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Austria is a skiing hotspot, with something for everyone, from beginners to veteran skiers. The Austrian ski season typically runs from December to April, with the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offering skiing 365 days a year. The winter season openings in Austria are marked by a palpable sense of excitement, with the first lifts in resorts such as Ischgl, Sölden, or Saalbach-Hinterglemm beginning to operate. These days are often celebrated with major events, concerts, and sporting highlights. For those looking for extensive ski areas with modern cable cars, perfectly groomed pistes, and breathtaking mountains, Austria is the right place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ski Season | December to April |
| Number of Skiing Areas | 426 |
| Resorts | Ischgl, Sölden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Neustift, Stubaier Gletscher, Zillertal Arena, Brandnertal, Arlberg, Alpbach, Kühtai, Obergurgl, St. Anton, Zell Am See, Maria Alm, Ellmau, Hintertux glacier, Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Mölltal glacier, Kaunertal glacier |
| Slopes | Harakiri in Mayrhofen, Streif in Kitzbühel, Hohe Mut, Diamond of the Alps |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian ski season
Austria's ski season openings are highly anticipated events, with enthusiasts eagerly awaiting their first turns on the fresh snow. The start of the season is often celebrated with major events, concerts, and sporting highlights. Resorts such as Ischgl, Sölden, and Saalbach-Hinterglemm come alive with excitement as the lifts begin to operate.
For those seeking extensive ski areas, modern cable cars, and perfectly groomed pistes, Austria is an excellent choice. The country boasts 426 skiing areas, ranging from large resorts like Arlberg to intimate destinations like Alpbach and Kühtai.
Austria's ski resorts cater to all levels of skiers, from beginners to veterans. Family-friendly locations like Alpbach and Westendorf offer gentle nursery slopes and ski schools, while St. Anton challenges experienced skiers with its selection of demanding runs and off-piste options.
Summer skiing is also an option in Austria, with glacier areas like the Stubai Glacier, Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, and Mölltal Glacier offering skiing opportunities well into the warmer months, depending on snow conditions. These glacier areas provide stunning views and the chance to ski even when the winter season elsewhere has ended.
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Top ski resorts
Austria is a great destination for skiing, with its ski season running from December to April. The high altitude of the mountains brings about ideal snowy conditions, with the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offering a huge 365 days of skiing a year. The Austrian ski resorts have something for everyone, from beginners to veteran skiers.
St. Anton
St. Anton is a popular choice for skiing in Austria, with challenging runs and off-piste skiing for experienced skiers. It is also known for its nightlife and the Mooservirt, a world-famous après-ski venue.
Saalbach-Hinterglemm
This resort offers a tangible sense of excitement, with the first turn in fresh snow and the crisp mountain air. The start of the ski season is often celebrated with major events, concerts, and sporting highlights.
Damüls
Damüls is a postcard-pretty village that sits on the western edge of the Vorarlberg, in the foothills of the Arlberg Alps. Despite its low altitude, it is one of the snowiest places in the Alps, receiving an average of 9.39m of snow each winter. The ski area has plenty for all ability levels, from excellent beginner areas to epic descents accessible from the lifts.
Obergurgl
Obergurgl, also known as the 'Diamond of the Alps', is famed for its reliably spectacular snow and range of intermediate ski runs, as well as plenty of options for beginners.
KitzSki – Kitzbühel/Kirchberg
KitzSki – Kitzbühel/Kirchberg is rated as the best ski resort in Austria, with 4.9 out of 5 stars. It is known for hosting the annual Hahnenkamm World Cup ski race.
Zell am See
Zell am See is a quintessentially Austrian village with a large ski region, the Arlberg ski area. It offers terrain to suit every need, from beginner to advanced skiers.
Ischgl
Ischgl is a popular resort, especially for those looking for a lively atmosphere.
Sölden
Sölden is a good choice for those skiing in the early or late season but may not have enough snow in the middle of winter.
Alpbach
Alpbach is a traditional little town with gentle nursery slopes and excellent ski schools, making it ideal for beginners.
Westendorf
Westendorf has a great mix of slopes for all abilities, easily accessible from the village, making it a family-friendly option.
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Summer skiing
While the Austrian ski season generally runs from December to April, the country's high-altitude ski resorts offer summer skiing opportunities. The Hintertux Glacier in Tyrol is open 365 days a year, providing the longest ski season in Austria. The glacier region offers spectacular mountain views, with pure sunshine and white snow, while the valley experiences summery temperatures. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Salzburg is another option for summer skiing, generally staying open until July and then reopening at the end of September for the autumn season.
The Stubai valley, located near Innsbruck and its airport, is one of the most convenient glacier areas for summer skiing. While the lower Stubai valley closes in June, the glacier area reopens in mid-September, offering a mix of red and blue runs. The Pitztal slopes, located at the end of the Inn valley in Tyrol, are another classic glacier ski area, usually opening from mid-September onwards.
Sölden, located near the end of the Ötz valley, is one of the premier glacier resorts in the country, offering stunning views and fairly undemanding runs. The area often opens the competitive season in Europe with a World Cup race in the autumn. For those seeking a challenge, the Stubai glacier features a demanding run down to the base station, which is open during the winter months.
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Beginner-friendly slopes
The Austrian ski season typically runs from December to April, with some resorts offering skiing well into spring and even in summer. The high altitude of the mountains means ideal snowy conditions, with the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offering year-round skiing.
With 450 ski resorts to choose from, there is no shortage of beginner-friendly slopes in Austria. Here are some of the top picks:
Saalbach Hinterglemm
Part of the biggest interconnected ski area in Austria, the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, this resort covers around 270km of sunny slopes. Half of the slopes are marked as "blue", making them perfect for beginners. The ski schools offer a variety of lessons for both children and adults, with a special training area for beginners to practice the basics before moving on to beginner-friendly slopes.
St. Anton
St. Anton am Arlberg is the largest ski resort in Austria and one of the biggest in the world, with over 300km of slopes. It is known for its excellent ski schools, offering group and private lessons for all ages and skill levels. The resort is easily accessible, located about 1.5 hours from Innsbruck and 3 hours from Munich and Salzburg.
Alpbach
A traditional little town with gentle nursery slopes and excellent ski schools, Alpbach is a great choice for beginners. It offers a more intimate resort experience while still providing modern cable cars and perfectly groomed pistes.
Zell am See
Zell am See is a quintessential Austrian village with a large ski region. The ski schools here offer tailored programmes to meet the specific needs of teenagers, with cool downhill runs, casual jumps, and rails. The village also has leisure facilities with ice rinks and swimming pools.
Obergurgl
Obergurgl, also known as the "Diamond of the Alps", offers a range of intermediate ski runs as well as plenty of beginner-friendly slopes. The resort is known for its spectacular snow conditions and convenient location, with hotels just a few minutes' walk from the lifts and ski school meeting places. However, the high altitude can make the slopes challenging during snowstorms.
Lermoos
Lermoos is a charming village in the Tyrol region, offering a true "Austrian experience". The beginners' ski slopes are conveniently located at the base of the lifts near the accommodation, providing stunning views of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze. While Lermoos may not be featured in many package holiday brochures, it is easily accessible from Munich or Innsbruck.
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Après-ski culture
Austria is a skiing hotspot with something for everyone, from beginners to veteran skiers. The ski season in Austria runs from December to April, and the high altitude of the mountains brings about ideal snowy conditions. The Austrian Alps are skiable well into spring, and the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offers 365 days of skiing a year.
Austria's ski resorts offer a legendary and unrivalled après-ski culture, with a warm welcome, fantastic hospitality, and many off-slope activities. The country's 426 skiing areas include large ski regions such as the Arlberg ski area, as well as more intimate resorts like Alpbach, Kühtai, and Maria Alm.
The word "gemutlichkeit" sums up the sense of fun, friendliness, and frivolity you will encounter when holidaying in Austria. The combination of warmth, quality skiing, and energy of the après-ski make for an irresistible ski holiday experience.
Austria's ski resorts offer a range of activities for non-skiers, including luxury spas renowned for their revitalising massages and facials. Family sleigh rides through the snow and ice skating are also fun choices for all ages. Many resorts, including Ellmau, Obergurgl, and St. Anton, have leisure facilities with swimming pools.
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Frequently asked questions
The ski season in Austria usually runs from December to April. However, some ski resorts open as early as the end of September/beginning of October and close in June.
The best time to ski in Austria depends on your preferences. If you want to experience the widest variety of slopes and the liveliest atmosphere, the winter season from December to April is ideal. However, if you prefer quieter slopes and milder weather, you might consider visiting during the shoulder seasons in late autumn or early spring.
Yes, the Hintertux glacier in Tyrol offers skiing 365 days a year. The Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Salzburg and the Stubai glacier ski area in Tyrol are also open during the summer months, depending on snow conditions.
Austria has 426 skiing areas, including well-known resorts such as Arlberg, Ischgl, Sölden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Obergurgl, and St. Anton. For beginners, Alpbach and Kühtai are recommended for their gentle slopes and excellent ski schools. More advanced skiers might prefer the challenging runs and off-piste options in St. Anton or the infamous Harakiri slope in Mayrhofen.
