Austria: Between Mountains, Flavours and Landscapes That Feel Like Living Paintings

Austria had occupied a special place in my imagination since childhood. Perhaps it was the images of perfectly sculpted mountains, small villages, crystalline lakes and that almost unreal sense of harmony so often captured in photographs of the country. When I finally had the opportunity to visit for the first time, I realised that some landscapes genuinely seem to challenge reality. There are places in Austria where the feeling is immediate: you are not simply looking at a beautiful view, but feel as though you have crossed the frame and stepped inside a painting.

During the journey, I stayed at three hotels connected to Best Alpine Wellness Hotels, each with an entirely distinct personality. That contrast became one of the most memorable aspects of the trip. Although they share a philosophy rooted in hospitality, wellbeing and a deep connection with nature, each property offered its own atmosphere and a different way of framing the beauty of the Alps. In just a few days, we seemed to experience almost every season. There was sunshine, rain, overcast skies, cold mornings and moments when the clouds appeared to wrap themselves around the mountains. Yet none of these changes diminished the landscape. Austria simply shifted its scenery and remained equally captivating.

Alpenrose Wellnessresidenz: The Austria I Had Imagined Since Childhood

Our first stop was Alpenrose Wellnessresidenz, in Maurach, in the Achensee region, and perhaps because it was my first hotel in Austria, the arrival remains particularly vivid in my memory. My room had a wonderful view of the mountains, and opening the curtains in the morning to find that scenery immediately outside was exactly the kind of moment I had imagined whenever I thought about Austria as a child.

The rooms have a warm Alpine character, defined by timber, soft tones and details that create the comforting feeling of a true mountain retreat. Some have balconies overlooking the surrounding landscape, but it was the garden that particularly captured my attention. Set among rocks, greenery and mountains, a beautiful lake seems to blend effortlessly into its surroundings. The combination of water, stone, greenery and the Alpine backdrop creates an almost cinematic composition, the kind of place that instinctively makes you slow down and simply take everything in.

Breakfast was equally memorable: beautifully presented, varied and enjoyed at the unhurried pace that feels entirely appropriate in the Alps. Our first evening also brought an unexpected surprise when we watched a magic show at the hotel. It was playful, charming and completely unexpected, making our arrival feel even more special. It was a wonderful introduction to Austria.

Hotel Post Lermoos: Where the Mountains Take Centre Stage

From there, we travelled to Lermoos and Hotel Post, where the atmosphere changed completely. If Alpenrose had captivated me with its gardens and the feeling of being enveloped by nature, at Hotel Post the mountains seemed almost to enter through the windows.

The rooms reveal a refined Tyrolean elegance, combining timber, natural fabrics and traditional details with a sophisticated sense of comfort. Suites open onto balconies or terraces facing the Alpine landscape, meaning that some of the region’s most extraordinary views are quite literally the first thing you see in the morning. And there is one presence that is impossible to ignore: the Zugspitze. The mountain dominates the horizon and accompanies much of the experience, appearing from the windows, from the pool and from countless vantage points throughout the hotel.

Our cable car excursion, however, took us to another mountain. We ascended the Grubigstein, Lermoos’s own mountain, which forms part of the ski area during winter and becomes a destination for walking and outdoor exploration during the warmer months. The journey itself was part of the experience. As the cable car climbed, the village became smaller beneath us and the landscape gradually opened until the Alps seemed to occupy the entire horizon. We also explored the surrounding area on foot and walked alongside the lake, surrounded by mountains and by scenery that transforms completely once winter arrives and the ski season begins.

That opportunity to discover what lies beyond the hotel made the stay even more interesting. Staying at Hotel Post is not simply about enjoying the property itself, but also about experiencing the rhythm and landscape of Lermoos. Back at the hotel, the pool overlooking the mountains became one of my favourite places. There is something deeply peaceful about being immersed in warm water while looking out towards the Alps. It is one of those rare moments when silence feels like the most natural response.

The spa carries that same connection with the landscape, while the evening brought another memorable experience. We had the pleasure of dining with the hotel’s owners, giving us the opportunity to learn more about the history and philosophy behind the property. Dinner was accompanied by live music, adding an intimate and particularly enjoyable atmosphere to the evening.

Food was another highlight of our stay. The cuisine celebrates regional ingredients and flavours while presenting them with refinement and delicacy. Breakfast followed the same standard, with an excellent selection and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to remain at the table just a little longer. Hotel Post captures the essence of an Alpine experience with remarkable ease, bringing together mountains, gastronomy, nature and genuine hospitality in a way that feels both elegant and effortless.

Alpenresort Schwarz: Contemporary Comfort and the Pleasure of Slowing Down

Our final stop was Alpenresort Schwarz in Mieming, and once again the experience felt entirely different from what had come before. The hotel has a more contemporary personality, yet retains a sense of warmth and comfort that becomes especially valuable after a full day of travelling. My room was exceptionally cosy and comfortable, a space designed for genuine rest and the kind of room that makes you wish you could stay for just a little longer.

Breakfast was another highlight, generous, beautifully presented and delicious, continuing the consistently high standard we had experienced throughout the trip. It was also at Schwarz that I tried one of the most unusual and enjoyable experiences of the journey: whole body cryotherapy. Stepping into a chamber at an extremely low temperature is undoubtedly a challenge, but I managed the full five minutes and came out feeling rather proud of myself. Well known in the wellness world for its association with muscle recovery, physical wellbeing and the invigorating sensation that follows exposure to intense cold, cryotherapy was, for me, above all a fascinating experience and something completely outside my usual routine.

The evening unfolded in a more relaxed rhythm. After a delicious dinner, we continued to the hotel bar, which stays open later into the evening, and it became one of those wonderfully easy nights that seem to happen naturally when the setting is right. The atmosphere was warm, lively and elegant, and it made me realise how easily Schwarz works for different kinds of travellers. It feels equally suited to a family holiday or a trip with friends.

The following morning, I spent literally my final moments at the hotel in its spectacular infinity pool. Surrounded by water, mountains and open sky, it is the kind of place where leaving becomes surprisingly difficult. Before our departure, we enjoyed one last wonderful lunch at one of the hotel’s restaurants overlooking the golf course, a beautifully calm final moment surrounded by the greenery and Austrian landscape that had accompanied us throughout the journey.

Alpenresort Schwarz brought the trip to a close in exactly the right way: with comfort, pleasure and a series of small experiences that became lasting memories. After staying at three such distinctive properties, what remained with me most was not simply the quality of the hotels themselves, but the discovery that Austria can be experienced in so many different ways.

Three hotels, three atmospheres and three very different interpretations of Alpine hospitality, all connected by the same extraordinary landscape. For a country I had imagined since childhood, Austria somehow managed to feel both familiar and completely surprising. Between the mountains, the food, the chocolates, the hospitality and those changing skies, there were countless moments when the scenery seemed too perfect to be real. It was my first visit to Austria, but certainly not one I will forget. At times, it did not feel as though I were simply looking at a landscape at all. It felt as though, for a few days, I had been given the privilege of stepping inside it.