When summer slowly fades, the days become shorter again, and the air turns colder, the Alps enter one of their most magical seasons: the golden autumn. Trees glow in fiery red, warm orange and shimmering gold. And whole forests become a colourful experience. It’s a time when trails are quieter, the light is softer, and hiking feels almost meditative.
In Austria, hiking is never just an activity, it’s a highlight. We cannot emphasize this enough, and in the golden autumn it turns into pure magic. Many of the trails go straight through forests. No matter which way you look, it’s beautiful. If you look upwards, you see a roof of bright colors, downwards it is a carpet of leaves. Particularly impressive are the hikes around the Lech Valley or the Arlberg region, where colourful woodlands meet the first snowy peaks.
Foodie-Tip: Many mountain huts remain open until mid-October, serving hearty soups and fluffy Kaiserschmarn. A perfect reward after an autumn hike.
Switzerland in autumn is like stepping into a postcard. The Engadin is characterised by golden larch forests that stand out beneath deep blue skies. The slopes around Lake Lucerne are filled with warm tones. If you are lucky, the lake may be still warm from summer and you can have a relaxed dip, with the beautiful mountain view around you.
Foodie-Tip: In autumn the chestnut season begins. You can enjoy freshly roasted marroni right by the roadside. And, when you are in Switzerland you should always try a Cheese fondue.
North Italy is a wine region, and autumn is the wine harvest season. Many small wineries offer to help with the grape harvest, you can experience how the grapes are processed from picking to the fermentation tank and be part of the process yourself. In the evening, you can enjoy a glass of (last year’s) wine in the golden autumn sun and look out over the many vineyards around you.
Foodie-Tip: Try the meal Tröggelen. It's a very sweet young wine, with roasted nuts and some sweet dumplings. The main dish is a traditional dish from the regional farmhouse kitchen.
No matter which region you choose, the golden autumn in the alps will not disappoint you. The colors are like painted, the sun shines brightly but not too strongly and you can collect the little treasures of autumn on the trails.
