Kufstein – 7 good reasons and attractions for the «Pearl of Tyrol»

Advertising: Contribution in cooperation with the Austrian National Tourist Office

Admittedly, I was not familiar with the Kufstein song before my detour to the small historic town on the banks of the Inn. The song, composed in 1947, in which Kufstein is sung about as the “pearl of Tyrol”, is one of the greatest hits of folk Schlager. However, I have now remedied this educational gap during our two-day stay in the charming small town.

But the song alone is not the main reason for a detour to Kufstein. The fortress towering high above the city, the cobblestone streets of the old town, a dynamic culinary scene as well as the location on the Inn and proximity to the Kaiser Mountains nature reserve make Kufstein truly a worthwhile – and also extraordinarily diverse – destination. At the latest after reviewing my seven good reasons brought back from the trip, your desire for Kufstein is also awakened. Bet!

1. Because you can experience over 600 years of tavern history here

Kufstein is conveniently located directly on the Railjet route from Zurich to Vienna and can therefore be easily reached by train from Switzerland without having to change trains. The train station is located directly opposite Kufstein’s landmark – the 90 m high Festungsberg. A truly impressive sight. At the foot of the mountain, with solid masonry behind it, is the Auracher Löchl. The traditional company has helped shape the history of Kufstein since the 15th century.

Once a simple beer tavern, the Auracher Löchl is now a restaurant, boutique hotel and gin mecca at the same time. The fact that the Auracher Löchl always keeps up with the times and invests far-sightedly in the future is evident in the latest expansion. This summer, after an extensive restoration and renovation phase, the “Panorama 1830”, a casual rooftop bar and ten new boutique suites, were opened right next to the main building.

So you can toast to an enjoyable evening at lofty heights with a view of the Inn (weather permitting, otherwise it’s quite comfortable inside). And after hearty Tyrolean fare in the wine house, he ends it with a gin and tonic in the legendary Stollen 1930. Fortunately, the warm bed is waiting only two floors above.

2. Because Kufstein’s old town knows how to score points with its casual flair

The Auracher Löchl not only houses all the components for an enjoyable break under one roof, but is also ideally located for exploring Kufstein’s old town on foot. The most popular photo motif in Kufstein (along with the fortress) is right on your doorstep. Hardly any visitor to Kufstein can resist the charm of Römerhofgasse.

The Römerhofgasse is located on the way to the Lower Town Square, which can be described as the “heart” of Kufstein. The traffic-free square is lined with historic, colorful buildings. Pretty bay windows, imposing stepped gable façades, the golden Marienbrunnen fountain and Austria’s first Spar branch – yes, there is a lot to discover here.

If you walk from the Lower Town Square towards the Upper Town Square on a sunny afternoon, you will quickly notice that Kufstein, despite its historic past, does not seem dusty at all. Thanks to the university of applied sciences located here, Kufstein attracts many students who contribute to the city’s rejuvenation and at the same time are drivers for the opening of new, hip cafés and trendy restaurants. My favourites: the Café Liebelei when the weather is nice and the book café in the Lippott House when the outlook is cloudy.

3. Because the sounds of the organ can be heard over Kufstein every day

Fortified with caffeine, we are ready to tackle the fortress mountain. Thanks to the lift, you can reach the cultural monument that is important for Tyrol without any special effort. The fortress is spacious and can be explored individually and at your own pace. If you like, you can download the free audio guide app “Kufstein Fortress” from Google Play or App Store. But there is one fixed point you should remember: The Hero Organ is brought to life every day at 12:00 noon.

Built in 1931 by organ builder Oskar Walcker in the civic tower of the fortress, the organ is considered the largest open organ in the world with 4,948 pipes after an expansion in 1971 and 2009. The console of the organ is located in the Festungsneuhof. The distance between the console and the organ pipes is just one of several challenges that await organists at a premiere on the Heldenorgan. After all, you can’t practice either – at least not without the whole of Kufstein listening in.

In addition to the organ concert and the exciting historical turmoil around the fortress, the view over the city, the Inn and the surrounding Kufsteinerland is of course reason enough to include the detour to the fortress hill in the sightseeing program.

4. Because there are countless beautiful fortress views to discover

The fortress hill with the defiant building characterizes the cityscape of Kufstein. But where do you have the best view of the fortress and where is the best place to capture the unique city scenery?

A 1A view of the fortress is available from the roof terrace of the centrally located Hotel Andreas Hofer. The seasonal and regional cuisine of the hotel restaurant enjoys an excellent reputation. In autumn, for example, there are game dishes from our own hunt. With appropriate reservations, the meal can be taken on the roof terrace at no extra charge. Especially on nice days it is a wonderful place – and I would say something of an insider tip.

A short walk from the city centre, the Calvary with the Andreas Hofer monument offers a great panoramic view over the rooftops of the old town to the Festungsberg and the striking Pendling behind it – Kufstein’s local mountain.

5. Because a ride on the Kaiserlift slows you down wonderfully

If the weather cooperates, then the Weinbergerhaus high above Kufstein also scores with a wonderful view down to the city and a far-reaching view over the Inn Valley to Germany. The detour with the Kaiserlift from Kufstein to the Brentenjoch at 1,200 m above sea level in the middle of the Kaiser Mountains nature experience is also worthwhile on cloudy days. During the general renovation of the lift (one of the oldest in Tyrol) carried out in 2015, the concept of the single-seater chairlifts was deliberately adhered to.

The almost 30-minute ride from the valley station to the mountain station is nostalgic and wonderfully decelerating at the same time. Once at the top, you can either explore the extensive network of hiking trails in the Kaiser Mountains, enjoy a delicious piece of crumble cake on the sun terrace of the Weinbergerhaus, or immerse yourself in the world of herbs together with Maria Bachmann.

The herb expert is happy to pass on her knowledge during guided herb hikes. Take a closer look and recognise the treasures of nature – this also contributes to deceleration. And if after just under half an hour you have already collected a rather colourful bouquet of alpine herbs and then processed them into a finely scented herbal salt using the simplest methods, it gives an incredibly satisfying feeling. By the way, I’ve been taking one of Maria’s tips to heart ever since: Eat in such a way that you have all the colors of the rainbow on your plate once every day.

6. Because Kufsteinerland is a paradise for pleasure cyclists

Kufstein is compact. A full day is enough to see the top sights of the historic small town. After that, the surrounding area beckons. For connoisseurs, to which I count myself, Kufsteinerland has specially designed the so-called “Kaiserweis pleasure bike circuits“. The three bike tours lead from Kufstein along the Inn to the culinary treasures of the surrounding villages.

On our almost two-hour tour from Kufstein towards Ebbs and back, we pass the show distillery “Zum Messerschmied” and the Kaissenhof, where you can not only get the world’s best lard (honestly, it’s so unbelievably delicious!), but also a lovingly designed farm shop with many fine home-made products. All those who appreciate a hearty snack with excellent meat quality should not miss this bike tour.

The bikes can also be easily rented thanks to the Bike Tirol rental system (located at Kufstein train station). You can choose from normal bikes as well as e-bikes in a really good quality.

7. Because you can enjoy a multifaceted award-winning cuisine in Kufstein

It’s no secret – we’re self-confessed foodies and passionately test our way through well-rated restaurants. Kufstein has several trump cards up its sleeve in this regard. The first restaurant check takes us – including a beautiful view of the fortress – past the List monument to the outskirts of Kufstein.

A wonderful evening walk and the perfect way to get in the mood for the creative cuisine of Austria’s youngest award-winning chef. 22-year-old Viktoria Fahringer designed a completely new concept for her parents’ business – the Tiroler Hof – and implemented it in 2019 after handing over the business. Today, father and daughter work together in the kitchen, with Viktoria dedicating herself to gourmet cuisine and spoiling her guests with a colourful and tasteful multi-course menu at the Chef’s Table (bookable for a maximum of 2 people per evening).

What is remarkable is her willingness to experiment and the fearlessness with which the young entrepreneur tackles and implements things. In any case, I’m curious to see in which direction her culinary signature will develop.

While Viktoria Fahringer incorporates vegetables and herbs from her own allotment garden into her menus, Stephan Mauracher, host at the Stadthotel Alpenrose, has gone one step further. He runs the Lindhof in the idyllic Thiersee, a 15-minute drive from Kufstein. The farm is literally the “food” centre of the family business, which includes the Alpenrose as well as the Sonnhof in Hinterthiersee.

Anyone who walks through the Lindhof together with Stephan Mauracher and listens to his explanations quickly notices that a passionate creator is at work here. I am impressed by the large vegetable plantation, where Stephan Mauracher is always experimenting with new varieties – unusual for these latitudes. Currently in the test: ginger.

Whether this experiment succeeds will become clear next spring. Either way, the freshly harvested products are integrated into the excellent gourmet menu of the Alpenrose. During our visit, we had, among other things, the Lindhof artichoke and raviolo of beetroot. And: On the way from the city centre to the Alpenrose, there is another new perspective on the fortress.

Extra tips for your trip to Kufstein

• The direct Railjet connection Zurich – Kufstein is served 6 times a day. The train journey takes 4 h 11 min.
• Both the Hotel Andreas Hofer and the Auracher Löchl are centrally located accommodations within walking distance of the train station, which we can recommend.
• From an overnight stay in Kufsteinerland, every holiday guest from the age of 4 receives the KufsteinerlandCard, which includes, among other things, free admission to the fortress as well as the ascent and descent with the Kaiserlift. You can also use it to take part in the herb hikes (as well as other experiences) carried out as part of the weekly programme free of charge.
• Kufstein is also the production site of the world-famous Riedel glasses. The Schauglashütte including shop (and outlet) is located directly opposite the Hotel Alpenrose.
• In addition to the two cafés on the Lower Town Square mentioned in the article, it is also worth making a stop at Café Kleinod in Kaiserbergstrasse.
• To the west of the station is the organic butcher’s shop Juffinger, which also offers an inexpensive lunch menu every day.
• One of the Kaiserweis partner businesses is the Burgeralm near Walchsee, which we visited in the summer of 2018. Although this is just outside Kufsteinerland, the detour can be easily combined with an e-bike tour from Kufstein.