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11 things to do on a holiday to St Johann in Tyrol
St Johann in Tyrol is your quintessential Austrian town, with brightly coloured buildings competing with two mountain ranges for your attention as you stroll through the town centre. The best way to soak up the oodles of alpine charm on offer here is to get stuck into all the things to do, from delving into Austrian mountain culture and tasting local specialities to high-altitude adventures.
Even better, if you book a holiday to St Johann you’ll get a free guest card included with your stay, which lets you use local trains and the Okto Bus (a service linking up popular hiking destinations) for free. It also saves you money on things like cable car rides and the Panorama Badewelt.
Even better, if you book a holiday to St Johann you’ll get a free guest card included with your stay, which lets you use local trains and the Okto Bus (a service linking up popular hiking destinations) for free. It also saves you money on things like cable car rides and the Panorama Badewelt.
1. Explore the Tyrolean town centre
You can happily while away a whole day or even two just moseying around St Johann’s gorgeous centre. There’s something to look at round every corner, whether it’s the colourful, patterned buildings that line the streets – Hotel Post is one of the prettiest – or the many cute cafés and boutique shops selling local crafts. The flat path that hugs the riverside makes a nice addition to your town centre stroll too.
You can’t miss the large yellow church that stands proudly in the main plaza. Take a moment to step inside and marvel at the ornate Baroque architecture.
You can’t miss the large yellow church that stands proudly in the main plaza. Take a moment to step inside and marvel at the ornate Baroque architecture.
The Hotel Post in the centre of St Johann in Tyrol
2. Check out markets and festivals
There’s loads going on here so it’s well worth checking out events in St Johann during your stay. If you’re a foodie, definitely don’t miss the weekly farmer’s market that takes place every Friday in the main square. You’ll be able to taste all sorts of local produce like cheese, wine, breads and freshly-caught lake fish, as well as browse traditional ceramics and other crafts.
If you’re visiting in September, St Johann’s dumpling festival is an absolute must. Pull up a seat at the longest dumpling table in the world and pick from 27 different types of dumpling, like bacon, cheese and apricot. There’s music and entertainment on as well, with locals donning traditional dirndls and lederhosen – this is Austria at its brilliant, bopping best.
If you’re visiting in September, St Johann’s dumpling festival is an absolute must. Pull up a seat at the longest dumpling table in the world and pick from 27 different types of dumpling, like bacon, cheese and apricot. There’s music and entertainment on as well, with locals donning traditional dirndls and lederhosen – this is Austria at its brilliant, bopping best.
3. Visit the St Johann museum
You’ll come away from the St Johann in Tyrol museum with all sorts of weird and wonderful nuggets of knowledge you never knew you needed – like why a poodle called Schmecks became famous in the town.
Discover more about the history of the St Johann and the Kaiser mountains, and hear dramatic stories about freedom fighters from the area. There are usually special exhibitions on, covering all sorts of things from cave bears and earthworms to Tyrolean artists.
Discover more about the history of the St Johann and the Kaiser mountains, and hear dramatic stories about freedom fighters from the area. There are usually special exhibitions on, covering all sorts of things from cave bears and earthworms to Tyrolean artists.
4. Take a dip in Schwarzsee Lake
Catch the train from St Johann to visit this peaceful alpine lake, where mountains speckle the skyline. Schwarzsee Lake’s waters are among the warmest in the Alps, meaning it’s particularly inviting if you’re in the mood for a dip.
There’s also a large lawn which is ideal for lounging, or you can hire paddleboards and rowing boats for more water-based fun. If you’d rather stick to dry land, meander around the lake on easy trails, or just take in the scene from a lakeside spot.
There’s also a large lawn which is ideal for lounging, or you can hire paddleboards and rowing boats for more water-based fun. If you’d rather stick to dry land, meander around the lake on easy trails, or just take in the scene from a lakeside spot.
5. Head up the Harschbichl gondola
Take the Harschbichl gondola up the mighty Kitzbüheler Horn mountain. As you glide skywards, the views get better and better, with rows of peaks and vivid green valleys unfolding in front of you.
You can get off at the mid-station, called Koasaburg, for a drink or bite to eat at the rustic Angerer Alm, or for the best views, stay on the gondola all the way to the top, where there’s another restaurant. You can either ride all the way back down again or stroll back down to the mid-station on gentle forest paths before hopping on the gondola to the bottom. For the most fun option of them all, you can even zoom down from the mid-station on a three-wheel mountain cart.
You can get off at the mid-station, called Koasaburg, for a drink or bite to eat at the rustic Angerer Alm, or for the best views, stay on the gondola all the way to the top, where there’s another restaurant. You can either ride all the way back down again or stroll back down to the mid-station on gentle forest paths before hopping on the gondola to the bottom. For the most fun option of them all, you can even zoom down from the mid-station on a three-wheel mountain cart.
You can buy lift and/or mountain cart tickets through your local rep – chat to them and they'll be happy to help you pick up what you need to fit your plans.
6. Splash around at the Panorama Badewelt
Get in some R&R at this public pool complex in the middle of town. You’ll find an indoor pool plus a heated outdoor one where you can enjoy glorious views of the mountains while you put in a leisurely lap or two.
There’s a dedicated kids’ pool as well as multiple saunas, an aromatherapy bath and infra-red cabins for the grown-ups, plus a relaxation room with waterbeds and low lighting for the ultimate unwinding opp.
There’s a dedicated kids’ pool as well as multiple saunas, an aromatherapy bath and infra-red cabins for the grown-ups, plus a relaxation room with waterbeds and low lighting for the ultimate unwinding opp.
St Johann in 60 seconds
7. Hike the Kitzbüheler Horn summit trail
If you’re up for getting active, this is a classic St Johann trail that serves up some unforgettable views. You’ll start from the top of the Harschbichl cable car and walk through velvety green pastures, before the path gets steeper and rockier as you close in on the top of the Kitzbüheler Horn.
The sight from this 1,964m summit is well worth the effort of getting there, with peaks stretching out as far as you can see. While you’re up there you can also check out the alpine flower garden with more than 400 types of native plants. The whole circuit is just over 6km and takes about three and a half hours, with places to grab a snack along the way.
The sight from this 1,964m summit is well worth the effort of getting there, with peaks stretching out as far as you can see. While you’re up there you can also check out the alpine flower garden with more than 400 types of native plants. The whole circuit is just over 6km and takes about three and a half hours, with places to grab a snack along the way.
8. Visit the Eifersbacher waterfall
For a longer but lower-altitude walk, take the well-marked trail from the centre of St Johann to the impressive Eifersbacher waterfall, where crystal-clear water plunges 25m down into the valley.
The round trip, through meadows and forest, with a few bridges and jetties to cross along the way, is about 8km. It’s well worth making a full day of it, with lots of alpine huts to stop at for a drink or a meal. Along the way, you’ll also pass the Theresienbrunnen fountain – the water here’s said to have healing effects – and its charming little chapel.
The round trip, through meadows and forest, with a few bridges and jetties to cross along the way, is about 8km. It’s well worth making a full day of it, with lots of alpine huts to stop at for a drink or a meal. Along the way, you’ll also pass the Theresienbrunnen fountain – the water here’s said to have healing effects – and its charming little chapel.
9. Explore on two wheels
Hire a bike – or an e-bike if you fancy some extra oomph without the effort – and set off into the Tyrolean landscape. There’s an almost endless selection of routes to pick from, but for a ride you can easily fit into a morning or afternoon, try the Hinterkaiserrunde circuit. Starting from the centre of St Johann, it’s about 9.5km and takes most people around an hour and a half to cycle, spent wheeling through rolling meadows and past mountain huts, then along the Rettenbach river.
© Mirja Geh
10. Sample schnapps at a local distillery
If you like a tipple, you can’t visit Tyrol without tasting some authentic Austrian schnapps. And if you’re a real schnapps fan, take a trip to Aggstein Edelbrände, St Johann’s schnapps distillery that’s been around since 1885. You’ll be able to taste various schnapps, brandies and other liqueurs as well as learn how they’re made.
Beer more your bag? Make a beeline for Huber Bräu – you can see it from all over town as it’s the tallest building in St Johann. Admire the gleaming copper tanks as you pass by on the ground floor, then get the lift up to the tower-top restaurant to taste their beer selection in front of a pretty stonking view.
Beer more your bag? Make a beeline for Huber Bräu – you can see it from all over town as it’s the tallest building in St Johann. Admire the gleaming copper tanks as you pass by on the ground floor, then get the lift up to the tower-top restaurant to taste their beer selection in front of a pretty stonking view.
11. Soar over the scenery at the Kletterwald Hornpark
Hop on the Harschbichl gondola and get off at the mid-station to reach this high ropes course and adventure hub, which is one of the best activities you can do in the Alps. Wizz through the treetops and over the Angerer Alm mountain lake on a 1km zipline, or tackle a range of different high ropes courses from short beginner-friendly routes to longer, more complex ones for more experienced climbers.
This is also the starting point for various segway tours that’ll take you along forest paths and even through the middle of the town.
This is also the starting point for various segway tours that’ll take you along forest paths and even through the middle of the town.
Schnapp up a holiday to St Johann in Tyrol or check out more ideas for trips to Austria’s lakes and mountains.
Author: Polly Bryan
Last updated: 18/11/2025
Author: Polly Bryan
Last updated: 18/11/2025