Ujjaini Roy revisits memories from Christmas holidays 2019 in the Austrian Alpine town Seefeld.
Seefeld is an Alpine town in the Austrian state of Tyrol at an altitude of about 1,180 meters. The small town is known for its cross-country ski trails and has hosted the Olympic Winter Games several times. It lies on a plateau ringed by the Wetterstein and Karwendel ranges. The landmark of this quaint little place is a small baroque church with an onion-shaped dome, which was built in the 1600s and which I photographed several times during our visit.
There is a small train station in the pedestrian zone of Seefeld. The place is well connected to various cities and you can travel easily by train. Also, there are numerous direct regional transport connections from Munich and Innsbruck to this holiday paradise.
In and around Seefeld
Seefeld is a great destination for nature and outdoors. Whether you’re a fan of skiing, sledging, hiking, or sightseeing, Seefeld has a lot to keep you busy and entertained.
Wildsee Carriage Ride
The carriage ride, through this snow-covered winter wonderland, around the Wildsee was an unforgettable experience! The coachman picked us up at the hotel. After everyone was on board and cuddled up with warming furs, the carriage drove off in the partly sunny, partly overcast weather. In 60 minutes, we went through the magic forest of Seefeld and around the romantic Wildsee. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect start to our vacation.
Winter Hiking – Seefeld, Leutasch and Scharnitz
There are numerous hiking trails to choose from in the Olympia region, depending on the distance you want to cover and your preferred level of difficulty. You can get all the information on the trails and routes in the tourist information office. The snow crunches underfoot with every step, the air is fresh and clean. With a bit of luck, on the long walk around Lake Seefeld, you may also find squirrels and ducks.
Seefeld, Scharnitz and Leutasch are the more popular starting points for hikes in the surrounding mountains. More than 650 km of hiking paths, fixed rope routes and nordic-walking routes make your holidays varied. Most popular hiking destinations are a natural reserve, Reither Moor and Lake Wildsee.
Seefeld is located in a high valley surrounded by the Karwendel, the Mieminger chain and the Wetterstein mountains. These mountains allow an above-average amount of snow in the valley and so, conditions are perfect for winter hiking. The high altitudes often promise spectacular winter landscapes. We only did two hikes and both hikes were very scenic and extremely enjoyable. The hiking trails we explored were very accessible, well-marked, and the directions were simple to understand and follow.
A visit to the Rosshütte
You can go up the Rosshütte with the funicular. Another nice experience.
Skiers and snowboarders, not only get their money’s worth here but also all those who want to enjoy a beautiful view over the Alps. The Rosshütte mountain railways operate a relatively small but also the largest ski area in the Olympiaregion of Seefeld. Slopes of all difficulty levels, mostly suitable for families and beginners, and a few kilometres of ski routes around the neighbouring peaks, promise varied skiing days. We went up further to the Seefelder Joch – top of Seefeld, with the funicular. It was a sight to behold! I’m not sure my photos do justice to the spectacular view one gets to experience when at the top.
Day Trip to Innsbruck
The town of Innsbruck is a 50-minute train ride away from Seefeld. The view of the colorful buildings in Innsbruck looks almost like a painting and are a picture-perfect backdrop. A day is enough to see the best of Innsbruck.
We started by exploring the old town of Innsbruck. We strolled through the colorful streets of the town peeking into various shops and sampling food; like the classic strudel from the world-famous Cafe Krôll (here you can also try the Sachertorte – the infamous chocolate cake).
Innsbruck is fairly small, so, most of the sightseeing can be done by foot or by hopping on a bus. We also explored the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl), Maria Theresien Strasse for its beautiful architecture, and also to the river to get a picture of the colorful houses.
Sledging at the Seekirchl
On the last day of our vacation, we went sledging at the Seekirchl, where you have the most beautiful view of this ancient baroque church. For me, this was the best day in Seefeld. To see my son, finally enjoying some snow was simply the best feeling! There are also some tobogganing mountains in the area. We borrowed the sledge in advance from our hotel. In addition to wooden sledges, the hotel guests can also borrow plastic sliding bowls.
Our Stay
We had the perfect stay at the comfortable and convenient, Hotel Lärchenhof (wellness & spa hotel); located minutes from the mountains. The beautiful views of the Alps made it ideal. Plus, it’s family and dog friendly! You’ll also find ample parking for your car. Tucked in the heart of the Alps, this hotel is a perfect place to treat yourself to their lovely spa and sauna – best experience after a day outdoors. The rooms are tastefully designed and presented in a very modern, chic and cosy ambience. The breakfast is perfect with freshly made omelettes, fresh juices, cold cuts, coffee/tea, and oatmeal options.
The evenings spent in their decorated lounge area was Christmassy indeed.. And the warm and cosy fireplace added an old-world charm that one can’t forget.
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