It borders Bavaria (Germany) in the north, the Kitzbühel district in the southeast, and the Schwaz district in the southwest.

The district comprises the lower part of the Tyrolean Inn valley as far as the Bavarian border, the Alpbach valley, the Brandenberg valley, Wildschönau, and Thiersee. Mountain ranges within the district include the Brandenberg Alps, Kitzbühel Alps, and the Kaisergebirge. The largest lakes are the Reintal lakes, Thiersee, Hechtsee, Hintersteiner See and Walchsee.