There’s something about waking up in the trees that feels… well, a little surreal. The Baumhotel Kopfing in Upper Austria takes that childhood idea of a treehouse—half adventure, half hideaway—and turns it into a proper place to sleep, eat, and just be. You’re not beside the forest here. You’re in it. Ten metres up, with trunks all around and the faint smell of resin in the air.
The hotel has 21 cabins, scattered like little wooden islands among the pines. They’re linked by small bridges and steps, so you get this odd but charming sense of wandering through your own treetop village. Inside, it’s all pale wood and big windows. Nothing flashy, nothing trying too hard—just comfortable beds, thick duvets, a kettle tucked in the corner, and windows that frame nothing but branches. Families can book bigger cabins, couples get cozier ones. It’s simple, yes, but that’s the point. No marble bathrooms or designer lamps, and honestly? You don’t miss them.
At night, the forest does most of the talking. A creak here, an owl there, then silence. It’s the kind of quiet you don’t notice at first but later realize you haven’t felt in years. And stepping out on your balcony, wrapped in a sweater, you see nothing but trees and stars. It’s strangely calming.
The seasons change the whole atmosphere. Summer is lively—buzzing with birds, kids laughing in the playground next door, sunlight flickering through leaves. Autumn sets the treetops on fire with orange and gold. Winter might be the best of all, though—snow piled on roofs, the world muffled, your cabin warm with wood heating while the forest outside feels like it’s holding its breath. Spring? That’s the smell of damp earth and blossoms sneaking through your window in the morning. Each stay feels different, even if it’s the same cabin.
And here’s a bonus: the Baumhotel sits right next to the Baumkronenweg Kopfing, Austria’s original treetop walk. So, you can spend your day wandering a kilometre of canopy paths, balancing on rope bridges, climbing the 40-metre tower for those sweeping views, then wander straight back to your cabin without ever leaving the trees. There’s also a café and restaurant on-site—nothing too fancy, just hearty Austrian fare, the kind that fills you up after hours outdoors.
Is it luxury? No, not in the usual sense. You won’t find a spa menu or a minibar stacked with champagne. But in its own way, it feels more indulgent. It’s the luxury of slowing down, of being unplugged, of hearing your own thoughts (and maybe the wind through the pines). It’s not polished perfection, but it sticks with you.
The Baumhotel Kopfing is one of those places you don’t just tick off a list—you remember it. Families see it as an adventure, couples as a romantic nest, and solo travellers as a bit of peace and quiet. You’ll climb down the stairs on your last morning a little reluctantly. Because really, who wants to give up sleeping in the treetops?
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