9 things to do in and around Innsbruck with kids in winter

Last updated on May 13, 2025

Innsbruck and the region of Tyrol in Austria are an incredible playground for families. Honestly, I think our kids would have been satisfied by playing in the snow alone. But beyond the simplest pleasures of throwing snowballs and building snowmen, there are also many other things to do with kids in Innsbruck and Tirol in winter. 

From tobogganing to ice skating, there are all manner of winter activities, plus some of the year-round family attractions in Tirol really shine in the snow.

Here are nine of the best things to do with kids in Innsbruck and Tirol. Also see our guides to how to plan a winter holiday in Austrian Tyrol, and the best family hotels in Austria. We also have in-depth reviews of our favourites – Wagners Aparthotel and Feelfree Nature Resort (both brilliant places to stay with kids).

Things to do in Tirol and Innsbruck with kids

Play in the snow

For children who aren’t accustomed to snow (we barely get any in Bristol), the landscape alone is a wonderland for children in Tirol. Our kids were enchanted by the snow and spent hours playing in it, throwing snowballs, building snowmen and sliding around. I think this activity alone would have been enough for them to declare the vacation one of their best ever. Sometimes you need very little to keep kids entertained. 

Try skiing or snowboarding 

Tyrol is a brilliant skiing destination with loads of family-friendly resorts, and it’s a popular place for family ski trips. But if you don’t want a full-on ski trip, you can still do taster lessons for a couple of hours or so. We did one with with Sport Activ at Gschwandtkopf in Seefled. It was a great introduction to the sport and gave us the confidence to know that a ski holiday is something that’d suit us in the future. We have plans to do one next year and will likely head back to Austria for it. 

My blog post on how to plan a winter holiday in Tyrol has a guide to the different family ski resorts in Tyrol and how to choose one that suits you.

Tobogganing

Without a doubt, my favourite family activity in Tirol was tobogganing. There are loads of natural toboggan runs throughout the region, ranging from easy to advanced, and many are perfect for families. 

We did two toboggan runs in Pertisau beside Lake Achensee. The big one is a 5km run from the top of the ski gondola with incredible views from the top. And the other is shorter, starting half way up the mountain at a cosy toboggan hut where you can warm up with apple strudel and hot drinks. You can walk to the hut or take a tractor shuttle that transports you and your toboggan. 

I’d never tobogganed before, so I was a little worried about the safety and had a vision of flying off the edge, but they’re actually pretty easy to manoeuvre and stop. We did the short one first to build up our confidence. 

Ice skating

There are many ice skating spots in Tyrol – both natural and manmade. In Oetz, close to where we stayed at FeelFree Nature Resort, there was a beautiful frozen lake above the village at Piburgersee. And there are plenty more in the region – just be sure to check it’s been officially designated as safe. Some lakes may look frozen, but the ice is dangerously thin.  

As well as the natural ice skating lakes, there are also many manmade ice rinks in the villages and ski resorts. It’s a lush family activity to do some skating and then warm up with treats in the huts that are nearly always nearby and on-hand with definite cosiness.

Swarvoski Crystal Worlds

Swarvoski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten) is one of the most creative family attractions I’ve ever come across. The immersive gallery-installation-experience was designed by artist André Heller to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Swaroski company, and has since been expanded even more. 

Set across beautifully landscaped gardens, it includes an immersive gallery, sculptures, labyrinth, carousel, play tower and restaurant. And the iconic giant’s head waterfall is at the centre of it all.

The main event is the Chambers of Wonder where renowned artists, including Yayoi Kusama and Brian Eno, have interpreted crystal to make beautiful, often immersive artworks over 18 different rooms. We also loved the exhibition of Swarvoski-clad costumes worn by stars such as Bjork and Lady Gaga.

For kids, the play tower is incredible – there are four levels to explore with climbing nets, slides and more. And in the summertime, there’s an outdoor play area too.

It’s an unmissable thing to do in Innsbruck with kids, and is just a 30 minute-drive from the centre. There’s also a special shuttle bus that will take you there.

Explore Innsbruck’s family attractions

There are some great things to do with kids in Innsbruck city itself. Visit the Alpine Zoo to see wolves, wildcats, eagles and more. Or visit the Bergisel ski jump to admire the view and hopefully see some amazing ski jumps. It’s designed by Zaha Hadid, so the architecture alone is worth seeing. 

The Nordkettenbahnen lifts and cable cars are one of the most popular Innsbruck attractions, taking you up to the top of the mountains in about 30 minutes from the city centre. Up there, you can ski, snowboard, hike or simply marvel at the view. 

We also loved simply walking around Innsbruck, which has to be one of the world’s most spectacular settings for a city. The Imperial Gardens are a lovely place for a stroll and had a cool light sculpture show on while we were there in January.

Take a sleigh ride

A magical way to experience Tyrol is to take a sleigh ride through the snow, pulled by giant horses. We didn’t get to do this as there were only private sleigh rides available where we were staying, which would have set us back around €150. Normally, they cost around €20 per adult and €10 per child, and a ride lasts around 30 minutes. We saw lots of these, both in Achensee and Seefeld, and it looked like a really fun experience. 

Enjoy some treats in a cosy hut

Tyrol is filled with cute little wooden huts, serving everything you need to warm up. Imagine a roaring fire, hot chocolate and a plate of apple strudel. It’s a peak cosy experience. We went to the toboggan hut in Pertisau, but there are tons of these places throughout the region, and it’s a gorgeous family activity that the adults will enjoy as much as the kids. 

Enjoy your hotel

One of the highlights of visiting Tirol with family is the incredible accommodation on offer. It’s a huge part of the vacation experience, enjoying all the family-friendly facilities, from play areas to spas.

In my opinion, the top of your list of priorities should be an indoor-outdoor pool – I absolutely love swimming in warm water amid a snowy landscape (one of my favourite feelings ever). We highly recommend Wagner’s Aparthotel and Feelfree Nature Resort. Plus I’ve also put together a guide to some of the best family hotels in Tyrol.

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