What can a country with over 100 years of skiing history and a 60% mountain cover give you?
Epic skiing and snowboarding adventures!
With slopes blanketed in ample powder, awesome après-ski, and friendly locals, Austria is on many serious snow lovers’ bucket lists.
Discover Austria’s mammoth ski resorts, friendly locals, and ski where snow sports legends like Hannes Schneider perfected their downhill skiing art. In addition, experience a traditional laid back alpine atmosphere with the allure of world-class ski resorts.
Whether you’re donning skis for the first time, perfecting your glides, or looking to carve sharp turns on fresh powder, you’ll find all you need in Austria. And we can almost guarantee you that you’ll get to experience the reedy notes of an accordion playing the traditional “oompah.”
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel is the epitome of the perfect Austrian winter getaway and has great terrain that suits skiers and snowboarders of all levels.
The resort has a magical village that exudes the ‘Gemütlichkeit,’ the warm and hospitable Austrian reception.
It is world-famous for its scary annual Snow Polo World Cup and Hahnenkamm ski races. These events attract nearly 60,000 spectators every January, who get to watch daring thrill-seekers reach 140 kilometers per hour while skiing downhill.
How To Get to The Kitzbühel Resort
Kitzbühel is right in the middle of Innsbruck and Salzburg cities and is situated in the Austrian state of Tyrol. The resort neighbors two mammoth resorts; Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm and Ski Welt. You can also conveniently access the Zell am See ski resort via a short train ride.
The main gateway airports are Salzburg and Innsbruck. From here you can take a pleasant and scenic train ride to the resort.
There are three convenient train stations close to the resort that are conveniently placed near the lifts. The rail ride is operated by the Austrian Railways’ Railjet Service. The service on this train is stellar, complete with a full restaurant service that makes the journey enjoyable.
Kitzbühel Resort’s Terrain
The ski field has 235 kilometers of pistes that favor all levels of skiers and snowboarders. Among these are 47 blue runs that provide free access to all beginner lifts at the base.
The resort’s terrain stats are further classified as follows:
- 45% beginner
- 40% intermediate
- 15% advanced
Even though there are fewer black runs, the resort still has a thrilling freeride terrain that advanced skiers can enjoy.
The 235 kilometers of pistes are accessible via a network of 57 lifts which include gondolas, cable cars, and chairlifts.
Where to Stay and Dine at Kitzbühel Resort
When you need to rest your weary legs and have a hot meal, you’ll find a great variety of accommodations and eateries at Kitzbühel. The town also has an excellent après-ski with a matching nightlife to keep revelers entertained all season.
St. Anton am Arlberg
This is Austria’s best-known ski area and one of the most preferred go-to winter destinations in Europe. St. Anton has an important place in ski history as it is where the first ski club was formed in the Alps.
How To Get to St. Anton Resort
St. Anton is situated about 100 kilometers west of Innsbruck town (also known as Sankt-Anton-am-Arlberg). Getting to Innsbruck is easy, as the town has its own train station. Visitors can ingress this town from most cities in Europe through the train station. It takes about an hour to get to the St. Anton Resort under favorable road and traffic conditions.
St. Anton Resort’s Terrain
St. Anton is located in the area in the alps with the most snowfall. It receives an impressive seasonal average snowfall of about 7 to 10 meters. Its high elevation coupled with cold temperatures keeps the snow in great condition throughout the ski season.
This resort is just about right for any level and skill. However, it is more suited for advanced riders with its vast off-piste and advanced terrain. The resort's 302 kilometers of terrain have the following stats:
- 43% (130 km) beginner terrain
- 40% (121 km) intermediate terrain
- 17% (51 km) advanced terrain
Where to Stay and Dine in St. Anton Resort
There’s a wide range of accommodation options to choose from in the town of Sankt Anton am Arlberg as well as the surrounding villages. The village of St. Anton is cozy and has a distinct Austrian charm, an unbeatable après-ski, and nightlife. You’ll find comfy chalets, hotels, pensions, and apartments.
Sölden
This is one of the best and most extensive snow areas in Europe.
Thrill-seekers enjoy the great alpine experience with magnificent sceneries. The view is so good that parts of the 2015 James Bond film, Spectre, were filmed here.
The resort has a dynamic terrain with splendid slopes that favor skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Advanced riders also love the two awesome and adrenaline-spiking glaciers, the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach.
How To Get to The Sölden Resort
The resort overlooks the eponymous town in Tyrol’s Ötztal (Oetz valley). The closest towns are Sölden and Oetz (about 31 kilometers north of the resort).
The are two gateway cities to the resort; Innsbruck (about 88 kilometers by road) and Munich (about 250 kilometers away). The next closest city is Ötztal Bahnhof which provides train access.
The main transfer options include driving, bus, or train ride. Bus services operate at least nine times a day from Ötztal Bahnhof and adjacent cities. The journey from Innsbruck to the resort is a short 7-minute ride if traffic and road conditions are favorable.
Sölden Resort’s Terrain
Most of Sölden ski resort’s skiable terrain is located well above 2,000 meters above sea level. This ensures great snow coverage on- or off-season. In addition, most of the slopes face away from the harsh sun rays (north and east) which guarantees the snow quality.
The resort has roughly 114 kilometers of well-maintained and groomed pistes. The terrain has an impressive vertical of about 1,990 meters, with the lowest point being 1,350 meters and the highest at 3,340 meters. The official stats for the resort’s terrain are:
- 47% beginner
- 31% intermediate
- 22% advanced
Where to Stay and Dine at Sölden Resort
Sölden town has a great variety of accommodation facilities with amazing dining and lodging options. There’s a good mix of luxury and budget-friendly places to stay and eat. In addition, you get to enjoy a pleasant traditional ambiance with a friendly atmosphere.
Ischgl
This après-ski capital of the world is known for its extensive lift system that covers the largest terrain in the Eastern Alps. This allows for a fun time on the slopes and a great time when you pack it in for the day.
The resort’s slopes spread over the border with Austria and Switzerland. This means that you get to ski or snowboard in two different countries with a single lift pass!
How To Get to The Ischgl Resort
Ischgl is located about 100 kilometers from Innsbruck by road. The nearest major town is Landeck-Zams, about 30 kilometers to the north of the resort.
The closest airports are Innsbruck, Munich, and Zurich, which are serviced by bus and train rides. Passengers board the train at the Landeck-Zams train station which provides access to Switzerland and Innsbruck. You’ll find plenty of free bus rides that connect the villages within the resort.
Ischgl Resort’s Terrain
Most of the resort’s terrain lies above 1,981 meters above sea level, which guarantees great snow. The snow is also of higher quality and stays fresh longer than in the neighboring resorts.
The resort has a dynamic terrain that has something for everyone. The awesome Silvretta runs are perfect for serious intermediates. They also offer riders a chance to cross over to Switzerland for more skiing and snowboarding opportunities.
The terrain’s official stats include:
- 33% beginner
- 62% intermediate
- 15% advanced
Where to Stay and Dine at Ischgl Resort
With a town world renowned for the perfect après-ski, Ischgl, bars, and restaurants fill up early. The town has a multitude of on-mountain lodging and dining options, with a number of ski-in/ski-out facilities. Keep in mind, though, that the closer you are to the lifts, the pricier the lift tickets.
Mayrhofen
This is a picture-postcard resort that attracts crowds from all over the world.
The ski field boasts one of Europe’s most revered snowboarding scenes and is the host of the legendary Snowbombing. Snowbombing is a week-long snowboarding music extravaganza in the springtime graced by luminaries such as Liam Gallagher.
The resort has some of the most outstanding snowboarding terrains in Europe and the world. And it is also cheaper to ski, stay, and dine in Mayrhofen. It was even named the best value-for-money ski area in Europe by a German newspaper.
How To Get to The Mayrhofen Resort
Mayrhofen ski resort is situated in Tyrol’s Ziller valley (Zillertal) in Austria. It is about 67 kilometers (about a 1-hour drive) to the southeast of Innsbruck town.
The gateway airports are Munich and Zurich. But you can still ingress via Innsbruck international airport which offers convenient access flights from major cities in Europe and the world.
Taking a train ride is the most recommended form of transport to the resort from the airports. However, if you’re in a group or traveling with your family, private transfers offer more comfort, convenience, and speed.
Mayrhofen Resort’s Terrain
Mayrhofen ski resort’s terrain is endowed with great snow. It receives an average seasonal snowfall of about 6 to 10 meters. To complement the natural snow in the event of seasonal lows, the ski field has invested in innovative artificial snowmaking machines that cover a large proportion of the slopes.
The resort’s terrain is made up of 6 constituent snow areas which collectively avail 142 kilometers of pistes. These constituent snow fields include:
- Horberg
- Rastkogel
- Finkenberg
- Penken
- Eggalm
The vast terrain is dynamic and has the following stats:
- 31% beginner runs
- 45% intermediate runs
- 24% beginner runs
Where to Stay and Dine at Mayrhofen Resort
The Mayrhofen ski village has a great variety of accommodation options. You’ll find a wide range of facilities from 5-star hotels offering deluxe services to budget-friendly guesthouses according to your need.
You may opt for on-mountain accommodation (for instance on Ahorn and Horberg) which provides excellent ski-in/ski-out access. However, if you wish to stay off-mountain near the center of the town, you can find a great spot with direct access to the lifts.
Zell am See
The resort's ancient town dates back to the 8th century, and its beautiful cobble-stoned streets are a testament to its age. The alpine town offers spectacular views of Lake Zell, is easy to get to, and has an excellent après-ski.
How To Get to The Zell am See Resort
The resort lies near the border of Tyrol and Salzburg (Salzburgerland) states. It is about 110 kilometers south of Salzburg in central Austria. It towers above the eponymous town to the north of Austria’s highest mountain.
The closest airports are Innsbruck (about 142 kilometers away) and Salzburg. But you can also arrive through Munich International Airport in Germany. The main airport transfer options include train and bus rides. Trains are the recommended form of transport to the resort.
Zell am See Resort’s Terrain
The resort receives about 6 meters of snowfall every season. To complement the natural snow, the ski field has snowmaking machines that cover 100% of the slopes.
Most of the pistes on this resort favor beginners and intermediates. However, there are plenty of off-piste opportunities for advanced riders. The resort’s official stats for its 77 kilometers of runs are as follows:
- 35% beginner
- 45% intermediate
- 20% advanced
Where to Stay and Dine at Zell am See Resort
The ski resort’s town has great accommodation options that suit every need and budget. They range from on-mountain lodges which provide excellent ski-in/ski-out to boutique options in the center of Zell am See. The Tauern Spa Hotel is a great spot.
Planning A Winter Escape but Not Sure Where to Start, Brealpa’s Got Your Back
Austria easily makes a top winter escape destination for many skiers and snowboarders. Enjoy the amazing traditional hospitality with superb cuisine and an almost endless supply of schnapps.
The alpine country is where beginners discover their ski legs with a friendly instructor’s arm around their shoulder. It is also where intermediates can perfect their glides and ski to their hearts’ fill on pistes as wide as motorways. Lastly, advanced riders love the ample heart-stomping off-piste and backcountry opportunities.
Convinced yet? Also, check out our list of the best winter holiday destinations in Europe. From our handy treasure trove of helpful info, you’ll also learn:
- The types of clothes to pack for the slopes
- Resorts with activities to keep your entire family entertained
- Best times to visit various ski fields to avoid crowdedness or for immersive experiences where you can also make friends.
