Skiing In Austria: Best Resorts For April Snow

where to ski in austria in april

If you're looking for a spring skiing trip to Austria in April, there are plenty of options to choose from. While many resorts close at the end of March, some stay open until May, including the Stubai glacier ski area. In Tirol, 26 ski resorts are open until the start of April, and some resorts in the province of Salzburg stay open until May. Individual resorts with April closing dates include Lech, Obergurgl, Sölden, and Kaprun. If you're looking for a late-season ski trip, Austria has plenty of options, with the added bonus of long, sunny days and fresh snow.

Characteristics Values
Ski resorts open in April Obergurgl, Sölden, Lech, Ischgl, Obertauern, Kaprun, Saalbach, Zillertal
Resort closing dates Obergurgl: 27 April; Lech: 22 April; Ischgl: 4 May; Obertauern: 1 May; Kaprun: 8 April
Resort altitudes Obergurgl: 2000m; Obertauern: 1750m
Events Sölden: Electric Mountain Festival (4-5 April); Zillertal: Lederhosen Wedel Week (10-16 April)
Weather Sunny spells, light to moderate showers, snow on high terrain

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Ski resorts in Tirol

Tirol is one of the 9 states in Austria and is a popular destination for skiing. The ski season in Tirol's glacier ski areas can start as early as September and can last through April or even May.

Tirol is home to many ski resorts, including:

  • St. Anton am Arlberg
  • St. Johann in Tirol
  • SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental
  • Alpbachtal
  • KitzSki – Kitzbühel/Kirchberg
  • St. Jakob im Defereggental
  • Hintertux Glacier

Top-rated ski resorts in Tirol

The ski resort that is top-rated in Tirol is KitzSki – Kitzbühel/Kirchberg, with 4.9 out of 5 stars. The largest ski resorts in Tirol offer up to 300 kilometres of slopes (St. Anton/​St. Christoph/​Stuben/​Lech/​Zürs/​Warth/​Schröcken – Ski Arlberg). The highest ski resorts in Tirol extend up to an altitude of 3,440 metres (Pitztal Glacier). The best value for money ski resort in Tirol is Venet – Landeck/​Zams/​Fliess.

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The Stubai glacier ski area

The Stubai Zoo snow park is a popular destination for freestyle skiers and snowboarders, attracting top athletes from around the world. The ski area also provides opportunities for off-piste skiing and snowboarding, with freeride camps offering professional guidance for beginners. The wide red and blue downhills on four glaciers provide a perfect skiing experience for all levels.

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Sölden's Electric Mountain Festival

Sölden is one of the main glacier resorts in the Tyrol and also offers summer skiing later in the year. Sölden is known for being a little livelier than its neighbour Obergurgl, with its two-day Electric Mountain Festival, marking the end of the winter season. The festival takes place at high altitude, with five days of music, skiing and fun.

The Electric Mountain Festival is an exciting weekend of EDM music and usually takes place in April. In 2023, the festival dates were the 10th to the 14th of April, with acts including George Ezra, Martin Garrix, Steve Aoki, and Julian Jordan. The festival is held above 2,000 metres and offers an unforgettable experience with friends in a breathtaking mountain setting.

Sölden is a great choice for late-season skiing, with its high altitude and glacier location. The resort offers perfect skiing conditions alongside the festival, with the official end of the winter season falling on April 28. The resort then switches to spring season mode with reduced ski areas and tickets.

Other resorts that are open for late-season skiing in Austria include Lech, which closed on April 22 in 2019, and Ischgl, which usually schedules a concert to mark the end of the season. The Stubai glacier ski area is another option, remaining open through the summer, depending on snow conditions. Obertauern in Salzburg is also a good choice, with plans to stay open until May 1.

Spring skiing in Austria offers the chance to enjoy long, sunny days and fresh snow. It is a great time to experience the local cuisine, such as Tiroler Gröstl, a popular dish in the mountain huts, and to take in the beautiful mountain scenery.

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Ischgl's Top of the Mountain Spring Concert

Ischgl is a popular destination for late-season skiing in Austria. The official last day of skiing is scheduled for May 4, with the Top of the Mountain Concert rounding off the season. The concert takes place on the Idalp at an altitude of 2,300-2,320 metres in the middle of the Ischgl ski area. The event is open-air and usually features a superstar "name". In 2023, the headliner was British musician George Ezra, and in 2025, Andrea Berg will perform on April 6. The concert marks the beginning of the Spring Blanc event series in Ischgl.

Ischgl is not the only option for late-season skiing in Austria. The Stubai glacier ski area is open into the summer, with snow conditions permitting on some of the highest slopes in the country. The ski area above Kaprun also stays open well into the spring, with good snow conditions. The official end of the winter season is April 8, but the lift passes then move into a spring period lasting from April to July. Lech, a non-glacier resort, plans to close on April 22, while Obergurgl, another non-glacier resort, is set to close on April 27. Sölden, a glacier resort in the Tyrol, offers summer skiing and hosts the two-day Electric Mountain Festival from April 4-5, with the final winter date being April 28. The resort then switches to a reduced ski area for the spring season.

If you're looking for a spring skiing experience in Austria, these resorts offer the opportunity to enjoy the final days of the season. Ischgl, in particular, provides a combination of perfect slopes and musical highlights, with its Top of the Mountain Concert serving as a popular attraction to mark the end of the ski season.

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Kaprun

For beginners, Kaprun is an ideal choice due to its reliable snow conditions in April and the availability of ski schools with qualified instructors.

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Frequently asked questions

Some Austrian ski resorts stay open until late spring. Here are some of the options:

- Obergurgl: This non-glacier resort is usually open until the end of April.

- Sölden: One of the main glacier resorts in the Tyrol, Sölden offers summer skiing and usually stays open until late April or early May.

- Lech: This resort usually stays open until April 22.

- Ischgl: Ischgl usually stays open until early May and often hosts a concert to mark the end of the season.

While spring conditions prevail across the northern hemisphere in April, it is still possible to ski in higher terrain, which stays frozen overnight. Some resorts in Austria have seen a mixture of dry, sunny spells and light to moderate showers, which fall as snow on high terrain.

Spring skiing in Austria is often about enjoying the long, sunny days and the remaining snow in the high-altitude ski resorts. Some good options for spring skiing include:

- Saalbach

- Kaprun

- Tirol

Yes, some resorts host events to mark the end of the ski season. For example, Sölden hosts the Electric Mountain Festival for five days in April, and in Zillertal, it’s Lederhosen Wedel Week from April 10 to 16.

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