Ferienparadies Natterer See: An Alpine Lakeside Escape Just Outside Innsbruck
There are places where you go to see the mountains, and then there are places where the mountains become part of everyday life.
Ferienparadies Natterer See belongs firmly in the second category.
Set around its own bathing lake on a sunny plateau above Innsbruck, this family-run holiday resort combines camping, glamping, cabins, mobile homes, apartments, restaurants, and a remarkable range of outdoor activities in one sprawling Alpine setting. The resort is only 7 kilometres from Innsbruck, but once you're by the lake, the city feels pleasantly distant.
The property has been run by the Giner family since 1930, giving it more than nine decades of history. What began as a traditional family business has grown into a modern holiday destination with 15 hectares of grounds, 180 pitches, and 56 accommodation units.
And while the scale is impressive, the lake is still the heart of the experience.
This is a place for swimming before breakfast, hiking in the mountains after lunch, and watching the light change across the water in the evening.
The Location
Ferienparadies Natterer See sits in Natters, in the Tyrolean low mountain range just outside Innsbruck.
The setting is particularly appealing because it gives guests two very different holidays in one. You're surrounded by Alpine countryside, yet Innsbruck is close enough for an afternoon of museums, shopping, cafés, and historic architecture.
The resort itself is away from through roads, so the atmosphere is considerably quieter than its proximity to the city might suggest. Innsbruck is about 7 kilometres away, and guests staying for at least two nights can use the bus into the city free of charge.
That makes it easy to combine a day in the city with an evening back at the lake.
And you don't need to choose between culture and nature.
You get both.
A Resort with a Long Family History
The Giner family's connection with Natterer See goes back to 1930, and the resort is now operated by the third generation of the family.
That history gives the property a different character from a purpose-built resort.
Over the decades, the site has evolved from a traditional camping destination into a much broader holiday resort, adding modern accommodation, award-winning architecture, extensive leisure facilities, restaurants, and contemporary camping infrastructure while keeping the lake and natural surroundings at its centre.
Today, the resort accommodates everyone from traditional campers to guests who would rather sleep in a beautifully designed lodge or mobile home.
It's a useful reminder that a holiday park doesn't have to mean roughing it.
The Scale of Ferienparadies Natterer See
The numbers give you a better sense of how large the property really is.
The resort covers 15 hectares, with 180 terraced camping pitches divided into five categories and 56 accommodation units in different styles.
That variety is one of its greatest strengths.
You can arrive with a motorhome and choose a premium pitch with lake access, book an apartment with a mountain view, stay in a mobile home with its own garden, or opt for one of the resort's more unusual glamping accommodations.
There are safari lodges, wood lodges, mobile homes, apartments, and other distinctive stays, so the experience can be as simple or as comfortable as you want it to be.
The result feels less like a conventional hotel and more like a small Alpine holiday village.
The Accommodation
The accommodation is where Ferienparadies Natterer See becomes particularly interesting.
One option is the Apartment Larch, which combines stylish interiors with a balcony overlooking the Nordkette mountains, a garden with pergola, and an outdoor kitchen.
For larger groups, the Mobile Home Wien offers space for up to six guests, two bathrooms, a private garden, and a freestanding layout.
Then there are the Safari Lodges, which bring a touch of glamping to the experience. The Safari Lodge Elephant, for example, sleeps up to eight guests and places the emphasis on being close to nature without giving up the comfort of a proper holiday accommodation.
There are also more unusual accommodation concepts, including floating and tiny-home options, giving returning guests plenty of reasons to try a different style on their next visit.
Camping, Done Properly
For campers, the resort offers something considerably more sophisticated than a basic pitch.
Its five-star campsite includes several categories of terraced pitches, with options offering views, privacy planting, utility connections, and direct lake access.
The sanitary facilities are another major part of the experience. Modern infrastructure makes long stays much easier, particularly for families or travellers who want the freedom of camping without compromising on comfort.
It's this attention to detail that helps explain the property's long list of camping awards and its reputation among returning guests.
The Lake
Everything eventually leads back to Natterer See itself.
The private bathing lake is the centrepiece of the resort, and during the warmer months it becomes the natural gathering point for guests.
There is a large aqua park on the water, complete with slides, trampolines, water swings, and other features designed to keep children and adults occupied. There's also a children's swimming area, green lawns for sunbathing, and space for water sports.
Guests can rent surfboards, play beach volleyball, or simply swim and spend the afternoon beside the water.
For families, this changes the pace of a holiday.
You don't have to get in the car every morning looking for something to do.
The activity is already there.
Activities for Families
Ferienparadies Natterer See is particularly well equipped for families.
The TOPI Kids' Club, three playgrounds, children's swimming area, aqua park, sports facilities, and summer entertainment programme provide plenty of options for different ages.
The best part is that children can have their own adventure while parents enjoy a little time to themselves.
One moment you're watching kids race down the water slide; the next, you're sitting quietly beside the lake with a coffee.
That's a pretty good holiday equation.
Dining by the Lake
Food is another part of the resort's appeal, particularly in the warmer months.
The Seerestaurant sits directly beside the lake, making it the natural choice when you want dinner with a view. The menu includes Tyrolean specialities alongside international dishes.
There's also Pizzeria da Giorgio, the SunSEEbar, and a lakeside snack bar, giving guests several options without needing to leave the resort for every meal.
A breakfast bistro rounds out the offering, while the on-site mini-market is useful for stocking up on fresh bread, groceries, and camping essentials.
In summer, the dining spaces become part of the social atmosphere of the property.
Architecture and Design
For a holiday resort built around camping, Ferienparadies Natterer See has an unusually strong interest in architecture.
The property has received awards for its architecture and accommodation concepts, with modern structures designed to work within the surrounding landscape rather than overpower it.
That design approach is particularly visible in the newer accommodation.
Wood, glass, terraces, outdoor kitchens, and large windows create a much closer relationship with the mountains and lake. The best units don't simply give you somewhere to sleep. They give you somewhere to sit outside and watch the landscape change.
Which, in this part of Austria, is half the reason you're there.
What Sets It Apart
The unusual thing about Ferienparadies Natterer See is that it refuses to fit neatly into one category.
It's a campsite, but also a glamping destination.
It's a family holiday park, but it's close enough to Innsbruck for a city break.
It's an activity resort, but there are plenty of quiet places around the lake.
And while the facilities are extensive, the landscape remains the main attraction.
That flexibility makes it particularly appealing to families and groups travelling together, especially when everyone wants something slightly different from the holiday.
Ferienparadies Natterer See has grown considerably since the Giner family began running the property in 1930, but its central idea remains wonderfully simple.
Come to the lake.
Stay close to nature.
Make the mountains part of the holiday.
Today, that idea has been expanded into a 15-hectare resort with 56 accommodation units, 180 camping pitches, a five-star campsite, a private bathing lake, an aqua park, restaurants, sports facilities, children's activities, and easy access to Innsbruck.
But the details are what you'll remember.
A swim in the lake with the mountains beyond it. A family afternoon at the aqua park. Dinner beside the water. A hike through the Tyrolean countryside. Or simply sitting outside your lodge as the evening light settles over the peaks.
Ferienparadies Natterer See isn't trying to be a traditional hotel.
It doesn't need to.
Official website: Ferienparadies Natterer See