Seefeld Seefeld Plateau Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

This high plateau in the Austrian Alps, sitting at 1,200 metres above sea level, hosted Nordic skiing events during the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. The village of Seefeld itself clusters around a pedestrianised centre where Habsburg-era buildings house contemporary restaurants and traditional Tyrolean Stuben. Beyond the main square, the hamlets of Mösern, Reith, and Scharnitz spread across the plateau, each with distinct character — Mösern perched on a sunny terrace overlooking the Inn Valley, Scharnitz marking the dramatic entrance to the Karwendel Nature Park.

The plateau's identity splits between winter and summer pursuits. Some 266 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails draw Nordic skiers from across Europe, while the compact downhill areas suit families and intermediate skiers seeking uncrowded slopes. Summer transforms the landscape into hiking and mountain biking terrain, with the Karwendel's limestone peaks providing a stark alpine backdrop. The dining scene ranges from wood-panelled farmhouses serving Tiroler Gröstl and Kaspressknödel to more refined establishments where chefs interpret regional ingredients with modern technique. Evening activity centres on hotel bars and a handful of après-ski venues rather than late-night clubs.