Austria is synonymous with alpine skiing. With around 400 ski resorts, we can safely call Austria a winter sports paradise.
Tirol is probably what first comes into most people’s minds when considering skiing in Austria. However, the fact is that all the states, except Burgenland in the far east, have ski resorts. Not a surprise, as the Alps dominate the Austrian landscape. Factors that make Austria a true winter sports paradise are the wide variety of facilities and attractions at the ski resorts. So whether you are looking for a family-friendly or party place, for super luxury for the wealthy or just spartan cabins for ski bums, Austria’s alpine winter sports paradise has something for everyone.
The skiing season
The primary season usually starts in December, but for those who cannot wait, there are some high-altitude ski resorts with glaciers where you can generally ski already in October or November. Check the websites for Kühtai, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, Kaunertal, Ischgl, Dachstein, Hintertux, Piztal and Kitzsteinhorn. The latter two are located over 3000 meters. Climate and snow depths can be very local and vary widely, even in the winter. The same applies to how long the snow is lying over the winter and into the spring. Places like Lungau or Obertauern are known to be snow-rich places with long seasons, even if they are not among the highest in the Alps. You can often ski at most ski resorts from mid-December to late March or early April. As in many other European countries, Austria has winter holidays (school free) in February, making this the most expensive month, and you should book well in advance to get the best offers.
High standards
Austria has strict safety regulations, and all ski centres must adhere to high technical standards in their facilities. The lift systems are of top quality and well-maintained, and safety is of the highest concern. However, it isn’t only laws and regulations that promote high standards but also stiff competition. Both compete among the countless ski resorts in Austria and from neighbouring countries. Thus, to attract a steady stream of tourists, Austria must have the best, most challenging and funniest ski resorts to stay on top of the game. Furthermore, Austria is a good choice because prices are generally lower than in France and Switzerland.
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Tourism with style
You will find everything from 5-star luxury hotels to small, cosy family-run guesthouses. With a few exceptions, Austria has avoided building large hotel complexes of concrete skyscrapers or ugly artificial tourist machines. Instead, ski resorts in Austria have usually sprung up with the construction of a lift system near an existing city, town or village. Thus, because the Austrians try to preserve and take care of traditional or historic houses, you mostly find genuine and historic places to spend your vacation. One good example of a ski resort where you can combine excellent and varied skiing with an authentic Austrian village is Hinterstoder in Upper Austria. Notwithstanding, some ski resorts/villages have been built from scratch in places where there didn’t use to be any larger settlements.
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Aprés ski
What happens after parking your equipment for the day is equally essential for many as the actual time spent on snow. Here, too, what’s on offer varies widely. Austria no longer means only Glühwein and ompa music. Those times are long gone. Instead, ski resorts that offer their visitors fun late into the night drive a wide range of entertainment to satisfy people of different tastes of all ages. International DJs and entertainers come regularly and perform at ski resorts. St. Anton, for example, with venues such as the Krazy Kanguruh and the Mooserwirt, has become legendary for its after-ski parties.
Artificial snow
The only point where the Alpine Paradise Austria might lag a little behind its competitors in France, Switzerland or Italy is the access to artificial snow. The Alpine regions in Austria have had stable snow conditions in many places. Moreover, Austria is trying to avoid unwanted environmental consequences from unrestricted artificial snow production. On the other hand, climate change also forces Austrian ski resorts to increase the number of slopes with artificial snow to ensure their lifts run the entire season. For you, it means excellent skiing conditions and long seasons.
More information about the winter sports paradise of Austria can be found at Austria.info
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Austria’s airports are well-connected to major cities and central train stations. Therefore, we have put together a list of excellent ski resorts that are easily reachable by train, including some info on how to get there from the airport. Moreover, many ski resorts offer inexpensive or free transfers to and from the nearest train station […]
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The historic small town in the Styria region of Austria, with about 4500 inhabitants, is surrounded by the majestic Dachstein mountains. The winter season usually starts at the beginning of December and runs until the beginning of April. Skiing day and night Schladming offers 123 km of slopes spread over four interconnected ski areas: Planai, […]
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Winter hiking in Austria
Winter is by no means the same all over Austria. The amount of snow can of course vary from 0 cm to several meters. In the snow-free places you can of course use most of the regular hiking trails year-round. In the mountains, however, the selection of trails is naturally somewhat smaller. Nonetheless, even in […]
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Snow much fun in Zillertal
The first train stop on my winter tour through Austria was Zillertal, Tyrol. After a few days in fantastic Vienna, I was looking forward to hitting the slopes. Moreover, the winter had taken a firm hold on the Austrian Alps in late February, and there was abundant snow. Chilly but great fun The skiing conditions […]
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The Obertauern is located in the southeast of the state of Salzburg in the middle of the Radstadt Tauern Mountains at altitudes between 1630 and 2526 meters above sea level. This is one of the snow richest regions in Austria but has a very well-developed tourist infrastructure. The Obertauern is snow-safe, family-friendly and offers 26 […]
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We were a group of 10 people that had signed up for a 2-hour guided snowshoe hike. Half the group were beginners with no prior snowshoeing experience. Nevertheless, we were in for a real treat. Up and about Those who didn’t have snowshoes were fitted with the necessary equipment in the local sports shop. Then, […]
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Although Filzmoos had received the first snow when we arrived in early December and was partly dressed in white, the landscape had more of a spring feeling to it. This was by no means disappointing, as it meant sun from the blue sky and enjoyable temperatures. Thus, perfect conditions for winter hiking and horse-carriage trips. […]
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For years this part of Austria has been a somewhat sleepy backwater valley. However, Brandnertal in Vorarlberg has slowly worked its way onto the winter vacation circuit. Not by building spectacular adrenalin-pumping halfpipes or downhill runs, but by offering visitors affordable accommodation and facilities. The winter wonderland Moreover, the village Brand and the hamlet Bürseberg […]
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Often you only reach pristine snow-covered places by snowshoes. Snowshoes are ideal for exploring the enchanting winter landscape and also perfect for slowing down the pace of your vacation and enjoying the fresh air. Find a quiet corner in the woods or the mountains without ski lifts and resorts. Take a break from the hectic […]
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With or without skis, Resterhöhe at 1894 metres is a great place to start your winter holiday. Just 12 minutes in the gondola lift from the valley below, we arrived at the mountain top. The views of the valley below and towards the Hohe Tauern mountain massifs to the south are amazing. From Resterhöhe we […]
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Embarking on a winter hike at the Gottesacker Plateau in Vorarlberg is an experience like no other. I did not have to venture many meters from the lift station and out onto the Gottesacker Plateau before an adventurous winter landscape opened in front of me. Then, almost in a hurry, I embarked on the 5 […]
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The Kitzsteinhorn is a 3203 m high mountain in the state of Salzburg, more or less in the middle of Austria. The trip to the top takes about 30-40 minutes and three separate cable cars. The rewards are several eateries and bars, a wide range of pistes and non-less than spectacular views from the +3000 […]
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Innsbruck, the capital of Tirol, Austria spreads out in the Inn Valley where the river Inn makes a bend north, before continuing east. Located in the middle of Austria’s most alpine state, the city’s 130.000 inhabitants enjoy a thriving city and all-year outdoor adventures. Innsbruck got its name from the first bridge across the river […]
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Arriving at the cable car valley station the first day to plan my runs was demanding. I could choose between a whopping 88 cable cars and lifts to take me to more than 300 km of prepared slopes and 200 km’s off-piste runs. For beginners or first-time visitors, it can be a bit overwhelming. Choosing […]
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What a change from when my college Arnold was here in the summer of 2017 (see the article Family fun in Seefeld). One of the snowiest winters in Austria in a long time had laid a thick white blanket over Seefeld and the entire Tyrol. It did not take long to get off the train […]
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Winter hiking in a canyon was one of the things I wanted to do in Kleinwalsertal, Vorarlberg. Hence, I seized the opportunity and made a winter hike in the Breitachklamm Gorge. I have hiked in many beautiful canyons around Austria, but never during winter. The snow-covered landscape offered a distinctly different atmosphere and a wonderful […]