails.
For relaxing, there’s a well-kept lawn under mature trees, a shaded play area with climbing nets and swings, and even a beach volleyball court. Add in clean changing rooms, both outdoor and indoor showers, and a genuinely good cafe kiosk with reasonable prices, and you can literally spend all day there.
- The outdoor pool in Kufstein (on a slightly gloomy day – we had it to ourselves!)
Cycle the Innradweg and train back from Germany
One of the most exciting, and surprisingly easy, family adventures from Kufstein is cycling a stretch of the Inn Cycle Path into Germany (downstream which means slightly downhill) and hopping on the train back. It’s a day out that feels pretty adventurous, but is actually very manageable even with kids.
Start by hiring bikes. There are a few bike rental options in town. From there, it’s a flat and scenic ride along the Inn river into Germany’s Bavaria, completely traffic-free and well signposted the whole way.
You can go as far as you like, but with little kids riding their own bike, I’d aim for Oberaudorf (around 12 km). For bigger kids, Rosenheim (more like 40 km) would be a great goal. Both of these towns have train stations for the return leg. The ride gives you a lovely change of scenery, plus the bragging rights of crossing a border by bike.
The train back to Kufstein is direct, quick, and hassle-free. Tickets are cheap (you might need to buy one for your bike as well), and staff are used to helping cyclists on board. You could return by bike instead of train, but bear in mind this stretch would be slightly uphill!
- Cycle path near Kufstein (c)TVB Kufsteinerland_Simon Hausberger
Local festivals and summer events
Kufstein may be small, but it has a lively local calendar that brings a welcome dose of music, food and culture – and the great thing is, it’s all relaxed and family-friendly.
In summer, the fortress hosts regular open-air concerts and cultural evenings; everything from brass bands to classical quartets, all set against sweeping mountain views. Even if your kids aren’t classical music fans, just being up at the Festung in the evening light feels special.
Down in the Old Town, you’ll often stumble across markets, food stalls, and live music festivals, especially on weekends. If you’re staying a few nights, it’s worth checking the tourist office website or asking at your hotel what’s on.
There are also seasonal celebrations tied to traditional festivals, flower-decorated cattle parades, folk dancing, and processions of locals in Tracht (traditional dress). Even if you don’t catch a big event, the town’s love of community gatherings makes for a fun atmosphere through summer.
- Traditional music festival in central Kufstein (c)Tvb Kufsteinerland
Where to stay in Kufstein with kids
One of the things that makes Kufstein such a practical base for families is the range of accommodation, from traditional guesthouses to central hotels that make getting around (even without a car) genuinely easy.
🏨 I stayed at the Hotel Goldener Löwe, right near the river and the base of the fortress. It would be my first family-friendly pick: spacious rooms, welcoming staff, a delicious breakfast spread and a central location that meant everything was walkable; shops, restaurants, and even the Kaiserlift, a 25 minute walk out of town. Check prices and availability for the Hotel Goldener Löwe >>>
🏨 I’d also consider the Hotel Gisela, which is just steps from the train station and offers great-value family rooms; perfect if you’re arriving by rail. Check prices and availability for the Hotel Gisela >>>
🏨 The Hotel Kufsteinerhof sits right in the centre of town and is simple, but with clean, comfortable good value rooms with a good breakfast. Check prices and availability for the Hotel Kufsteinerhof >>>
🏨 And for something a bit more sleek and modern, the arte Hotel Kufstein offers stylish rooms (kids may have to sleep on a sofa bed rather than there being specific family rooms) and a fantastic breakfast. Check prices and availability for the arte Hotel Kufstein >>>
If you’re booking for summer, I’d recommend choosing somewhere in or just outside the Old Town so you can explore on foot. Many hotels offer family rooms or apartments with small kitchenettes, and most include breakfast.
Why Kufstein works for family holidays in Austria
Kufstein doesn’t compete with the likes of Innsbruck or Salzburg for attention – but that’s part of its charm.
It’s big enough to offer real convenience (good restaurants, outdoor shops like Sportler, family-friendly hotels), and a castle that rivals Salzburg’s, but small enough to keep logistics simple. You can be on a lift deep into the mountains half an hour after finishing your hotel breakfast.
It also works brilliantly without a car. Direct trains from Munich, Innsbruck and Salzburg mean you can arrive stress-free, and once you’re here, everything from hikes to the pool to the Old Town is either walkable. If you’re a family balancing energy, budget and planning brain-space, that simplicity makes a huge difference.
Kufstein isn’t packed with headline-grabbing attractions, although I kind of think the attractions I’ve outlined here should be headline-grabbing! You’re not overwhelmed by coach tours and tourists either. Instead, you get a mix of gentle adventure, fresh air, and low-effort fun that you can fit around your family’s pace. Whether it’s sliding down light up water slides, hiking to a hut for the night, or cycling into Germany on a traffic free path – Kufstein gives you space to enjoy it all.
Kufstein makes a great summer base for outdoorsy families
If you’re looking for somewhere that gives you easy access to the mountains without the faff, Kufstein is hard to beat. It’s well connected by train, packed with fun and uncrowded things to do and big enough to make life easy; whether that’s picking up snacks for a hike, hiring a bike, or buying a map for your hike to the Kaindlhütte.
It’s a simple, flexible base that works for keeping everyone in the family happy!
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