20 of the best cabins, campsites and hotels in Europe’s mountains, lakes and forests

Discovering Europe’s Hidden Mountain Retreats

Wanderstayfinder.com – Europe’s alpine regions offer more than just winter skiing; they provide year-round sanctuaries for travelers seeking connection with nature. From remote mountain refuges to converted historic buildings, these accommodations blend comfort with the raw beauty of forests, lakes, and peaks. Whether you’re drawn to Norway’s midnight sun or Austria’s classic Alpine architecture, each destination tells a unique story of preservation and hospitality.

A Mountain Refuge Above the Clouds

Reaching Rifugio Val di Togno requires commitment. Situated at 1,317 meters (4,320ft), the journey involves navigating a 4-mile dirt road featuring 27 hairpin bends—ideally tackled in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Alternatively, travelers can complete a solid two-hour hike from the hamlet of Carnale. The effort rewards visitors with an experience that managers Luna Lybeer and Wout Allegaert describe simply:

We offer guests nothing so they can get away from everything.

Despite this philosophy of simplicity, the renovated mountain hideout delivers considerable comfort. Every room features valley views, accessed either through porthole-style round windows or expansive floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. Guests enjoy comprehensive meal plans including breakfast, lunch or picnic provisions, afternoon snacks, aperitivo, and two-course dinners. Vegetarian cuisine takes center stage, utilizing produce from the couple’s garden and local foraging, complemented by homemade kombucha, sourdough bread, and gnocchi. Doubles start at £298 all-inclusive with a three-night minimum stay (rifugiovalditogno.com).

Where Trains Meet Alpine Charm

History lives on at Lermoos in Austria’s Tirol region. Built in 1910, the old railway station remained vacant for years until Johann Ehmann and his wife Cleo Weber acquired it in 2019. Ehmann recalls their persistence:

We were fascinated by it and contacted Austrian Railways regularly for more than five years asking if it was for sale.

The couple transformed the classic Alpine structure at the foot of Zugspitze—Germany’s highest peak—into Lermooser, a design-focused bed and breakfast. Eight rooms span from intimate bunk bed cabins to the “team XL” configuration featuring three single beds and a double arranged in a row. A communal kitchen and downstairs kiosk serve coffee, pastries, and homemade soups. The historic train continues stopping directly outside, while trails to Tuftl Alm viewpoint, Seebensee, and Drachensee begin at the doorstep. Doubles from £106 B&B (lermooser.com).

Norway’s Timeless Mountain Hotel

At Røisheim, positioned on Jotunheimen national park’s fringes in southern Norway, summer daylight extends until 11pm. This extended sun provides additional hours for blue ice glacier walks, mountain lake swimming, cycling across the Sognefjellet pass, or ascending Galdhøpiggen—Norway’s tallest mountain at 2,469 metres (8,100ft). The first documented ascent of Galdhøpiggen in 1850 originated from Røisheim, and while modern hikers often select quicker routes from nearby Spiterstulen, the original trail still departs from the hotel’s courtyard.

Operating since 1858, Røisheim functions as a living time capsule with turf-roofed architecture. Many rooms retain original character through timber-clad walls, carved wooden beds, and barrel-shaped bathtubs. Doubles from £243 B&B (roisheim.no).

Alpine Living in Mittenwald

Anne-Sophie Trinkgeld explains their motivation for establishing Karls Mittenwald:

We didn’t choose Mittenwald because we wanted to open a hotel, we chose it because we wanted to live somewhere that summer still feels like summer.

Alongside her husband Dario, she converted a former bakery into 11 thoughtfully designed one- and two-bedroom apartments in this charming town near the Austrian border.

Mittenwald ranked highest in their search for optimal climate, outdoor activities, and Alpine accessibility—surrounded by mountains yet only 40 minutes from Innsbruck. A downstairs cafe serves breakfast spreads and homemade cakes, providing sustenance for days spent swimming in Lautersee’s clear waters, cycling to the Isar River’s source through Karwendel nature park, or hiking to Germany’s highest brewery, Karwendelbräu. Apartments from £145 per night (karls-mittenwald.de).

Sustainable Camping at Elevation

The Mieming Sun Plateau sits nearly 1,000 metres (3,280 ft) above sea level, celebrated for its mild microclimate and looping trails through pine forests and Alpine meadows. Josef Volgger, who grew up on Gerhardhof farm—also operated by his parents as a small guesthouse—now runs the property alongside two business partners. The transformed campsite incorporates grey water recycling, wood-chip heating, solar energy, and a naturally filtered swimming pond.

Visitors may still encounter Josef’s mother Edith in the bakery producing apple strudel, while a restaurant serves wiener schnitzel and Käsespätzle, an Alpine mac and cheese variant. Pitches from £38 per night (gerhardhof.com).

A Historic Building Reimagined

Over five centuries in the South Tirolean town of Lana, the building housing 1477 Reichhalter has hosted numerous functions including a butcher, bakery, sawmill, stable, and tavern. Since 2018, it operates as a restaurant with eight bedrooms furnished in mid-century style. Room number 4, Helmsdorf, offers a balcony with views of Vigiljoch mountain and Braunsberg Castle.