{"id":64988,"date":"2026-08-03T04:40:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T04:40:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/64988\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T04:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T04:40:48","slug":"after-a-summer-in-austria-ill-think-twice-before-booking-spain-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/64988\/","title":{"rendered":"After a summer in Austria, I’ll think twice before booking Spain again"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Writer
\n\t\tAlison Tyler took her family to the mountains to find out what a summer here can offer (Picture: Alison Tyler)<\/p>\n

As parts of the UK swelter through the fourth heatwave this summer<\/a>, heading somewhere hotter feels anything but an \u2018escape\u2019.<\/p>\n

Add in anti-tourism protests<\/a>, droughts and the threat of wildfires in southern Europe<\/a> (not to mention Scotland<\/a> and Wales<\/a>), and traditional destinations lose even more of their allure.<\/p>\n

But if Europe\u2019s beaches are losing the climate battle, its mountains are winning \u2013 easy to get to, with fresh, clean air and sunny, warm days, without the side-order of humidity and sweat. <\/p>\n

A new clutch of rural escapes<\/a> are blazing a trail with sustainable hotels and stunning views, surrounded by nature that soothes the soul (and some very decent spas to boot).<\/p>\n

Travel writer Alison Tyler takes her family to see if the hills really are alive with a new kind of summer holiday.<\/p>\n

Acclimatising to the Alps<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n

Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n

A cheap flight to Salzburg in Austria<\/a> deposits us less than an hour from the Alpine Saalfelden-Leogang mountains, where the ski resorts of winter come alive with bikers and hikers in summer, exploring more than 105 kilometres of dedicated walking and cycle trails. <\/p>\n

High-speed cable cars to the top of the mountain mean you can glide up and free-wheel down, or stay up-top for an easy walk or ride with spectacular scenery (and minimal thigh-burn).<\/p>\n

Aside from the sheer beauty of the mountains sprinkled with wildflowers and sparkling clear lakes, what is most striking about Austria is how committed it is to supporting nature and the green economy.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gavin
\n\t\tIt\u2019s best-known for skiing, but the Alpine regions around Salzburg are just as lovely in summer (Picture: Alison Tyler)<\/p>\n

Starting with free public transport for tourists, which is incredibly efficient and surprisingly comprehensive in such a rural country. <\/p>\n

Free train travel between Salzburg and Leogang, free rides on local buses and a daily trip on the cable car are all included for guests as part of the Leogang-Saalfelden card<\/a> (which you get when you check in to any local hotel). It also gets you free access to several museums, swimming pools, saunas and cultural events.<\/p>\n

Who needs the beach when you have a lakeside spa to relax in? <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tWin a luxurious stay for two at London hotel The Gore\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tStay in an opulent hotel room in London’s most cultural neighbourhood (Picture: Jack Hardy)<\/p>\n

Four-poster beds, gilded mirrors and chandeliers everywhere you look…<\/p>\n

Metro has teamed up with Starhotels Collezione to give one lucky reader (and a companion) a chance to win a luxurious two-night stay worth \u00a3900 at The Gore London, a historic boutique hotel in the cultural heart of the UK capital.<\/p>\n

For your chance to win this incredible London getaway, enter your details <\/a>before midnight on Sunday, 9 August 2026. <\/p>\n

\nEnter now<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Open to UK (excluding Northern Ireland) residents aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 00:01 BST on 20\/07\/2026 and closes at 23:59 BST on 09\/08\/2026. Entrant must complete the entry form hosted on Metro. 1 prize of a two-night bed and breakfast stay in a Deluxe Room at The Gore Hotel in South Kensington, London for two (2) adults including dinner at the restaurant 190 Queen\u2019s Gate on one night only consisting of a three course meal from the A La Carte menu with one (1) complimentary glass of wine included per person. Only one (1) entry will be accepted per person or per email address. Full T&Cs here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tAustria is having a good year for tourism, with visitor numbers up 7% as holidaymakers look for cooler and calmer destinations (Picture: Alison Tyler)<\/p>\n

Austria\u2019s eco-luxe hotel resorts have gone viral for their aspirational aesthetic: infinity pools over lakes, wild-swimming ponds and glass relaxation lounges looking out over unspoilt, undulating fields and slopes \u2013 it\u2019s forest-bathing in five-star style.<\/p>\n

At the Puradies Nature Resort<\/a>, nestled in the valley, traditional Austrian architecture meets modern design to create a luxurious spa resort that still retains its regional character. <\/p>\n

There are private chalets and loft-style suites set around a natural swimming lake and wellness<\/a> spa. <\/p>\n

Lounging by the infinity pool and spa feels every bit as relaxing as a being at a beach resort, but without the hassle of sand. <\/p>\n

The mountain air is clean and invigorating, while the sound of birds and distant cow bells adds to the tranquil atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"An
\n\t\tResorts like this are dotted around the mountains near Salzburg and postcard-pretty Zell am See (Picture: Creating Click OG)<\/p>\n

Leogang in summer and autumn is a dream for walkers, bikers, spa-lovers and foodies \u2013 and it can all be done without a car. <\/p>\n

From our base, between the two main cable-cars up the mountain, we can walk along pedestrian trails to the Asitzbahn basecamp, which has a festival-like atmosphere. <\/p>\n

Here, bikers and thrill-seekers converge. You can stroll the mountain-top Grosser Asitz plateau (walk to the top of the Steinberg cable car and ride back down from there), explore the adventure playground or try the death-defying flying fox at the mid-station, toboggan-ride or people watch on the sun terraces at the mountain-top bars and restaurants (AlteSchmiede was brilliant for traditional Austrian dishes as well as pizza and pasta).<\/p>\n

As a tourist, both cable cars are free to ride once a day. And if the heat gets to you on the mountain, there are lakes where you can cool off.<\/p>\n

After watching a few brave people glide, head-first with arms outstretched, across the valley at 130km an hour, we try the Flying Fox XXL<\/a> (from \u00a347) for a bird\u2019s-eye view of the Leogang-Steinberge mountain range. <\/p>\n

At 1.6km, it\u2019s one of the longest and fastest steel zip lines in the world, but the scariest part is the anticipation as you are about to set off. <\/p>\n

Once you start moving the ride is sensational \u2013 even my 12-year-old loved it \u2013 and the closest you\u2019ll get to flying.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tAustria is not just for winter; in fact, Alison Tyler argues it\u2019s a whole lot better in summer (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Back at the Asitzbahn base, Hutten Gaudi (Hutten 34, 5771 Hutten) makes a good pitstop for a drink and a snack, right below the bike park, pump track, and beginner bike slopes (complete with a travelator lift to get back up each time), where we watch the riders in action. <\/p>\n

The entire bike park, and conveyors is free to ride and a must for kids and adults alike. <\/p>\n

If you want to hit the downhill trails or the bike park, you can hire bikes and a guide to give you a lesson at Epic Bikeschool Leogang (beside Tarlack Aprtments, Hutten 34, at the Asitzbahn) or Sport Mitterer (at the Steinbergbahn cable car base station).<\/p>\n

For foodies, the region doesn\u2019t disappoint (there are two Michelin-starred restaurants in the valley), with an emphasis on organic, locally sourced ingredients and modern interpretations of classic Austrian dishes. <\/p>\n

At Puradies we are spoilt for choice between the sleek bar serving local cheeses, crudites and cured meats, to the fine dining Austrian restaurant and the relaxed contemporary European Ess:enz restaurant, where many of the ingredients are grown at the hotel\u2019s organic farm and kitchen gardens.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tWith temperatures in the Med now regularly climbing up towards 40C, the\u00a0trend\u00a0of seeking out cool has now become, well, cool (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Between mountain walks, dips in pristine waters and adrenaline-filled activities in the mornings, we earn restorative afternoons spent in the spa and sauna and lounging by the pool, and evenings eating farm-to-fork meals.<\/p>\n

If the beauty of Leogang is its rural tranquillity, the Gastein valley combines the mountain wilderness and adventure with a chic, pretty town setting that\u2019s ideal if you\u2019re traveling without a car. <\/p>\n

With its two main towns and four different mountains, each one offering a different experience (climbing off each mountain lift is like arriving in a different land at the top of the Magic Faraway Tree), there is more than enough to keep a family with teens and tweens occupied.<\/p>\n

Where Leogang is all about the individual luxury spa resorts dotted through the valley, at Gastein\u2019s heart is Bad Gastein \u2013 Austria\u2019s original Belle Epoque spa town, perched over a huge waterfall between the cliffs of the neighbouring mountains. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"Gavin
\n\t\tChannelling the Von Trapps (Picture: Alison Tyler)<\/p>\n

It was made famous for its natural thermal springs, which today are incorporated in the town\u2019s Felsentherme spa, set 1100m above sea level and built into the rocks, providing incredible views and clear mountain air and the architectural vibes of a Bond villain\u2019s lair.<\/p>\n

For families, the huge Alpentherme baths at Bad Hofgastein, just a few minutes down the valley by bus (again for free with our Guest Mobility ticket), is directly connected to most of the hotels by a network of tunnels so that you can walk to the spa in your robe. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s perfect for rainy or sunny days, with loungers everywhere and a range of different pools, spas and saunas, as well as a lazy river and huge slides to keep children entertained. <\/p>\n

Outside there is a natural swimming lake where you can also paddleboard.<\/p>\n

A little further down the valley, we take the mountain lift at Dorfgastein to try mountain carting along 5km of twisting tracks from the Fulseck mountain station. <\/p>\n

After a thrilling, bouncy ride down 550m in altitude to the middle station, we refuel at the bar and then try the family adventure trail.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t‘Coolcation’ inspiration for 2026\t\t\t<\/p>\n

From Bad Hofgaastein the cable car takes you up to a children\u2019s adventure playground and a series of family-friendly walks; from the lift at Bad Gastein you\u2019ll find spectacular viewing platforms and a suspension bridge; and at the top of the Graukogel mountain (reached by a two-person chair lift that\u2019s an experience in itself), we walk the ancient stone pine trail as an eagle soared above the mountain.<\/p>\n

In the evenings, the summer music festival offers free concerts by the Salzburg Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as jazz by the lake in Bad Hofgastein. <\/p>\n

We are spoilt for choice with restaurants and bars in the many squares and piazzas in the town, including unGXUND (ungxund.at) and Good Gastein (good-gastein.com) in Bad Gastein.<\/p>\n

With zero car-travel all week, and no sweaty, sticky walks to and from the beach, a week in the mountains was a refreshing, cool alternative to the heatwave summer at home and in the Med. <\/p>\n

Just don\u2019t tell everyone, or they\u2019ll all be running for the hills next summer.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tThe essentials\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Getting there<\/p>\n

British Airways <\/a>flies direct from London Gatwick<\/a> to Salzburg from \u00a361 each way.<\/p>\n

Where to stay<\/p>\n

Summer rates at Puradies Nature Resort<\/a> from E205 PPPN all-inclusive, E-bike hire also available from the hotel. Call: +43 6583 8275<\/p>\n

Hotel Norica Therme<\/a>, three-night family spa package with half-board accommodation and access to the Alpentherme from E594 per person (children under 10 go free). Call: +43 6432 8391<\/p>\n

Saalfelden-Leogang<\/a> and Gastein Guest Mobility passes are included giving free travel on trains and buses, entry and discounted rates at local attractions. For more information on Leogang and Gastein, visit the website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: I\u2019m a solo female traveller \u2014 there\u2019s one travel trend I\u2019ll never support<\/a><\/p>\n

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\nMORE: An honest review of one of the world\u2019s best all-inclusive hotels<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: I plan cheap holidays for a living \u2014 here\u2019s how to visit Ireland on a budget<\/a><\/p>\n


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