Special Stay: Hotel Wagnerhof and Wagners Aparthotel

Last updated on February 11, 2025

Hotel Wagnerhof and its sister property Wagners Aparthotel on Lake Achensee describe themselves as a “wellness hotel where couples feel just as comfortable as families”. A description like that couldn’t be more on brand for what we look for at Bridges and Balloons. But did the reality live up to the promise? The short answer is yes.

We love how Hotel Wagnerhof has a grown-up vibe, but still welcomes families. And it’s ideal how you can stay in the Aparthotel for more space and flexibility, but still with all the benefits of the hotel. It was a best-of-both-worlds situation.

Also see our guide to how to plan a winter holiday in Austria, the best things to do in and around Innsbruck, and more amazing family hotels in Austria.

Highlights

• Family-owned and operated, ensuring a personal touch
• Right next to Lake Achensee with epic views of the Karwendel Mountains
• A gorgeous indoor-outdoor pool
• Great choice of food, available a la carte or on a half-board basis
• In walking distance to the ski gondola
• If you stay at the Aparthotel (which can be a cheaper option), you still get access to the bigger hotel’s facilities and restaurant.

Best bits for kids

• Large indoor play area for young kids in Wagners Aparthotel
• Children are welcome in the main indoor-outdoor pool
• Good kids’ menu in the restaurant
• Games and toys available
• Mini bath robes provided
• Farm animals to meet
• Close to kids’ ski school

Best bits for adults

• The playroom is in the common area with epic mountain views, so you can chill out in style while the kids play
• Adults-only pool for when you’d like peace and quiet
• Stylish spa with impressive menu of treatments
• Hotel Wagnerhof especially has a stylish, grown-up vibe for a boutique feel

Good to know

• The family live onsite at Wagners Aparthotel and have three young children. Reception hours aren’t fixed, but you can generally find the family around the house, and they welcome you to knock on their apartment. Depending on your sensibility, you might sometimes feel intrusive despite being invited, especially if their hands are full.

Style and vibe

Hotel Wagnerhof, Wagners Aparthotel are family-run properties. The hotel was the original, and now one of the sons, Josef, runs the aparthotel. The two properties have distinct vibes: the hotel is the more boutique, grown-up option (while still welcoming to kids), whereas the Aparthotel is more family-focussed. Owners Josef and Alexandra live onsite with their three young kids, so the vibe is immediately family-forward.

Both have an elevated Alpine aesthetic, with traditional Tyrolean architecture, warm wood accents, cosy textiles and a sophisticated yet homely atmosphere. The hotel leans towards a darker, more intimate palette, whereas the Aparthotel has a warmer, pine-filled style.

Location

Hotel Wagnerhof and Wagners Aparthotel are side by side in the tiny town of Pertisau on Lake Achensee. This stunning area is often called the “Fjord of the Alps” for its crystal-clear waters and dramatic mountain surroundings. The surrounding Karwendel and Rofan mountains provide a stunning backdrop and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities year-round.

The ski area and gondola is only a 5-minute walk away. And it’s just 40 minutes’ from Innsbruck.

Rooms

Hotel Wagnerhof has around 30 rooms, ranging from cosy doubles to spacious suites. And they also have dedicated family rooms for up to 5 guests. Some of the rooms are more recently renovated than others with the newer style leaning towards a darker, more modern palette and Scandi-chic décor. The older rooms are more traditional in style with pine furniture taking centre stage.

The hotel also has three apartments – the Wagnerhof Apartments – around 200m from the main building that are run by one of the family’s daughters.

Wagners Aparthotel has 14 apartments, ranging in size from 28-112 sqm, housing up to 7 people in the biggest. We stayed in a one-bedroom apartment with an additional sofa bed in the living space, and a full kitchen, dining area and balcony too. The views of the mountains are spectacular. Everything is finished to a high standard and has a luxuriously cosy Alpine feel with wooden floors and panelling that bring the nature inside. I love the style of the Wagnerhof Aparthotel rooms the most out of all te Wagnerhof styles.

Facilities

One of the main things that drew my attention to Hotel Wagnerhof was its spectacular indoor-outdoor pool, and the reality was as good as I’d hoped. It’s an exhilarating luxury to swim through warm waters, steam rising, snow falling and with mountains as a backdrop.

The whole spa area is stylish and modern with luxury touches, like heated swing chairs. And there’s an adults-only area upstairs for pure relaxation. I didn’t get to try the spa treatments, but they have a full menu of offerings, from massages to facials. Even kids can have a massage.

There’s also a full gym. And if you stay at Wagners Aprathotel, there is an indoor and outdoor play area for the kids. The latter was covered in snow while we were there, but the indoor area is an impressive space with plenty for young kids.  

Toboggans are available to rent free of charge form the Aparthotel.

Food and drink

Hotel Wagnerof has its onwn on-site restaurant, serving modern, regional cusine with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. The family have their own farm, so meat and produce are often sourced directly from there. The evening menu has 5 courses, and always offers some variations as well as children’s options. We enjoyed a fantastic chickpea curry and the kids loved the traditional cheesy pasta. The salad bar is a highlight, and would probably be enough for a meal by itself.

As for breakfast, the buffet features all sorts of local treats, from cakes to yoghurt from a neighbouring farmer. You can even make you own freshly pressed juice. Alongside the buffet, you can also order eggs and other hot dishes. Kids pay according to their age, so €5 for a 5-year-old, €6 for a 6-year-old and so on (which we think is a brilliant deal).

Wagners Aparthotel and the Wagnerhof Apartments are designed for self-catering, but have the flexibility and opportunity for breakfast or half-board from the main hotel. And they also offer a bread service where you can order daily bread and pastries. You can even hire a private chef to come to your apartment.

Things to do nearby

Lake Achensee is a gorgeous year-round destination, ideal for snowy activities in the winter and lake-based adventures and mountain biking and hiking in the summer.

The ski area and gondola is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. And in the summer that same area is a golf course. There’s also a cross country ski route that goes straight past the hotel.

The Achensee steam cog railway is nearby, and Innsbruck is a 40-minute drive.  

See our guide to things to do in and around Innsbruck with kids.

Do we recommend it?

I loved the combination of staying at Wagner’s Aparthotel and using the facilities of Hotel Wagnerhof. It was an ideal situation for us, allowing the flexibility of self-catering or popping over to the hotel for meals. The spa exceeded expectations, and the location is fantastic, especially being in walking distance to the lake, ski gondola and toboggan runs. I loved it so much, we’re thinking of returning next year for a full week.