Lienz

Altitude: 673 metres a.s.l.

Lienz, the “Pearl of the Dolomites” and chief city of East Tyrol, is located at the confluence of the rivers Isel and Drava, between the Hohe Tauern mountain range in the North and the Gailtal Alps in the south. Not only thanks to its Mediterranean climate but also because of its numerous leisure time possibilities and its good reputation as shopping city make of Lienz a very popular holiday destination. From June to September, when the beautiful main square is reserved to pedestrians, tourists can even better enjoy the city, strolling across the little shops or savouring a Cappuccino in the sun.

Very worth to be visited is also Bruck Castle (13th century), which hosts the museum of the city of Lienz and a special exhibition with paintings of Albin Egger-Lienz, the famous East Tyrolean artist. Moreover, the Tammerburg Castle is a popular venue for concerts and various performances. To those particularly interested in culture we also recommend to visit the Phonomuseum, whose exhibition pieces range from antique music barrels to old record players. In Lienz, you may also visit the only evangelic church of East Tyrol, and the Parish church of Lienz, which hosts one of the most precious Baroque altars of Austria. And if you feel like doing a trip outside of the city, don’t miss “Aguntum”, the famous Roman excavation site.

For those who love hiking and nature, there is a dense network of hiking paths leading across the magnificent Hohe Tauern National Park. No matter if you prefer easy walking or more challenging hiking tours, the Hohe Tauern National Park offers a lot of possibilities for everybody. If you have children, don’t miss the petting zoo and the adventure playing ground near the Moosalm mountain hut!

In winter, Lienz boasts the ski regions Hochstein and Zettersfeld, which is particularly popular with families, as well as the Haiderhof ski lift, mainly suitable for beginners and children. If you like tobogganing, you can try the Hochstein-Buchenwaldweg toboggan run, the natural toboggan run in the Lienz Dolomites or the toboggan run on the Schlossberg mountain. Moreover, Lienz boasts a big ice skating rink, which offers great fun for young and old! And, of course, you may not miss the wildlife park in the neighbouring Assling, a habitat for more than 100 animal species.

In the evenings, you can either explore the night-life of Lienz or go to the cinema: the Cine-X offers 4 cinema auditoriums (also 3D), a café and an Asian restaurant. So, see you in Lienz, the “Pearl of the Dolomites”!