Ski resorts of Austria 2024 – which one to choose

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How to get to the ski resorts in Austria

Which ski resort in Austria to choose

How to get to the ski resorts in Austria

Austria in winter is one of the most popular countries in Europe for ski tourism. The traditions of skiing have been developing here for a very long time, so in Austrian resorts you can find a developed infrastructure, high-quality piste coverage, varied routes, a large number of ski lifts, as well as opportunities for off-piste skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, etc.

After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in one of the Austrian resorts. I figured out how to get to the resorts, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to the Austrian resorts.

By taxi: in winter, group shuttle transfers are available from Innsbruck and Salzburg (less often from Munich) to some ski resorts in Austria. For example, you can go to resorts in Solden or Ischgl by minibus from the carrier named Otztaler. But most often, tourists get there either by public transport (train + bus) or order an individual transfer. The second option is more preferable if you have a ski equipment with you or arrive at night, when public transport is no longer available. Services for booking a private transfer:

Kiwitaxi is a system for ordering taxi transfers from airports, train stations and hotels around the world;

Intui.Travel is a system for self-booking tourist transfers to/from hotels via the Internet.

In my point of view, both online services are good and very helpful when planning a holiday to the ski resorts. Based on my experience, both of them have a convenient search so I can totally recommend them.

As for public transport, you can get to the resorts in the following ways:

◊There is a direct train from Innsbruck to Seefeld;

◊You can get to Solden by train to Otztal, then by bus directly to the resort. This option is relevant from Innsbruck;

◊You can get to Ischgl by train to Landeck-Zams, then by bus to the resort. This option is available from both Innsbruck and Munich;

◊You can directly get to Kitzbuhel by train from Salzburg or Innsbruck. From Munich you need to make a change in the town of Worgl;

◊You can get to Mayrhofen by train to Jenbach, then transfer to another train or bus directly to Mayrhofen. The option is relevant when traveling from Innsbruck and Munich;

◊You can get to Zell am See by direct train from Salzburg, or with a change in Worgl from Munich;

◊There are direct high-speed trains to Bad Gastein from Salzburg and Munich;

◊Hinterglemm can only be reached with a change. From Salzburg or Munich, you first need to get to Zell am See, and then take a regular bus directly to the resort.

By rented car: As an option you also can use a rented car. It is a very popular option and rental offices can be found at any airports listed above. To rent a car you need to have a passport, a drivers license and a bank card for paying services. It is recommended to book a car in advance as it is very popular option among tourists. You can book a car in advance via various international services, for instance:

Discover Cars is a service for searching, comparing and booking cars for renting;

Economybookings is search service for cheap car rentals around the globe.

I can recommend both services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the best available car rentals. You can use both of them at once to compare available variants for your dates.

Ski resorts in Austria are very diverse, and each resort has its own characteristics. Some resorts are more suitable for beginners, while others, on the contrary, are for experienced and advanced skiers. The infrastructure also differs from resort to resort; this is influenced with many factors, including differences in climatic conditions.

The skiing season at different resorts differs, depending on the availability of snow cover; in some places it falls earlier, in others – later. The same situation in spring – in some places it melts faster, and in others even summer skiing is possible (on a glacier, for example). Read more about the features of each resort below.

Which ski resort in Austria to choose

Seefeld is a resort located between the mountain peaks of Gschwandtkopf and Rosshutte, the maximum height of which is 2101 m. The resort is more suitable for beginners and intermediate level skiers, because the mountains here are relatively low, and the slopes do not have steep turns. Seefeld also has a fun park with a halfpipe and cross-country ski trails. Based on my research, tourists can relax after skiing in Seefeld in the Alpenpark thermal complex and in the Olympia Sports swimming pool. Restaurants, cafes and even a casino are also part of the resort. In summer, the place is great for hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and other active activities. Reed more about Seefeld;

Solden, as a resort, can offer vacationers a whole range of opportunities. In the surroundings of the resort there are 3 three-thousand-meter peaks, which provides Solden with a long skiing season, 100% snow cover and trails of various difficulty levels. The total length of the trails here is about 150 km. For snowboarders there is a half-pipe and two fun parks. The resort is served with 34+ more ski lifts. You can relax after a busy day in Solden in the Aquadom thermal complex and in the Freizeit Arena leisure complex. If you wish, you can try other extreme sports here. Read more about Solden;

Ischgl has a record total length of trails – about 240 km. At the same time, the trails have different levels of difficulty and are suitable for skiing by both beginner skiers and higher-level skiers, including pros. Ischgl is one of the five best equipped resorts for snowboarding; it has a fan park and a half-pipe. Ischgl is also the Austrian freeride center; the resort has unique opportunities for off-piste skiing. As far as I know, in addition to active recreation, Ischgl is famous for its nightlife and various entertainment options, including spas, swimming pools, restaurants, bowling alleys and much more. Read more about Ischgl;

Kitzbuhel is a resort with history; in fact, it is considered to be one of the very first ski resorts in Austria. Kitzbuhel can boast of its developed infrastructure and traditions. The trails here are suitable for different levels of skiing; in total, the resort has about 60 different trails. In addition, there is a fan park in Kitzbuhel, there are 2 half-pipes and cross-country ski tracks. The resort has a water park, which, in fact, is a multifunctional thermal complex with various options. Kitzbuhel is also a center of haute cuisine, shopping and other similar entertainment. In summer in Kitzbuhel you can go rafting, canyoning, paragliding, and play golf. Read more about Kitzbuhel;

Mayrhofen is considered to be one of the largest and most developed ski resorts in Austria. The total length of the slopes at the resort is almost 140 km; skiers are served with almost 60 lifts, and there are extensive opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and off-piste skiing. You can relax at the local aquatic center, and then try skating on an ice rink, snowshoeing, master mountaineering and other extreme sports. In summer there is no less entertainment in Mayrhofen; the resort has all the conditions for an active pastime. Read more about Mayrhofen;

Zell am See is an all-year-round resort. In winter, the main activity is skiing, and in summer water activities are popular due to the local lake. Despite the small size of the resort, it has everything you need for skiing: ski slopes of various difficulty levels, a fan park, a half-pipe, and toboggan runs. According to my research, the resort is served with 23+ more ski lifts. You can relax here in the spa center, which offers a full range of spa services. In summer there is no less entertainment at the resort, almost all of them are connected with the local Zeller Lake. Read more about Zell am See;

Kaprun can boast of a record length of pistes – almost 140 km, and the level of pistes varies from the simplest to the professional here. In addition, there are 3 snowboard parks, toboggan runs, half-pipes, as well as unique opportunities for cross-country skiing and freestyle skiing. I did some research and I can say the the highlight of the resort is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which is open for skiing even in summer. For relaxation, the Optimum health center and several spa complexes are open here. In the summer, Kaprun also invites guests to try, in addition to traditional hiking, real extreme sports, including paragliding, rock climbing, mountaineering, canyoning. Read more about Kaprun;

Bad Gastein is both a ski and thermal resort. A record 220 km of trails of various difficulty levels are open here for skiers. The resort has more than 50 lifts, a snow park, several half-pipes, extensive freeride facilities, and toboggan runs. In addition, thermal complexes with radon waters and salt rooms are popular at the resort. Read more about Bad Gastein;

St. Wolfgang is the gateway to the Postalm ski valley. The valley is famous for its skiing and cross-country trails, and there is also an illuminated toboggan run. The resort has a ski school where beginners can learn the basics of skiing. In St. Wolfgang you can relax in the thermal complex, which offers a variety of different spa treatments. In the summer, St. Wolfgang attracts tourists with its lake and the opportunity to try water activities such as diving, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming and fishing. Read more about St. Wolfgang;

Hinterglemm is one of the popular holiday resorts in the Glemmtal valley. The total length of the slopes here is almost 200 km, which makes the resort very popular among vacationers with different levels of skiing. There are more than 50 ski lifts, 9 ski schools, 3 snow parks, a fan park, jumps, and half-pipes. After some research, I can confirm that Hinterglemm is considered to be a snowboard-friendly resort. You can try different activities in Hinterglemm, for example, skating on the ice rink, swimming in the outdoor and indoor pools, playing on the tennis courts, etc. In addition, evening life is very developed in Hinterglemm – restaurants, bars and discos until the morning are available for the guests. Read more about Hinterglemm;

Schladming is considered to be one of the oldest ski resorts in Austria. Many national and international championships were held here. The length of the slopes in the home ski area is 123 km; the length of the slopes shared with the neighboring resort of Dachstein is already 232 km. Most of the trails run through wooded areas. There are also 3 fan parks on the area of Schladming, including Atomic Super Park Dachstein, Atomic Super Park Planai and Snow Valley Planneralm. Year-round skiing is available on the nearby-located Dachstein Glacier. Read more about Schladming;

Kirchberg is located in the Kitzbuhel Mountains. Its neighbor is the famous resort of Kitzbuhel. The total length of the trails here is about 234 km. The altitude difference ranges from 800 to almost 2000 meters. The longest route is 7 km. The resort has about 50 ski lifts. There is also a snowboard park with a halfpipe and opportunities for boardercross. Several architectural monuments have also been preserved in Kirchberg. In my opinion, it is worth paying attention to the 15th-century church, after which the town was named. The 18th century monastery is also interesting as well as numerous half-timbered houses, the facade of which is real 19th century architecture. Read more about Kirchberg;

Obergurgl is located in the Otztal valley. The resort of Obergurgl has a united ski area with the neighboring resort of Hochgurgl. And if the home ski area includes 54 km of slopes, then the total is already 110 km. The length of the longest route is 8,5 km. The resort is served with 24 ski lifts. In addition to alpine skiing, the resort also has a snowboard park and a halfpipe, cross-country ski trails and toboggan runs. You can take a break from active pastime in neighboring Solden. There is a large spa center called Aquadome. Aquadome is famous for its swimming pools, saunas, water slides and other entertainment. Read more about Obergurgl;

Hintertux provides all-year-round access to the glacier. The highest point here is 3250 m. The resort is located in the Zillertal valley, one of the snowiest places in Austria, so the ski season here lasts quite a long time – from November to May. Also, some of the trails are available for skiing in the summer, since there is a non-melting glacier at the top of the mountain resort. Hintertux is the first year-round ski area in the Tyrol region. Read more about Hintertux;

Stubai is the largest resort in Austria, located on a glacier. It is not surprising that the skiing season here lasts from November to June. Stubai is located just 30 km from Innsbruck, so getting to the resort is not difficult. In winter, direct flights from various cities fly to Innsbruck. The resort offers 43 km of pistes. Stubai is served with about 25 ski lifts. The Schlick 2000 ski center and the Stubaipark Schlick 2000 snowpark are also nearby. Read more about Stubai;

Bad Kleinkirchheim is a ski and thermal resort located in the Carinthia region. The main highlight of the resort is the steep 4-kilometer descent trail named after Franz Klammer. The total length of trails at the resort is about 108 km. The resort is served with about 25 ski lifts. The resort also has a snowboard center and a halfpipe. One of the main non-skiing activities in Bad Kleinkirchheim is a visit to the Romerbad Thermal Spa, on the area of which you can find 5 thermal pools and 13 types of saunas. Read more about Bad Kleinkirchheim;

Soll is a ski village located in the combined ski area of ​​Brixental and Wilder Kaiser. The resort is located in a picturesque valley surrounded with the Hohe Salve mountains. The Brixental and Wilder Kaiser ski area is famous for its unique natural conditions, developed infrastructure and high-quality trails of various difficulty. The total length of trails in the region is 280 km. The characteristics of the ski region also include the presence of a snowboard park, halfpipe, and cross-country ski trails. For relaxation after skiing, tourists often choose the Kaiserbad sports complex. The Kaiserbad sports complex is located at the foothills of the mountains and offers relaxing for the whole family, including outdoor and indoor pools, water slides, saunas and much more. Read more about Soll;

Semmering is both a ski and thermal resort located near Vienna. The ski area here is not so large – only about 40 km, but the combination of ski opportunities with traditional relaxation in thermal complexes makes the place very popular. Semmering is located approximately 100 km from Vienna. An undoubted advantage of the resort is that there is a railway station, which means it is quite easy to get here by public transport. There are two ski areas in Semmering called Hirschenkogel and Stuleck. According to some information that I discovered, the total length of the slopes is about 40 km, and the altitude difference is from 777 m to 1774 m. The resort is served with 12 ski lifts. A snowboard park, halfpipe, quarterpipe, and border cross track are also available. Popular places to relax after a busy day are the Linsberg Asia (Bad Erlach) and Fischauer Thermalbad (Bad Fischau). Read more about Semmering;

Langenfeld is considered to be a small ski village with a ski area of ​​50 km, a developed resort infrastructure and one of the largest thermal complexes in the Austrian Tyrol called Aquadome. The resort is located in the Otztal Alps. There are blue, red and black trails. There are about 10 lifts in operation. Cross-country skiing trails are also available; the distance is about 40 km. Toboggan runs are also provided. Read more about Langenfeld;

Lech is a unique climatic resort with developed infrastructure, extensive skiing opportunities and a lot of entertainment – this is what Lech has to offer as a ski resort. The snow cover of the local mountains is ideal for off-piste. The resort has the prestigious title of “Best of the Alpes”. The total length of the slopes in Lech is 110 km, the altitude difference is about 1000 m. The resort is served with 47 ski lifts. There are 2 fan parks and a halfpipe. In the neighboring village of St. Anton there is a wellness center called Arlberg WellCom, which offers many leisure options. Read more about Lech;

Obertauern is a popular ski resort located in the surroundings of Salzburg. Obertauern is famous for its fabulous winter landscapes, interesting trails and vast areas available for freeride. Of course, Obertauern is ready to offer a lot of opportunities for snowboarders. The length of the slopes at the resort is 100 km, and the altitude difference is 683 m. If desired, in addition to the home ski area (100 km), you can purchase a LUNGO ski pass, which combines such ski areas as Obertauern, Grosseck, Katschberg and Fanningberg, and this is another 150 km of trails. As I know, Obertauern is also famous for its freeride opportunities. For off-piste skiing, virgin slopes with a deep snow coverage are prepared here. In the neighboring town of Altenmarkt im Pongau you can find the beautiful Amade thermal complex, where you can relax and gain strength after a busy day of skiing. Read more about Obertauern;

Flachau is considered to be a popular ski resort in the surroundings of Salzburg. Here, skiers are offered 115 km of trails, an altitude difference from 740 m to 1980 m and super-high-quality infrastructure that allows them to host the World Cup in alpine skiing and snowboarding. The resort is served with 43 ski lifts. The “highlight” of the resort is the three-kilometer ice cup track. On the eastern slope there is a vast area for educational skiing. Read more about Flachau;

Skiing at any of the resorts can also always be combined with interesting excursion trips. For example, Salzburg is the most popular destination for one-day trips. Salzburg has preserved quite a lot of historical attractions, in particular, the main square of the city called Residenzplatz, the Cathedral, the fortress located at the highest point of the city, Mirabell Palace, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mozart’s house, Kapuzinerberg mountain and much more. Read more about the sights of Salzburg.

Trips to Innsbruck are no less popular. Here you can also find interesting places and monuments. Tourists in Innsbruck especially attract the attention of the central Maria Theresa Street and the Golden Roof, the Hofburg Palace, Ambras Castle and, of course, the famous Nordkette cable car. Read more about Innsbruck.

Overall, we can say that Austria is one of the best ski destinations in Europe. The infrastructure of local resorts is developed at a high level, and both a beginner, a skater with an average level of training, and a confident pro can try skiing at the local pistes. As I see it, any of the listed destinations deserve tourist attention as the towns are full of attractions and can offer a lot of things to do.

Photo above the article: Ian Gratton