Austrians like to say: "We don't talk about snow, we guarantee it!" Find out about the most popular ski resorts in Austria, climate characteristics, ski season, pistes, prices for ski passes, equipment rental and tourist reviews.
Most of Austria is covered by the spurs of the Alps. Winter sports are so popular in the country that there are about 1000 ski centers here. There are plenty to choose from! Austrians prefer to develop not large ski centers, but small traditional resort villages. Most of them are located in the middle mountains. The best ski resorts in Austria are located in Tyrol.
Exchange rate: 1 euro ≈ 87 RUB.
Last Minute Tours search on the Travelata service - it will find the best deals among different tour operators. Want to save money? Check out our 7 rules for buying tours online.
Climate and weather
The country lies in a continental climate zone, so it is cool in the ski resorts of Austria in winter. The higher, the colder: for every 100 m, the thermometer drops by 0.5 ° C. In winter, the average air temperature is -10 ° С. The mountainous terrain is characterized by heavy snowfalls.
Skiing season. The ski season in the winter resorts of Austria lasts from December to the end of March - mid-Aprilwhen the snow begins to actively melt on the slopes. On high glaciers, such as the Dachstein Glacier (2700 m), skiing all year round. Most tourists try to come to winter resorts around Christmas in order to combine vacation in the mountains with hiking in the bright Christmas markets.
Ski resorts on the map of Austria
The best ski resorts in Austria
Even a sophisticated expert will not undertake to identify the leader among the Austrian winter recreation centers. All of them are located in picturesque places and are famous for their comfort. Ski resorts in Austria have first-class hotels, professional slope maintenance and training centers for beginners. There is little to do - to find what you like!
Schladming
The list of the most popular ski resorts in Austria includes the winter recreation center in the Dachstein mountains. The resort 90 km from Salzburg began to develop at the end of the 19th century, and today has become a pleasant place for youth parties and off-piste skiing. There is a lot of snow in the mountains, so the season lasts until mid-April.
Trails... Of the 190 km of slopes, 60 km are for easy routes, and 110 km are for medium-difficulty tracks. There are 12 tracks on the Dachstein Glacier. There is a snow park and a large area for virgin land lovers. Most of the skiers ride the elephants Hochwurzen and Planai. The most difficult black track in the region is located in these places, where the World Cup and night slalom stages take place. The toboggan route is 7 km long.
Prices... A daily ski pass costs 53.5 € for an adult, 40 € for a student, and 27 € for a child. Renting a ski or snowboarding set for a day costs € 21.5-32.4 for adults and € 10.8-16.2 for a child. Sleigh rental - 7 €.
Testimonials... Fans of downhill skiing love that the resort has many slopes through the forest and long trails that lead from the top to the foot of the mountains. Near the ski areas there are great opportunities for après-ski: bars, discos, restaurants, branded shopping, massage, saunas and spas.
Scheme of the tracks in Schladming (big size)
Mayrhofen
The best ski resorts in Austria include a large winter recreation center located 65 km from Innsbruck. This is a prestigious resort, the hallmark of which is the famous narrow-gauge railway. There is a lot of après-ski entertainment for young people and the steepest track in the country "Harakiri" is located, the slope of which is 78%.
Trails... The total length is 136 km, and the area surrounding the resort is 550 km. The ski area covers slopes from 630 to 2500 m and is served by 57 lifts. The trails for beginners stretch for 40 km. The longest track is 10 km.
Prices... A daily ski pass for adults costs 53.5 €, for young people - 42.5 € for children - 24 €. Renting a ski kit for an adult costs 32 € per day, for a child - 18 €. Renting a helmet costs 4 € and a snowboarding kit 26 €.
Testimonials... Mayrhofen is considered perhaps the best ski resort in Austria for beginners. Beginners have a lot of fun on the soft slopes and can always be trained by experienced instructors. Tourists love the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities such as snowmobiling and snowshoeing. A spacious ice rink is open on Waldbadstraße. The resort also has a 7.5 km toboggan run.
Mayrhofen piste map (big size)
Sölden
Sölden, one of the famous ski resorts in Austria, is located in the Otztal valley, the largest in the Eastern Alps. On its territory there are at once three peaks above 3000 m with magnificent viewing platforms. The resort has two snow parks, a halfpipe, nightclubs, restaurants and the large sports center Freizeit Arena Sölden.
Trails stretched for 145.5 km. The longest of them is 15 km, and the illuminated one is 4 km. Beginner trails stretch for 69.5 km, red and black trails for 29.2 km. The slopes are served by 34 lifts.
Prices... A daily ski pass costs 54.5 € for adults, 43.5 € for students, 46.5 € for seniors, and 30 € for children. You can take a set of ski equipment or a set for snowboarding for the day for 33-58 €.
Testimonials... Due to the variety of infrastructure, the resort receives flattering reviews. Vacationers love the opportunity to unwind in the hot springs, swim in the indoor pool and enjoy trendy nightlife.
Sölden piste map (big size)
St. Anton am Arlberg
The rating of ski resorts in Austria is often topped by a recreation center, which is located in West Tyrol, 100 km from Innsbruck. St. Anton is called the sparkling diamond on the country's winter crown. It is a versatile recreation center for beginners, experienced skiers, freeride fans, cross-country skiing and tobogganing enthusiasts.
Trails... The ski area starts at 1300 m and has a vertical drop of more than 1.5 km. Freeride routes are 200 km long. Beginner slopes - 130 km, intermediate slopes - 123 km, and professional skiers - 51 km. The slopes are served by 90 lifts.
Prices... A full day lift pass costs 54.5 € for an adult, 49.5 € for youth and seniors, and 32.5 € for a child. Day rent of alpine skis, poles, boots and a helmet, depending on the model, costs 46-68.4 €. The same amount must be paid to use the complete snowboard kit.
Testimonials... Vacationers are happy with the après-ski resort. There are 80 cafes and restaurants, a couple of dozen shops and nightclubs here. There are saunas, jacuzzis and indoor pools. Connoisseurs of outdoor activities can go ice skating and paragliding.
Infrastructure, lifts and slopes in the resort of St. Anton
Lech
Popular ski resorts in Austria include the winter recreation center, which is part of the famous Arlberg ski area. Lech is considered the most expensive and snowy resort, as well as the cradle of skiing in the country. Celebrities and rich people are used to spending their free time on the local slopes.
Trails... The ski area has a vertical drop of 1 km. About a third of all trails are green. Difficult routes account for 24%, and the off-piste skiing area covers 200 km of trails. Snowboarders use a halfpipe and two fan parks.
Prices... A full day lift pass costs 54.5 € for an adult, 49.5 € for youth and seniors, and 32.5 € for a child. Rent for 6 days of mountain skis costs 110-213 €, snowboard - 46-132 €, helmet - 35 €, snowshoes - 64.8 €.
Testimonials... Vacationers celebrate the incredibly high level of service and delicious Austrian food in local restaurants.The resort is recommended for skiers of all skill levels and is considered a great place for families.
Scheme of tracks in St. Anton and Lech (big size)
Bad Gastein
The prestigious year-round resort is located 100 km from Salzburg at an altitude of 1600 m. For its high cost, pretentiousness and the country's oldest mountain casino Bad Gastein is often called "mountain Monte Carlo". A picturesque waterfall has become one of its symbols. In addition to skiing, here you can undergo wellness treatments in spa centers, hot radon springs and salt tunnels.
Trails... There are few easy slopes, so Bad Gadschein is not considered a beginner ski resort in Austria. The slopes are dominated by red and blue slopes, which are more suitable for advanced skiers. The quality of the infrastructure is so high that the resort hosts the stages of the World Cup. There is a boardercross track, a halfpipe and a modern snow park.
Prices... The cost of a ski pass for an adult in the low season is € 41.5, in the high season - € 44.5. Children's ski pass costs € 14-22.5. Children under 6 years old are allowed on the lifts free of charge. Renting a ski kit for adults costs 21-40 € per day, and 7-17 € for a child. Renting a snowboard costs 24 €, a helmet - 6 €, a toboggan - 5 €, ski poles - 2 €, snowshoes - 8 €. Every year the collection of equipment for hire is updated with models of the new season.
Testimonials... Vacationers celebrate the beauty of the Alpine village. In addition to skiing, tourists visit the thermal complex AlpenTherme. The resort is recommended for anyone who likes to combine skiing with sightseeing tours, dining and parties.
Trail map in Bad Gastein (big size)
Zell am See
The list of the most popular ski resorts in Austria would be incomplete without a winter recreation center, which is located on the shores of Lake Zeller See. Zell am See is part of the "European Sports Region" with over 130 km of groomed slopes.
Trails designed for intermediate skiers and beginner snowboarders. The length of simple trails is 57 km, slopes of medium difficulty - 50 km, and difficult ones - 31 km. Almost all trails start at the summit of the Schmittenhohe (2000 m).
Prices... A two-day ski pass costs 105.5 € for an adult and 47.5 € for a child. Renting a set for alpine skiing and snowboarding for 1 day costs 24-37 € for an adult and 12-15 € for a child. Ski boots rental - 8 €, helmet - 1-2 €.
Testimonials... The main advantages of the resort are a large number of ski schools, an abundance of nightlife and holiday shows. Vacationers like that routes of different difficulty levels are isolated from each other. Zell am See is ranked among the best ski resorts in Austria for children. There are many kindergartens and schools for teaching the basics of alpine skiing. A one-day lesson with meals and an animator for young skiers from 2 years old costs 70-85 €.
Piste map in Zell am See (big size)
Travel tips and reviews
Visitors to Austrian winter recreation centers celebrate a lot pluses:
- Almost all ski resorts in Austria are good for both beginners and professionals.
- Everywhere a system of artificial snowmaking is thought out.
- Tourists love that in any resort you can go cross-country skiing, paragliding and hang-gliding, swimming in the pools and go ice skating and sledding.
Advice those who have already vacationed in Austria in winter:
- Don't be intimidated by high prices. In any Austrian resort, apart from luxury hotels, there are budget apartments.
- If you want to learn how to ski from scratch or regain lost skills, take training in a professional ski school.
- The further and higher the lift is, the less likely there will be a queue near it.
- Choose your ride time! There are noticeably fewer people on the slopes in the afternoon.
