The 10 best ski resorts in Austria

If staying in a picturesque ski resort with a warmly welcoming ambiance is a excessive precedence, Austria, which has opened its borders to vaccinated Britons, will usually come up trumps. A lot of its ski resorts have grown up round conventional farming villages with onion-domed church buildings that benefited from beneficiant long-term grants below the American Marshall Plan for the rebuilding of European economies after World Warfare ll. 

Down the generations, hoteliers have grown wealthy on the vacationer harvest, however the cosy hospitality embodied by the German phrase Gemütlichkeit could be very a lot in proof.

Austrian resorts are famed for foot-stomping however friendly après that begins on the slopes within the afternoon – historically with ski boots on – and continues till the small hours in probably the most party-orientated resorts. Suppose all the pieces from convivial occasions in rustic mountain huts to clashing Steins and schnapps in lively bars. It’s a tradition that can doubtless resurface post-pandemic, albeit considerably muted if restricitons stay in place 

Against this the ever present resort spa offers a extra soothing various – although be warned, the sporting of swimming costumes is just not permitted in most sauna and steam rooms. To reveal all might not in essence be a part of repressed British wellness tradition, however within the pursuits of hygiene and Germanic well being guidelines, we’re pressured to conform. 

On the slopes, whereas Austria might not compete with the giant linked ski areas of France, its conventional villages are backed up by some heavyweight state-subsidised raise techniques. Main funding in resorts together with St Anton and Saalbach, for instance, now imply fewer queuing bottlenecks, higher linking and simpler journey round these good-sized ski areas.

Many resorts have additionally invested in refined snowmaking, and whereas the low altitude of some villages – 1,000m or much less – sounds discouraging for snow-security in low snowfall years, Austrian pastureland requires only a handful of centimetres to  develop into skiable in contrast with high-altitude rocky crags in France and Switzerland. Resorts with slopes that go above 3,000m, together with some on glaciers, additionally bely Austria’s low-altitude status. 

It’s by no means been extra vital to plan your return to the slopes early, right here’s the place to go to get pleasure from the perfect the Austrian slopes have to supply.

Greatest for novices

Alpbach

Full beginners actually don’t want the complexity of a giant resort, so a novice’s go to to this Tirolean chocolate-box with oodles of ambiance – it repeatedly wins prizes because the prettiest village in Austria – ought to end in a lifetime of piste enthusiasm. 

Resort purists reacted with alarm when Alpbach’s ski space was linked to that of Auffach within the neighbouring Wildschönau valley in 2013, however they needn’t have apprehensive. Whereas the variety of pistes and lifts greater than doubled, attracting a considerable variety of new guests, Alpbach itself, solely a 40-minute drive from Innsbruck airport, has remained remarkably unchanged.

The following technology of adults who learnt the ropes as kids in Alpbach now return to discover the respectable 109 km of slopes served by 45 lifts within the two valleys that make up Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau. The ski space continues to enhance –  in 2019 kids’s space and nursery slope opened on the backside station of the Reitherkogel gondola within the Reith sector, reached by ski bus. 

Alpbach has a particular relationship with the British that started greater than 60 years in the past when a Main Billy Patterson got here right here on depart from his military base in Germany and loved the pistes and the pubs. He advised his military mates within the British Military of the Rhine (BAOR) and so they advised others. Hundreds of Britons have since learnt the fundamentals on Alpbach’s slopes, and lots of return 12 months after 12 months. British regimental ski groups nonetheless prepare right here.

The principle ski space is a five-minute bus trip, then a gondola, away from city, Reith a couple of minutes additional, however there’s additionally a single nursery slope within the village centre, supreme for practising snowplough turns after classes. Of the three ski faculties within the resort, Alpbach-Interior Alpbach is the unique studying institution, whereas Alpbach Aktiv and Skischule Alpbachtal even have advantageous reputations.

Alpbach is nice worth for cash too – costs are low, even by Austrian requirements. Visiting the resort through the devoted household weeks, when below 15s get a free raise cross, makes it much more so.

The place to remain  

Positioned near the nursery slopes and ski bus cease, the four-star superior Romantik-Resort Böglerhof is run by the third technology of the Duftner household. Relationship again to the fifteenth century, it’s historically adorned and company can get pleasure from free wine tasting within the outdated cellar bar and a weekly fondue evening and torchlight stroll. 

Alternate options for: novices

Niederau within the neighbouring Wildschönau valley to Alpbach has comparable small-village attraction, together with Kühtai close to Innsbruck.

Greatest for intermediates

Saalbach

Saalbach and neighbouring Hinterglemm are situated  90-minute drive from Salzburg airport. The 2 villages are on the centre of a magical ring of two,000m peaks that type a pure circuit of pistes that may be navigated in both course to offer adventurous intermediates a way they’re really going someplace every day. 

The ski space, which is one of the biggest in Austria, with 270km of slopes, accessed by 70 lifts, additionally encompasses the smaller villages of Fieberbrunn and Leogang, and so they all share probably the most refined raise techniques in Austria with main new lifts being added every winter. 

Most lately the outdated eight-seater Zwölferkogelbahn in Hinterglemm headed for the scrapyard. It was changed by a high-speed 10-person gondola that will increase uphill capability from the Hinterglemm finish of valley to the 1,984m Zwölferkogel peak from 2,400 to greater than 3,500 folks per hour. 

Saalbach’s village is bigger than Hinterglemm’s, and has an enthralling centre with conventional cafés, bars, designer clothes boutiques and a clutch of good four-star accommodations. Hinterglemm is an altogether extra peaceable proposition and higher for families.

The place to remain

Resort Panther is within the coronary heart of Saalbach, with the lifts lower than 100 metres away, and retailers, bars and eating places shut by. 

Alternate options for: intermediates

Ellmau is a pleasing little village within the coronary heart of the SkiWelt, Austria’s second largest interconnected ski space. Bad Gastein in Salzburgerland offers entry to round 200km of primarily intermediate runs.

Greatest for consultants

St Anton

The power to deal with the slopes like a god, occasion till daybreak, and nonetheless be smiling enthusiastically on the primary raise the next morning makes or breaks a keep in what should be thought to be one of many high resorts in Europe for critical skiers, snowboarders, and dedicated evening owls. 

The primary time customer to St Anton will discover it surprisingly small for a vacation spot with such an enormous status. The core of the village is only one major road – pedestrianised through the day – lined with some advantageous, outdated accommodations and inns, sports activities retailers and cafés.

It is located at 1,305m and the Valluga cable car, the very best raise, goes as much as 2,810m. In between lies an array of runs that adjust from the reasonably demanding to the simply plain depraved – with waist-high moguls in addition. This isn’t a spot for the faint-hearted – a blue slope right here may properly be labeled darkish crimson in a lesser resort – however the type of one who feels assured on steepish intermediate runs and is recreation to deal with blacks may have an terrible lot of enjoyable.

Snow cowl is normally dependable and the principle motion takes place on the Valluga facet of the village, on and above the slopes of the Gampen and Galzig sectors. The Rendl ski space on the opposite facet of the valley is extra benign (and sunnier). Much less achieved members within the group can at all times head to the altogether extra pleasant slopes of Lech and Zürs, additionally lined by the regional Arlberg raise cross, and linked to St Anton by raise. The principle connecting raise is the Flexenbahn 10-seater gondola, which hyperlinks Zürs with Stuben on the St Anton facet in six minutes. In all, the Arlberg cross covers 305km of pistes (and 200km of off-piste runs), together with the slopes of Warth-Schröcken on the far facet of Lech.

time out is the Run of Fame piste circuit, which begins from Warth within the north and goes by way of Lech to St Anton’s Rendl sector, masking 65km and 18,000m vertical. Nevertheless, when exploring the outer reaches of this huge ski space, you should definitely return in time for the night motion. St Anton is as critical about its raucous nightlife as it’s about its on-slope motion.

The off piste provided by the ski space as an entire is without doubt one of the main sights, and an tour to Zürs off the again of the Valluga is a should for any skilled. In good snow situations its hype is worse than its chunk, however what actually will get the adrenalin flowing is the truth that these carrying skis or a snowboard are solely  allowed up the ultimate cable automobile to the two,810m summit if accompanied by a mountain information. Piste to Powder presents skilled guiding and off-piste tuition in St Anton.

The place to remain

The long-established Resort Garni Erwin Falch presents a very hot welcome, beneficiant breakfasts and cozy rooms. It’s additionally conveniently situated a three-minute stroll from the centre of city and a 10-minute stroll to the Galzig gondola.

Alternate options for: consultants

Zürs on the Flexenpass above Lech has loads of challenges each on and off-piste as does Fieberbrunn, a part of the identical enormous ski space as Saalbach and Hinterglemm.

Greatest for snow reliability

Hintertux

This is without doubt one of the highest ski areas of Europe with glacier slopes that stay open one year of the 12 months and gradients – remarkably steep for a glacier – that permit for critical downhill race coaching by nationwide ski groups through the low season. In winter the ski space reverts to a playground for all skills, with 60km of runs (and 13km of marked however unpatrolled off-piste ski routes), six completely different ski faculties and two terrain parks. 

A alternative of prolonged and regional raise passes give guests entry to some or all the different Zillertal resorts. The Hintertux ski space lies on the head of a distant and delightful valley past better-known Mayrhofen, and the winding highway as much as it passes by the communities of Vorderlanersbach, Tux, Madseit and Juns earlier than reaching the raise station giving entry to the glacier. Lodges are scattered all alongside the highway and these collectively present the lodging base, served by the common ski bus. Consequently, après-ski is basically restricted to resort bars scattered alongside the valley.

Nevertheless, Hintertux is a good vacation spot for households, due to the Playarena within the village of Vorderlanersbach on the foot of the Eggalm slopes simply down the valley. There’s one thing right here for youngsters of all ages, starting from infants to 16 12 months olds, with services together with a gentle play space, bouncy fortress, indoor excessive ropes and climbing wall, children’ cinema and theatre. Entry is freed from cost.

The place to remain

Hotel Vierjahreseiten situated near the raise station is a small family-run four-star with an indoor pool and spa.

Alternate options for: snow reliability

Obertauern is Austria’s greatest shot at a purpose-built resort with a powerful status for dependable cowl all through an extended season. Sölden within the Otztal has two glaciers and stays open for a lot of the 12 months.

Greatest for attraction and romance

Kitzbühel

Watching the annual Hahnenkamm, the toughest of all World Cup downhill ski races, held in late January, is breathtaking. At one level, the course plunges away at an angle of 85 levels.

The humorous factor is, the Hahnenkamm isn’t actually what Kitzbühel is about. This former medieval mining city, set in opposition to the attractive backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser mountains, is definitely one of many softies of the Alpine world. Its slopes are, for probably the most half, flattering quite than horrifying. Even the infamous Streif racecourse, the venue for the Hahnenkamm, turns into a Familienabfahrt – a household run – as soon as the World Cup circus has left city.

The native slopes are divided into three areas – the Kitzbüheler Horn, the far more in depth Hahnenkamm and neighbouring Bichlalm, slightly space given over to freeride. Bichlalm is accessed by a chairlift, and there’s a snowcat for persevering with the journey past the highest of the raise. There’s one blue run and a alternative of off-piste itineraries again right down to the valley.

Aside from its personal 230km of runs and 57 lifts within the native space, Kitzbühel hyperlinks (by a brief bus trip) to the 284km of piste and 90 lifts of the SkiWelt space, which incorporates Westendorf and Söll. The space that may be travelled in a day is proscribed solely by the hours the lifts are open. Kitzbühel has its personal raise cross separate from the SkiWelt cross, whereas a nine-area Kitzbühel Alps AllstarCard covers each.

The medieval city with its closely buttressed partitions and delicate painted frescoes is without doubt one of the most stunning in of Austria. It is usually a type of uncommon resorts that genuinely appeals to non-skiers. Its fairly pedestrianised streets are lined with luxurious accommodations, upmarket boutiques and cafes. 

The place to remain

The four-star Schwarzer Adler among the best accommodations within the resort, with state-of-the-art design and excellent leisure services together with a rooftop pool with gorgeous views. 

Alternate options for: attraction

Lech is Austria’s smartest ski vacation spot, however it nonetheless retains a lot of the ambiance of the farming village that it as soon as was. Seefeld, set on a wooded plateau 25 minutes from Innsbruck, has restricted downhill slopes however cross-country snowboarding, curling and sleigh rides are well-liked options for many who vacation in consolation in a variety of refined four- and five-star accommodations.

Greatest for partying

Ischgl 

Ischgl is usually neglected by the British – which is stunning, given its full-throttle nightlife and high-quality intermediate pistes.

It’s famed for its opening and closing parties that includes a number of the world’s most celebrated artists. The live shows began with Elton John in 1994 and have since featured an array of A-list celeb singers, together with Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. 

The resort is an outdated farming village that has developed over time into a complicated vacationer centre, with a set of good accommodations and cavernous bars. It’s a paradoxical place. The lodging is generally upmarket and costlier than in lots of resorts, and the clientele tends to be at the least 10 years older than the 20-somethings who pack into the Mooserwirt on the slopes above St Anton. 

Nevertheless, this doesn’t cease the Ischgl crowd from climbing on the tables and partying as if it had been their final day on earth. Anybody who likes après as a lot because the pistes, and thinks they won’t be as much as the powerful slopes of St Anton, ought to put Ischgl on their hit-list. Nevertheless, partygoers be warned, following the pandemic the resort has pledged to clean up its act and shift its focus from late nights to luxurious.

The 239km of pistes in Ischgl – the world is linked to Samnaun in Switzerland – provide one thing to swimsuit all requirements and the raise system is consistently being up to date. Intermediates can have a ball right here, and whereas there’s an total absence of actually steep slopes, the off-piste and ski touring alternatives with a information are wonderful.

The Skyfly, two parallel zip-lines from the Silvretta mid-station to the village, is a 2km-long thrilling trip that may be finished in ski boots with skis connected behind in a harness.

The place to remain

Resort Trofana RoyalThis five-star superior is Ischgl’s high institution. Eating at Resort Trofana Royal is particular, with Gault Millau and Michelin awarded chef Martin Sieberer on the helm, as is the spacious spa, with each indoor and outside swimming pools and an array of remedies on provide.

Alternate options for: partying

St Anton and Saalbach. At each, the occasion begins in huts on the slopes lengthy earlier than the lifts shut for the day.

Greatest for households

Obergurgl

If taking younger kids to the Alps, the best is guaranteed snow cover at village stage all through an extended season so {that a} vacation is feasible both pre-Christmas or after the most recent of April Easters. At 1,930m, very excessive for a resort on the japanese finish of the Alps, Obergurgl fortunately obliges.

A brief switch and a low-risk atmosphere can be preferable. This conventional village is about round a advantageous church, a straightforward one-hour drive from Innsbruck. There’s no by site visitors and the atmosphere is basically family-friendly.

The resort attracts a loyal band of regulars, who love its low-key ambiance and well-run, conventional accommodations and  scattering of chalets.

The disadvantage is an undersized ski space, which may irritate these in search of countless motion on groomed pistes. Obergurgl is linked by raise to increased Hochgurgl, however collectively they nonetheless solely provide 112km of runs. The off-piste in Obergurgl is sweet and the spring touring alternatives are famend.

One added attraction is the Prime Mountain Crosspoint on the Hochgurgl finish of the ski space, which includes a table-service restaurant serving genuine native dishes, a motorbike museum and the bottom station of an environment friendly 10-person gondola. 

Obergurgl Ski College has been instructing the fundamentals to kids and adults since 1922. Hochgurgl Ski College has much less of a pedigree, however a powerful status. Most instructors communicate affordable English, however don’t count on to study cutting-edge method. There’s no non-ski kindergarten, however lots of the accommodations provide their very own child-care.

The place to remain

Small and cosy, the four-star Resort Olympia is situated about 300m from the Rosskarbahn chair. It has a small wellness space with sauna and steam room, a wine bar and an in-house restaurant with views of the slopes.

Alternate options for: households 

Westendorf within the SkiWelt space has free-to-use nursery slopes and claims to have taught extra British kids over time than some other Austrian resort, though St Johann in Tirol may properly dispute that. Each have mild native slopes and are charming bases for households.

Greatest for terrain parks

Mayrhofen

This once-traditional village within the Zillertal – the Ziller valley – was one of many authentic migration factors for British skiers within the Seventies, and its attract has by no means pale. Today Mayrhofen is equally well-liked with snowboarders.

Each riders and skiers are drawn to certainly one of Austria’s most highly-rated terrain parks, in addition to extensive, open slopes above the tree line which can be heaven for powder hounds after a contemporary snowfall. The principle ski space is on the Penken mountain, reached by the Penkenbahn from city, a state-of-the-art gondola with 24-seat cabins that needs to be taken each up and down the mountain, however makes fast work of any queues. 

The Penken terrain park is about at 2,100m, beneath the Solar Jet chairlift. It’s rammed filled with kickers (a complete of 14), plus 34 packing containers and rails. It has a separate children’ space, in addition to devoted areas for intermediates, superior and execs.

Mayrhofen’s native ski space has 142km of pistes and 58 lifts, however that’s only a fraction of what’s on provide within the area. The raise cross, the Zillertaler Superskipass, offers entry to a mighty 535km of pistes within the valley, served by 180 lifts.

Après is historically manic right here. In ‘regular’ occasions, the Dutch are inclined to paved the way at bars on the mountain, lengthy earlier than the lifts shut for the day. The motion then switches to the Ice Bar subsequent to the underside gondola station. 

Every April Mayrhofen hosts Snowbombing, a type of Glastonbury-on-snow full with dwell bands, DJs and ski and snowboard competitions. The week-long competition acts as a significant increase to lodging and lift-pass gross sales.

The place to remain

Very talked-about in Mayrhofen, notably for households, the Sport & Spa Resort Strass is in reality two four-star accommodations joined collectively, run by the Roscher household. The 2 accommodations are enormous and rambling, so it takes a while to get your bearings, and the bar can be at residence in an airport. All of it feels a bit quirky to begin with however the longer the keep the extra it feels pleasantly eccentric. The place is ideal, subsequent to the Penken gondola station; it’s energetic although, and may be very noisy.

Alternate options for: terrain parks

Nordkette on the outskirts of Innsbruck, St Anton and Sölden are additionally good locations for freestylers.

Greatest for worth

Söll

It’s not tough to search out low-cost in Austria, if ready to compromise on both the standard or amount of the slopes. There are dozens of small villages with a great deal of attraction, however restricted terrain and raise techniques. But Söll has a lot extra to supply – one of many largest ski areas in Austria, plus loads of budget accommodation.

It’s the unofficial capital of the SkiWelt, a dozen villages with 284km of largely intermediate pistes and 90 lifts. If that’s not sufficient, the area is instantly linked (aside from a brief bus trip) by Westendorf and Kirchberg to Kitzbühel. This provides one other 230km of runs and 57 lifts to the tally, although on a separate raise cross.

A decade in the past Söll was best-known for its raucous laddish nightlife. However with the very best density of resort beds within the area, it’s now making an attempt to attraction to a a lot wider clientele, together with households. Nonetheless, it’s best suited to those that need to assault the slopes with gusto or to occasion – or each.

The standard Tirolean village with its onion-domed church is about in the midst of a large valley. The slopes are a kilometre away and greatest reached by ski bus.

The place to remain

On the Resort Gänsleit, Austrian Rosi and her English husband Steve mix the familiarity of residence with real Austrian hospitality and magnificence, and a pleasant and welcoming ambiance. The resort has been fantastically adorned and features a trendy spa and wellness suite. 

Alternate options for: worth

St Johann-in-Tirol and Kühtai have a good selection of price range lodging.

Greatest for weekends

Innsbruck

Discovering a resort within the Alps that can take bookings of lower than every week is just not at all times straightforward. Not so in Innsbruck with its enormous alternative of city lodging. That is certainly one of Austria’s most stunning cities, boasting a medieval outdated city of slim cobbled streets and vibrant buildings alongside the banks of the River Inn. The brief transfers and each day winter flights with each BA and easyJet make the Tirolean capital probably the most handy of all hubs for weekends.

Aside from being the capital of the Tirol, Innsbruck is a ski resort in its personal proper – and one with appreciable attraction and advantageous eating places. It’s potential to be on the slopes inside an hour of leaving the airport because the Nordkette ski space is reached by a funicular and a cable automobile from town in 20 minutes. The Hungerburg funicular runs from throughout the river within the centre of Innsbruck to the bottom station of the Nordkette ski space at Hungerburg (860m) in simply eight minutes. The funicular’s 4 stations had been designed by famend architect Zaha Hadid and these putting modern buildings have develop into an integral a part of Innsbruck’s cityscape.

After reaching the Hungerburg station, guests can take a cable automobile as much as Seegruben (1,905m) after which one other cable automobile to the highest of the Nordkette space at Hafelekar (2,256m), the place novices can admire town and Alpine views and consultants can deal with Karrinne, a very difficult off-piste run. 

This is without doubt one of the Tirol’s steepest ski areas with loads of spectacularly gnarly off-piste terrain for consultants. There are 5km of marked off-piste runs right here and 11km of principally crimson pistes, however even these are steep by different resorts’ requirements. There’s additionally terrain park, Skylinepark, with kickers, rails, rollers and packing containers.

Nordkette is a part of the Ski plus Metropolis cross that covers 308km of piste in 13 ski areas inside attain of Innsbruck, together with Axamer Lizum, Kühtai, the Stubai Glacier, Muttereralm and Patscherkofel. These are all simply reached by free ski bus.

The place to remain

The four-star Resort Grauer Bär is situated within the centre of Innsbruck with spa, swimming pool and three eating places. 

Alternate options for: weekends

Zell-am-See , Fugen, and St Anton are additionally appropriate for brief winter getaways.