Fiss Austria in summer with kids: 6 fun things to do!

Last summer, we stayed for a week in a lovely apartment in Fiss with our kids, aged 2.5 years and 4 months. From there, we visited all the highlights this area has to offer. But even after a week, we really hadn’t had enough of this wonderful place in the mountains. I am sure we will go back again. There is so incredibly much to do, see, and enjoy in Fiss.

What makes Fiss such a great summer holiday destination for us is that there are fun things to do for everyone in the family. We adults enjoy the incredibly beautiful mountains around us, the fresh air, and the lovely hiking. The children enjoy the cool themed hiking trails (some even stroller-friendly), fun playgrounds, marble runs, and of course, the toboggan runs. And together, we enjoy being outdoors all the time, playing endlessly, drinking hot chocolate, and, of course, eating apple strudel. It is all easy to find, super accessible, and hugely family-oriented (there are even gondolas specifically suitable for strollers!!).

In this blog, we tell you about the best things to do in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, share tips for when you visit Fiss, and list kids-friendly hotels and apartments. You will also read more about the Super Sommer Card.

Fiss is part of the tourist ski area Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. It is located in Tyrol, in western Austria, and is a very popular winter sports destination. But in the summer, Fiss and the entire Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis area transform into the ultimate family destination in the mountains.

What is the difference between Fiss, Serfaus, and Ladis?

Usually, all three villages are mentioned in the same breath. You can see this here in this blog as well. They are then referred to as “Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis,” which actually stands for the mountain area surrounding these three villages and connected by cable cars. However, they are three distinct villages, each with its own character. Serfaus, Fiss, and Ladis are connected by a bus line, but you can also use the cable cars to hop between the villages. You can, of course, travel by car, but be aware that this is not always convenient. We stayed in Fiss, but also spent plenty of time in the other villages, so here is a description of the differences between Fiss, Serfaus, and Ladis:

1. Serfaus: lively, most touristy, and cosy

Serfaus is the most lively village. It is also the most touristy village, with many restaurants and shops. This makes Serfaus a bit cosier as well. You will find plenty of family-friendly accommodations here, but also a lot of places for couples or groups of friends. Serfaus is generally also the most expensive village of these three.

2. Fiss: ultimate spot for families

Fiss is conveniently central and very family-oriented. There are many apartments available with child-friendly facilities, and you will find several restaurants and a nice playground within walking distance. It is not as expensive as Serfaus, but not very cheap either. With a young family, we found the central location here ideal!

3. Ladis: quieter and smaller scale

Ladis is much quieter and more traditional. You are located a bit less centrally here, but you also pay less for accommodations.

Okay, the person who designs playgrounds in the mountains of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is truly a genius. How is it possible to create such beautiful and versatile playgrounds? Playgrounds that aren’t ugly and blend in beautifully with the surroundings. Playgrounds with all kinds of natural elements: water, sand, and wind. Playgrounds with animals, kayaks and pedal boats, with interactive mazes for older children, and lots of nice seating and sunbathing spots for parents.

From trampoline jumping that makes it feel like you are floating between the mountain peaks, to gold digging and a real sky swing, you will find really cool things in the mountains of Fiss, Serfaus, and Ladis.

Our four favourite playgrounds in the Fiss area are:

1. Summer Fun Park Fiss – via the Möseralmbahn lift from Fiss.

Digging, trampolining, feeding animals, and riding bikes for the little ones. The skyswing, the diving tower, or the Fisser Flieger for the older kids (and adults). We enjoy a lovely sunbed with a drink, watching our son cycle around a course on his bike.

2. Erlebnispark Hög – via the Alpkopfbahn lift from Serfaus

This adventure park is idyllically situated by the water and revolves entirely around the theme of an “Alpine farm.” Here you can play memory with milk jugs, make cowbell sounds on the mini marble run, and play in or on the water. If it is nice and warm, you can go swimming in the mountain lake or toe dipping at the toddler pool. Or you can go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. The balance playground and the interactive water maze are also fun for slightly older children. Our son likes the marble runs and the stepping stones in the water the most.

3. Murmliwasser – via Komperdellbahn lift from Serfaus

This themed playground is all about water. You can go gold panning in the water, or divert water using dams and sluices. You will also find a large cave here that runs underwater. Our son finds this quite a bit scary, but together with Dad, it is a real hit. And of course, there are plenty of swings, slides, and sandboxes.

4. Playground at Lake Wolfsee – 15 min walk from Fiss town centre

This playground might be a lot less spectacular than the playgrounds higher up in the mountains. Nevertheless, it is a very nice spot within walking distance of Fiss town centre. It is ideal on a long summer evening to let the kids play for a little while longer when the lifts going up have already closed. You walk across a beautiful alpine meadow to the small lake, Lake Wolfsee, where various play structures are located. Our son entertained himself for hours with the water and the locks and dams that can open and close.

Tip: In bad weather, you can also go to the indoor playground in Serfaus.

Yes, we really, really love hiking in the mountains. Years ago, these were 12-day hiking trips through Nepal or hut-to-hut treks through Switzerland. And now, it’s hikes through the Austrian mountains with a baby in a sling and a toddler in a backpack carrier. And here in Fiss, you can hike in a truly AMAZING way. There are even routes that are completely stroller-friendly! Ideal: our toddler walks short stretches by himself, and then we can pick up speed again by putting him in the stroller.

Sefaus-Fiss-Ladis also offers multiple themed hiking routes, focused on kids, with little playgrounds along the route or scavenger hunts. This really makes a difference in the motivation of the little hikers!

In our blog featuring ALL kid-friendly hikes in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, you can read absolutely everything about hiking with children. But to give you a sneak peek: our 4 favourite hikes with children around Fiss:

• Piratenweg – via the Komperdellbahn lift from Serfaus. Click here for the route.
• Hexenweg – via the Schönjochbahn 1 lift from Fiss. Click here for the route.
• Six Senses Weg – via the Komperdellbahn lift from Serfaus. Click here for the route.
• Panorama Genussweg – via the Möseralmbahn lift from Fiss. Click here for the route.

Tip: Is hiking not your thing, or do you have mobility issues? Don’t worry, the lifts allow you to reach beautiful places and still thoroughly enjoy everything Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has to offer!

Two really cool summer toboggan runs in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis take you right down the mountain at a good speed:

1. The Schneisenfeger Family Coaster – via the Alpkopfbahn lift from Serfaus. For children from 3 years old (children aged 8 or 1.30 m may go unsupervised)
2. Fisser Flitzer – via the Möseralmbahn lift from Fiss. For children of all ages (supervision is mandatory for children under 7).

We went down the Fisser Flitzer with our son, and it was amazing! He enjoyed every second. We were unable to experience the Schneisenfeger Family Coaster because our son was just a little too young.

Marble runs are a household name in the Austrian mountains. In many places, you can roll a beautiful wooden marble down a narrow trough. You can also find (short) marble runs in various locations in Serfaus, Fiss, and Ladis. However, the very best and most beautiful marble run in the Fiss area can be found along the Holzkugelweg hiking trail.

Along a route of no less than 1.5 kilometres, you will find various marble runs. With loops, special drop troughs, and a race track where you can race with multiple marbles at once, you descend a total of 226 meters. Along the way, you have a beautiful view of the valleys of Fiss and Serfaus. We encountered quite a few cows (and cow pats). And thanks to those cool tracks, our toddler completed the route in no time. The hike is stroller-friendly and starts at the Alpkopfbahn lift. Do keep in mind that you won’t end up at a place where you can take a stroller down. So, in the end, we walked all the way down, which was quite steep at times with the stroller.

Click here for directions to this route.

Are your children a bit older, or are you into sporty adventures on your bike yourself? Then you can really let loose in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis with super cool routes. There are 9 Bikepark Trails, 8 official single trails, and over 200 km of bike paths and routes. For all levels: beginners, advanced, and experts.

For kids and beginners, but also technical cyclists, there is a special bike park at the valley station of the Waldbahn, where you can learn mountain biking or practice special techniques. And there is a special mountain bike school to learn mountain biking. We aren’t mountain bikers ourselves, but along the hiking trails we sometimes saw sections of the trails for cyclists, and they looked really cool! And the lifts have special facilities for bicycles, so you can easily take your bike with you.

For more information about everything related to mountain biking in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, click here.

Hot chocolate, Apfelstrudel, Kaiserschmarrn, Käsespätzle. There is more than enough delicious food to be found in the Austrian mountains. And most dishes are also child-friendly. There are plenty of restaurants to be found along the hiking trails in the mountains of Fiss, Serfaus, and Ladis, many with a nice playground outside. Below, we list our three favourite spots:

Alps Kitchen – Italian restaurant in Fiss
You will find excellent Italian food, a child-friendly atmosphere, and very reasonable prices at Alps Kitchen. The service is pleasant and fast, and it is one of the few truly nice restaurants in Fiss itself. Click here for the location of this restaurant in Fiss.

Kuhalm Fiss – Tiny cute little restaurant in the mountains above Fiss
Very cute little restaurant for a hot chocolate while hiking. Fun playground. Click here for the location of this restaurant in the mountains of Fiss.

Restaurant Leithe Wirt – Austrian restaurant in the mountains near Fiss
Nice restaurant with delicious Kaiserschmarrn and a great playground for the children. Prices are reasonable. Click here for the location of this restaurant in the mountains of Fiss.

Please note: at some hotels in Serfaus, Fiss, and Ladis, breakfast, dinner, and sometimes lunch are included in the price. This means that not many restaurants offer dinner.

Staying overnight in Fiss is not cheap. Below we have listed six options, two of which are budget options; the other options are considerably more expensive.

For more nice hotels and apartments in Fiss, click here. If you prefer to stay in Serfaus, click here for the overview of hotels in Serfaus. Or click here for all accommodations in Ladis.