February Snow In Austria: What To Expect

February is mid-winter in Austria, and the country usually experiences cold and snowy weather during this month. The Alpine climate in the mountainous regions causes colder temperatures than at lower altitudes, and snow can be found in the mountains and cities. While the whole country is not mountainous, the Austrian Alps offer skiing and snowboarding experiences for all levels. Towns and ski resorts at higher altitudes tend to be colder and windier than lower-lying cities, which may still have snow on the ground.

Skiing and snowboarding in the Austrian Alps

The Austrian Alps are a great destination for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The Alps cover part of Austria, and the whole country experiences winter in February, with snow in the mountains and cities.

Austria's ski resorts offer varied slopes and fun parks, with well-maintained pistes, sustainable cable cars, and modern infrastructure. The country's largest ski resorts include the Skiwelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, which offers incredible views and beautiful ski slopes, and the Ski Arlberg area, which connects the villages of Lech and Zurs to create one of the largest ski areas in the world, with 88 lifts and cable cars and 300km of pistes.

For beginners, the Ski Resort of Söll is a great option, with free access to the Hexenwiese ski area for newbies and two children's adventure areas. The Patscherkofelbahnen ski resort is another good choice for beginners, with a clean and comfortable gondola ride up to breathtaking views at the top.

For more challenging runs, head to the Eastern Alps and try the Ischgl-Samnaun Ski Area, which offers fantastic runs and efficient connections with lifts and chairs. The Hintertuxer Gletscher ski resort is another option for advanced skiers and snowboarders, with outstanding natural beauty, great food, and quiet slopes.

If you're an intermediate skier or snowboarder, the Ski Arlberg area around Lech is a good choice, with plenty of red and blue runs. The Ski Resort of Saalbach is another excellent option, with access to one of Austria's largest lift-linked ski areas, recently expanded to include Fieberbrunn, creating a huge area with over 270km of pistes.

For those who want to combine skiing or snowboarding with a city break, Innsbruck is a great option. The Ski Plus City Pass gives access to 13 ski resorts and 22 museums and attractions. While Innsbruck itself doesn't offer ski-in ski-out options, there are plenty of resorts nearby that cater to all levels, from beginner-friendly Mutteralm to the challenging off-piste opportunities in Axamer Lizum.

When to Go

February is mid-winter in Austria, and while the weather is cold and snowy, it's usually not extreme. Towns and ski resorts at higher altitudes tend to be colder and windier than lower-lying cities, so keep that in mind when booking your accommodation.

February is a popular time for travellers to visit Austria, so expect high prices and full hotels in ski resort areas. It's best to book your accommodation in advance, especially if you plan to attend one of Vienna's famous balls, as tickets for these events often sell out quickly.

If you're planning to visit the cities, you may be able to get better deals on accommodation as there tend to be fewer visitors beyond the mountains during this month.

Cities like Vienna and Salzburg for culture, art and history

February is mid-winter in Austria, and while it will be snowy in the mountains, there may also be snow in the cities of Vienna and Salzburg. If you're planning a trip to Austria centred around culture, art, and history, both Vienna and Salzburg offer plenty of choices.

Vienna

Vienna is a must-visit for anyone interested in history, architecture, and European art. February is a good time to visit as it's relatively quiet, and you can shelter from the cold in cafes and museums.

For art, check out the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere Gallery, and the Hundertwasser House. At the Kunsthistorisches Museum, you can spot masterpieces by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and at the Leopold Museum, you can see more Klimt alongside work by Oskar Kokoschka. The Belvedere Gallery is also home to some of Klimt's most famous works, including The Kiss. The Albertina is another gallery that should be on your list, with exhibitions of work by Marc Chagall, Robert Longo, Jim Dine, and Alfred Kubin.

For history, the Vienna Furniture Museum is a good place to start. It has exhibitions on the history of trousers, the history of photography, and the life of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. The Jewish Museum also has a range of exhibitions on the history of Vienna and Austria, including one on the third generation of Holocaust survivors.

Salzburg

The city of Salzburg, with views of the Eastern Alps, is a fantastic place to visit at any time of year, but especially during the Mozart Festival, which is held in late January and early February. Enjoy a concert or two, then check out other attractions such as the Salzburg Fortress, Mozart's Residence, and Hellbrunn Castle.

The Walk of Modern Art takes visitors to Salzburg's most beautiful places and hidden treasures, and to places where art is least expected. The sculptures are within walking distance of the Old City and are freely accessible. The Walk was initiated by the Salzburg Foundation in collaboration with the Foundation for Art and Culture Bonn, and each sculpture is an interpretation of Salzburg, highlighting the city's identity as a cultural centre and World Heritage site.

Vienna's famous ball season

Vienna's ball season is an annual cultural and social highlight. The season runs during Carnival, from 11 November to Shrove Tuesday in February, with some balls taking place even later in the year. There are over 400 balls held in the city every year, with more than 400 events across the country. The balls are a fixture of the local social and entertainment calendar, and the most popular balls sell out quickly.

The balls are a piece of cultural history that dates back to the 18th century when young people were introduced to society and used the events to build their social networks. Today, the balls are about having fun and enjoying dancing and culinary delights. The special ambiance is created by a ceremonial programme and courtly customs, including dress codes, an opening fanfare, the arrival of debutantes, and the exclamation "Alles Walzer!" (the signal to get on the dance floor). Expect a mix of traditional waltz and contemporary music.

The Vienna Opera Ball is the most famous and biggest ball in Austria. It is held at the Vienna State Opera, and celebrities from all over the world attend the event to waltz and enjoy the history-charged atmosphere. Tickets for the ball are highly sought-after, and it is recommended to book tickets for the following year's event right after the current year's ball.

Other notable balls in Vienna include:

• Steirerball (Styrians' Ball) at the Hofburg Palace
• Zuckerbäckerball (Confectioners' Ball) at the Vienna Hofburg Palace
• Blumenball der Wiener Stadtgärten (Flower Ball) at the Vienna City Hall
• Ball der Wiener Kaffeesieder (Coffee Brewers' Ball) at the Hofburg Palace
• Regenbogenball (Rainbow Ball) at Austria Trend Parkhotel Schönbrunn

Mozart Week in Salzburg

Mozart Week 2025 will take place from 23 January to 2 February, with the theme "Destination Mozart". The programme will include works by composers who inspired Mozart, such as Monteverdi, Bach, Handel, and Haydn. Events will be held at various venues across Salzburg, including the Great Hall of the Mozarteum Foundation, the Salzburg Landestheater, the Great Festival Theatre, the House for Mozart, and Mozart's birthplace and residence.

The festival will feature orchestra concerts, chamber concerts, and recitals. There will also be street dance, a pub quiz, silent film screenings with live music, guided tours, and talks. Tickets range in price from €10 to €260, with concerts on Mozartplatz being free of charge.

In addition to Mozart Week, Salzburg offers other attractions for visitors in January and February. These include the Salzburg Fortress, Mozart's Residence, and Hellbrunn Castle. The city is known for its classical music and culture, and its stunning views of the Eastern Alps.

Cross-country skiing

February is mid-winter in Austria, and you can expect snow in the mountains and cities. There are many resorts with floodlit slopes, so you can ski all day and night.

Seefeld

Seefeld has good reason to call itself Austria's 'home of langlaufen' and it might be the XC capital of Europe. A large part of its 279km trail network runs over the Leutasch plateau, which has twice hosted the Winter Olympics' Nordic events. Seefeld is well-versed in all things XC, with ski schools and academies that get beginners climbing altitude and exploring the entire region. The Unterleutasch trail is a favourite for its stunning sights of the surrounding peaks.

Galtur

Squidged in the Silvretta Massif, Galtur's network of trails totals 100km, and at altitudes up to 2000m, they tend to be in good condition from the beginning of December through to spring. The L1 Ischgl blue trail is a gentle 5km flat for building confidence, while the L3 Tschaffein blue adds a touch of gradient, with views of the Ballunspitze. Galtür also has a 6km red trail that takes you past the Mathon Wildlife Park, and a challenging 18km trail that rewards you with a tranquil reservoir lake.

Arlberg

The 27km of trails here wind through dazzling landscapes, and they're free to access. The Sonnen Höhenloipe Gaisbühel in Oberlech is a sure-fire mettle-tester over 4km. The 6.6km Spullerwaldweg Langlaufloipe is a smooth glide past postcard-worthy peaks and snow-covered forest. An 8.8km route makes its way over into Klösterle, a miniature Tyrollean village.

Wilder Kaiser

In the world of langlauf, the Wilder Kaiser mountain range is far more than a jaw-dropping background. 500km of flawless snow is groomed throughout the Brixen Valley and up into Pass Thurn, with high-altitude routes endorsed by Austrian Nordic Ski team member David Kreiner. Trails are split almost evenly for different levels, and the snow cover is usually tip-top from December to April.

Ellmau

Altogether, 60km of trails form a spider web across the area, with the same run coming up trumps every year: The 10km Kaiserloipe, which gives the best angles of the Kaiser mountain range. The 8.9km Schwendter Loipe is a local rite of passage, with frozen lakes, looming peaks and old Tyrollean villages.

Zell

Combining glaciers, mountains and lakes, Zell's cross-country is some of the world's most beautiful. 55km of trails line the landscape, creeping into small-town resorts like Kaprun. Take the CityXPress up the Schmittenhöhe and you’ll be met with the serene 3.1km Höhenloipe Schmitten: a skate/classic combo that creates a circuit around a reservoir. The 4.7km Fischhornloipe is a gentle uphill climb that shares first-rate sights of the dazzling Lake Zell. The Golfplatzloipe is completely unmissable – 5km, steady, and with the best views of the Kitzsteinhorn and Hohe Tauern National Park.

St J.

When St Anton crops up in conversation, it’s not ALWAYS about the après ski and powder terrain – this is also a big name in cross-country circles. 50km of routes have been awarded the quality seal by Tyrol, thanks to pristine snow, varied trails and pretty scenery. The St. Christoph Loipe (2.5km) is an intermediate skating spot side-lining the slopes. Loipe Stanzertal is a 22km giant that kicks off at the Wertstoffhof farm and skirts the Rosanna river – stick with it and you’ll end up in Flirsch, a little Tyrolean village of quaint chalets and chapels.

Alpbach

Straight out of a snow globe, Alpbach’s cross-country is as pretty as it gets. 100km of classic and skating tracks are spread out across the area, reaching history-rich towns like Münster and cute hamlets like Inneralpbach. An all-round favourite is the Schönauer trail, an easy 15km loop in Breitenbach that keeps the heart pumping with occasional steeps and wildlife sightings.

Wildschönau Valley

In the spectacular Wildschönau Valley, 50km of free-to-use groomers are usually open from December through to mid-March, and they’re some of the most peaceful routes you’ll ski. The 14km Niederau to Penningdörfl course, where only the occasional bump interrupts hours of woodland. Serving as a day starter or finisher, the 7km loop over to Oberau features snow and more snow.

Other Resorts

There are many other resorts with excellent cross-country skiing in Austria, including:

• Nauders-Tiroler Oberland-Kaunertal Region
• Ötztal Valley
• Lake Achensee
• PillerseeTal in the Kitzbüheler Alps
• Ramsau am Dachstein
• Kaiserwinkl region
• East Tyrol

Frequently asked questions