Discover Austria's Top Ski Resorts And Slopes

Austria is a winter sports enthusiast's dream, with over 400 ski resorts and 7,290 kilometres of slopes. The Austrian Alps offer a unique experience, combining New England-style skiing with the heights of the Rocky Mountains.

The country is known for its picturesque villages, friendly locals, and lively après-ski scene. It's also relatively affordable compared to other top European ski destinations.

So, where to ski in Austria? Here are some of the top spots:

- Arlberg: The biggest ski area in Austria, with 305km of downhill skiing and a range of runs for all levels. It's also one of the most snow-sure resorts in the country.

- SkiWelt: The second-largest ski resort in Austria, with 284km of pistes. It's a great choice for families and intermediates, with gentle, wide pistes and dedicated areas for children.

- Saalbach-Hinterglemm: One of the largest ski resorts in Austria, with 270km of pistes catering to intermediates and advanced skiers. It also has some quirky bars, including a former medieval jail.

- Ischgl: With a long ski season and high-altitude slopes, Ischgl is a popular resort with 240km of pistes suitable for all levels. It's also known for its lively après-ski scene, with bars, nightclubs, and festivals.

- Kitzbühel: A scenic resort with 179km of groomed pistes and a modern lift system. It's widely known for the notorious Hahnenkamm Downhill course. The medieval town has been voted the most beautiful ski town in Europe.

- St. Anton: One of the world's most famous ski resorts, with challenging slopes and a vibrant après-ski scene. It's part of the vast Arlberg ski area, offering 305km of pistes and some of the best off-piste skiing in the world.

- Lech: Part of the Arlberg region, Lech offers peaceful slopes and limits lift tickets during busy periods to avoid overcrowding. The cobbled town exudes luxury, with fine dining and characterful bars.

- Mayrhofen: A popular resort that hosts the Snowbombing music festival. It offers two local mountains, Ahorn and Penken, and access to the Hintertux glacier with a thrilling choice of terrain.

- Obergurgl: A long-standing family favourite, with peaceful, wide-open pistes and a quaint town with a cheerful atmosphere. It's also just a 90-minute drive from Innsbruck Airport.

- Sölden: With access to two glaciers and three mountains, and an extensive network of slopes, Sölden lives up to its reputation as one of the best places to ski in Austria. Don't miss the suspended viewing platforms offering dramatic views across the valley.

- Innsbruck: While not a ski-in ski-out destination, Innsbruck offers a unique combination of city life and skiing. The Ski Plus City Pass gives access to 13 ski areas and 22 city attractions.

These are just a few of the many fantastic ski destinations in Austria, each offering a memorable experience on and off the slopes.

Ski Arlberg: St. Anton, Lech, St. Christoph, and Zürs

Ski Arlberg is Austria's largest ski resort, with 305km of downhill skiing and a wealth of varied runs to suit every skier. The area is covered by a single lift pass, and its state-of-the-art lift system makes it easy to get around.

St. Anton

St. Anton is one of the world's most high-profile ski resorts. It has some of the most challenging slopes in the Alps and has hosted numerous skiing competitions, including various World Alpine Ski Championships and Ski World Cups. The village has a car-free centre and bustles with activity throughout the day and into the night. The surrounding slopes offer incredible diversity, from the steeps of Valluga to the gentle village slopes around Nasserein.

St. Christoph

St. Christoph is a great choice for those looking for a quieter holiday in the ski region. It's ideal for those who want easy access to a huge skiing area, while remaining outside the hustle and bustle of a major resort. The village has under 30 buildings and a small, manageable size, making it perfect for families. The terrain in and around St. Christoph itself is limited, but there's a nice nursery area for beginners.

Lech

Lech is tucked away in Austria's Arlberg region and has a smaller village charm. It's connected to the vast Ski Arlberg area, which includes St Anton, and offers access to a vast network of pistes that rival anything in Austrian skiing. Lech's local ski area has plentiful red and blue runs, and there are multiple snow parks and over 200km of marked, but unpisted, backcountry ski routes.

Zürs

Zürs is just a stone's throw from Lech and is a quaint resort with it all. It's one of the best ski resorts in Austria in terms of terrain, as evidenced by the fact that it's one of the most popular places in the country for heli-skiing. The resort is perched at 1,720 metres, and the highest run tops out at 2,450 metres. Zürs has access to 305 kilometres of runs, served by 97 lifts. The majority of the ski area is best suited to beginners and intermediates, although there are around 40 kilometres of black runs for advanced skiers to explore, along with some brilliant off-piste areas.

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental: Söll, Ellmau, and Westendorf

The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental is one of the largest and most modern ski resorts in Austria and, indeed, the world. It features 270 kilometres of slopes, 20 valley runs, and 81 modern lifts, including 83 cable cars. The resort is perfect for all types of skiers, from beginners to seasoned pros, with a wide range of easy and medium-difficulty pistes. There are 114 kilometres of blue slopes, 120 kilometres of red slopes, 26 kilometres of ski routes, and 10 kilometres of black slopes.

The SkiWelt is also a great destination for families, with dedicated areas for children and beginners, and snow parks for freestylers. The Hexenwiese ski area is perfect for beginners, while Hexenkinderland and Minikinderland are great options for children who have mastered the basics.

The SkiWelt comprises nine picturesque ski-in ski-out villages, including Ellmau, Söll, and Westendorf, all of which offer direct access to the pistes. The villages are surrounded by panoramic views of over 70 3,000-metre peaks, including the Großglockner.

The SkiWelt also boasts 80 family-run rustic ski huts, restaurants, and bars on the mountain, offering traditional Tyrolean hospitality and great value for money. The resort is easily accessible, just one hour away from Salzburg, Innsbruck, or Munich, by car, bus, train, or plane.

Saalbach-Hinterglemm: Saalbach and Hinterglemm

Saalbach-Hinterglemm is one of the largest ski resorts in Austria, with 270km of pistes. The ski area is fantastic for intermediates, with plenty of blues and reds to choose from. Advanced skiers can find challenging terrain on the north-facing side of the ski area. The Nordabfahr piste, a black run with panoramic views of Saalbach, is recommended for advanced skiers.

The ski area was recently expanded with a gondola link to Fieberbrunn, giving it the name Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn. The ski area now has over 270km of pistes, from the freeride paradise of Fieberbrunn to the cruisey blues surrounding Saalbach village.

The addition of the Zell am See gondola, which links the ski area to Zell am See and Kaprun, means skiers can now access a total of 408km of pistes. This makes it the biggest ski area in Austria. However, the route back from Zell am See involves a short bus ride to connect back to Saalbach.

Saalbach is home to some quirky bars. Zum Turm, a former medieval jail, and Goaßstall, a bar with a unique goat theme, are worth checking out.

The Alpin Resort and Spa in Saalbach has excellent modern and stylish facilities, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, two hot tubs, a sauna, and a steam room.

Ischgl-Samnaun (Silvretta Arena): Ischgl and Samnaun

Ischgl-Samnaun (Silvretta Arena) is a top-rated ski resort in the Alps, with 239 kilometres of slopes and 45 modern lifts in Switzerland and Austria. The Silvretta Arena offers a unique skiing experience for all skill levels, from beginners to ambitious freeriders. The ski resort is located in Paznaun-Ischgl, Austria, and in the Engadin Samnaun Val Müstair Holiday Region, Switzerland. It is situated between the elevations of 1,360 and 2,872 metres, with reliable snow conditions from November until early May.

The cross-border ski resort connects Ischgl in Austria with the Swiss duty-free village of Samnaun. The resort caters to a range of skiing and snowboarding preferences, from wide carving slopes to challenging descents, jumps in fun parks, or freeriding in powder. Visitors can enjoy the convenience of very modern chairlifts and even a double-decker cable car to transport them up to the Silvretta Arena.

Ischgl is known for its lively après-ski scene, with options ranging from the Schatzi Ice Bar to the Pacha nightclub. The resort also hosts several well-known ski festivals, such as Rock The Mountains and Top Of The Mountain.

For beginners, Samnaun offers a safe learning environment with highly trained ski instructors. Children up to the age of 10 can ski for free, and there is a dedicated Kinderland area in Samnaun village where little ones can play while adults take some time for themselves.

With its impressive slope offerings, excellent mountain gastronomy, and diverse entertainment options, Ischgl-Samnaun (Silvretta Arena) is a top choice for skiers and snowboarders of all levels.

Kitzbühel: Kirchberg and Kitzbühel/Kirchberg

Kitzbühel is steeped in tradition and known for its hospitality. It is famous for its Hahnenkamm downhill skiing race, which is considered the gnarliest course on the World Cup calendar. The resort is also steeped in history, with a beautiful old-world ski town that has a history stretching back centuries. The medieval town has been voted the most beautiful ski town in Europe, with a pedestrianised town centre enclosed within old city walls.

The resort has 233 km of pistes, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, and a lively après-ski scene and nightlife. It also has a high-speed, modern lift system, with 50-plus huts for culinary delights and après-ski.

The KitzSki ski area has won multiple awards for its variety and high-quality pistes, which impress race carvers, pleasure skiers, families, and winners of the Hahnenkamm race. Kitzbühel is investing around 23 million euros in modernising its ski lifts, with two new 6-seater chairlifts.

Frequently asked questions