Best Glamping Spots Near Innsbruck for a Night Under the Stars
Words by
Anna Huber
Best Glamping Spots Near Innsbruck for a Night Under the Alps
I have spent the better part of three summers chasing the best glamping spots near Innsbruck, and I can tell you that this city does not disappoint when it comes to sleeping outdoors without sacrificing comfort. The Tyrolean Alps wrap around the valley like a fortress of stone and pine, and from nearly every elevated perch you can find a dome tent Innsbruck visitors rave about, a treehouse stay Innsbruck locals keep secret, or a luxury camping Innsbruck retreat that feels like a five-star hotel with a forest floor. What follows is my personal directory, built from actual nights spent at each of these places, with the kind of details you only get from someone who has eaten breakfast there, argued with the Wi-Fi, and watched the sun set behind the Nordkette range from a hot tub at 1,800 meters.
1. Natterer Boden Eco Lodge — Natterer Boden, Mutters
I first stumbled onto Natterer Boden during a late September hike when the larch trees were turning gold and the air smelled like woodsmoke and damp earth. This is a luxury camping Innsbruck experience that sits on a working farm in Mutters, just a ten-minute drive from the city center. The safari-style tents are raised on wooden platforms, each with a proper bed, a small wood-burning stove, and a private terrace facing the mountains. I ordered the farm breakfast the next morning, which came with eggs from the chickens I could hear clucking outside, homemade elderflower jam, and dark rye bread that the farmer's wife bakes every Thursday. The best time to visit is mid-September through early October when the harvest season is in full swing and the tourist crowds have thinned. Most tourists do not know that the family has been farming this land since 1683, and if you ask the older Natterer brother, he will show you the original land deed framed in the farmhouse.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the tent at the far end of the row, the one closest to the tree line. It is the quietest, and on clear nights you can see the Zugspitze lit up from your pillow. Also, the farm shop sells smoked trout on Fridays only, and it sells out by noon."
If you want a treehouse stay Innsbruck style but with the grounding comfort of a farm beneath your feet, this is the place. The connection to Tyrolean agricultural life here is not performative, it is the real thing, and that authenticity is what keeps me coming back.
2. Glamping Tirol — Lanserhaus, Lans
Glamping Tirol sits on the Lanserhaus property in the village of Lans, which is technically a suburb of Innsbruck but feels like a world apart. I visited in July and spent two nights in one of their geodesic dome tent Innsbruck guests keep posting about on social media, and I understand why. The domes are climate-controlled, which sounds like cheating the outdoors, but when the temperature drops to eight degrees at night in the mountains, you stop caring about purity. Inside, there is a king-size bed, a rainfall shower, and a skylight positioned directly above your head so you fall asleep watching stars. I ordered the Lanserhaus restaurant's Tiroler Gröstl, a pan-fried dish of potatoes, pork, and a fried egg, and it was the best version I have had in the region. The best time to visit is June, when the alpine meadows are wild with flowers and the restaurant's terrace is open for dinner. Most visitors do not know that the Lanserhaus has been a wellness hotel since 1998, and the glamping domes were only added in 2020, so the infrastructure is genuinely new.
Local Insider Tip: "Book the dome on the eastern edge of the property. It catches the first light, and if you wake up at 5:30 in summer, you will see the sun hit the Karwendel range before anyone else on the property is even stirring. Also, the hotel's sauna is free for glamping guests after 8 PM, which is when it empties out."
This is luxury camping Innsbruck at its most polished, and the proximity to the city means you can be at the Hofburg Palace by mid-morning if you want a culture fix after your night under the stars.
3. Alpin Lodge Innsbruck — Schlotterhof, Aldrans
Schlotterhof in Aldrans is one of those places that makes you question why anyone stays in a conventional hotel. The Alpin Lodge sits on a hillside above the Inn Valley, and the treehouse stay Innsbruck visitors talk about here is not a literal treehouse but a series of elevated wooden cabins connected by walkways through the forest. I stayed in the largest cabin, which has a loft bedroom, a ground-floor sitting area, and a balcony that overlooks the entire valley. The best meal I had was a venison stew served in the lodge's dining room, paired with a local Zweigelt red from a vineyard in nearby Hall in Tirol. Visit in late August when the evenings are warm enough to sit outside but cool enough that the wood stove feels necessary. Most tourists do not know that the Schlotterhof property was originally a hunting lodge for the Habsburg court, and the stone foundation of the original structure is still visible near the parking area.
Local Insider Tip: "The walkway between cabins three and four has a gap in the railing where you can see straight down to the valley floor. It is the best photo spot on the property, but only if you go at dawn when the mist fills the valley. Also, the lodge offers a guided foraging walk on Saturday mornings in July and August, and the guide, a woman named Petra, knows every edible mushroom in the Karwendel park."
The Habsburg history here is not just a footnote, it is embedded in the stones and the layout of the property, and sleeping in a cabin on what was once imperial hunting ground gives the whole experience a weight that a standard hotel room never could.
4. Karwendel Camping — Scharnitz
Scharnitz sits at the western edge of the Karwendel Nature Park, about thirty kilometers from Innsbruck, and Karwendel Camping is the closest thing to a backcountry experience you can have without carrying a backpack. I camped here in August and chose one of their fixed tent platforms, which come with a pre-erected canvas tent, sleeping bags, and a gas stove. The luxury camping Innsbruck crowd might find it rustic, but the trade-off is that you wake up at 1,200 meters with nothing but silence and the sound of the Isar River. I hiked the Karwendel High Trail the next day, a route that takes about six hours and crosses three alpine passes. The best time to visit is July, when the trail is fully snow-free and the wildflowers are at their peak. Most visitors do not know that Scharnitz was a major trading post on the route between Innsbruck and Munich, and the old customs house still stands at the entrance to the village.
Local Insider Tip: "The campsite's small shop sells a local cheese called Schwaiger that is made by a dairy two kilometers up the road. It is not available in Innsbruck shops, and it is the best cheese I have had in Tyrol. Also, if you tell the campsite owner you are planning the High Trail, he will pack you a lunch with homemade Speck bread, and he does it for free."
This is the dome tent Innsbruck adventurers dream about, stripped down and honest, and the Karwendel park is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern Alps, which means the wilderness here is not a curated experience, it is the real thing.
5. Hotel & Restaurant Fischerhaus — Fischerhäuslweg, Igls
Igls is the village that Innsbruck locals go to when they want to feel like they have left the city without actually leaving. The Fischerhaus sits on Fischerhäuslweg, a quiet street that runs along the Inn River, and their glamping setup consists of a small cluster of luxury tents in the garden behind the main hotel. I visited in June and spent one night in a tent that had a proper bathroom, underfloor heating, and a minibar stocked with local schnapps. I ordered the Fischerhaus's trout, which was caught that morning from the river I could hear from my tent, and it was served with a horseradish cream and roasted potatoes. The best time to visit is early June, before the summer crowds arrive and while the river is still cold and fast from snowmelt. Most tourists do not know that Igls was the site of the bobsled and luge events during the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, and the old bobsled run is still visible on the hillside above the village.
Local Insider Tip: "The tent closest to the river is the one you want, but bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper because the water is loud at night. Also, the hotel's breakfast buffet includes a cheese called Bergkäse that is aged in a cave above the village, and it is only served on weekends."
The Olympic history of Igls gives this place a layer of significance that most glamping spots lack, and the combination of river sound, mountain air, and a proper bed makes this one of the best glamping spots near Innsbruck for people who want comfort without pretension.
6. Bergwelt Karwendel — Hinterriss
Hinterriss is a village so small that most maps do not bother to label it, and Bergwelt Karwendel is the only accommodation for kilometers in any direction. I drove here in September along a road that narrows to a single lane in places, and when I arrived I found a collection of wooden bungalows and a single dome tent Innsbruck hikers use as a base for the Karwandel trails. The dome is basic, a canvas structure on a wooden platform with sleeping bags and a small stove, but the location is extraordinary. I ate dinner at the Bergwelt's restaurant, a wild game goulash with dumplings that was the richest thing I had all trip, and then walked outside to a sky so full of stars I lost count of the constellations. The best time to visit is September, when the tourist season is over and the village belongs entirely to the locals and the deer. Most visitors do not know that Hinterriss is one of the last villages in Austria that is not connected to the national power grid, and the Bergwelt generates its own hydroelectricity from the stream that runs behind the property.
Local Insider Tip: "The dome tent is only available from June to October, and you need to book directly by phone because it is not listed on any booking website. Also, the owner, a man named Franz, will drive you to the trailhead at Johannishütte in his Land Rover if you ask him the night before, and he refuses to accept payment."
This is the most remote entry on this list, and the off-grid character of Hinterriss makes it feel like a different century. If you want a treehouse stay Innsbruck experience that trades luxury for raw authenticity, this is where you come.
7. Camping Innsbruck-Thaur — Thaurer Straße, Thaur
Thaur is a village just east of Innsbruck, and the camping ground on Thaurer Straße is the most accessible option on this list. I visited in May, before the summer season officially opened, and had the place almost to myself. The glamping option here is a series of fixed tents with real beds, electricity, and shared bathroom facilities that are cleaned twice daily. I ordered a beer at the small bar near the entrance and sat outside watching the sun set behind the Nordkette, which is the mountain range that forms the southern wall of the Innsbruck valley. The best time to visit is May or September, when the weather is mild and the campsite is quiet. Most tourists do not know that Thaur has been a settlement since the Bronze Age, and the local church, the Pfarrkirche St. Romedius, contains frescoes from the 1400s that are among the best-preserved in Tyrol.
Local Insider Tip: "The tent sites at the back of the campsite are cheaper and quieter than the ones near the entrance, and they have a direct view of the Nordkette. Also, the bakery on Thaurer Straße, about a two-minute walk from the campsite, opens at 6 AM and sells a Vollkornbrot that is the best bread in the Innsbruck valley."
This is the most budget-friendly option on this list, and the proximity to Innsbruck means you can combine a night under the stars with a morning at the Golden Roof or a cable car ride up the Nordkette. It is not luxury camping Innsbruck style, but it is honest and well-located, and sometimes that is enough.
8. Naturhotel Forsthof — Forstweg, Zirl
Zirl sits at the western end of the Inn Valley, where the valley narrows and the mountains close in, and the Forsthof is a naturhotel that offers a small number of glamping tents in the forest behind the main building. I stayed here in July and chose a tent that was set back from the others, surrounded by spruce trees, with a composting toilet and a solar-heated outdoor shower. The luxury camping Innsbruck crowd might balk at the lack of a proper bathroom, but the trade-off is a level of privacy and quiet that you simply cannot get at a larger operation. I ate dinner at the Forsthof's restaurant, a Käsespätzle with fried onions and a green salad, and it was the kind of meal that makes you understand why Tyrolean food has the reputation it does. The best time to visit is July, when the forest is dense and green and the outdoor shower is actually warm. Most tourists do not know that Zirl was the site of a major battle in 1809 during the Tyrolean Rebellion, and there is a monument to the rebel leader Andreas Hofer at the entrance to the village.
Local Insider Tip: "The tent farthest from the main building is the one I always ask for. It is a three-minute walk from the restaurant, but you cannot hear anything from the other guests, and the morning light through the spruce trees is extraordinary. Also, the hotel offers a guided herb walk on Wednesday mornings, and the guide will teach you to identify over thirty medicinal plants in the forest behind the property."
The Tyrolean Rebellion history here adds a layer of meaning to the landscape, and the Forsthof's commitment to naturhotel principles means that your stay has a genuinely low environmental impact. This is the best glamping spot near Innsbruck for people who want to feel like they have disappeared into the forest without actually roughing it.
When to Go and What to Know
The glamping season in the Innsbruck valley generally runs from May through October, with the peak months being July and September. July offers the warmest weather and the longest days, but it also brings the most visitors and the highest prices. September is my personal favorite, the light is golden, the air is crisp, and the harvest season means local food is at its best. May and June can be unpredictable, with rain and even snow at higher elevations, but the wildflowers and the empty trails make it worthwhile if you are prepared.
Most glamping operations in the Innsbruck area require advance booking, especially for weekends and holiday periods. I recommend booking at least two months in advance for July and September, and one month in advance for May, June, and October. Many of the smaller operations, particularly those in Hinterriss and Zirl, do not appear on major booking platforms and require direct contact by phone or email.
Transportation is straightforward if you have a car, as all of the locations listed above are within a forty-minute drive of Innsbruck city center. Public transport options exist for some locations, the IVB bus network covers Mutters, Lans, Igls, and Thaur, but the more remote locations like Hinterriss and Scharnitz require a car or a taxi.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the most popular attractions in Innsbruck require advance ticket booking, especially during peak season?
The Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace can be visited without advance booking, but the Nordkette cable car and the Bergisel Ski Jump observation deck often have long queues in July and August. The Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, about 15 kilometers east of Innsbruck, requires timed entry tickets during peak season and sells out on weekends. Booking online at least 48 hours in advance is recommended for all major attractions between June and September.
What are the best free or low-cost tourist places in Innsbruck that are genuinely worth the visit?
The Altstadt (Old Town) walking route, including the Golden Roof, the Hofburg, and the Cathedral of St. James, costs nothing and takes about two hours. The Inn River promenade runs the length of the city and is free, offering views of the Nordkette and the colorful house facades. The Hofgarten, a public park near the city center, is free and open until 9 PM in summer. The Bergisel Ski Jump exterior and the surrounding park are free to access, and the view from the top of the jump platform costs nothing if you walk up the stairs rather than taking the elevator.
How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Innsbruck without feeling rushed?
Three full days are sufficient to cover the Golden Roof, the Imperial Palace, the Hofgarten, the Bergisel Ski Jump, the Nordkette cable car, and a half-day trip to the Swarovski Crystal Worlds. Adding a fourth day allows for a visit to the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum and a leisurely walk through the Altstadt without rushing. Visitors who want to include a day hike in the surrounding mountains should plan for five days.
Is it possible to walk between the main sightseeing spots in Innsbruck, or is local transport necessary?
The Altstadt, the Golden Roof, the Imperial Palace, the Cathedral of St. James, and the Hofgarten are all within a fifteen-minute walk of each other. The Bergisel Ski Jump is about a thirty-minute walk from the city center, and the Nordkette cable car station (Hungerburg) is accessible by funicular from the Altstadt in about eight minutes. The Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens requires a bus ride of approximately 20 minutes from the main train station. For most visitors, walking combined with the IVB public transport system is sufficient.
What is the safest and most reliable way to get around Innsbruck as a solo traveler?
The IVB public transport system, including buses, trams, and the funicular, is safe, reliable, and runs from approximately 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM. A single ticket costs €2.80, and a 24-hour pass costs €6.00. Taxis are widely available and metered, with a typical fare from the city center to the airport costing around €18. The city is also highly walkable, and the Altstadt is largely pedestrianized. For solo travelers, the combination of walking and public transport is the most practical and cost-effective option.
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