Things to do in the Zillertal

The Zillertal branches off the Inn valley east of Innsbruck, a side valley long enough to hold a full mountain range of its own, and it works best if you treat it as one region rather than one stop.

Mayrhofen sits at the far end as the natural base, from where the Schlegeis reservoir and its dam road are a separate half-day trip and the Hintertux glacier is the only ski area in the valley open year-round, unlike the Stubai glacier south of Innsbruck, which closes outside its long autumn-to-early-summer season.

In summer the valley floor is for hiking and the Schlegeis road for the drive up; in winter it splits between valley skiing and the glacier at Hintertux. Check current regional train or drive times from Innsbruck before booking, since they vary by which end of the valley you are heading for.