August 2, 2025
The Tyroler Zugspitze Arena is located on the Austrian side of the Zugspitze, an area encompassing seven quaint villages that each offer their own unique charm and character. This area is a true gem during the summer season, boasting beautiful waterfalls cascading down rocky cliffs, sparkling alpine lakes that invite you to take a refreshing dip, and endless bike routes that wind through lush green valleys. The hiking, running, and biking trails cater to all skill levels, ensuring everyone can enjoy the stunning natural landscape. With incredible mountain views, including the imposing Zugspitze, Germany’s highest peak, this location provides a breathtaking backdrop for outdoor family fun.
Sitting about a 2-hour drive from Munich, Germany, or about an hour from Innsbruck, Austria, this region is easily accessible and offers a wonderful getaway for families and adventure seekers alike. In my opinion, this picturesque area is best explored by car, allowing you the freedom to stop and soak in the scenery at your own pace, but trains and buses are also viable options for those looking for alternative methods of transport.
Family Friendly Hikes
The crystal-clear waters of the high alpine lake Seebensee are an excellent choice for a day hike when traveling with younger kids. The trail is stroller-friendly, making it easily accessible for kids of all ages.
To Hike to Seebensee–
The road is a large gravel road, frequented by mountain bikers. About 1/2 mile into the hike, the trail splits, and you can stay on the gravel path for easy stroller accessibility, or you can take the hiking path, which is biker-free.
After about an hour of hiking, you will reach the Seeben Alm; this is a great spot to stop for drinks, snacks, a meal, and a bathroom break. The hut offers shaded patio seating overlooking the high alpine meadow. Overnight accommodations can also be booked at this hut. Of course, beer is served on tap, but my go-to is always a refreshing Radler. A mix of beer and lemonade, in my opinion, this refreshing drink can’t be beat. For kids, Apfelschorle (carbonated apple juice) is usually a hit.
From here, it’s a short hike to Seebensee. Many families choose to enjoy the picturesque lake as their final destination, where they can relax, swim, or simply take in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Further afield, the Coburger hut graces the mountain with an up-close view of Drachensee, a second, smaller alpine lake that lies about 1/2 mile up some challenging switchbacks. from Sebensee. This route offers beautiful scenery along the way, though it can be a bit strenuous for young children.
If you head up to the hut, be sure to enjoy some delicious Austrian specialties like Apfelstrudel and Kaiserschmarren (best described as a mix between a funnel cake and a sweet pancake).
In retrospect, we wouldn’t have dragged our 5 and 7-year-old boys up to this second hut, as it would have given us more time to explore the kids’ adventure area closer to the cable car, which offers engaging play equipment and activities best suited for kids around ages 2-9.
To hike the Moosle Explorer’s Path, take the cable car to the middle station of the Grubigstein cable car. There is free parking at the base of the Grubigstein, and the one-way trip to the middle station was only about 20 euros for our family. Exit at the middle station and look for the signs ‘Moosles Pforcherpfad’. The trail is well marked, and I guarantee your children will be running around the bend to find the next play area.
This path ends in Lermoos and can link to another children’s hike, Moosle’s Zaunerwald (Discovery Path), which offers various fun games and exploratory stations. If you don’t want to take the cable car up to the Explorer’s Path, you could park in Lermoos and follow the Moosle Discovery Path at the base of the mountain instead.
A fun game at one of the stops along Moosle’s Discovery Path
On a hot day, or following a nice hike – check out the panoramabad in Lermoos. This family-friendly outdoor pool has several waterslides and picturesque pools set among the mountain landscape. The full-day price for 1 adult is an affordable 10.50 euros, 7.40 for kids aged 6-15, while kids under 6 are free. Half-day options are even cheaper.
Where to Stay:
We used booking.com to locate an affordable, centrally located hotel. For this trip, we booked the Dormero BeHo Zugspitze in Biberwier, which was a real win for its affordable price, family-friendly room equipped with a queen bed and children’s bunk bed, indoor pool, and location at the base of the summer toboggan run and kletterwald (high ropes course). To reserve your accommodation on booking.com follow this link to help us earn a small commission: here.
Where to Eat:
Honestly, you can’t go wrong with the delicious regional fare at any guesthouse or restaurant in this region. Huts serve simple but delicious fare at reasonable prices. I had a tasty Tiroler Gröstl at a local restaurant in Lermoos after hiking the Moosle’s Explorer’s Path (a hash of fried potatoes, ham, and other goodness). Käsespätzle is another tasty option in this region.
But what will the kids eat? Our kids ALWAYS have a schnitzel with fries. While slightly inaccurate, we first explained the schnitzel as a very large chicken nugget. It must have worked because they return for that delicious fried hammered and breaded pork or veal cut every time!
We hope this post is helpful. If you plan a trip to this area, let us know!
The Atlas Expeditions 