Winter resorts in Austria have not lost their appeal among fans of winter sports, recreation and entertainment for more than 100 years. Alpine slopes have won the hearts of many Europeans, offering guests carefully prepared places for skiing and snowboarding.
Numerous places for skiing, medical and health centers, thermal springs and active nighttime winter entertainment captivate with high quality, reliability and comfort. Ski resorts in Austria are always crowded, because there are comfortable and safe regions for both beginner skiers and tracks for real masters of winter sports.
The best ski resorts in Austria
According to Topschoolsintheusa, numerous Alpine slopes offer comfortable outdoor activities in the mountainous regions of the country. The list of ski resorts in Austria is expanding every year, including not only the oldest mountainous regions, but also beautifully equipped places for skiing on the glacier, unique Austrian ski resorts with thermal springs.
We have compiled the top 7 resorts in Austria, where you can go for an active holiday with the whole family with children or spend an unforgettable vacation for young people. Take it into service – all Alpine resorts have their own system of trail importance:
- for learning the art of skiing and snowboarding, a “blue” one with a length of only 20 km is suitable;
- for amateurs who feel confident on the slope – “red” with a length of up to 80 km;
- for the brave, lovers of extreme sports, everyone who is attracted by the danger – “black” (specially marked route of descent along natural slopes up to 45 km.).
Sölden – #1 snow slopes in the world
Leads the ranking of the most popular ski resorts on the map of Austria Sölden. This oldest ski resort in Europe is located in the cozy Otztal valley, protected by high snow slopes.
The area is held in high esteem by young people. The energy of youth reigns here: this is one of the few resorts that offers an active entertainment night program for relaxation. At the foot of the mountains there are night clubs and discos.
In addition, the region is popular due to its proximity to the glacier, where you can ski all year round. And this is a great gift for those who want to ski down the slope in the summer.
Ischgl: high quality, expensive, unforgettable!
The resort is famous for its quality service, expensive comfortable apartments and numerous places for shopping. This is a favorite place for movie stars and show business: on ideally prepared tracks you can meet your favorite movie actor or musician, and in the evening attend his concert.
The slopes in Ischgl are covered with snow. There are slopes for beginners and experienced skiers. Experienced instructors are ready to teach even the smallest travelers here.
The western lands of Tyrol beckon masters of winter sports. On the gentle slopes of the Alps, you can often meet snowboarders. Here are excellent places for snowboarding, for lovers of cross-country skiing.
If you like a frequent change of scenery, you should pay attention that other popular Austrian ski resorts are located not far from Ischgl (for example, in the neighborhood of Silvrette, a large youth center in Austria, where crowded parties are held daily).
Mayrhofen – the natural treasure of the Alps
The most beautiful mountain scenery, high slopes and the unusual intersection of four valleys will impress any traveler. Mayrhofen magically combines the unusual natural landscapes of the Zillertal valley: it offers simple ski slopes for young skiers, interesting slopes for those with skis on the “You”.
But the main feature of this high-altitude resort in Austria is its attraction of the most difficult tracks in the whole country, including the Harakiri track.
We recommend going on a sightseeing tour of the valley, taking a ride in a cozy trailer on an old narrow-gauge steam locomotive. Driving around the valley, you can see how gracefully high snowy peaks embrace.
A trip to Mayrhofen does not have to be organized during the peak of the winter months. In the middle of spring, nature here pleases with bright colors of mountain meadows, strewn with delicate crocuses and white clouds-mountain peaks. At this time, you can still go skiing – the largest Hintertux glacier hospitably welcomes winter sports enthusiasts.
Obertauern – the best mountain resort in Austria for a family
A colorful small village in the Austrian Alps is a place for true connoisseurs of difficult ski slopes. The most interesting recreation areas of the entire Austrian ski system are compactly located here. Attention is riveted by steep alpine descents.
The area will surprise any traveler, because in a small area there are compactly scattered, like a cobweb, trails of varying difficulty, equally sparkling with the silver of the snow cover. In Obertauern, you can relax and enjoy every meter you pass, or you can test your skills on the fast track.
The region is good for the whole family, because each generation can choose an activity of interest:
- dedicate your entire vacation to skiing;
- use all the advantages of medical and spa resorts in Austria;
- visit nightclubs with a unique entertainment program.
Saalbach-Hinterglemm – winter safari in the Alps
Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a mountainous region that combines several ski resorts into a single complex. On the map of ski resorts in Austria, you can see how advantageously the region lies at the foot of the Kitzbühel Alps. Here are excellent weather conditions for a winter holiday – from December to April, there is perfectly white pure snow.
We offer to organize a short trip around the region: we recommend paying attention to the original entertainment for tourists – the “ski circus”. These are the looped branches of the lifts, thanks to which you can see every corner of Saalbach-Hinterglemm as detailed as possible.
Saalbach has received good reviews as an inexpensive resort in Austria. The area is well-equipped not only for skiing and snowboarding – there is something to do here day and night. Young people will be interested in local nightclubs, where they can spend their time inexpensively and comfortably.
Holidays in Hinterglemm are more expensive. The resort is equipped as a respectable area, with great opportunities for practicing various sports. The region is popular among couples with children. Even the smallest guests of the recreation area will be captivated: offer children ski school classes, walks.
Schladming
The mountain resort is famous for the best ski slopes in Austria. World competitions among professional snowboarders and skiers are held here. The Schladming snow slope is especially appreciated by the masters of winter sports, but families with children will not be bored here either. Entertainment is easy to pick up to everyone’s liking:
- “walk” on the lifts to the observation platforms, where a magnificent view of the resort opens;
- snowmobiling;
- ice shooting.
But the nighttime entertainment attracts attention. Only here they offer so many alternatives – night skiing or sledding at the stadium, a family dinner in a cozy restaurant.
Kaprun
In Kaprun, it is best to come to rest with families. This small mountain village is a quiet and fabulous place, wrapped in a beautiful snow cover. Here you will not find difficult tracks and places for extreme descents – the tracks are equipped for safe skiing, there are separate places for beginners and children.
The ski season here lasts all year round, because there is a glacier near the village. Kaprun is chosen for its atmosphere, silence and comfort. The region attracts with its fabulous landscapes, untouched wildlife, sincerity of the local population.
In between leisurely skiing and snowboarding, you can go for a walk around the village: we recommend visiting the medieval castle, wandering through the narrow streets, enjoying the fresh Alpine air. There is an unusual entertainment in Kaprun – a train ride to the glacier, the path to which lies through a 3-km tunnel. For a change of scenery, young people can go to nearby noisy Zell am See, where tourists are offered numerous noisy parties.
Prices in ski resorts in Austria
The ski resorts of Austria can be viewed for a long time in the photo, it is fascinating to read the reviews and colorful stories of tourists, but it is better to see these natural beauties on your own.
Rest in the Alps is appreciated by both the Austrians themselves and foreign tourists, because there are magnificent landscapes, convenient numerous tracks for skiers of various levels of training.
Spend a vacation on the mountain slopes, where excellent conditions are created for practicing all kinds of sports at an affordable price. You can choose a resort with good service, variety of entertainment options and reasonable prices. You can choose a comfortable option for any wallet – from upscale and pretentious Ischgl to snowy and budget Schladming.
The Austrian Alps are the best choice in terms of price and quality, where it is better to go on vacation in Europe in winter. When organizing a trip to the ski resorts of Austria, consider the mandatory additional costs:
- Ski-pass – from 40 € / day.
- Skiing equipment – 50-200 € (experienced tourists recommend ordering equipment for several days at once or, if possible, taking it with you from home).
- Lift rides.
- Rental of property.
- Meals in cafes and restaurants (you can independently adjust your expenses by renting an apartment with a kitchen, or eat in expensive restaurants).
