They open their doors to millions of tourists from November to April, and on the top of the Alpine glaciers you can enjoy excellent skiing at any time of the year. The main ski area is located in the southwestern part of the country, in federal states Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Austrian ski centers are known throughout the world for the excellent quality of the slopes, modern infrastructure, excellent service and a huge selection of entertainment for every taste. The mesmerizing landscapes of mountain lakes, snowy slopes covered with fir trees and Tyrolean village houses add special charm to winter holidays in Austria. You can get acquainted with the best Austrian ski resorts by reading our article.
1. St. Anton (Vorarlberg)
St. Anton is rightfully one of the best ski resorts in Austria. This modern resort, with rich traditions and excellent infrastructure, is called the cradle of Austrian skiing - it was here that the first ski club in the Alps was opened at the very beginning of the 20th century. A holiday in St. Anton will bring true pleasure to experienced skiers and adrenaline junkies: the slopes here are interesting and quite challenging. The total length of St. Anton's routes is more than 300 km, most of them have a high level of difficulty. By the way, the longest 10-kilometer track in the Arlberg is also located in St. Anton. In addition, the resort has great opportunities for freeride thanks to spacious and steep slopes and excellent snow cover. Fans of active pastime after skiing will be pleased with the St. Anton ski resort with a huge selection of restaurants and noisy nightclubs.
2. Lech (Vorarlberg)
The ski resort of Lech is a real paradise for connoisseurs of luxury hotels, excellent restaurants, gourmet Austrian cuisine and, of course, beautiful slopes. Lech has long been a favorite place winter holiday European aristocrats, world celebrities and crowned heads. You definitely won’t be able to save money on your vacation here, but in return for the money spent, you will be able to enjoy the highest level of service and a huge variety of services offered. From 300 km ski routes Lech is dominated by trails of medium difficulty level. There are many convenient trails with a slight slope, suitable for lovers of leisurely and comfortable skiing. Skiers with impeccable physical fitness will certainly enjoy heli-skiing - off-piste descents with delivery to the top by helicopter. Lech is the only Austrian resort where this rare and exciting type of skiing is officially permitted. In addition, Lech and St. Anton are united by a common ski pass, which allows you to enjoy extreme skiing on the slopes of the neighboring resort.
3. Mayrhofen (Tyrol)
Mayrhofen is one of the most famous ski resorts Austrian resorts. Its undeniable advantages are large area for skiing with a total length of more than 150 km, impeccable pistes of medium difficulty, affordable prices and lively nightlife. The resort of Mayrhofen is extremely popular among the European public, so it is not surprising that in the high season its slopes are often overloaded, and there are long queues at the lifts. The Hintertux glacier, whose peak is at 3250 m, has excellent opportunities for descent. The snow cover here remains all year round, making skiing on the upper zone of the glacier possible both in winter and summer. And finally, the main highlight of Mayrhofen is the most dangerous track in Austria with the eloquent name “Harakiri”: its incredibly steep gradient reaches 78%.
4. Sölden (Tyrol)
The ski resort of Sölden has become very famous due to its lively atmosphere and wide choice recreational opportunities. Presented here various options residence from inexpensive hotels to luxury hotels. A huge number of restaurants, bars, discos and nightclubs makes a holiday in Sölden especially attractive for lovers of wild après ski: the noisiest and most incendiary parties in Tyrol take place here. As for skiing, among 150 km of first-class mountain ski slopes everyone, from beginner to professional, will find a route according to their preferences. And thanks to the fact that the top of the Sölden glacier is covered with snow all year round, the ski season here begins earlier than usual, and the most impatient skiers come here already in October.
5. Ischgl (Tyrol)
The small mountain village of Ischgl has firmly established its reputation as the most expensive and most prestigious ski resort in Austria. From the end of October to the beginning of May, Ischgl turns into a place of a huge glamorous party, where, according to tradition, all Austrian bohemians gather to “see people and show themselves off”, and at the same time (as a pleasant addition to the holiday) to go skiing. Annual opening ski season in Ischgl is a grand show: in different years Elton John, Tina Turner, Sting, Rihanna and other legendary world-famous performers took part in it. The quality of the trails and infrastructure here is, of course, excellent. top level. The total length of the trails exceeds 200 km, most of them are quite difficult. The resort has all the conditions for extreme skiing, freeride and carving, and the famous local snowboard park is considered one of the best in Europe.
6. Zell am See (Salzburg)
The picturesque town of Zell am See, located on the shores of the mountain lake Zell, is rightfully one of the most beautiful ski resorts in Austria. With impeccably maintained pistes and the latest infrastructure, it has retained its unique natural charm. Zell am See, together with the high-mountain Kaprun glacier, form a single ski area with a total length of pistes of about 140 km, and the season on the glacier lasts all year round. Zell am See offers its guests a huge selection of opportunities for active pastime: alpine and classic skiing, snowboarding, sledding and skating, horse riding, sailing on the ice of Lake Zell, mountaineering, paragliding and parachute jumping. The health benefits of the resort are complemented by its excellent ecology, fresh mountain air and the presence of healing mineral springs.
7. Bad Gastein (Salzburg)
The expensive and prestigious Austrian ski resort of Bad Gastein is known primarily as a spa resort: back in the 19th century, European intelligentsia came here to improve their health “on the waters.” Thanks to the healing mountain air and numerous thermal springs, Bad Gastein is often called the “Alpine Monte Carlo”. The unique flavor of the town is given by ancient architectural ensembles, a picturesque waterfall in the heart of the resort, elite spa complexes, as well as the oldest mountain casino. For alpine skiing fans, Bad Gastein offers about 200 km of impeccable pistes, most of which are ideal for relaxed, comfortable skiing. There are few difficult trails here, but there are several ski schools for beginners, including children's ones. As for the après-ski holiday, it certainly cannot be called hectic and lively: in the territory of aristocratic Bad Gastein, the most popular entertainment after skiing is leisurely walks along the mountain paths or a visit to the spa.
8. Obertauern (Salzburg)
Obertauern rightfully enjoys the reputation of the snowiest ski resort in Austria. Skiing here is organized at an altitude of 1700 to 2300 m, so natural snow is always guaranteed on the upper sections of the slopes, and at the bottom there is a modern artificial snow cover support system. Of the 100 km of ski routes, more than half are blue slopes, designed for average level skiers. There are interesting red trails with an increased level of difficulty. For lovers of extreme skiing, Obertauern can offer only 4 black slopes, but thanks to the abundant snow, there are excellent opportunities for freeride. This resort is not yet very well known to the Russian public, although it certainly deserves closer attention: it has the most modern hotel stock in Austria and excellent opportunities for après ski: many bars, restaurants and several nightclubs.
9. Nassfeld (Carinthia)
Nassfeld is another good ski resort in Austria, undeservedly deprived of the attention of Russian tourists. Therefore, if you prefer a holiday in Europe among Europeans, Nassfeld will be an excellent option for you. Among the main advantages of the Nassfeld resort are a guaranteed abundance of snow, excellent quality pistes and a very convenient location of hotels and apartments, allowing you to ski, as they say, “from your doorstep”. The Nassfeld slopes, with a total length of about 100 km, have enough space for both beginners and professionals. Interestingly, it is in Nassfeld that the longest gondola lift in the Alps operates, delivering skiers to the beginning of the slopes over a distance of more than 6 km. Another highlight of the resort is the mountain lake Presegger, which, after freezing, turns into a huge natural ice skating rink.
10. Serfaus – Fiss – Ladis (Tirol)
The ski resorts of Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis, united by a common 200-kilometer piste area, are an excellent option for active family vacation in Austria. There are excellent conditions for intermediate skiers and children's skiing. At the Serfaus resort, everything is thought out to the smallest detail for maximum comfortable rest with children: a mountain kindergarten famous throughout Europe with exciting animation programs, children's restaurants, a puppet theater, a children's ski school, snow towns and even lifts specially adapted for loading strollers. Another unique feature of the resort is the only silent metro of its kind, consisting of one line and four stations, and transporting vacationers from the resort center to the ski lifts completely free of charge.
Austria is the recognized queen of the Alps, and this is not surprising - the Alps cover most of it, and the abundance of lakes adds additional charm to this amazing country. Austria is famous for its picturesque resorts and excellent level of service and quality of service.
The country is one of Europe's leading ski holiday destinations. Austria is home to many famous ski resorts, and no matter your level of skiing, you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety on offer.
Ski resorts in Austria are usually a little lower than those in France and Switzerland, but this does not prevent excellent skiing in season, and the famous Austrian glaciers are at your service out of season.
The most famous and popular ski resorts located in the federal states of Tyrol, Salzburgerland, Styria, Carinthia.
Tyrol rightfully leads this worthy list with its star capital Innsbruck (twice the capital of the Winter Olympic Games).
The main resorts of Tyrol: Innsbruck and the surrounding area (Igls, Axamer-Litzum, Fulpmes, Neustift, Tulfes, Imst) Arlberg (St. Anton, Lech) Ski Circus with the famous White Circle, which includes St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech and Zürs offers excellent and memorable skiing. the Zillertal valley (Mayrhofen, Zell am Ziller, Fügen, Kaltenbach) with the famous Hinterhoeks glacier Seefeld Kitzbühel and Kirchberg Otztal valley (Sölden, Obergurgl, Hochgurgl) Sölden, one of the most popular resorts in Austria, where thousands of fans of the white miracle flock every year; Ischgl, practically a mecca for skiers, Pitztal Serfaus
Ski center Styria, the second largest state of Austria, was and remains Dachstein Tauern with its largest resort center of Schladming.
The land of Salzburg is famous for its European sports region, which includes the villages of Zell am See and Kaprun with the glacier of the same name. To the south are the thermal and ski resorts of Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein (Gasteinertal Valley). Whichever resort you choose for your holiday, you will receive equivalent Austrian quality service and very reasonable prices.
As a rule, resorts in Austria offer not only ski holiday, there are many thermal complexes at resorts, sports centers, entertainment centers, including children's. Often at the resort you can get a guest card, which provides discounts on services, including the ski pass.
Après-ski in Austria deserves special mention – people here know how and want to have fun. The famous bars and nightclubs of St. Anton are practically the hallmark of Austrian après ski. However, this does not mean at all that for a great evening leisure you must choose big resort– even in the smallest village there is always an excellent bar with music and dancing.
By choosing Austria, you are choosing excellent service in mountain alps at a reasonable price.
Here you can ski until you lose all strength, without ever repeating the same descent in one day, there are slopes of different difficulty levels, and after-ski parties for every taste and budget. None of the resorts is like the other, each has its own characteristics, its own charm and charm. We present to you the ten largest ski resorts in Austria for the 2013/2014 season.
The Mayrhofen ski resort, so beloved and popular among Russian tourist, fully offers action & fun: the famous après-ski in Brück´n Stadl, where four glasses of beer will be poured in a record 11 seconds, and discos in Snowbombing. If we consider only the ski area above Mayrhofen, then in terms of its size and length of slopes it will take 10th place in Austria. Meanwhile, the elevation difference here is the largest in the top ten: the tracks are located between 620 m and 2,250 m above sea level. The length of the slopes prepared by snowcats is 133 km - from the simplest “blue” to the legendary “anthracite-black” Harakiri, the steepest slope in Austria, the slope of which reaches 78%. Anyone who has descended Harakiri is happy to buy a T-shirt in the nearest store with the inscription “I survived Harakiri”.
Mayrhofen
Data:
– length of tracks: 133 km;
– the resort will appeal to apres-ski fans and active rest and extreme sports enthusiasts.
Peculiarities:
– the steepest track in Austria and a 10-kilometer descent into the valley;
– new high-speed chairlifts with wind canopies and heated seats;
– VansPenkenPark in Mayrhofen;
– après-ski until 2 am.
Naked numbers:
– elevation difference - 1,880 m;
– especially for those who go to the mountain early in the morning: on certain days the lifts start working at seven in the morning.
How to get there:
By car: Autobahn A12, turn towards Zillertal, 30 km on B169 to Mayrhofen.
By train: any international train with a stop in Jenbach, where you need to change to the Zillertal train, which will take you to Mayrhofen for €7.
The most important thing about Sölden is guaranteed snow. Of all the ten largest ski regions in Austria, the ski area in Sölden is the highest - up to 3,330 m above sea level. However, going down won't cause any problems either - the snow cannons will take care of that. Some trails end right at the après ski bars - you can relax after skiing in Sölden until the morning.
Data:
– length of tracks: 150 km;
– ski pass cost: €48 per day;
– the resort will appeal to fans of noisy après-ski.
Peculiarities:
– guarantee of snow from October to May;
– après-ski parties at the Fire and Ice bar until 3 am;
– Alpine skiing World Cup track on the Rettenbach glacier, tracks with speed measurement and automatic video recording;
– Hannibal Show on the Rettenbach Glacier in April.
Naked numbers:
– one 3S lift (with three supporting cables), 7 gondola lifts, 16 chair lifts and 9 drag lifts;
– 80% of easy and medium difficulty trails;
– 28 km of “black” slopes and a 2-kilometer ski route.
How to get there:
By car: turn off the A12 motorway at the sign for Ötztal, 35 km along the B186 to Sölden.
By train: You will have to make a lot of transfers to get to Ötztal station. Departures from the station every hour regular bus, the journey to Sölden takes 90 minutes.
Kitzbühel is one of the legendary and famous ski resorts in the Alps. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the first ski descent from the top of the Kitzbüheler Horn. No less legendary are the races from Hahnenkamm - the Alpine Ski World Cup competitions on the Streif downhill course, one of the most difficult and dangerous. Kitzbühel is only 125 km from international airport in Munich and 80 km from Salzburg Airport. The network of pistes and lifts on the surrounding slopes starts at an altitude of about 2,000 m above sea level.
Kitzbühel
Data:
– length of tracks: 170 km;
– ski pass cost: €47 per day;
– the resort is most suitable for good skiers and food lovers.
Peculiarities:
– in January, during the World Cup stage (from January 21 to 26, 2014), not only the elite of alpine skiing meets here, but also the cream of society, and not only Austrian;
– Streif downhill track with a maximum slope of 85%;
– many après-ski points, as well as gourmet restaurants;
– for lovers of ski touring and off-piste skiing - 230 km² of Kitzbühel mountain space.
Naked numbers:
– 51 lifts;
– 32 km of marked but not prepared slopes (ski-route).
How to get there:
By car: Autobahn A8 in the direction of Salzburg, turn towards Kufstein, exit the autobahn at the Kufstein Süd sign, highway B178 in the direction of St. Johann in Tirol, highway B161 towards Kitzbühel. From Munich - 2 hours, from Salzburg - 1 hour 40 minutes.
By train: a couple of transfers from Munich, lower station cable car on Hahnenkamm is three minutes from the station.
Sports, shows, après-ski parties, concerts of world pop-rock celebrities: the most interesting thing in Ischgl will, of course, be for young people. A huge expanse of sunny slopes, a wide network of prepared trails and endless opportunities for freeride.
Data:
– length of tracks: 238 km;
– ski pass cost: €43.50 per day in high season.
Peculiarities:
– concerts of world rock stars;
– snow parks and mountain huts next to the slopes;
– good opportunities for freeride and guarantee of snow throughout the season.
Naked numbers:
– highest point the resort is located at an altitude of 2,872 m;
– 43 lifts;
– 16% of the tracks are “blue”, 65% “red” and 19% “black”.
How to get there:
By car: from Innsbruck along the Arlbergstrasse, turn at the sign for Pians, then 20 km along Silvrettastrasse B188 in the direction of Ischgl.
Brixental
1. Wilder Kaiser/Brixental
And finally, the largest ski area in Austria is the Wilder Kaiser/Brixental ski world. In terms of the total length of prepared trails, this region ranks 9th in Europe. It is unlikely that anyone is able to travel around all 279 km of Brixental slopes in one day. Despite the relatively low altitudes, it is still worth going here - especially since this is one of the best resorts in the Alps in terms of transport accessibility.
Data:
– length of tracks: 279 km;
– ski pass cost: €44 euros per day in high season;
– the resort is ideal for fans of so-called cruise skiing, snowboarders and those who haven’t skied all day.
Peculiarities:
– the largest day and night ski area in Austria;
– 48% of “blue” slopes and only 6% of “black” slopes;
– an ideal resort for snowboarders - there are practically no long gentle slopes and flat traverses, but there are several snow parks.
Naked numbers:
– 91 cable cars;
– more than 70 mountain restaurants, cafes and après-ski bars;
– Alpeniglu® Dorf - igloo village with igloo restaurant, bar, ice sculpture exhibition and ice chapel;
– three fan parks, one track with video recording, SkiWelt Chill Areas with free Internet access;
– three night sled runs (until 2 a.m.);
– The 13-kilometer illuminated ski track is the longest in Austria.
How to get there:
By car: from Munich on the autobahn through Rosenheim, turn to Kufstein Süd or Wörgl Ost, then almost all SkiWelt centers are accessible along the new highway.
By train: the nearest station is in Hopfgarten. You can get here in one night, for example, from Northern Germany on the Schnee-Express. From Munich or Vienna - take EuroCity trains to Wörgl, change to local railway, which will take you to the lower cable car station in Hopfgarten in 10 minutes.
Here you can ski until you lose all strength, without ever repeating the same descent in one day, there are slopes of different difficulty levels, and after-ski parties for every taste and budget. None of the resorts is like the other, each has its own characteristics, its own charm and charm. We present to you the ten largest ski resorts in Austria for the 2013/2014 season.
The ski resort of Mayrhofen, so beloved and popular among Russian tourists, fully offers action & fun: the famous après-ski at Brück´n Stadl, where four glasses of beer will be poured in a record 11 seconds, and discos at Snowbombing. If we consider only the ski area above Mayrhofen, then in terms of its size and length of slopes it will take 10th place in Austria. Meanwhile, the elevation difference here is the largest in the top ten: the tracks are located between 620 m and 2,250 m above sea level. The length of the slopes prepared by snowcats is 133 km - from the simplest “blue” to the legendary “anthracite-black” Harakiri, the steepest slope in Austria, the slope of which reaches 78%. Anyone who has descended Harakiri is happy to buy a T-shirt in the nearest store with the inscription “I survived Harakiri”.
Mayrhofen
Data:
– length of tracks: 133 km;
– the resort will appeal to après-ski fans, outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sports enthusiasts.
Peculiarities:
– the steepest track in Austria and a 10-kilometer descent into the valley;
– new high-speed chairlifts with wind canopies and heated seats;
– VansPenkenPark in Mayrhofen;
– après-ski until 2 am.
Naked numbers:
– elevation difference - 1,880 m;
– especially for those who go to the mountain early in the morning: on certain days the lifts start working at seven in the morning.
How to get there:
By car: Autobahn A12, turn towards Zillertal, 30 km on B169 to Mayrhofen.
By train: any international train with a stop in Jenbach, where you need to change to the Zillertal train, which will take you to Mayrhofen for €7.
The most important thing about Sölden is guaranteed snow. Of all the ten largest ski regions in Austria, the ski area in Sölden is the highest - up to 3,330 m above sea level. However, going down won't cause any problems either - the snow cannons will take care of that. Some trails end right at the après ski bars - you can relax after skiing in Sölden until the morning.
Data:
– length of tracks: 150 km;
– ski pass cost: €48 per day;
– the resort will appeal to fans of noisy après-ski.
Peculiarities:
– guarantee of snow from October to May;
– après-ski parties at the Fire and Ice bar until 3 am;
– Alpine skiing World Cup track on the Rettenbach glacier, tracks with speed measurement and automatic video recording;
– Hannibal Show on the Rettenbach Glacier in April.
Naked numbers:
– one 3S lift (with three supporting cables), 7 gondola lifts, 16 chair lifts and 9 drag lifts;
– 80% of easy and medium difficulty trails;
– 28 km of “black” slopes and a 2-kilometer ski route.
How to get there:
By car: turn off the A12 motorway at the sign for Ötztal, 35 km along the B186 to Sölden.
By train: You will have to make a lot of transfers to get to Ötztal station. A regular bus leaves from the station every hour; the trip to Sölden takes 90 minutes.
Kitzbühel is one of the legendary and famous ski resorts in the Alps. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the first ski descent from the top of the Kitzbüheler Horn. No less legendary are the races from Hahnenkamm - the Alpine Ski World Cup competitions on the Streif downhill course, one of the most difficult and dangerous. Kitzbühel is only 125 km from Munich International Airport and 80 km from Salzburg Airport. The network of pistes and lifts on the surrounding slopes starts at an altitude of about 2,000 m above sea level.
Kitzbühel
Data:
– length of tracks: 170 km;
– ski pass cost: €47 per day;
– the resort is most suitable for good skiers and food lovers.
Peculiarities:
– in January, during the World Cup stage (from January 21 to 26, 2014), not only the elite of alpine skiing meets here, but also the cream of society, and not only Austrian;
– Streif downhill track with a maximum slope of 85%;
– many après-ski points, as well as gourmet restaurants;
– for lovers of ski touring and off-piste skiing - 230 km² of Kitzbühel mountain space.
Naked numbers:
– 51 lifts;
– 32 km of marked but not prepared slopes (ski-route).
How to get there:
By car: Autobahn A8 in the direction of Salzburg, turn towards Kufstein, exit the autobahn at the Kufstein Süd sign, highway B178 in the direction of St. Johann in Tirol, highway B161 towards Kitzbühel. From Munich - 2 hours, from Salzburg - 1 hour 40 minutes.
By train: a couple of transfers from Munich, the lower station of the Hahnenkamm cable car is three minutes from the station.
Sports, shows, après-ski parties, concerts of world pop-rock celebrities: the most interesting thing in Ischgl will, of course, be for young people. A huge expanse of sunny slopes, a wide network of prepared trails and endless opportunities for freeride.
Data:
– length of tracks: 238 km;
– ski pass cost: €43.50 per day in high season.
Peculiarities:
– concerts of world rock stars;
– snow parks and mountain huts next to the slopes;
– good opportunities for freeride and guarantee of snow throughout the season.
Naked numbers:
– the highest point of the resort is located at an altitude of 2,872 m;
– 43 lifts;
– 16% of the tracks are “blue”, 65% “red” and 19% “black”.
How to get there:
By car: from Innsbruck along the Arlbergstrasse, turn at the sign for Pians, then 20 km along Silvrettastrasse B188 in the direction of Ischgl.
Brixental
1. Wilder Kaiser/Brixental
And finally, the largest ski area in Austria is the Wilder Kaiser/Brixental ski world. In terms of the total length of prepared trails, this region ranks 9th in Europe. It is unlikely that anyone is able to travel around all 279 km of Brixental slopes in one day. Despite the relatively low altitudes, it is still worth going here - especially since this is one of the best resorts in the Alps in terms of transport accessibility.
Data:
– length of tracks: 279 km;
– ski pass cost: €44 euros per day in high season;
– the resort is ideal for fans of so-called cruise skiing, snowboarders and those who haven’t skied all day.
Peculiarities:
– the largest day and night ski area in Austria;
– 48% of “blue” slopes and only 6% of “black” slopes;
– an ideal resort for snowboarders - there are practically no long gentle slopes and flat traverses, but there are several snow parks.
Naked numbers:
– 91 cable cars;
– more than 70 mountain restaurants, cafes and après-ski bars;
– Alpeniglu® Dorf - igloo village with igloo restaurant, bar, ice sculpture exhibition and ice chapel;
– three fan parks, one track with video recording, SkiWelt Chill Areas with free Internet access;
– three night sled runs (until 2 a.m.);
– The 13-kilometer illuminated ski track is the longest in Austria.
How to get there:
By car: from Munich on the autobahn through Rosenheim, turn to Kufstein Süd or Wörgl Ost, then almost all SkiWelt centers are accessible along the new highway.
By train: the nearest station is in Hopfgarten. You can get here in one night, for example, from Northern Germany on the Schnee-Express. From Munich or Vienna - take EuroCity trains to Wörgl, change to the local railway, which will take you to the lower cable car station in Hopfgarten in 10 minutes.
