Things to Do in Kufstein, Austria – The ‘Pearl of Tyrol’

[Updated September 2020]

Kufstein is one of the best-preserved small historic villages in Austria. In the shadow of the Kufstein Fortress, on the banks of the Inn River, the town is easily reached by train or road. This list of things to do in Kufstein will help you make the most of your time spent here.

Kufstein At A Glance

Top attraction	Kufstein Fortress with Heroes’ Organ
Famous export product	Riedel Glass
Location	About halfway between Munich, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria
Getting there	Train or A12 motorway
Top hotels	arte Hotel or Träumerei #8

Things to Do in Kufstein, Austria

Visit the Kufstein Fortress

The Kufstein Fortress is unmissable from its dominant position on a hill overlooking the town. If the walls of this well-preserved fortress could talk, it would awe you with tales of fierce battles fought over many centuries.

First mentioned as Castrum Caofstein in a document from 1205, the Kufstein Fortress was of great strategic importance in battles between the German Bavaria and the Austrian Tyrol.

The Festungsbahn, a glass-walled funicular railway, whisks you to the top of the fortress in minutes. While the use of the funicular is included in the ticket price, there’s a lot to see and learn when taking the stairs. Therefore, I’d recommend taking the stairs at least one way.

In 1504, Kufstein and its fortress were conquered by Emperor Maximilian I. His secret weapons? Two cannons called Weckauf (meaning wake up) and Purlepaus which came all the way from Innsbruck on a raft on the Inn River. Each cannonball weighed between 100 and 150 kg. Replicas of the famous cannons can be seen in the fortress’ Kaiserturm or Emperor’s Tower.

Kufstein Fortress Visitors’ Information

Visiting the Kufstein Fortress is certainly worth the entrance fee. There is more than enough to keep you entertained for well over an hour if not two.

Ticket prices	Summer	Winter
Adults	€12,50	€11
Kids (6-18)	€7,50	€6,50
Families (2 adults, 2 kids)	€26	€23
Opening hours	09:00 – 17:00	10:00 – 17:00

Grab an information brochure at the ticket office and embark on a self-guided tour. Even without going into the official “museum” spaces, there are information boards explaining what you see in important areas.

There are 21 stations on interest, including the Elisabeth Batterie with its cannons, a 60-metre deep well, and an underground tunnel connecting two sides of the fortress.

This tower is home to a collection of exhibits of the famous Tyrolean Imperial Infantry (Kaiserjäger) and rifle companies (Schützen). But the biggest attraction in the Bürgerturm of the Kufstein Fortress must be the Heroes’ Organ (more information below).

Other Kufstein Fortress attractions include:

• State prison museum – The top storey of the Kaiserturm was turned into a state prison during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It’s possible to walk into the former cell block with its 13 cells where prominent Hungarian political dissidents were imprisoned.
• Fortress and local history museum – State-of-the-art exhibition technology make this museum well worth a visit.
• Special exhibitions – Regular special exhibitions, like the one about punishment in the Middle Ages, are held at the Kufstein Fortress. Also look out for special events, such as the Knights’ Festival which is held over the Whitsun weekend every year.

Listen to the Kufstein Heroes’ Organ

With 4948 pipes and 65 registers, the Kufstein Heroes’ Organ is the biggest free-standing organ in the world. Inaugurated in 1931, the organ was built as a memorial to World War I victims. Every day at noon the sound of organ music erupts from the organ pipes. On a “good wind day,” it can be heard up to 10 kilometres away.

The daily “concert” lasts about 20 minutes, always ending with The Good Comrade. If you ask kindly in advance, the organist may play your favourite song before that.

Johannes Berger, the resident organist, plays on most days. The biggest challenge for guest organists is that they’re unable to practice before they play the Heroes’ Organ for the first time. Why? Because their attempts will be heard by the entire town! (Given the fact that there’s a delay of a third of a second before the notes are heard, it’s not an easy task to play the instrument.)

We’ve listened to the organ from inside the tower as well as from a street café in the Unterer Stadtplatz (lower town square). I preferred the latter, soaking in the sounds and the atmosphere over a cold beer. There is also a pavilion near the main entrance to the fortress from where to listen to the Heroes’ Organ.

Tip: In summer, the Kufstein Heroes’ Organ is also played at 18:00. All other activities, including the fortress funicular, come to a standstill for the duration of the performance.

Walk Down Römerhofgasse

A stroll down the quaint Römerhofgasse is a must on any list of things to do in Kufstein, Austria. In the shadow of the fortress, the cobbled lane is the first on your right after crossing the Inn River from the train station.

If there’s a street steeped in history, it’s this one. Buildings, restaurants, and hotels to look out for are:

Auracher Löchl

Perhaps most famous as the place where Karl Danzer composed his famous song, the Auracher Löchl is one of the best-known traditional restaurants in Tyrol. After all, it’s been around for more than 600 years!

According to the owners, the Auracher Löchl is also home to the smallest bridge restaurant in the world. The Brückenrestaurant or bridge restaurant caters for 2 guests only.

If you only have time for a drink while exploring the Römerhofgasse, why not try a gin in the Auracher Löchl’s Stollen 1930 speak-easy gin bar.

A memorial stone for Karl Ganzer, composer of the worldwide hit yodelling song Die Perle Tirols (The Pearl of Tyrol), also known as the Kufsteiner Lied, can be seen next to the Auracher Löchl.

Ganzer composed the song in 1947 but it was Franzl Lang’s 1968-recording which made it world-famous. The song tells the story of a vacation in Kufstein.

Batzenhäusl Schicketanz

The Batzenhäusl Schicketanz is to Kufstein what the leaning tower is to Pisa and the bait is to the fisherman.

Wall enscription

The Batzenhäusl Schicketanz is Kufstein’s oldest wine tavern and just as deeply steeped in legend as the Auracher Löchl. Interesting historic artifacts such as 16th-century cannon balls await you inside, while the outside is decorated with colourful murals and traditional sayings.

Note: I heard that Batzenhäusl is currently closed to the public but was unable to find information to confirm this.

Visit the Riedel Glassworks

Kufstein Tyrol is home to the manufacturer of some of Austria’s best export products – Riedel glass. Visitors to the Riedel Glass factory can watch how the different glass products are still blown with the mouth in a special tour called Sinnfonie. Where else will you find a better useful souvenir of Austria than in the factory shop?

Take the Kaiserlift into the mountains

The Kaiserlift, one of the last one-seater chair lifts in Tyrol, takes you to 1,200 metres above sea level from where you have panoramic views of the mountains and valleys that surround Kufstein, Austria. This is also the starting point for various hikes – definitely one of the top things to do in Kufstein if your time allows it.

Where to stay in Kufstein

If you like sleeping in historic buildings, the Träumerei #8 boutique hotel next to the Auracher Löchl is a good option. Each room is decorated according to a theme representing a different place in the world.

For something more modern, the arte Hotel is a great new addition to the accommodation in Kufstein.

Eating and drinking

There are many good options for restaurants in Kufstein, Austria. I already mentioned the Auracher Löchl. Another good choice for traditional Austrian food is Restaurant Perlepaus, named after one of the famous cannons. You can’t miss it at the foot of the fortress.

Our choice during our last visit fell on Hans im Glück, a burger restaurant on the corner of Römerhofgasse and the Unterer Stadtplatz. A big selection of burgers, including vegan, at reasonable prices and an interesting forest interior made for a pleasant dining experience.

Getting to Kufstein

By car – Kufstein, Austria is easily reached via the A12 Inn Valley motorway from the west (Innsbruck) and the A93 motorway from the east and north (Munich and Salzburg). There is ample parking in and around the city centre. Watch out for the blue signs with a big white P on them.

By train – A stress-free and quick way to reach Kufstein. The town is on the main railway line connecting Innsbruck with Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. This means there are not only regular trains but also fast trains stopping in Kufstein. We prefer taking the regional train from Hall in Tirol, another of Tyrol’s beautiful historic old towns.

Check train connections & ticket prices here