Achensee Day 1: Arrival and a Rainy Afternoon

The five-hour long train ride to Jenbach in Tyrol flew by. As usual, we first ordered a tasty Viennese breakfast on the train and enjoyed the ever-changing landscape passing by while we ate.

Then we played an exciting card game, and before we knew it, we had arrived in Jenbach.

There, we had to wait: almost an hour until the next bus to Achensee. We found a cozy bench and soaked in our first impressions of Tyrol.

The last time I had been here was as a teenager in 1983. Much had changed since then; nothing looked familiar.

When we finally reached Pertisau, we first checked into our beautiful hotel. Our cozy room was on the second floor, and from the balcony, we could see the lake.

Although it had started to rain, we decided to explore the charming village first.

Soon we arrived at the Karwendel cable car station, where we bought the Achensee Experience Card for about 90 euros per person. This card is valid for a week and allows unlimited rides on the Rofan cable car, the Karwendel cable car, Achensee boat tours, and the Achensee railway.

We wanted to use the ticket immediately, so we took a gondola of the Karwendel cable car right away. Despite the ongoing rain, we repeatedly enjoyed the magnificent views down into the valley from the gondola.

At the mountain station, located at 1,500 meters above sea level, numerous huts and restaurants awaited visitors.

We weren’t hungry yet, so we simply admired the surroundings and let the picturesque mountain scenery sink in.

From a viewing terrace, we had a stunning view over the lake and Pertisau.

Back down again, we strolled toward the lake. The rain had gotten heavier. Just as one of the boats was docking, we spontaneously decided to take a lake cruise.

By now, it was pouring. We found a cozy, dry spot on the boat, grabbed some coffee, and enjoyed the wild yet very romantic atmosphere on the lake. Spectacular mountains and green hills appeared again and again.

The two-hour trip around the lake was an unforgettable experience despite—or perhaps because of—the weather.

Back at the hotel, it was time for coffee and cake, which were included in our package. The hot coffee was perfect after all the rain, and the homemade cake tasted simply delicious.

We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the hotel’s wellness area. The warm water felt wonderful after such an eventful day. I especially liked the outdoor section—what could be better than swimming in the rain?

In the evening, we enjoyed a wonderful multi-course dinner in the hotel restaurant. Numerous delicacies of Tyrolean cuisine were served—it was a dream.

That day, we went to bed early—it had been a long day.