Tyrol

If the Dolomites (once part of historic Tyrol) offer a wild drama of jagged rock cliffs, then the region of Tyrol in neighbouring Austria is the embodiment of the classic, perfect alpine postcard: a land of wide green valleys, snow-capped peaks, rushing streams, cowbells and cows grazing at their leisure, and wooden chalets with red flower boxes in the windows — a paradise for lovers of nature, wide open space, adventure sport and comforting, warming mountain food. What do you do here? The simplest, easiest things: Innsbruck, the regional capital, is a perfect blend of a lively student city and immediate nature — ringed by huge mountains on every side, so you can wander the colourful old pedestrian centre (by the famous “Golden Roof”) and within 20 minutes ride a cable car from the city centre straight up to a 2,000-metre peak; the Ötztal valley is the destination for adrenaline, with the Area 47 water-and-extreme park (giant water slides, a climbing wall and rafting) alongside an easy, beautiful walk to the Stuibenfall, Tyrol’s highest waterfall, spanned above by a wobbly rope bridge; and the Zillertal valley offers wild cable cars, riverside bike trails and the Hintertux Glacier, where you can see real snow and ski even in the height of summer, or tour a natural blue ice cave beneath the slopes. And the most important tip: don’t miss the Alm, the alpine huts — whenever you hike in the mountains, always stop at one of the local wooden huts, order a cold beer or a sparkling apple juice (Apfelsaft gespritzt), a plate of local sausages and cheeses, and of course a warm Kaiserschmarrn — a torn, caramelised Austrian pancake with powdered sugar and plum jam. That is the real taste of Tyrol.

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