Ski resorts in Austria

Known for its high density of ski resorts in Europe, the winter sport tourism has become a billion euro industry in Austria. Though the resorts are not as spectacular and glamorous as the mega-resorts found in Switzerland and France, they are of medium-sized, cozier, less congested and a tad cheaper. The ski season normally starts from early December and lasts till March. The peak time starts from December 25 to January 2.

Advanced skiers may not be able to enjoy around this time as the slopes can be too congested. Till February, huge crowds are normally seen because of school and university vacations. The least crowded times are early December, mid-January and late March. A list of the ski resorts in Austria is given below from which you can select the best one as per your choice and convenience:

Best and Largest Ski Resorts

Lech and Zürs am Arlberg: Lech and Zürs am Arlberg is a ski resort in Austria famous for its finest ski areas in the world offering a high quality skiing experience. You may stand in queue during the starting hours of the ski schools but it hardly takes 5 minutes anywhere. Here, there are a number of high level ski schools too with Arlberg being the most prominent. There are different terrains suitable for everyone from the beginner to the alpine tourer. For accommodation, there are many hotels, offering "half-board" accommodation with breakfast and evening meal. Some the popular hotels are Kristiania, Hotel Arlberg, Chalet Hotel Bentleys Hotel and Hotel Aurelio.

St. Anton: St. Anton (Sankt Anton, St. Anton am Arlberg) is Tyrol's best-known resort and perhaps Austria's most extreme skiing providing good condition for advanced skiing, a reliable snow record and an extensive ski area for all levels of skiers. For accommodation, Schlosshotel Bergschloessl is a family- run boutique & design hotel with 10 individually furnished apartments, suites and doubles.

Ischgl: Ischgl is a small village in the Paznaun Valley in Tyrol Austria. It is a progressive resort with a link into Switzerland and the village of Samnaun. To reach the place, it takes almost an hour from Innsbruck airport, two from Munich and three from Zurich. Here, the resorts are open early and can enjoy Skiing on the 220km long pistes. For accommodation, there are hotels such as Hotel Solaria, Hotel Yscla, Hotel Madlein and Hotel Brigitte.

Solden: Solden is a place popular with snowboarders and après-ski enthusiasts. It offers excellent snow reliability with fairly extensive network of slopes suited to adventurous intermediates. Solden also has a very lively nightlife with thousands of tourists across the globe.

Other Popular Resorts

Kitzbuehel: Not only for skiing, Kitzbuehel is also known for its nightlife and charm attracting thousands of tourists. Kitzbuehel plays host to one of the world's most important ski races called Hahnenkammrennen annually.

Flachau/Wagrain: Flachau and Wagrain are the places in the province of Salzburg in Austria. Here, you can experience a cozy experience of skiing being a good place both for beginners and intermediates.

Obertauern: Obertauern is a good place given its location and altitude with compact and very good snow cover though it can sometimes give a problem in bad weathers. It is a perfect place for intermediate skiers who want to enjoy skiing long kilometers under their skis. As small Obertauern is, it has a varied sking area coupled with great Austrian atmosphere.

Nassfeld: Nassfeld is mostly popular with italian tourists being situated on the border of Italy. It is popular for skiing in winter as well as hiking in the summer months. You can go for swimming in Presseger lake during summer. Most restaurants on the pistes are mediocre such as Livio and Cube.

Mayrhofen: Mayrhofen is the main base for skiing on the slopes of Zillertal valley. It is a busy resort popular with foreign tourists mostly with Russians and the visitors from UK and Benelux. It has two ski lifts- Penken and Ahorn. Besides these two, there many of ski lifts in nearby villages too. For accommodation, there are medium range hotels such as Gasthof Bruecke. There are four and five star range hotels too namely Hotel Neue Post, Hotel Neuhaus, Sporthotel Strass and Hotel Elizabeth.

Zell am See: Zell am See is a scenic location with a lake and snowfield attracting many visitors. Zell am See is at the foot of some fine ski slopes. During the summer, the lake offers some activities too, in addition to mountain walks. For accommodation, Hotel Tirolerhof and Hotel Waldhof are the good ones at Zell am See.

Bad Hofgastein: Bad Hofgastein is a market town and the historical hub of the Gastein Valley, located in the sunniest and broadest point of the valley. It is known for thermal baths as well. The skiing activities, beautiful mountains, shops, hotels and restaurants create a unique ambience for the visitors. You can experience a wide range of sporting activities both in summer and winter.

SkiWelt: SkiWelt offers the chance to explore Austria’s' largest interconnecting ski area covering villages of Scheffau, Söll, Ellmau, Brixen, Hopfgarten and Westendorf. Known for being excellent value for money, skiing in Ski Welt offers a wide variety of conditions for all abilities, efficient modern lift facilities and numerous varied resorts to choose from. It is certainly a good place for all types of holidaymakers offering the atmosphere ranging from lively resort with party din to the quieter and more traditional family-friendly skiing towns.

Off the beaten track

Heiligenblut: Heiligenblut is a delightful, isolated village with spectacular scenery offering access to some of the highest slopes in Austria. It is a good place both for the intermediate and beginner skiers.

Turracherhoehe: The Turracher Höhe offers the ultimate skiing experience with all modern comforts, good snowy conditions and great slopes at greater altitudes.

Wildschonau: Wildschonau is a good place for skiing in Austria made up of four villages. Oberau is a tiny village close to the dense lift network of larger neighbours Auffach and Niederau. It is a lovely place for skiing tourism in the Eastern Alps.

Summer ski resorts

Hintertux: A large area for a summer ski resort close to Mayrhofen, in Zillertal valley. Good place for intermediate and beginners.

Kitzsteinhorn: Known for the glacier above the village of Kaprun. Surrounded by the highest peaks in Austria. Perfect powder snow in autumn.

Moelltaler Gletscher: Non- stop skiing from mid-June to mid-May. Good for intermediate skiers and beginners. Highest Lift, 3122m. Lowest Piste, 1900m. Resort Altitude, 700m.

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