Grandhotel Lienz – relaxation à la East Tyrol

“Lienz, my God, that’s at the end of the world” – that was my reaction when I noticed that a trip from Zurich to Lienz takes about as long as a flight to the Middle East (just under five hours with the fastest travel option). Lienz is the capital of East Tyrol, ruled by Tyrol but sandwiched between Carinthia, Salzburg, South Tyrol and Slovenia. An ideal stopover for the onward journey to Slovenia.

Recently, a direct Postbus connection between Innsbruck and Lienz has been offered. This also makes the route attractive for travelling by public transport. The single ticket costs 15 euros for the three-hour journey over the Brenner Pass and through the Puster Valley. As soon as we have joined the queue in front of the post bus, we are approached by two ladies. “Would we like to buy a group ticket with them?” we are asked. The group ticket costs 32 euros and is sold to a maximum of five people. Since we find a fifth person, we only have to pay 6.40 euros each. A fabulously cheap bargain for this route. On the other hand, even the car is no longer competitive. The group ticket communities are formed by themselves at the bus station – just be there about 10 minutes before departure.

5 star luxury at the Grandhotel Lienz

We start our Austria – Slovenia – Italy trip with two days of relaxation in the middle of the Dolomites city of Lienz. After a short walk from the train station, we reach the 5-star Grandhotel Lienz, which is located directly on the gently babbling Isel. Contrary to the name, the hotel does not date back to the Belle Epoque, but was completely rebuilt a few years ago. The floor plan is simple – lobby and bar in the middle, the culinary area on the right, the spa area on the left and the rooms above. No one has to wander around here.

We move into our room, which impresses with its spacious floor plan and direct view of the enchanting Dolomites. The furnishings are based on the style of traditional grand hotels, but are refined with their own unique touch. In any case, cosiness is in the foreground throughout the hotel. Unusual style experiments and modern design have been deliberately avoided. The result is a mix of splendour and Tyrolean tradition.

The next day we start rested with a delicious breakfast. The buffet is a stunner! If you don’t get your money’s worth here, it’s your own fault. From fresh bread to homemade muesli, fruits, cakes, cheese, meat, waffles and freshly prepared egg dishes, the whole range is covered.

High mountains and Mediterranean flair

For active guests like us, the Grandhotel offers the ideal starting point to discover Lienz and the surrounding area in various ways. After a short walk through the blooming spring landscape, we get a first overview of the Isel Valley from Bruck Castle. On the way back, we make a gelati stop in Lienz. The city exudes a Mediterranean flair and delights with its pretty old town centre.

Back at the Grand Hotel, we treat ourselves to a little refreshment on the sun terrace. But we have probably just caught one of the rare overcast hours. Clouds are rarely seen in the sunny city (over 2,000 hours of sunshine). But we don’t let that stop us and grab two bikes after the sweet break (which the hotel provides its guests with free of charge).

With its well-signposted network of bicycles, the region is well suited for exploring by bike. Our first destination is the Tristachersee, a popular swimming lake in summer. It’s definitely too early for that now. Since the lake is idyllically located in the forest and surrounded by steep rock faces, even a few icy winter remnants still float in the clear water.

After a breather at the lake, we spontaneously integrate a short detour to the Roman Museum Aguntum into our route. Once an important Roman settlement, Aguntum can now be visited on the spot.

Wellness and gourmet enjoyment

Back at the hotel, my calves are loosened with a herbal oil massage. Perfect for relaxing after the bike ride. The wellness area at the Grand Hotel impresses with its extensive offerings. The only thing we miss is the hot tub.

Afterwards, the gourmet dinner is on the agenda. Well-deserved after such an active day, we feast our way through the various courses. The Grand Hotel attaches great importance to the highest quality and regional reference. For us, it was a successful end to the day.

In my opinion, the Grandhotel Lienz offers an excellent price-performance offer (Superior Suite 38 m2 from 230 euros for 2 people). Lienz is definitely a bit off the beaten track, but East Tyrol is surrounded by intact natural landscapes (Matrei, Hohe Tauern National Park, Dolomites) and therefore offers the ideal starting point for hiking and cycling trips in summer and for winter sports enthusiasts in winter (the cable car leads directly from Lienz to over 2,000 m above sea level).

Note: I was invited by the Grandhotel Lienz – thank you very much for this. As always, my readers can be sure that I always represent my views and enthusiasm here.