St Johann in Tyrol holidays

There’s no bathing lakes in St Johann itself, but if you hop on a train for half an hour you can find Schwarzsee – one of Austria’s warmest lakes during the summer months, with stunning views of the Wilder Kaiser Mountains.

If your idea of relaxation involves a gentle stroll combined with picturesque sights, then this one’s for you. It’s an easy-peasy walk round the lake, with plenty of shade and places to sit along the way. Known as one of the most beautiful swimming lakes in the Alps, it’s also not just for looking – the water reaches a mild 23°C, making it an ideal spot for a dip in the water during the summer months.

If you’ve got little ones to keep entertained, you can head to the south shore to find the water slide and diving board. Plus, there’s activities like beach volleyball and table tennis that many kids will love.

The weekly farmers' market offers local and regional products, like meats, breads, mountain cheeses, schnapps, honey, herbs and crafts. This is an ideal opportunity to pick up some bargain souvenirs.

There's a few clothes shops, sports shops and a cosmetic pharmacy selling premium beauty products and perfumes. There's also specialist shops worth paying a visit to –especially the small gift shop named Geschenks ABC just off the square, where you can find many cute handmade things to bring home to someone special.

Pick up an ice-cream from one of the cafés in the square, and spend a quiet evening strolling along the river that flows through the middle of town.

Pop by Cubo, just past the train tracks. There's a beautiful sky lounge at the top, serving delicious cocktails with a side of spectacular mountain views.

Coffee culture is big in the Kitzbühel Alps. In St Johann, you’ll find lots of hidden cafés and bistros offering delicious hot drinks and cakes. One of the favourites is Oma’s Häferlcafé, or ‘Grandma’s Big Milky Coffee’, which is served in a traditional Austrian mug.

Just by the level crossing is Villa Masianco, a pizzeria with very generous portions that also serves delicious burgers, pasta, salads and other dishes. They also do takeaway, so you can sit down by the river on a sunny day.

The tower of the Huber Bräu Brewery has a restaurant at its top level. As well as hearty Tyrolean fare, the restaurant has an observation balcony where you can enjoy the views of the Wilder Kaiser with a locally brewed beer.

In the centre of town, find Cafe Jagglbäck, a cosy restaurant and bar dishing up authentic Tyrolean specialties and a great atmosphere. Chat with the locals, and don't forget to try their fresh apple strudel and wiener schnitzel - great food that's worth writing home about.

A favourite among the locals is the Grander Schupf, which is an uphill walk from the resort. Reasonable prices, good strudel and a quaint, comfortable atmosphere make this Austrian chalet an ideal place to stop for a hot drink, lunch or even dinner.

If you're not looking to go as far, you can always catch a bus from the main station next to the train station. The buses stop at nearby Ellmau (25 minutes), Scheffau (30 minutes) and Söll (40 minutes) and run every half an hour Monday to Friday, every 2 hours on a Saturday, and every 3 hours on a Sunday.

You can catch the Harschbichl gondola up the mountain for some gentle walks and beautiful views. The gondala operates from mid-May to mid-October and is open every day between 9am and 4.30pm.

Situated near the Huber Bräu Brewery is St Johann’s train station. You can access Kitzbühel in 8 minutes, as well as Zell am See in 45 minutes, with trains running every half an hour. Trains also run to Innsbruck and Salzburg, departing every 2 hours.

Take relaxing walks through the village, where the paths are gentle and the town centre is pedestrianised between 10am and 6pm.

Whether you’re after a relaxed stroll or a chance to really stretch your legs, you’re sure to find something suitable along St Johann’s 210km of trails. Casual walkers can spend long summer days ambling through the village, along riverside paths and through alpine meadows. If you want to explore a bit further, you can venture to nearby Kitzbühel to jump on the Kitzbühelerhorn gondola, for access to plenty of footpaths and marked trails with beautiful views. The one and a half hour walk to the Eifersbacher waterfalls is well worth it for the photo opportunity alone.

Catch the gondola to the top of Harschbichl mountain and head up towards the Kitzbüheler Horn, following the steep path through alpine meadows. Wind past farm pastures and the lovely little chapel to the peak of the Horn, where spectacular views await you. From there, the trail leads downhill along a narrow ridge and back to the gondola station.

Get stuck into nature and take this trail into an impressive ravine, following the winding river between steep rocky walls, and making your way across the suspension bridge, four metres above the riverbed. Step carefully along wooden boardwalks, cross a second bridge, and marvel at the cascading waterfall – all before reaching a peaceful sandy area, perfect for a lunch stop. This is a beautiful route, but not one for the casual strollers.