Sillian

Village · Lienz District, 🇦🇹 Austria

Sillian is a village in the Hochpustertal, the upper Puster valley, in East Tyrol. It lies a few kilometres from the Italian border and the Dolomites, with the Carnic Alps to the south and the Villgraten mountains to the north.

The village is small and calm. It suits hikers, cyclists and skiers who want Alpine scenery and quick access to South Tyrol.

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When to visit

June to October is best for hiking and cycling. The Helm mountain is a popular summer and winter peak. Winter has skiing at the Sillian ski area and cross-country trails in the valley.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

1° (feels like -2°) · extremes -16°–6°
-7° at night
8 rainy days
8 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

3° (feels like -1°) · extremes -17°–9°
-6° at night
8 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

7° (feels like 3°) · extremes -11°–14°
-2° at night
10 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

11° (feels like 9°) · extremes -4°–18°
2° at night
14 rainy days
7 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Fair

16° (feels like 14°) · extremes 1°–22°
7° at night
20 rainy days
6 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

21° (feels like 20°) · extremes 5°–27°
11° at night
20 rainy days
8 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

23° (feels like 22°) · extremes 7°–28°
13° at night
21 rainy days
9 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 7 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

22° · extremes 7°–28°
13° at night
19 rainy days
10 sunny days
8 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Good

18° (feels like 17°) · extremes 2°–24°
9° at night
15 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Fair

14° (feels like 12°) · extremes -1°–20°
5° at night
12 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

7° (feels like 4°) · extremes -9°–14°
0° at night
12 rainy days
7 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

3° (feels like -1°) · extremes -14°–8°
-5° at night
9 rainy days
7 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Heinfels CastleBurg Heinfels is a castle in Heinfels, Tyrol, Austria.

HelmThe Helm is a mountain in the Puster Valley in South Tyrol, Italy.

Museum Burg Heinfels is a medieval castle ruin above the village, now a museum.
Helm - Monte Elmo is the mountain above Sillian, with a cable car and views of the Dolomites.
Helmhaus is a mountain hut near the summit.
Heimkehrerkreuz is a memorial cross on the Helm.
Thurntaler is a peak for a long hike.
Sillianer Hütte is a hut on the Carnic Alps high-level route.
Loacker Museum is a small museum in the village.

Featured Lists

Glg / CC BY 3.0

Sillian Essentials

Sillian, located in the High Puster Valley, is defined by its medieval heritage and high-altitude terrain. The 13th-century Heinfels Castle and the 18th-century Punbrugge wooden bridge highlight the area's historical architecture. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Carnic Ridge provides access to the Sillianer Hütte and panoramic peaks like Helm and Thurntaler. The region also features the Hochpustertal ski area, offering over 20 kilometers of groomed runs and a base for winter sports.

9 places

nawerwohl02 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic Churches & Chapels

Sillian’s religious landscape is defined by the prominent Pfarrkirche Mariä Himmelfahrt, a deanery parish church showcasing Baroque and Gothic influences. The surrounding area features diverse sacred structures, including the Loretokapelle and various dedicated chapels like the Annakapelle. These sites range from central town landmarks to secluded mountain shrines, reflecting the region's long-standing Roman Catholic traditions and Alpine architectural styles found throughout the East Tyrolean Puster Valley.

9 places

What to experience

Ride the cable car up the Helm.
Hike on the Carnic main ridge.
Cycle the Drau path.
Visit the castle museum.
Cross the border to the Dolomites.

Tours & Activities

Sillian — Map

Day trips

Lienz is about 35 minutes away by car or by train.
Kals am Großglockner is about 50 minutes away by car.
Innichen and Sexten in the South Tyrol Dolomites are about 10 to 20 minutes away by car.
Lake Braies is about 40 minutes away by car.
Cortina d'Ampezzo is about 1 hour away by car.

Where to explore

Kals am Großglockner is the nearest preferred destination.
Lienz is the nearest town.

Getting there

By air: Innsbruck Airport is about 2 hours away by car. Salzburg is about 2 hours 30 minutes.
By train: Regional trains run along the Drau valley from Lienz to Sillian and on to Innichen. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: Take the road along the Drau valley from Lienz, or from South Tyrol over the border at Arnbach.

Getting around

The village is walkable. A cable car leads up the Helm, and regional buses and trains serve the valley. A car helps for the wider area.

Driving

A car helps for the Dolomites. Roads are quiet in the valley. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette, and Italy has its own road rules.

Food & drink

East Tyrolean food shows South Tyrolean and Italian influence. Look for Schlutzkrapfen, filled pasta, Kaspressknödel, cheese dumplings in broth, and Strauben, fried batter. Huts serve simple, hearty meals.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Sillian is very safe. Watch the weather on high routes. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Sillian sits on an old route along the Drau valley, between the Alps and the Dolomites. The castle above the village guarded this crossing. Border changes in the 20th century set the line to South Tyrol, and the village remains a quiet gateway to both regions.