Pitztal Attractions: The Best Things to Do in the Valley

The Pitztal is not a valley you see in a day. Once you are here, it becomes clear quickly: around every bend there is something worth stopping for. A mountain lake, a summit, a café at 3,440 metres. This guide covers the best attractions and day trips in the Pitztal, from right on the doorstep of Mandarfen to the lower valley.

The Rifflsee

At 2,232 metres, the Rifflsee is the largest mountain lake in the Ötztal Alps and one of the most beautiful spots in the entire valley. Guests staying in Mandarfen can reach it directly via the Rifflseebahn cable car. At the top, a turquoise lake opens up against a backdrop of alpine peaks. Whether you are after a gentle walk around the shoreline or a longer hike into the surrounding mountains, the Rifflsee works as a starting point for both. Worth taking your time.


Café 3440 at the Pitztaler Glacier

Tirol's highest café sits at exactly 3,440 metres above sea level. The Wildspitzbahn gondola brings you up, and from the panoramic terrace the view stretches across the glacier to the Wildspitze, Austria's second highest peak. Homemade cakes, hot drinks and one of the most dramatic views in the Alps. A day trip that works in summer and winter alike. The glacier is easily reached by car from Mandarfen.

Hochzeiger and the Zirbenpark

The Hochzeiger mountain in Jerzens sits about 30 minutes by car from Mandarfen and offers some of the best hiking terrain in the valley in summer, as well as a family-friendly ski area in winter. At the mid-station, the Zirbenpark is worth a stop at any time of year: a one-kilometre circular trail through ancient stone pine forest, with rest stations, information points and a pace that invites you to slow down.

Benni-Raich-Brücke

At the entrance to the Pitztal in Arzl, the Benni-Raich suspension bridge spans the Pitzeklamm gorge at 94 metres above the valley floor. Named after the Pitztal ski racing legend Benni Raich, it is open to walkers and forms part of a circular trail through the gorge that takes around one and a half hours. Suitable for children and good for anyone who enjoys a bit of drama underfoot.

Stamserhaus Wenns

The Stamserhaus in Wenns is the oldest farmhouse in Tirol, over 700 years old and carefully restored. Inside, it houses a remarkable collection of more than 40 historic nativity scenes in different styles, alongside carnival masks and historical engravings. A quieter kind of afternoon, especially worth combining with a drive through the lower valley.


Naturpark Kaunergrat

Bordering the Pitztal directly, the Kaunergrat Nature Park is one of the largest protected zones for endangered species in Tirol. Marked trails, themed walking routes and guided hikes make the alpine landscape accessible at different levels. From dry valley slopes to glacial terrain above 3,000 metres, the range is remarkable. A good destination for those who want to explore the region's natural side in more depth.

Erdpyramiden

One of the valley's lesser-known natural curiosities: the Erdpyramiden are slender earth columns formed where rain washes away clay and gravel around harder stones, leaving strange natural towers behind. Unusual, photogenic and easy to combine with a drive through the lower valley.

Getting There from Mandarfen

Rifflsee: directly accessible via the Rifflseebahn from Mandarfen. Pitztaler Glacier and Café 3440: short drive from Mandarfen. Hochzeiger and Zirbenpark in Jerzens: around 30 minutes by car. All other destinations in the lower valley are reachable by car in 20 to 40 minutes.

A full week in the Pitztal and you will still find a corner you have not explored yet. You are very welcome to find out.