Matrei in East Tyrol, Austria, is the kind of place that makes you say, "Let's just stop for one photo," and then somehow you're still standing there twenty minutes later staring at the mountains.

Tucked between Austria's highest peaks, Großglockner and Großvenediger, this little alpine town feels like nature got a bit carried away. The mountains are bigger, the valleys greener, the waterfalls louder, and every road seems to lead somewhere ridiculously scenic. It's the kind of place where your camera roll starts filling up alarmingly fast, and you begin saying things like, "Just one more picture," despite having already taken 47 versions of the exact same mountain.

And then there's the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern.

With over 1,800 km² of protected wilderness, it's the largest national park in the Alps and basically one giant playground for anyone who enjoys being outside. You can spend the day wandering the spectacular Europa Panorama Trail, exploring Europe's first water discovery trail, spotting wildlife with a National Park ranger, or tackling one of the region's legendary three-thousand-metre peaks. Even the "easy walks" have a habit of casually serving views that belong on the front cover of a hiking magazine.

The best part?

You don't have to venture far to find it.

At Naturhotel Outside, the mountains are quite literally part of the daily routine.

Located right in the heart of the National Park, the hotel makes it dangerously easy to embrace your outdoorsy side. One day, you're joining a guided hike through the Hohe Tauern. The next you're cruising past alpine villages on an e-bike. Guests even receive a complimentary National Park ranger tour, which means you get access to the kind of fascinating local knowledge that makes you suddenly very interested in glaciers, wildflowers, and birds you previously would have described simply as "bird."

And after a day spent chasing waterfalls, climbing viewpoints, and accidentally adding 3,000 steps because "the trail continues just a little further," the Nature Spa feels absolutely glorious.

The newly expanded spa is exactly what tired hiking legs dream about. There's a heated outdoor pool, a beautiful 20-metre natural pool surrounded by greenery, cozy relaxation rooms, and the famous Deferegger healing water bath. Floating there while looking out at the surrounding mountains feels a little bit like you've unlocked a bonus level of vacation.

Then comes dinner.

Which, after a full day in the mountains, suddenly becomes the most important appointment of your day.

Awarded 3 Falstaff Forks, Naturhotel Outside takes regional cuisine seriously, but never in a way that feels pretentious. The bread is baked in-house. The jams are homemade. Herbs come straight from the garden. Meat is sourced from the local Mühlstätter butcher just down the road, while organic milk, fruit, and vegetables arrive from farms throughout East Tyrol.

The result is food that feels deeply connected to the landscape outside the window.

Every plate celebrates the season, showcasing local ingredients with creativity, skill, and just the right amount of comfort. It's the kind of dinner where you fully intend to have a quick meal and an early night... and then find yourself lingering over dessert because leaving seems like a terrible idea.

Which is exactly what makes Naturhotel Outside so special.

The days are filled with mountain adventures. The afternoons are reserved for spa time. The evenings revolve around incredible food. And somewhere between the hiking trails, the pool, and the homemade bread, you realise you've completely settled into the rhythm of East Tyrol.

Not that you're in any hurry to leave.