Villas in Eastern Tyrol

Matrei and Kals suit skiers on the Großglockner slopes, Lienz suits a town base, and the Villgraten valley suits quiet walks. East Tyrol is cut off from the rest of Tyrol by the Hohe Tauern, so every airport transfer is long. This is chalet and farmhouse country, as busy in summer as in winter, and you will need a car.

Where

Villas: 30
From, per week: £557
Cheapest month: November
Nearest airports: Salzburg and Innsbruck are both around two hours from Matrei by car. Klagenfurt is around an hour and three quarters from Lienz, and Venice around three hours. Flights from London to Salzburg or Innsbruck take around two hours.

Where to stay in Eastern Tyrol

Matrei in Osttirol and the Virgental (Prägraten)

Matrei has the most of our East Tyrol homes. It is a market town where the Tauern valley meets the Virgental, and the Goldried lifts climb from its edge into the Großglockner Resort, linked over the Cimaross peak to Kals. Up the Virgental, Prägraten is the base for the Umbal waterfalls and walks towards the Großvenediger. The Felbertauern tunnel, a toll road, leads north to Kitzbühel.

Best for: Skiers and summer walkers who want a market town with shops

Not for you if: You want a short transfer: Salzburg and Innsbruck airports are both around two hours away.

Kals am Großglockner

Kals sits at the foot of the Großglockner, around 20 minutes from Matrei. Its lifts are the other half of the Großglockner Resort. In summer a toll road climbs to the Lucknerhaus, the start of walks towards the mountain's huts, and the Daberklamm gorge leads into the Dorfertal. Snow tends to hold well here. Allow around two hours to Salzburg airport through the Felbertauern tunnel.

Best for: Walkers and skiers who want Austria's highest mountain above the village

Not for you if: You want evenings out: Kals is a farming village with a few inns and little else.

Lienz and around (Nußdorf-Debant, Iselsberg)

Lienz is East Tyrol's only town, sunny and with an Italian feel to its squares, under the rock walls of the Lienz Dolomites. The Zettersfeld and Hochstein ski areas rise from its edges, and in summer the Tristacher See is the local swimming lake. Nußdorf-Debant is just east, and Iselsberg sits on the pass road into Carinthia. Klagenfurt airport is around an hour and three quarters away.

Best for: Couples and families who want a town with cafés and swimming lakes

Not for you if: You want to ski from the door: the lifts are a short drive or bus ride away.

Innervillgraten and the Hochpustertal (Arnbach)

Innervillgraten is a remote side valley of old wooden farmhouses, with walking and ski touring rather than resort skiing. Arnbach sits on the Italian border by Sillian, where the Hochpustertal ski area starts. The Drau cycle path runs downhill from San Candido, just over the border, to Lienz, and the Three Peaks of the Sexten Dolomites are around half an hour away. Innsbruck airport is about two hours via the Brenner and Italy.

Best for: Walkers, ski tourers and anyone after real quiet

Not for you if: You want lifts close by: Innervillgraten has none, and Sillian is around 20 minutes away.

When to go to Eastern Tyrol

5-star property

Klassik (3SZ)

Kals am Großglockner, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

DishwasherFireplaceMicrowave+8 more

from£481

per night

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5-star property

Superior (3SZ)

Kals am Großglockner, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

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from£547

per night

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3-star property

Olcherhof

Prägraten am Großvenediger, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

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5-star property

2-Bedroom Home, Arnbach

Arnbach, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

FridgeWiFiDishwasher+7 more

from£269

per night

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Sporer

Iselsberg, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

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Kreuzspitze

Innervillgraten, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

ParkingDishwasherInternet+5 more

from£99

per night

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5-star property

3-Bedroom Home, Arnbach

Arnbach, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

BBQParkingDishwasher+10 more

from£204

per night

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from£104

per night

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4-star property

Apartmenthaus Gutwenger in Innervillgraten

Innervillgraten, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

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from£111

per night

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2-Bedroom Home, Innervillgraten

Innervillgraten, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

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from£105

per night

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5-star property

1-Bedroom Home, Matrei in Osttirol

Matrei in Osttirol, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

Air ConBBQParking+8 more

from£84

per night

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Zedlacherhof

Matrei in Osttirol, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

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Zedlacherhof

Matrei in Osttirol, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

Air ConBBQParking+8 more

from£104

per night

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5-star property

Zedlacherhof

Matrei in Osttirol, Eastern Tyrol, Austria

BBQParkingDishwasher+8 more

from£80

per night

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Practical information for Eastern Tyrol

Do you need a car?: Yes. Buses run along the main valleys from Lienz, but the side valleys are thinly served and the ski areas are spread out. The Felbertauern tunnel is a toll road, and the route from Innsbruck via the Brenner adds Italian tolls. You need an Austrian vignette, winter tyres are compulsory in wintry conditions, and carry chains for the side valleys.
Airports: Salzburg and Innsbruck are both around two hours from Matrei by car. Klagenfurt is around an hour and three quarters from Lienz, and Venice around three hours. Flights from London to Salzburg or Innsbruck take around two hours.
Changeover day: Changeover days vary by villa, and many run Saturday to Saturday in high season. Check the villa's dates before you book flights.

Eastern Tyrol villa holidays: questions answered

Is East Tyrol part of Tyrol?

Yes, but it has no land border with the rest of Tyrol. Salzburg state and Italy's South Tyrol sit in between, so from Innsbruck you drive either through the Felbertauern tunnel or through Italy.

Where should I stay for the Großglockner Resort?

Matrei or Kals. The lifts start from both, and the two sides link over the Cimaross peak. Matrei has more shops and restaurants; Kals is quieter and closer to the mountain itself.

What other ski areas are there in East Tyrol?

Zettersfeld and Hochstein at Lienz, the Hochpustertal at Sillian and a small area at St Jakob in Defereggen, as well as the Großglockner Resort. They are not linked, so you will drive between them.

Is the Großglockner High Alpine Road near East Tyrol?

It starts at Heiligenblut in Carinthia, around 45 minutes from Lienz over the Iselsberg pass. It is a toll road, open from late spring to autumn. The Kals side of the mountain has its own shorter toll road to the Lucknerhaus.

Is East Tyrol good in summer?

Yes. Much of it lies in the Hohe Tauern national park, with the Umbal waterfalls, high huts and glacier views. The Drau cycle path runs down to Lienz, and the Tristacher See is warm enough for swimming in July and August.

How long does it take to get from Innsbruck to Lienz?

Around two and a half hours by car, either through Kitzbühel and the Felbertauern tunnel or over the Brenner and along the Pustertal in Italy. Both routes have tolls.

Do you need a car in East Tyrol?

Yes. Airports are around two hours away, the side valleys have few buses and the ski areas are not linked. Hire a car at the airport for the whole stay.

Towns in Eastern Tyrol

Matrei in Osttirol (10)

More villa holidays near Eastern Tyrol

Elsewhere in Austria

Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.

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Villas in Eastern Tyrol

Where to stay in Eastern Tyrol

Matrei in Osttirol and the Virgental (Prägraten)

Best for: Skiers and summer walkers who want a market town with shops

Not for you if: You want a short transfer: Salzburg and Innsbruck airports are both around two hours away.

Kals am Großglockner

Best for: Walkers and skiers who want Austria's highest mountain above the village

Not for you if: You want evenings out: Kals is a farming village with a few inns and little else.

Lienz and around (Nußdorf-Debant, Iselsberg)

Best for: Couples and families who want a town with cafés and swimming lakes

Not for you if: You want to ski from the door: the lifts are a short drive or bus ride away.

Innervillgraten and the Hochpustertal (Arnbach)

Best for: Walkers, ski tourers and anyone after real quiet

Not for you if: You want lifts close by: Innervillgraten has none, and Sillian is around 20 minutes away.

When to go to Eastern Tyrol

Practical information for Eastern Tyrol

Do you need a car?

Yes. Buses run along the main valleys from Lienz, but the side valleys are thinly served and the ski areas are spread out. The Felbertauern tunnel is a toll road, and the route from Innsbruck via the Brenner adds Italian tolls. You need an Austrian vignette, winter tyres are compulsory in wintry conditions, and carry chains for the side valleys.

Airports

Salzburg and Innsbruck are both around two hours from Matrei by car. Klagenfurt is around an hour and three quarters from Lienz, and Venice around three hours. Flights from London to Salzburg or Innsbruck take around two hours.

Changeover day

Changeover days vary by villa, and many run Saturday to Saturday in high season. Check the villa's dates before you book flights.

Eastern Tyrol villa holidays: questions answered

Is East Tyrol part of Tyrol?

Yes, but it has no land border with the rest of Tyrol. Salzburg state and Italy's South Tyrol sit in between, so from Innsbruck you drive either through the Felbertauern tunnel or through Italy.

Where should I stay for the Großglockner Resort?

Matrei or Kals. The lifts start from both, and the two sides link over the Cimaross peak. Matrei has more shops and restaurants; Kals is quieter and closer to the mountain itself.

What other ski areas are there in East Tyrol?

Zettersfeld and Hochstein at Lienz, the Hochpustertal at Sillian and a small area at St Jakob in Defereggen, as well as the Großglockner Resort. They are not linked, so you will drive between them.

Is the Großglockner High Alpine Road near East Tyrol?

Is East Tyrol good in summer?

How long does it take to get from Innsbruck to Lienz?

Around two and a half hours by car, either through Kitzbühel and the Felbertauern tunnel or over the Brenner and along the Pustertal in Italy. Both routes have tolls.

Do you need a car in East Tyrol?

Yes. Airports are around two hours away, the side valleys have few buses and the ski areas are not linked. Hire a car at the airport for the whole stay.