If you're looking for a family holiday in the Alps that actually works with young children, put Wilder Kaiser high on your list.

We spent six nights here with our two boys, who were two and four at the time, and it quickly became one of those places where we found ourselves wondering why more people don't talk about it.

The scenery is incredible, but what really stood out to us was how much there is for children to actually do. There are mountain adventure worlds, water play, easy walks, cable cars, animals and plenty of opportunities for children to explore rather than simply being told to admire the view. And that made a huge difference for us.

Because travelling with young children isn't always about finding the most spectacular hike or reaching the highest mountain. Sometimes it's about finding somewhere that gives your children a reason to want to keep walking.

This is our practical guide to visiting Wilder Kaiser with kids, including the best things to do, where to stay, how to get there, which passes you need and what we learned from our own family trip.

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Planning a family holiday to Wilder Kaiser? Here’s everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful part of Austria with kids, including the best things to do, where to stay, how to get there, which passes you need and how long to spend here.

Where is Wilder Kaiser?

Wilder Kaiser is in the Austrian state of Tyrol, close to the German border and surrounded by the dramatic Kaiser Mountains. The four main villages you'll come across when planning a family holiday here are:

Ellmau
Going
Scheffau
Söll

Each village has a slightly different feel and gives you access to different mountain lifts and activities, but they're all close enough together that you can explore more than one area during your stay.

This is one of the things I really liked about Wilder Kaiser. You don't have to choose one attraction and then spend hours travelling to everything else. There are family activities spread throughout the region, making it a really practical base for a holiday with young children.

How to get to Wilder Kaiser

Wilder Kaiser is relatively easy to reach from several airports, making it a good option for a family holiday in Austria.

Munich Airport

Munich is around 1.5–2 hours away by car, depending on exactly where you're staying and traffic.

This is the route we took. We flew into Munich, picked up a hire car and drove into Austria as part of our wider family road trip.

Salzburg Airport

Salzburg is around 1–1.5 hours away by car and is probably the most convenient option if Wilder Kaiser is your main destination.

It's also a good choice if you'd like to combine your mountain holiday with some time exploring Salzburg.

Innsbruck Airport

Innsbruck is another option, particularly if you're planning to explore more of the Tyrol during your trip.

Do you need a car?

Not necessarily.

The region has local buses, including the KaiserJet, which connects the villages with many of the main lifts and attractions. The Wilder Kaiser GuestCard also includes useful public transport benefits.

However, we found having a car much easier with two young children. It gave us the flexibility to explore different villages, carry all the usual family stuff and change our plans depending on the weather.

If you're staying in one village and planning to use the lifts and local buses, you could manage without one.

Why is Wilder Kaiser so good for families?

There are plenty of beautiful mountain destinations in Austria, but Wilder Kaiser has something that makes it particularly appealing if you're travelling with toddlers or younger children.

The mountains are the playground.

Instead of simply taking a cable car to the top of a mountain to admire the view, there are mountain adventure worlds designed to get children exploring.

You'll find water features, barefoot trails, climbing and balancing activities, themed trails, forests, playgrounds and, in some places, animals too.

There are several mountain adventure worlds across the wider region, including Hexenwasser in Söll, Ellmi's Zauberwelt in Ellmau, KaiserWelt in Scheffau and Astberg Pony Alm in Going.

And for us, that meant our boys were excited about going into the mountains in their own right. They weren't just coming along because Mum and Dad wanted to go hiking. They actually wanted to know what was around the next corner. That is a big difference when you're travelling with toddlers and preschoolers.

The Best Things to do in Wilder Kaiser with kids

1. Explore the mountain playgrounds and adventure worlds

This is probably the biggest reason I'd recommend Wilder Kaiser for a family holiday.

The mountain adventure worlds turn a day in the Alps into something children can really get involved in, with play areas, water, themed trails, climbing, balancing and opportunities to explore.

Several are reached by cable car, so you don't need your children to hike up the mountain before they can start enjoying it.

The different adventure worlds each have their own character, so I'd recommend looking at them before your trip and choosing the ones that best suit your children's ages and interests.

I've written a full guide to the mountain playgrounds we've visited, including what each one is like and which worked best for our children.

The Best Mountain Playgrounds in Wilder Kaiser with Kids

2. Other things to do in Wilder Kaiser with kids

Go hiking with kids

You don't need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy the Wilder Kaiser mountains with children.

There are plenty of shorter walks, and the cable cars mean you can get up into the mountains without having to hike all the way from the valley.

For us, this is one of the best things about visiting the Alps with young children. You can combine a walk with a playground, mountain restaurant or another activity, rather than expecting the walk itself to entertain everyone.

Visit the lakes

There are several lakes around the Wilder Kaiser region where you can slow things down for a few hours.

This is particularly useful with younger children because not every day needs to be a mountain adventure. A morning in the mountains followed by an afternoon by the water can make for a much more manageable family holiday.

Go cycling

The area around Wilder Kaiser is also popular for cycling, with routes through the villages and surrounding countryside.

If your children aren't ready for longer rides themselves, there are family-friendly bike hire options to look into.

Explore the villages

Don't forget about the villages themselves.

Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Söll each have their own character and are useful places to stop for food, pick up supplies or simply have a slower afternoon.

With young children, I actually think these quieter parts of a holiday are important. You don't need an itinerary packed with activities every single day.

Where to stay in Wilder Kaiser with kids

The four main villages in Wilder Kaiser are Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Söll, and all make good bases for a family holiday. Which one you choose will largely depend on which mountain areas and activities you want easiest access to.

Ellmau

Best for: An all-round family base with plenty of facilities and easy access to the mountains.

Ellmau is a great option if you're visiting Wilder Kaiser for the first time, with restaurants, shops and plenty of activities nearby.

Family hotel: Sporthotel Ellmau
A good choice if you like having plenty of facilities at your accommodation, including swimming and wellness facilities, while staying in the heart of Ellmau.

Family apartment: Landhof Ellmau
Ideal if you'd prefer the space and flexibility of an apartment but still want hotel-style facilities. Apartments sleep between two and nine people, with balconies or terraces and family-friendly facilities.

Going

Best for: A quieter village, beautiful mountain views and easy access to Astberg.

Going has a lovely traditional village feel and is particularly convenient if Astberg and the Pony Alm are on your list.

Family hotel: Vital- & Panoramahotel Sonnenhof
A higher-end option with spectacular mountain views and a 1,500m² wellness area. It's a little outside the centre, so having a car can be useful.

Family apartment: Eden Boutique Apartments
A lovely family-run option with mountain views and a convenient location for exploring the area. The apartments are a good choice if you'd prefer the extra space and flexibility of self-catering.

Scheffau

Best for: KaiserWelt and a quieter mountain base.

Scheffau is a good option if you want somewhere a little quieter and plan to spend time around the Brandstadl mountain and KaiserWelt.

Family hotel: Kaiserlodge
A more luxurious option at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser, with its own lake and family-friendly facilities.

Family apartment: Apartment Wilder Kaiser
A practical option for families who want their own space, with a garden and facilities for younger children. It's around 2km from the centre of Scheffau.

Söll

Best for: Hexenwasser, family activities and easy access to amenities.

Söll is probably the most obvious choice if Hexenwasser is one of the main reasons you're visiting Wilder Kaiser. It's also a convenient base with plenty of places to eat and shop.

Family hotel: Beim Hochfilzer
A particularly family-friendly option with Haflinger horses, outdoor space and a heated outdoor pool.

Family apartment: Haus Kaiserherz
A family-run apartment option close to the centre of Söll and within easy reach of Hexenwasser and the mountain lift.

Which area would I choose?

If you're visiting Wilder Kaiser for the first time, I'd probably look at Ellmau or Söll.

I'd choose Söll if Hexenwasser was a priority, Ellmau for an easy all-round base, Going if I wanted somewhere a little quieter, and Scheffau if KaiserWelt was high on my list.

That said, the villages are close enough together that you don't have to stay right next to every attraction. If you have a car, it's easy to explore different parts of the region during your stay.

Where we stayed

We stayed at Haus Rabl in Itter, which is actually just outside the Wilder Kaiser region.

Don't let that put you off, though. It's very close to Wilder Kaiser and, with a car, we found it really easy to get into the region and explore the different villages and attractions.

We absolutely loved Haus Rabl. It was a lovely base for our family and we'd happily stay there again. If you're looking for accommodation in the area and don't mind being just outside the Wilder Kaiser region, it's definitely worth considering.

Wilder Kaiser cards and passes: which one do you need?

The different cards and passes can be confusing when you're planning a family holiday, so it's worth working out what you actually need before buying anything.

Wilder Kaiser GuestCard

If you're staying in registered accommodation in Wilder Kaiser, you'll receive a Wilder Kaiser GuestCard from your accommodation. You don't buy this separately.

It gives you various benefits around the region, including public transport benefits and discounts on selected attractions, swimming pools, bike rental and mountain lifts.

If you're staying in Wilder Kaiser, definitely make use of your GuestCard.

Bergbahn ErlebnisCard

The Bergbahn ErlebnisCard is the one to look at if you're planning several days using the mountain lifts. It covers the mountain lifts in the Wilder Kaiser–Brixental area and the Mountain Adventure Worlds.

For summer 2026, adult prices start at €40 for one day, with cheaper per-day rates on longer passes. Whether it's worth buying depends entirely on your itinerary.

If you're planning several mountain days, it could save you money. But if you're only planning one or two cable-car trips, compare the cost with buying individual tickets first.

Kitzbühel Alps Summer Card

The Kitzbühel Alps Summer Card covers a much wider area than the Wilder Kaiser passes. It gives access to 39 summer lifts across the Kitzbühel Alps and includes discounts with selected bonus partners.

This could be worth considering if you're planning to explore beyond Wilder Kaiser during your holiday. If you're mainly staying around Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Söll, I'd compare it with the Bergbahn ErlebnisCard before buying anything.

So which card should you get?

For most families, I'd keep it simple:

Staying in Wilder Kaiser? Use your GuestCard.

Planning lots of mountain days? Compare the Bergbahn ErlebnisCard with individual lift tickets.

Exploring a much wider area? Look at the Kitzbühel Alps Summer Card.

And don't forget that young children don't necessarily need the same tickets as adults, so check the current age bands when planning your trip.

When is the best time to visit Wilder Kaiser with kids?

We visited Wilder Kaiser in summer, and this is the season I'd particularly recommend for families with young children.

Summer means you can make the most of the mountain adventure worlds, cable cars, walking trails, lakes and outdoor activities without needing to plan your days around the weather quite as much.

The mountain adventure worlds are seasonal, though, so always check the opening dates of the specific lifts and attractions you want to visit before booking.

Spring and autumn can also be lovely, particularly if you prefer quieter conditions, but some attractions and cable cars operate limited seasonal schedules.

Wilder Kaiser is also a winter destination, with skiing and other snow activities, but our experience is based on visiting in summer.

What to pack

Mountain weather can change quickly, so I'd take:

Layers
Waterproof jackets
Comfortable walking shoes
Sun hats and sun cream
Water bottles
A small backpack
Spare clothes for younger children

And if you're visiting somewhere like Hexenwasser, definitely take spare clothes. Water play and small children are a predictable combination!

How many days do you need in Wilder Kaiser?

I'd recommend at least 4–5 days if you're travelling with young children.

You could see some of the highlights in a shorter trip, but I wouldn't rush it.

One of the things that makes Wilder Kaiser work so well for families is that you can have a completely different type of day each day.

For example:

Day 1: Hexenwasser Söll
Day 2: Ellmi's Zauberwelt
Day 3: Easy family walk + village exploring
Day 4: Astberg and the Pony Alm
Day 5: KaiserWelt Scheffau or a relaxed lake/swimming day

You don't need to follow this exactly. The weather, lift opening dates and your children's energy levels will all play a part.

And honestly, I'd leave some flexibility in your plans.

A two-year-old and four-year-old can quite happily spend hours playing somewhere you thought would take half a day.

Our Wilder Kaiser family experience

We spent six nights in Wilder Kaiser with our two boys, aged two and four, and I think that was a really good amount of time.

What worked particularly well for us was not trying to make every day a huge mountain day.

We could spend a day exploring one of the adventure worlds, then have a slower day, then head back into the mountains.

That flexibility is one of the reasons I'd recommend Wilder Kaiser for families with young children.

It's adventurous enough to keep adults interested, but there are enough things designed around children that you don't spend the whole holiday persuading them to keep walking.

Is Wilder Kaiser worth visiting with kids?

For us, absolutely.

We've visited some incredible mountain destinations with our boys, but Wilder Kaiser stood out because it felt like the whole family could enjoy the mountains rather than us simply trying to make the children tolerate them.

The scenery is spectacular, but that's not actually the reason I'd recommend it.

I'd recommend Wilder Kaiser because our boys genuinely enjoyed being there.

They had places to play, things to discover and reasons to keep going when their little legs were starting to get tired.

If you're looking for a family holiday in Austria that gives you proper mountain adventure without needing your children to be keen hikers, Wilder Kaiser is somewhere I'd definitely consider.

More Austria family travel guides

Planning a bigger Austrian adventure? You might also like our other family travel guides, including our guides to the Dolomites, Stubai Valley and our Munich to Venice family road trip.

The Ultimate Family Guide to Wilder Kaiser, Austria