The Serfaus community is a well-known winter sports resort in Tyrol. Together with the neighboring communities of Fiss and Ladis, Serfaus lies on a sun terrace at around 1400 m above the Inn Valley.
Serfaus does not offer any real sights. But interesting buildings. In summer there is a weekly village tour with a visit to the museum.
Winter
The main focus of tourism
in the three mountain villages is clearly on winter sports. There is
a large, attractive ski area with 212 kilometers of slopes between
1200 and 2800 m. 135 km of slopes can be snowed.
There are 11
tow lifts, 16 chair lifts and 11 gondola lifts, almost all of which
are state-of-the-art. Many gondolas and chairlifts have weather
protection covers and heated seats. There are almost no waiting
times (panorama with piste map)
There are 135 km of trails for
Nordic winter sports enthusiasts.
The Serfaus ski school offers
ski courses.
Tobogganing: In Fiss there is a 3 km long toboggan
run. this can be reached with the Schönjochbahn 1. The toboggan run
in Serfaus is 4 km long and starts at the mountain station of the
Komperdellbahn. Night tobogganing is offered in both places
Summer
In summer it is much quieter in Serfaus. Therefore one
tries to attract summer guests (especially families) with special
offers. The mountain railways can be used free of charge with the
guest card. The bus between the three villages can also be used free
of charge. There is also free childcare and free guided mountain
hikes.
For "mountain goats" there is an extensive range of
mountain biking options. The mountain railways also transport
bicycles in the summer season.
Mountain hiking is also
possible. The mountains are worth seeing despite the ski area.
However, due to the large ski area, you have to move quite further
away from the village to find completely untouched mountains in the
high alpine area. But the cable cars help and you can comfortably
get to the undeveloped summit regions. An attractive day destination
for experienced mountain hikers is z. B. the 3004 m high Furgler.
With the Komperdell cable car to the 2320 m high Lazid, the ascent
is shortened from 1400 to 700 m altitude.
An attractive path
for families and beginners, on the other hand, is the "Panorama
Pleasure Path". The easy-to-walk high path between 1950 and 1820 m
above sea level connects the three mountain stations of the
Komperdell, Sunliner and Möselalmbahn. The return journey from Fiss
is possible by bus.
For families, the "Adventure World
Serfaus" in the area of the middle station of the cable car
"Komperdell" is worth seeing. There are e.g. B. a marmot enclosure
and an adventure trail for children, the "Murmeltrail".
Shop
The nearby duty-free zone in Samnaun (Switzerland) is sure to tempt
you to take a trip. The prices there are much higher than the
Austrian ones (except for gasoline, tobacco, some cosmetics).
In Serfaus itself there are 2 supermarkets and many smaller
shops as well as larger sports shops.
From Germany on the A 7 motorway near Füssen:
Drive via
Reutte and the Fernpass on federal roads towards Inntal near Imst.
If you are in a hurry, you can use the Inntal motorway, which
requires a vignette, including the Landeck bypass tunnel for 20 km
between Imst and Landeck (10-day vignette for cars: € 8.30, status
01-2012).
Important: The Landeck bypass tunnel without a
motorway also requires a vignette. If you use the main road in the
Inn Valley and do not have a vignette for the Austrian motorways,
you should drive through the town of Landeck. Attention: The
official signs to the Reschenpass lead through the tunnel (so
disregard and drive straight ahead towards Zams). It is often
checked at the tunnel. The 6.5 km long single-tube tunnel was rated
good in the 2001 ADAC tunnel test.
If you don't feel
comfortable in road tunnels, you'd better drive through the city of
Landeck, which is also ideal for a stopover. Landeck Castle with a
museum is worth seeing (it is more of a castle).
Around the city
The village of Serfaus is closed to motor vehicle traffic.
Exceptions apply to locals and guests staying in Serfaus. Day
visitors have to park their car in the parking lot at the entrance
to the village and take the Dorfbahn to the cable cars.
The
1280 m long Dorfbahn Serfaus underground connects the large car park
at the eastern entrance to the village with the cable cars at the
western end of the village. Use of the fully automated train is
free. The journey time is 7 minutes.
Operating times: winter
season 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Summer season 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The
stations "Raika" and "Kirche" also open up the long village. So if
the area is further away from the cable cars, you can still get to
the valley stations quite comfortably. More detailed information
about the train (technically a cable-driven air cushion track) can
be found in the corresponding Wikipedia article.
The Serfaus
Dorfbahn has been renewed since April 2017. Detailed information can
be found at
www.ferienwohnung-serfaus.at/dorfbahn
Hotel Bär - Leading Family Hotel & Resort
This 5-star
family-oriented luxury resort, part of the Leading Family Hotels &
Resorts group, is located in the heart of Serfaus, offering easy access
to the village's underground metro and ski lifts. It's ranked #3 out of
23 hotels in Serfaus on major review sites, with an overall rating of
4.8/5 based on hundreds of reviews. The hotel specializes in family
holidays, featuring spacious, modern rooms (often with separate
children's areas) that are praised for cleanliness and comfort. Key
amenities include a 1,000 m² Bär Children's Club with age-specific
supervision for kids up to 13, a five-story giant slide, and outdoor
activities in summer. While spa and pool details are sublime for
relaxation, the focus is on family entertainment. Dining options
emphasize inclusive meals, though specifics vary. Guests highlight the
warm service, though some note occasional inconsistencies and variable
value due to add-ons. It's ideal for families seeking a mix of adventure
and pampering in a picturesque alpine setting.
Wellnessresidenz
Schalber
A 5-star superior wellness haven perched above Serfaus
village center, this hotel boasts panoramic views of the Tyrolean Alps
and is just 0.6 km from the Serfaus Cable Car. It holds a 4/5 rating on
Tripadvisor (ranked #4 of 23) and 9/10 on Booking.com, with over 200
reviews praising its extensive 13,000 m² spa area. Amenities include
multiple saunas, steam baths, an infrared cabin, hot tub, modern fitness
room, relaxation zones, a Lady Spa, Private Spa, and a Feng Shui garden,
plus two indoor pools and a heated outdoor pool. Rooms feature
mountain-view balconies or terraces, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and
safes. Dining shines with creative multi-course meals using organic
ingredients, including a summer regimen of four daily meals. Guests rave
about the exceptional service, cleanliness, and cuisine, though some
note it's more suited for couples or wellness seekers than families.
Free parking and ski storage add convenience, making it perfect for
rejuvenating escapes.
Hotel Cervosa Serfaus Gourmet & Spa Resort
Nestled in Serfaus at Herrenanger 11, this 5-star gourmet and spa resort
is a short walk from the metro station and 1.9 km from
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Ski Resort. It earns 9.1/10 ratings on various
platforms, with guests lauding its 3,000 m² wellness expansion.
Amenities feature 12 saunas and steam rooms (including a flower steam
bath and organic wood sauna), three whirlpools, an infinity pool with
mountain views, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center with daily
programs, and spa treatments like massages and facials. Rooms are cozy
with minibars, safes, and furnished balconies overlooking the peaks.
Dining includes seven elegant venues, a wine cellar, tapas bar, and
crystal lounge, serving creative cuisine with fine wines. Reviews
highlight the attentive staff, pet-friendly policy (with bowls
provided), and family-friendly vibe, though some mention wear in older
areas. Ideal for couples or groups seeking luxury and alpine adventures.
Hotel & Garni Das Köhle
A 4-star family-run hotel in Serfaus
center, opposite the Kirche underground station, this property scores
9.5/10 on Booking.com and is praised for its value (ranked highly among
budget-friendly options). It offers bright, spacious rooms with
flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and bathrooms with robes and
hairdryers. Amenities include a heated outdoor pool with views, spa with
sauna and steam room, sun terrace, garden, and free breakfast buffet.
Half-board dining at Köhles Kulinarium features gourmet cuisine (awarded
3 toques). Guests love the cleanliness, friendly service, and central
location for skiing or hiking. Free parking and an ATM add convenience.
Ideal for couples or families seeking a welcoming, mid-range stay with
wellness touches.
Hotel Gabriela
This 4-star family-run hotel
in Serfaus village center, just 100 meters from the Komperdellbahn lift,
earns 8.9/10 ratings and is pet-friendly. Rooms in modern alpine style
include minibars, cable TVs, safes, and mountain-view balconies.
Amenities feature a spa with sauna, steam room, and relaxation area,
plus a hearty breakfast buffet and traditional Austrian dinner at
Hiasl's Stubn restaurant. Free garage parking, ski storage at the lift
base, and Wi-Fi are included. Guests appreciate the cleanliness,
efficient staff, and prime location for skiing or summer hikes. It's
great for families with a small playroom, though more geared toward
couples. Reviews note generous portions and welcoming vibe, making it a
solid choice for convenient, cozy stays.
Prehistoric and Ancient History
The history of Serfaus, a
municipality in the Tyrol region of Austria, traces back to the Bronze
Age, with the oldest evidence of human activity dating to around 1200
BC. Archaeological discoveries include the remains of a 3200-year-old
fireplace on the Komperdell high alpine meadow, suggesting the area was
used as a seasonal pasture or hunting ground by early inhabitants.
Traces from the Late Antiquity and Middle Ages have also been found at
the "Zienerbichl," a prominent hill southwest of the village, indicating
continuous, albeit sparse, human presence. Pre-Roman field names and
Celtic influences are evident in the local toponymy, pointing to Raetic
and Celtic settlers who inhabited the region before Roman arrival. These
early groups, known as the Raeti, were alpine dwellers whose culture
blended with incoming influences over time.
Roman Period
In 15
BC, the Romans conquered the Tyrolean area, incorporating it into the
province of Raetia. This led to a cultural fusion between the indigenous
Raeti and Roman settlers, giving rise to the Rhaeto-Romanic (or Romansh)
people. The Romansh language, still spoken in parts of Switzerland's
Graubünden canton, persists in many place, hamlet, and field names
around Serfaus, reflecting this enduring legacy. The region's strategic
location on a sunny terrace about 500 meters above the Inn Valley likely
facilitated Roman use for agriculture and transit, though no major Roman
settlements are documented specifically in Serfaus itself.
Medieval Period
From the 6th century onward, German-speaking Bavarii
(ancestors of modern Bavarians, Austrians, and South Tyroleans) migrated
into the area, gradually displacing the Romansh language from daily use
by the 12th century. Settlers from the Wallis region (modern
Switzerland) also contributed to the population. Serfaus was first
officially mentioned in documents in the 11th century, marking its
emergence as a recognized village. During this era, Serfaus played a
role in regional settlement patterns; the nearby towns of See and Kappl
in the Paznaun Valley were partially populated via Serfaus, and until
1891, See belonged to the Serfaus rectory, explaining the presence of a
graveyard for See's residents in Serfaus. Key cultural landmarks from
the Middle Ages include the pilgrimage church of St. Georgen, one of the
oldest in the region, where Marian pilgrimages have occurred since
medieval times, boosting early travel and trade. The village's layout
retained characteristics of a clustered Rhaeto-Romanic settlement, with
tightly packed houses adapted to the alpine terrain.
Early Modern
to 19th Century
By the 18th century, records like the 1776 Theresian
Cadastre highlight economic activities, such as Johannes Penz's right to
operate a tavern, indicating growing hospitality infrastructure. In
1812, villagers were required to pay extra taxes for lodging foreigners,
signaling the onset of proto-tourism as travelers passed through the
Tyrolean Alps. The 19th century saw tourism begin to flourish in Tyrol,
though Serfaus remained primarily agrarian until the late century when
it emerged as a revenue source. The village's location in the Oberes
Gericht area positioned it well for future development.
20th
Century: Wars, Fires, and Infrastructure Growth
The early 20th
century marked the beginnings of organized tourism. In 1912, plans were
made for a ski hut (Kölnerhaus) on Komperdell, and by 1931/32, interwar
tourism peaked with 30,000 registered guests. World War II brought
challenges; in 1942, a devastating fire destroyed 14 houses, displacing
16 families (89 people) and causing damages worth about 650,000
Reichsmarks. Post-war reconstruction allowed for a more spacious layout,
diverging from the old clustered design. After WWII, tourism became the
primary income source. Ski infrastructure expanded rapidly: a goods
cable car to Kölnerhaus was built in 1940, converted to passenger use in
1953, and the first tow lift opened in 1954. The 1960s and 1970s saw
numerous lifts and chairlifts constructed, such as the Bifang- and
Alpkopflift (1965), Lazidlift (1970), and Komperdellbahn (1973). To
manage tourism traffic, private vehicles were banned in winter during
the 1970s, replaced by a bus service.
Modern Era: Tourism Boom
and Innovations (1980s–Present)
The 1980s ushered in major
advancements, including the development of the Masner ski area (1980)
and the opening of the Dorfbahn Serfaus (U-Bahn Serfaus) in 1985—an
innovative air-cushion funicular underground train system spanning 1,280
meters with four stations. This free system, capable of transporting
1,500 people per hour, enabled a complete car ban in the village,
enhancing its appeal as a pedestrian-friendly resort and earning it the
title of the world's second-shortest underground line. The 1990s focused
on ski area integration: snow cannons were introduced in 1990, and in
1999, Serfaus merged with Fiss and Ladis to form the
"Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis" ski region, with new lifts like the Sunliner and
reservoirs for snowmaking.
The 2000s and 2010s emphasized
family-oriented and sustainable tourism. Milestones include Berta's
Kinderland (2002), the Waldbahn 8-seater cable car (2005), Murmliwasser
adventure park (2006), and the Bikepark Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (2013).
Recent developments in the 2020s include the 12er-Bahn chairlift (2020),
the 10 EUB Komperdellbahn (2023), and expansions like the Wildlife Trail
and Berta's Familycross fun area (2024). Today, Serfaus boasts over
7,000 guest beds and ranks among Europe's top ski resorts, with about
900,000 overnight stays annually, transforming from a modest alpine
village into a year-round destination.
Serfaus is a municipality in the Landeck District of Tyrol, Austria, positioned in the western part of the country at coordinates 47°02′19″N 10°36′21″E. It sits on a sunny plateau approximately 500 meters above the upper Inn Valley, at an elevation of 1,427–1,429 meters above sea level. This plateau is part of the larger Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis region, formed in 1999 by merging with the neighboring villages of Fiss and Ladis, creating a cohesive alpine area renowned for skiing and tourism. The town is nestled at the foot of the Samnaun Alps, with the Inn River valley below and a 20 km-long ridge called Glockturmkamm across the valley, featuring prominent peaks like Pfroslkopf at 3,148 meters. The municipality spans 59.67 km², blending high alpine terrain with valleys and ridges that define its isolated yet accessible position in the Eastern Alps.
The topography of Serfaus is characterized by its elevated plateau setting amid rugged alpine landscapes, with an average elevation of 1,787 meters across the area, ranging from a minimum of 863 meters in lower valleys to a maximum of 3,131 meters at the highest peaks. The plateau itself forms a relatively flat, sun-exposed terrace above the Inn Valley, providing expansive views and serving as the base for the town. Rising directly above the town is a prominent high ridge connecting Mount Furgler (3,004 meters) to the northwest with Mount Schönjoch (2,491 meters) to the southeast, creating steep slopes and alpine meadows that transition into forested areas and rocky outcrops. The terrain features a mix of gentle plateaus, sharp ridges, and deep valleys carved by glacial activity, with coordinates spanning latitudes 46.99165° to 47.06533° and longitudes 10.46772° to 10.63655°. Key landmarks include high alpine pastures like the Komperdell meadow, used historically for grazing, and erosion features such as Earth Pyramids—tall, conical formations resulting from Ice Age glacial moraine deposits in the valleys, where differential erosion has sculpted the landscape. Slopes vary from moderate in the plateau areas to steep in the surrounding mountains, supporting a dense network of cable cars and trails that access the Tyrolean peaks. The overall relief is dramatic, with the plateau dropping sharply into the Inn Valley below, while the opposite Glockturmkamm ridge adds to the enclosed, basin-like feel of the region.
Serfaus has a continental alpine climate with pronounced seasonal shifts, featuring comfortable, wet summers and freezing, snowy winters, with partial cloud cover throughout the year. Annual temperatures range from 19°F to 68°F, rarely dipping below 9°F or exceeding 77°F. The warm season runs from early June to mid-September, with average daily highs above 61°F and a peak of 67°F in July, accompanied by lows around 50°F. Winters, from late November to early March, see highs below 40°F and lows as cold as 19°F in January. Precipitation is higher during the wet season (May to September), with a 37%+ chance of rain or snow on any day, peaking at 15.5 wet days in June. Rainfall is heaviest in July at 4.9 inches, while snowfall dominates from October to May, with January accumulating up to 9.4 inches. Cloud cover is milder in summer (52% clear skies in July) and denser in other months (up to 61% overcast in May). Humidity stays low year-round with no muggy days, and winds average 3.1–4.4 mph, strongest in winter from the west and south. The growing season lasts about 5.3 months (May to October), and tourism thrives in summer (July to August) for hiking and winter for skiing, influenced by the reliable snow cover and moderate daylight variations (8.6 hours in December to 15.8 hours in June).
Geologically, Serfaus lies within the Eastern Alps, a region shaped by the collision of the Adriatic and Eurasian plates, resulting in intense folding, thrusting, and uplift during the Alpine orogeny. The area is part of the Central Alps, dominated by Palaeozoic granitic and metamorphic rocks, including gneiss cores exposed in geological "windows" like the Tauern Window, where ancient magma-formed peaks have been thrust upward. Precambrian rocks and younger marine sediments from the Mesozoic era are also present, uplifted and eroded over millions of years. In western Tyrol, the geology features complex tectonic units with limestone, marl, and sandstone from Jurassic to Eocene ages in northern zones, transitioning to metamorphic basement rocks southward. Local features include evidence of major rock slope failures and glacial deposits from the Ice Age, which have formed the Earth Pyramids through erosion of moraine silt—fine-grained sediments left by retreating glaciers, sculpted by water and wind into pillar-like structures. Archaeological sites, such as Bronze Age fireplaces on high meadows, indicate long-term human interaction with this geologically active landscape, prone to landslides and shaped by ongoing tectonic compression at the plate boundary.
Beyond its core topography, Serfaus includes high alpine meadows historically used for pasture and hunting, with remnants from Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages at sites like Zienerbichl hill. The region was part of ancient Raetia, influenced by Celtic, Roman, and later Bavarian settlers, reflecting a layered environmental history. Modern features like the U-Bahn Serfaus—an underground air-cushion funicular spanning 1,280 meters—adapt to the geography by promoting car-free mobility across the plateau's slopes. Environmental aspects emphasize biodiversity in the alpine ecosystems, with forests, rivers in the Inn Valley, and protected areas supporting tourism while facing challenges from climate change, such as shifting snow patterns and erosion risks.