Austrian Ski Areas Promote Summer Farm Tourism

Family vacations are changing: More and more families are discovering farm holidays as an attractive alternative to traditional family hotels. They want to experience animals up close, help with feeding, get to know daily farm life, and enjoy nature. It is precisely this combination of relaxation, comfort, and authentic rural life that makes modern farm holidays so appealing. An analysis of guest reviews and search queries on bauernhofurlaub.info shows that families today are consciously seeking vacations where children can actively participate.

• Farm holidays are becoming an alternative to the classic family hotel

• Pools and wellness facilities are trending – at the same time, guests desire authentic farm experiences.

• New app “Zieglinde’s Top Tip” will accompany families from holiday planning to their stay at the farm

“Parents want to spend time with their children and give them experiences that are rare in everyday life. Particularly popular are interactions with animals, regional cuisine, nature experiences, and active participation on the farm – from feeding the animals and collecting eggs to helping in the barn. Combined with the personal interaction with the host family, this creates a holiday experience that is more exciting for many children than any classic entertainment program,” says Roland Bamberger, founder of bauernhofurlaub.info .

Wellness is making its way to the farm

Particularly noticeable is the growing desire for additional recreational opportunities. Many farms are therefore investing in spacious outdoor pools or natural swimming ponds. Wellness areas with saunas or relaxation rooms are also gaining in importance. This is reflected in the search queries on bauernhofurlaub.info : Among the most frequently searched terms are "farm holiday with pool, swimming facilities or swimming pond", followed by "animals on the farm", "breakfast and half-board", and "holiday with dog". Wellness offers are also among the most searched categories and are now among the top 10 search queries.

A week's farm holiday with two children for 1,575 euros

At the beginning of the year bauernhofurlaub.info awarded the 50 most popular farm stays in Austria, Germany, and South Tyrol based on more than 760,000 guest reviews. The Familotel Landgut Furtherwirt in Kirchdorf, Tyrol, secured first place in the ranking. Following closely behind were the Irxner mountain farm in Schladming (Styria), the Perfeldhof in Hinterglemm (Salzburg), and the Feinen holiday farm in Fleringen (Rhineland-Palatinate). The complete ranking of the top 50 can be found at www.bauernhofurlaub.info/award . Farm stays remain attractive for many families in terms of price. A week's stay with two children on an award-winning farm costs an average of around €1,575, including breakfast. The most affordable farm stays are in the German state of Thuringia, where a week's holiday is available from just €550.

Top Farm Awards for 2026

1. Familotel Landgut Furtherwirt, Kirchdorf (Tyrol)

2. Irxner Mountain Farm - Farm holidays with dogs, Schladming (Styria)

3. Perfeldhof holiday apartments, Hinterglemm (Salzburg)

4. Ferienhof Feinen, Fleringen (Rhineland-Palatinate)

5. Binterhof, Castelrotto (Trentino-South Tyrol)

6. Pfauenhof Estate, Utzerath (Rhineland-Palatinate)

7. Biohof Maurachgut, Bad Hofgastein (Salzburg)

8. Burgbauernhof am Katzenstein, Andenhausen (Thuringia)

9. Steinerbauer - Holiday at an organic children's farm, Flachau (Salzburg)

10. Oberbichlhof Apartments & Farm, Sankt Johann im Pongau (Salzburg)

Farms with additional awards:

• Top Family Farm 2026: Familotel Landgut Furtherwirt, Kirchdorf (Tyrol)

• Top Dog Farm 2026: Irxner Mountain Farm, Schladming (Styria)

• Top Active Farm 2026: Binterhof, Kastelruth (South Tyrol)

• Top Gourmet Farm 2026: Moarhof, Mölten (South Tyrol)

• Top Wellness Farm 2026: Berghotel Presslauer, Jenig (Carinthia)

The complete ranking of the top 50 can be found at: www.bauernhofurlaub.info/award

New app accompanies families before and during their holidays

With the new app "Zieglinde's Top Tip," bauernhofurlaub.info expands its digital offerings for families. The app helps vacationers find the perfect farm in a fun and engaging way. A particular highlight is the integrated digital scavenger hunt: children discover exciting places around the farm, solve small tasks, and receive little surprises or goodies for successfully completing each station. In the future, the app will become an even more comprehensive digital vacation companion. Hosts can directly provide their guests with leisure tips for the region, excursion recommendations, and special farm offers through the application.

The holiday platform bauernhofurlaub.info , founded in 2022 by Roland Bamberger in Obertrum, makes it easy to find the perfect farm for your vacation. Around 1,000 farms from Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland are listed in the directory. Vacationers can use search filters to specifically target amenities or leisure activities. Listing is free for farms; there are no agency or booking commissions. The portal generates revenue through premium listings, advertising, and partnerships. After reviewing objective criteria, farms can be certified as family-friendly, wellness, activity, gourmet, or dog-friendly. The portal records more than 800,000 page views and over 70,000 successful connections annually.