Seefeld

Situated on a sunny plateau under half an hour from Innsbruck, Seefeld is the perfect long weekend resort. The pretty village boasts plenty of Tyrolean architecture, with high end shops, superb restaurants, and some excellent bars and cafes too. Those who fancy a flutter can head to the casino, while the five star hotels have classy bars and spa and wellness facilities. 

During two prior Austrian Winter Olympics, Seefeld was chosen to hold the Nordic skiing events, and during the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics the biathlon, snowboarding, Nordic combined skiing, ski jumping and cross country skiing were all held in Seefeld. The local ski area is extensive, and visitors can also visit historic Innsbruck. 

The resort is an old farming village, and it sits on a road that has been an important through route since the middle ages. The village has a long history of tourism, and it's been a popular winter sports destination since the 1930s. Today, it's one of the most convenient ski resorts in Austria.

Seefeld is a superb country skiing destination, with over 200km of groomed trails, as well as 154km of classic cross country runs and 122km of skating routes. Although there is slightly less downhill skiing, the ski school is very well regarded, and this is a great area to improve skills and learn how to ski.

For families, the proximity to the airport and the intermediate ski area are a huge draw. The ski areas in the surrounding villages are excellent for day trips, and the resort is fantastic for groups of mixed ability and interests. With the area's long history in downhill skiing there is plenty to recommend beginner and intermediate skiers to the area. 

The Nordic skiing is far and away the biggest draw to the area though, and with some of the best cross country, Nordic and biathlon routes in Europe, this is a Nordic skier's perfect ski resort. 

Seefeld is a pretty Austrian village and makes a great summer destination, with only a twenty minute drive from Innsbruck, you can hike or mountain bike in the Alps, and explore the historic city in one trip. The forests and mountains form an attractive backdrop to this cute Austrian village.

With 266km of Nordic walking trails and 650km of graded mountain biking trails, climbing routes and hiking paths. As well as hiking, climbing and biking, there is also paragliding, canyoning, tennis, archery, horse riding and swimming. There are a number of festivals throughout the summer, with candles lit in the pedestrian centre of the village in July, with food, drink and crafts stands set up for the occasion.

There is also a flower festival that takes place in August; Blumencorso is one of the largest in Europe, and sees thousands of visitors arriving to watch the floats and enjoy the open air party. The Seefeld Craft Fair is a relatively new addition to the calendar, and it's held in September, showcasing a range of traditional Tyrolean handicrafts.

Whilst there are a few new build and resale chalets and apartments in the resort, with some excellent investment opportunities, the best are a small number of centrally located apartments available as freehold properties. The rental returns from properties in good locations are good, with the proximity to Innsbruck making Seefeld a popular weekend destination.