Damon Mcknight
Austria is a popular destination for skiing, with the season typically running from December to April. The country boasts some of the highest ski resorts in Europe, with the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offering skiing 365 days a year. The high altitude of many of the mountains ensures ideal snowy conditions, with other popular resorts including Sölden, St. Anton, and Kitzbühel. For beginners, resorts such as Alpbach offer gentle nursery slopes and excellent ski schools, while more experienced skiers can explore challenging runs and off-piste skiing in St. Anton. Austria's ski resorts also offer a range of activities for non-skiers, from spa and wellness experiences to winter activities and lively après-ski.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Season | December to April |
| Number of skiing areas | 426 |
| Ideal for | Beginners, returning skiers, experienced skiers |
| Resorts for beginners | Alpbach, Westendorf, Zell Am See |
| Resorts for experienced skiers | St. Anton, Sölden, Kitzbühel |
| Resorts for intimate experiences | Alpbach, Kühtai, Maria Alm |
| Resorts for large experiences | Ischgl, Sölden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm |
| Resorts for families | Westendorf, Zell Am See |
| Resorts for groups | Schladming-Dachstein, Planai & Hochwurzen, Ramsau am Dachstein |
| Resorts with modern cable cars | Arlberg |
| Resorts with wellness facilities | Ski & Wellness |
| Resorts with short transfer times | Various |
| Resorts with early booking offers | Various |
| Resorts with summer skiing | Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Stubai valley, Sölden |
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What You'll Learn
Austria's ski season runs from December to April
Austria's ski season typically runs from December to April, with the country's high-altitude mountains providing ideal snowy conditions. The Hintertux glacier in Tyrol is a notable example, offering year-round skiing with 365 days of skiing a year. The glacier resorts in Austria offer challenging runs and stunning views, attracting skiers even during the summer months.
The start of the ski season in Austria is highly anticipated by winter sports enthusiasts, with resorts like Ischgl, Sölden, and Saalbach-Hinterglemm coming alive with excitement. These openings are often celebrated with major events, concerts, and sporting highlights, creating a festive atmosphere for skiers.
Austria boasts a wide variety of ski resorts catering to different preferences and skill levels. Beginners can find gentle nursery slopes and excellent ski schools in resorts like Alpbach, while experienced skiers can explore challenging runs and off-piste skiing in St. Anton. Large contiguous ski areas, such as Arlberg, provide extensive ski regions with modern cable cars, perfectly groomed pistes, and breathtaking mountains.
Austria's ski resorts also offer a range of accommodation options, from family-run establishments to luxurious resorts. The country's ski areas are known for their hospitality and the warmth of their welcome. Additionally, early booking offers and pre-season deals, such as free group places and lift pass offers, provide great value for those planning their ski holidays.
Whether you're a beginner or an experienced skier, Austria's ski season from December to April presents the perfect opportunity to hit the slopes and enjoy the country's renowned alpine retreats, stunning scenery, and vibrant après-ski culture.
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The Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offers skiing all year round
The Hintertux glacier in Tyrol, Austria, is the country's only year-round ski area, offering skiing 365 days a year. The high altitude of the glacier brings about ideal snowy conditions, with the finest natural powder snow found around the 3,476-metre-high Olperer well into spring. Skiers have 64 kilometres of panoramic slopes at their disposal in winter, from 3,250 metres above sea level down to the village centre.
In winter, the ski area is part of the Ski and Glacier World Zillertal 3000, which also includes the slopes around Finkenberg and Mayrhofen. The choice of downhill runs increases, and a single lift pass applies everywhere. Those with stamina can try the glacier circuit, covering 15,000 vertical meters and 60 downhill kilometres in a day.
The Hintertux glacier is also home to Betterpark Hintertux, Austria's highest and most snow-sure freestyle hotspot, offering superior airtime at over 3,000 metres above sea level from late September to December and again in spring from April through to June. The glacier's mascot, Luis, provides additional fun on the Kid's and Fun slopes during the winter months.
A glacier ski day can be combined with a visit to two unique natural treasures: Nature's Ice Palace, a wondrous world of ice in the innermost depths of the glacier, and Spannagel Cave, the only marble cave in the Central Alps, which can be explored all year round on a guided tour.
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The Kitzsteinhorn glacier is located in Salzburg
The Austrian ski season typically runs from December to April, with the high altitude of the mountains providing excellent snowy conditions. The Hintertux glacier in Tyrol, for instance, offers skiing all year round.
Austria has 426 skiing areas, including well-known resorts such as Ischgl, Sölden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, and St. Anton, as well as hidden gems like Alpbach, Kühtai, and Maria Alm.
Kitzsteinhorn has been a popular ski area since the early 20th century. The first cable car was put into operation in December 1965, opening up the Schmiedingerkees and Maurerkees glaciers as ski slopes. An underground funicular railway was also built, but a disaster in 2000 led to its closure and the introduction of the Gletscherjet I (Glacier Jet I), a 24-person funitel.
The "Top of Salzburg" viewing platform is located at the Kitzsteinhorn Peak, also known as Gripfelwelt 3000. Visitors can take in panoramic views of the Austrian Alps from the platform and the adjacent restaurant and panoramic terrace.
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Glacier skiing in summer is hard/icy in the morning and slushy in the afternoon
The Austrian ski season typically runs from December to April, with some resorts offering skiing into late spring. The high altitude of many of the mountains brings about ideal snowy conditions, with the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offering year-round skiing.
However, glacier skiing in summer can be challenging due to changing snow conditions throughout the day. In the mornings, skiers can expect icy and hard-packed snow, which can be difficult to navigate and may require special equipment and skills, such as ski mountaineering techniques. As the day warms up, the snow starts to melt, resulting in wet and slushy conditions in the afternoons. Slushy snow can be dangerous and challenging to ski on as it causes the skis to sink in and stick to the base, making it physically demanding to manoeuvre.
The changing conditions throughout the day can be a result of freeze-thaw cycles, where the snow melts during the warmer afternoon and then refreezes overnight. This creates a granular and slushy texture to the snow, which can be more pronounced on ungroomed runs.
Despite the challenges, some skiers enjoy visiting Austria in late spring and summer for glacier skiing. The sunny weather, discounted accommodation, and fewer layers required can make for an enjoyable experience. However, it's important to be cautious of potential hazards, such as ice falls, and it is recommended to go with a guide or someone familiar with the route and conditions.
If you're looking for a ski holiday in Austria, there are many resorts to choose from, catering to all skill levels. For beginners, resorts like Alpbach offer gentle nursery slopes and excellent ski schools. Experienced skiers might prefer challenging resorts like St. Anton, which offer a large selection of difficult runs and off-piste skiing. Large ski areas such as Arlberg provide extensive terrain, while intimate resorts like Alpbach and Kühtai offer a more secluded experience.
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Austria has 426 ski areas, including the largest, Arlberg
Austria is a skiing hotspot, with 426 ski areas spread across the country. The Austrian ski season typically runs from December to April, but the high altitude of many mountains means ideal snowy conditions are available well into spring. The Hintertux glacier in Tyrol, for instance, offers 365 days of skiing a year.
Austria's ski resorts cater to all skill levels, from beginners to experts. Ski resorts like Alpbach offer gentle nursery slopes and excellent ski schools, while St. Anton provides challenging runs and off-piste skiing for experienced skiers. Family-friendly resorts, such as Westendorf and Zell Am See, offer a mix of slopes for all abilities.
For those seeking extensive ski areas with modern cable cars, Austria delivers. The Arlberg region in Vorarlberg, Austria's largest ski area, boasts 300 kilometres of slopes, ranking it among the five largest ski areas in the world. Ski Arlberg includes the villages of Klösterle, Lech, Oberlech, Schröcken, St. Anton am Arlberg, St. Christoph am Arlberg, Stuben, Stubenbach, Warth, Zürs, and Zug. With the addition of the Auenfeldjet gondola in 2013 and the Flexenbahn in 2016, Ski Arlberg became the largest connected ski resort in Austria. It offers skiers a vast network of perfectly groomed runs and diverse powder-snow slopes, along with special events like candle-light dinners.
Beyond its impressive size, Ski Arlberg is steeped in history as the cradle of alpine skiing. The Arlberg Ski Club was founded in 1901, and the region witnessed the first ski race in 1904, even before the advent of lifts or prepared slopes. The area has since thrived with progressive thinking and innovation, driving the construction of state-of-the-art cable cars that link its three ski resorts.
Whether you're a beginner or an expert, seeking intimate resorts or vast ski areas, Austria's 426 ski areas, including the largest, Arlberg, promise an unforgettable skiing experience.
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Frequently asked questions
The ski season in Austria runs from December to April.
Ski resorts in Austria that are suitable for beginners include Alpbach, a traditional town with gentle nursery slopes, and Schladming-Dachstein, which features modern cable cars.
Yes, summer skiing is possible in Austria's glaciers. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier, located in Salzburg, usually stays open well into the summer and reopens in late September. The Stubai glacier ski area is also open during the summer and only closes in June.
St. Anton is a resort that features a large selection of challenging runs and off-piste skiing. Sölden is another resort with challenging terrain and is where many national teams train for the World Cup.
