“Hütte” in Austria, “Rifugio” in Italy, and “Dom” in Slovenia. Whatever you call it, you will certainly have an unforgettable experience sleeping in it.

In this guide, we will share some insights on what to expect when sleeping in a mountain hut, a few tips and recommendations on how to make your first time a little more comfortable, and a list of Instagram-worthy mountain huts in Austria.

Mountain Hut Basics in Austria

From the Feldkircher Hütte in the West to the Habsburghaus in the East, there are hundreds of mountain huts dotting the Austrian Alp landscape. The majority of Austrian mountain huts are owned by an Alpine Club, such as the Austrian Alpine Club or the German Alpine Club, while a handful of huts have remained in the hands of families for generations.

Mountain hut season lasts for roughly 122 days. So by June, snow is melting, huts are opening, hikers are trekking, beers are flowing, and strudels are…strudeling. Whether you are ending a multi-hour day hike or beginning a multi-day trek, stepping inside a rustic hut for a hearty meal, hot shower, and a night’s rest in the midst of jaw-dropping alpine scenery is what most hiker dreams are made of.

Mountain Hut Culture in Austria

Visiting mountain huts is an integral part of the hiking experience in Austria. When you choose to sleep in a mountain hut, you are choosing to get closer to nature, support a family business, and fall in line with Austrian tradition. However, mountain hut culture can be shocking for a first-timer. Sharing house shoes, having little to no privacy in bathrooms, fighting for power outlets, and sleeping (or not sleeping) in a room with 14 strangers are a few common problems you may run into on your first time, but sleeping in the mountains doesn’t mean you have to rough it. It can actually be quite enjoyable. For the best experience, I recommend going with 1 or 2 friends and opting for a private room vs the shared one.

For all the uncomfortable and negative aspects of staying in a mountain hut, there are twice as many positives. The mountains are bigger, the wildlife is friendlier, the food is fresher, the stars are brighter, and the sunsets and sunrises are better. While the amenities may not be 5-star, the atmosphere is far better.

Just think about it–mountain huts get an entire night sky of stars while the highest-rated hotels in the world only get 5 stars.

Mountain Hut Advice in Austria

1. Make a reservation 2-5 months before your hike.

2. Pay your bill before you go to bed so you can get away quickly in the morning.

3. Bring cash as some huts have spotty internet service, so credit card machines are not very reliable.

4. Do not leave your trash in the hut. There is no garbage, recycling, or waste collection, so whatever you bring with you, also bring it out.

5. Join an alpine club to receive discounts and save money.

6. Bring a sleeping bag liner, but if you forget, they are usually available for sale.

7. Inform the hut owner of any allergies or food preferences. While many huts won’t have a lavish menu, they can usually accommodate dietary restrictions given advanced notice.

8. Bring playing cards. Being high up off the grid, away from the noise also means having a limited cell phone signal. After the sun has gone down, cards help pass the time and can help you make new friends.

9. Showers run for maybe 3 minutes, so don’t take too much time shampooing your hair or else you will run out of water to wash it out.

10. Bring a headlamp. There are typically no lights in the dorms and bedrooms to save on electricity bills and light pollution.
    

Mountain Hut Packing List

• Micro-fiber sleep liner so you can keep clean from the reused blankets

• Noise Cancelling AirPods so you can listen to soothing sounds and not people snoring around you

• The North Face Down-Insulated Hoodie so you stay warm when watching the sunset at night

• Travel Towel Microfiber Towels so you can dry off after a shower

• Black Diamond Trekking Poles so you can get to the hut a little easier

• Crocs Unisex-Adult Classic Clogs so you don’t have to share with other guests

• Sea to Summit wipes so you can get away with not taking a shower

• Petzl headlamp so you don’t run into walls and doors when roaming the halls at night

• Playing Cards so you have something to do after the sun goes down

Mountain Huts in Austria to add to your list:

The increasingly popular photos of rustic, all-wood huts and alpine mountainscapes have generated 255K photos across Instagram using #mountainhut, #berghütte, and #Hütte. Here is a list of Austrian mountain huts worthy of those hashtags –

1. Karlsbaderhütte (2260 m)

Perched 7,400ft up in the Lienz Dolomites sits the quaint and rustic Karlsbaderhütte, often referred to as the "king of the huts" due to its stunning views and unique location. It is one of Austria’s most beloved mountain huts and is surrounded by picture-perfect rugged peaks, the glacial lake Laserzsee, and epic via ferratas. You will likely see mountaineers gathered here in the summer, as this is a popular starting point for climbing.

The trail to Karlsbaderhütte takes you on an increasingly uphill journey through a lush forest and along rolling green hills dotted with friendly mountain sheep. Just as you begin to lose steam on a hot summer day, Karlsbaderhütte comes into view completely surrounded by rugged limestone peaks.

Where: Lienz Dolomites, East Tirol
Hut starting point: Dolomitenhütte parking lot
Duration: 2 hours one-way from the parking lot to Karlsbaderhütte
Best season: July and August
Price: €67.50 (half board/person)
The week we visited: Week 89

2. Traunsteinhaus (1580 m)

The Traunsteinhaus is a newly renovated two-story chalet located at the top of the Traunstein in Upper Austria, high above the Traunsee. It offers picturesque balconies with spectacular views of the Austrian Alps, 40 double-wide beds, and no shower facility.

There are different trails to the summit of Traunstein, but no matter which path you take, you will be scaling the rocky mountain using a “level A” via ferrata and also following a strenuous and steep hiking trail. Overcoming the intimidation of the Traunstein is a big deal. To stay in the Traunsteinhaus means you have conquered the tallest mountain along the Traunsee.

While I would not recommend staying here for your very first mountain hut experience, I highly recommend timing your hut stay to be during the full moon. It makes the experience even more epic.

Hut starting point: Naturfreundesteig
Duration: 3.5 hours from the trail entrance to the hut
Hut Season: May 1 - October 31 (End of November in good weather)
Price: €15 (half board for alpine club members) & €26 (half board for non-alpine club members)
Reservations by phone: 07612 65010
Reservations by e-mail: traunsteinhaus@naturfreunde.at
The week we visited: Week 94

3. Edelweißhütte (2571 m)

This hut gives you the opportunity to sleep at the highest point in Austria. Wake up to puffy clouds clinging to 37 3,000meter high mountains, and the faint sound of bells jingling from the sheep and cows nearby. This cabin should be on everyone’s “must sleep at” lists. It is a bit different from the others in this blog post because it is a pet-friendly, self-service hut with a fully-equipped kitchen and private bathroom.

From this hut, you get a front-row seat to the Großglockner High Alpine Road and access to some of the most beautiful hikes in Austria.

Hut Parking lot: Edelweißsptize
Duration: 25-minute drive from the toll station to the hut
Best season: Summer
Price: €99/person (includes breakfast)
Week we visited: Week 90

This list and map will be growing as I make my way to more mountain huts, so check back to see which ones make our list!

Do you know of a hut we should stay at? Comment below or message us on Instagram.