When to Visit Tirol – A Month By Month Guide: May (The Pre-Summer Month)

© Tirol Werbung /Verena Kathrein 

May is a great time to visit Tirol if you want to avoid the summer heat and still enjoy just as much sunshine. In May, warm-weather sports and culture breathe new life into the mountains, valleys, lakes, towns and villages of Tirol. Celebrate spring and the warming weather with hikes, sightseeing at Innsbruck, capital of the Alps, concerts and more at festivals like the Tschirgart Jazz Festival in Imst and the Stoabeatz Lakeside Festival at Kufstein Kaiserwinkl. Take your bike out to explore the over 500-kilometer long Inn Cycle Path. The altogether sunnier and greener spring surroundings make the already beautiful scenery a downright gorgeous experience. May is an extraordinarily beautiful time of year in Tirol… this is truly the time to catch the sun, vibe and warmer temps of spring, with summer on the horizon.

May Activities

While the backcountry trails may be too muddy to ride, May is prime time to plan a road biking trip in Tirol. For a uniquely scenic ride, take your bike out to the Inn Cycle Path, which runs alongside the Inn River that gave Tirol’s capital Innsbruck its name. The classic 520-kilometer long Inn Cycle Path, which is ranked among the Alps’ most scenic long-distance cycle routes, follows the river from its source on Maloja Pass, Switzerland, through Austria’s Tirol for roughly 150 kilometers and ends at its confluence with the Danube in Passau, Germany. The 360-kilometer long section from Landeck to Passau mainly runs on purpose built safe cycle ways along the River Inn, with a very moderate grade: Although you’ll ride across the mountains, the elevation gain is a mere 300 meters. Moreover, the Tirol section of the Inn Cycle Path gives access to worthwhile towns and villages, such as Innsbruck, Hall, Schwaz and Rattenberg.

Stams © Tirol Werbung

May Sightseeing

Of course, Innsbruck’s splendors also open up to those who want to see the best of Tirol’s capital with minimal physical effort. Innsbruck thrives with the coming of the first warm days! For a day trip, head to the historic old town district in the morning and explore enchanting cobbled alleys and lanes, shops and streetside cafes. “The Sightseer“ is a great way to see Innsbruck’s landmarks at your own pace—you can hop on and hop off the buses at any of the stops around Innsbruck, like “Maria-Theresien-Straße” or “Landesmuseum”, and ride the bus to Ambras Castle high above Innsbruck. Archduke Ferdinand II had the medieval castle converted into the present splendid Renaissance castle to display his collections of world-wide fame. The beautifully preserved romantic Renaissance-style castle includes a rich collection of arts, armouries and books, a Chamber of Wonders and the world’s oldest museum. The castle’s delightful English landscape garden is a great place for relaxing in the late afternoon. If you still have the strength to keep going, you are recommended to immerse yourself into the lively nightlife of Innsbruck.

Old town of Innsbruck © Tirol Werbung

May Events

Summer may be the high season for festivals, but you can find some fun springtime events, too. Some of the year’s most exciting festivals roll out in May, including the Tschirgart Jazz Festival, which will bring international top acts to the small town of Imst from May 2 to 11, 2019, including Grammy winner Diane Reeves, Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull and guitar hero Al Di Meola. May 30 to June 01, 2019, scenic Kaiserwinkl Region puts on the big summer kick-off festival Stoabeatz on the shores of Walchsee Lake. This three-day event is jam packed with live acts and a diverse variety of side events, ranging from yoga sessions over BBQ workshops to walks and a fun party vibe