Leslie Massey
Austria is a popular destination for skiing, with 439 ski resorts across its nine provinces. The country offers extensive ski areas with modern cable cars, well-maintained slopes, and breathtaking mountain views. The ski resorts in Austria range from mega-resorts with big reputations, like St. Anton, to hidden gems like Zell am See-Kaprun. The largest ski resorts offer up to 300 kilometres of slopes, while the highest ski resorts extend up to an altitude of 3,440 meters. In addition to the variety of ski areas, Austria is also known for its charming villages, gentle slopes, and vibrant après-ski culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ski resorts | 439 |
| Total kilometres of slopes | 7,275 |
| Total ski lifts | 2,628 |
| Top-rated ski resort | KitzSki – Kitzbühel/Kirchberg |
| Ski resort with the most slopes | St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg |
| Highest ski resorts | Pitztal Glacier |
| Best value for money | Venet – Landeck/Zams/Fliess |
| Resorts with the most snow | Obergurgl, Sölden, Obertauern |
| Resorts with the best slopes | St. Anton, Zell am See-Kaprun, Bad Hofgastein, Alpendorf, Kaprun |
| Resorts with the best ski schools | Austrian ski schools |
| Resorts with the best ski lifts | Austrian ski resorts |
| Resorts with the best views | Kaprun, Alpendorf |
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What You'll Learn
Ski resorts and areas
Austria is a skier's paradise, with 439 ski resorts and 7,275 kilometres of slopes. The ski resorts are served by 2,628 ski lifts, which are described as modern and comfortable. The ski resorts in Austria range from mega-resorts with big reputations to small and charming ski resorts with snow-covered mountain panoramas and historic villages.
Some of the most popular ski resorts in Austria include St. Anton, Saalbach, Zell am See-Kaprun, and Obertauern. St. Anton is easily accessible by flying to Innsbruck and taking a train. It offers great slopes for all skill levels and a vibrant nightlife. Saalbach is one of the biggest skiing regions in Austria and attracts people from all over the world. However, due to its low altitude, it may suffer from a lack of snow. Obertauern is another popular choice, known for its sunny and lively atmosphere, and it stays open longer in the season.
If you're looking for extensive ski areas with modern cable cars, the largest ski resorts in Austria offer up to 300 kilometres of slopes. The Ski Arlberg region, including St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech, and Zürs, is one of the largest. The Stubai Valley, including Stubai, Serles, Elfer, and Schlick 2000, offers a joint lift ticket for those who book four or more days. Hintertux and Kaunertal are other examples of Austrian glacier resorts where accommodation is scattered down the valley rather than around the lifts.
For those seeking a quieter experience, the village of Obergurgl, sitting at 1,930 metres, and its twin sister Hochgurgl, form one of Austria's most snow-sure resorts. The lifts go up to above 3,000 metres, and the resort usually stays open until late April. Lech, a high-level non-glacier resort, is another option that typically closes in late April.
Ischgl is a well-known Tyrolean resort, famous for its parties and the historic Hahnenkamm downhill skiing race. It usually hosts a superstar performer for its Top Of The Mountain Concert in early May. Bad Hofgastein, Alpendorf, and Kaprun are other ski areas in Austria that offer beautiful scenery and various slopes for all skill levels.
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Skiing in different seasons
Austria is a popular destination for skiing, with its well-maintained slopes, modern infrastructure, and breathtaking mountain views. The country offers a range of ski areas, from small and charming resorts to large ski resorts with varied slopes and fun parks.
Skiing in Winter
Austria truly comes alive in the winter, with snow-capped peaks and world-class skiing. The country offers 22,000 km of pistes across its winter sports regions, with well-prepared slopes, toboggan runs, and cross-country skiing trails. The ski openings are celebrated with concerts, and the stars of the Alpine Ski World Cup compete in the annual night slalom. The popular winter sports resorts offer a range of accommodations right on the piste, making it easy for skiers to enjoy the slopes from dawn till dusk. Away from the slopes, visitors can enjoy winter hiking, ice skating, and snowshoe walks through quiet, snowy forests.
Skiing in Spring
Spring is a great time to ski in Austria, as many resorts stay open later in the season. The glaciers above Kaprun, for example, are usually open until the beginning of July, given good snow conditions. Obergurgl, a non-glacier resort, also typically stays open until late April. Sölden, another glacier resort, offers summer skiing later in the year and hosts the Electric Mountain Festival in early April to mark the end of the winter season.
Skiing in Summer
While most ski resorts close for a couple of months in the summer to prepare for the winter season, some glaciers remain open for skiing. The Hintertux glacier, for instance, is known to be skiable all year round and offers a range of runs for all skill levels. The Dachstein Glacier is usually open for 11 months of the year and has good snow conditions. Zell, Kaprun's larger and livelier neighbour, offers superb access to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier's ski area, with 15km of scenic, snowy runs.
Skiing in Autumn
Austria's glaciers and ski resorts typically open early in the autumn, with some offering the opportunity to ski as early as September. The Stubai glacier, Austria's biggest, usually opens in September and offers a Snowpark for sunny shredding at 3100m. The Hintertux glacier is also a great option for autumn skiing, with its high altitude ensuring skiable conditions all year round.
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Ski schools and learning
Austria is a skier's paradise, with 439 ski resorts and 7,275 kilometres of slopes. The ski resorts are served by 2,628 ski lifts, which are modern and comfortable. The ski areas offer varied slopes and fun parks, ensuring unforgettable ski days and sporty challenges. The large ski resorts in Austria offer up to 300 kilometres of slopes, such as St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg.
Austria's ski schools are well-equipped to cater to skiers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. Ski schools in Austria offer a range of courses and group sizes to suit different needs and preferences. Ski school Lechner Zell am Ziller, Skischule Stubai Tirol & Snowboardschool Zell am See are some of the best-rated ski schools in the country.
The New Generation Ski School in Austria has over 25 years of experience and offers courses delivered by local specialist instructors. The school has a team of international ski instructor examiners, former National Team members, FIS athletes, sponsored Freeriders, and Off-piste specialists. They also offer private ski lessons for kids, which are tailored to the child's skill level and help them reach their goals quickly and efficiently.
CheckYeti is another platform that offers 1100+ ski school offers in Austria. Their ski instructors are well-trained and experienced, catering to both beginners and advanced skiers. They offer group and private lessons, with prices starting at 41 EUR and the option of free cancellation.
Austria's ski schools are committed to providing a unique and tailored experience to their guests. The ski instructor training programmes in the country are renowned, with trainee instructors mastering the latest techniques to stay at the forefront of ski tuition. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced skier, Austria's ski schools and diverse slopes have something for everyone.
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Après ski
Austria is known for its skiing, with 439 ski resorts to choose from. It is also known for its après ski, with the après ski parties becoming so popular that some people are more interested in the party than the skiing!
Ischgl is a classic spot for après ski, with a huge Arlberg area and some of the highest slopes in Austria. It also has Tyrolean charm and one of the best snow records in the country. Saalbach-Hinterglemm is another good choice, with a guarantee of electronica music. Kitzbühel is a hotspot for jet-setters, and St. Anton often features chart-topping music.
Salzburg's popular ski resort Obertauern offers breathtaking mountain views, and the chance to end your day on the slopes in ski huts, umbrella bars, and pubs. Zell am See-Kaprun offers two main places to party: Zell am See and Kaprun. Zell am See has a breathtaking view of Lake Zell, and Kaprun has the "Baumbar", a central contact point for après ski fans.
For those looking for a more sophisticated après ski experience, Fux Bar in Soll offers fine dining and wine, cigars, and jazz music. There are also plenty of other bars to choose from, including the Hexenalm, the Whisky-Muhle disco, the Dubliner (with decor sourced from Irish pubs), and the Moonlight bar, which is popular with tobogganers and night skiers.
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Cross-country skiing
Tyrol is the most famous federal state for winter sports in Austria, with a varied programme for those who like to power out away from the traditional pistes. The state has over 200 kilometres of varied cross-country ski trails, from easy riverside trails to challenging mountain trails, and classic and skating tracks for all ability levels. The most beautiful cross-country skiing regions in Tyrol include the Achensee region, with its picturesque lake trails, the Wipptal valley with its unspoilt nature, the Tyrolean Oberland with Nauders, and the Kaunertal valley for sporting challenges. The Pillerseetal with Hochfilzen is a cross-country centre, and the Kaiserwinkl region, with its rugged mountain giants, is one of the largest cross-country skiing areas in Austria, with over 125 kilometres of trails.
Carinthia and Tirol trails fulfilling specific criteria are labelled with the cross-country ski trail quality seal, awarded to trails with an average snow cover of approximately 10 cm on 80 days, as well as other quality standards such as signposting, minimum length, width and grooming. Mallnitz in Carinthia is a diverse cross-country skiing paradise in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park.
The Ausseerland Salzkammergut cross-country ski region is situated in the heart of Austria, with the snow-covered Dachstein Massif and the Totes Gebirge as a backdrop. In Ramsau am Dachstein, you can skate and ski on cross-country ski tracks where the world's elite competed for the World Championship title in the past.
Saalfelden Leogang offers a 150 km network of cross-country ski trails and the popular Nordic Park Ritzensee. Nassfeld-Pressegger See, Lesachtal, and Weissensee are also perfect regions for a winter holiday in Austria, with idyllic landscapes for beginners and pros alike.
Sportgastein is considered one of Austria's most beautiful cross-country skiing regions. Skiers here move towards a whole arena of three-thousand-metre peaks. The valley, which is part of the Hohe Tauern National Park, is covered with snow all winter, lasting well into spring.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 439 ski resorts in Austria. Some of the most popular include St. Anton, Saalbach, Ischgl, Sölden, Zell am See, Mayrhofen, and Obertauern.
KitzSki – Kitzbühel/Kirchberg is rated as the best ski resort in Austria, with 4.9 out of 5 stars. The ski resort with the most slopes is St. Anton/St. Christoph/Stuben/Lech/Zürs/Warth/Schröcken – Ski Arlberg, with 300 kilometres of slopes. The highest ski resort in Austria is Pitztal Glacier, which extends up to an altitude of 3,440 meters.
Austria is known for being beginner-friendly, with gentle slopes and supportive instructors. Some good resorts for beginners include Bad Hofgastein, Zell am See-Kaprun, and Sölden.
Advanced skiers might enjoy St. Anton, which has slopes ranging from easy to difficult, as well as a great nightlife. Hintertux, Kaunertal, and Stubai also offer challenging off-piste skiing.
