THE BIGGEST AND BEST GLACIER SKIING IN EUROPE
Austria – Europe’s Meeting Place
Ski holiday resorts cling to almost every mountain west of Salzburg and the passion for skiing is unmatched anywhere. Ski holiday resorts are almost always immaculate and charming and this country is king of the hill for après ski. Best of all, value for money in Austrian ski holiday resorts is as good as it gets in the Alps. Ski deals still mean quality – the locals would accept nothing less and they ski and stay and drink!
Austria has an abundance of cultural treasures that is immeasurable but not incomprehensible. This includes its “high culture”, of course, but also its everyday culture and the special lifestyle of the people who live here, the culinary specialties that serve as the landmarks, and the encounters visitors have with the incomparable people of our country.
SKI RESORTS IN AUSTRIA
Bad Gastein
The Gastein valley isn’t widely known internationally. It deserves better: its slopes are impressively extensive, and mainly quite challenging – great for intermediates who are happy on real red runs.
Innsbruck
A cultured city center with a range of Olympic ski and snowboarding resorts. There are many interesting museums around Innsbruck, such as the Innsbruck Cultural Museum, the Historical Museum, and nearby castles and other historical sites to visit. Regularly scheduled sightseeing buses run to Salzburg, Munich, and the zany, Disney-esque Bavarian Castle of Mad King Ludwig.
Ischgl
Pretty, lively towns with snowsure slopes and great amenities.
Ischgl is changing fast. It is a strange mixture of a pretty, traditional Tyrolean village, pricey, upmarket hotels and drunken, bawdy après-ski, dominated by German and Scandinavian males.
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel is an impressive name to drop in the pub. Every Ski Sunday viewer knows that the Hahnenkamm racecourse is the most challenging on the World Cup circuit, helping the resort to cultivate a reputation as a rather special place.
Lech
Lech and its higher neighbor Zürs are the most glamorous and expensive resorts in Austria. Their shared slopes could easily be linked with those of St.Anton. However, that would mean that their rich and royal visitors would have to mingle with hoi polloi from the equally famous but less exclusive neighbor.
Mayrhofen
While many young or youngish visitors like it for its lively nightlife, it's also an excellent family resort, with highly regarded kindergartens and a fun pool with special children's area. Fortunately, the liveliest of the nightlife is confined to a few very popular places, easily avoided by families in such a large village.
Neustift Stubai
Great skiing, lively nightlife and family amenities – a British favorite. From gentle runs for beginners and families, to challenging moguls, to heart pounding double black diamond runs, Stubai Glacier has everything you need for a great day of skiing or riding no matter what your ability.
Obergurgl
Charming villages and high, snowsure slopes with loyal clientele.
The two resorts have high, snow sure, easy intermediate slopes, end-of-the-valley seclusion and civilized atmosphere, lively tea-time après-ski and comfortable, expensive hotels. There aren't many beds, so you need to book early to avoid disappointment.
Obertauern
Obertauern has developed an international reputation for being one of the finest skiing destinations in Europe. And while this Austrian hotspot suits all levels of skiers, many visitors often comment that Obertauern is perhaps at its peak with intermediate skiers.
Salzburg
A winter vacation in Salzburg is more than a ski vacation. This picturesque old city offers an extraordinary cultural experience and serves as a fantastic base for skiing more than 100 resorts throughout “Land Salzburg".
St Anton
St Anton am Arlberg is a holiday region with a worldwide reputation, and rightfully so.
Unlimited possibilities in fresh winter air of St. Anton am Arlberg
Schladming Rohrmoos
Schladming’s slogan is Gemütlichkeit. The Magic of the Mountains. In Austrian, Gemütlichkeit means coziness. The town features two mountains: Planai (1,894 meters/6,213 feet) and Hochwurzen (1,850 meters/6,069 feet)
Sölden
Extensive snowsure intermediate slopes with throbbing nightlife.
Sölden has invested massively in new lifts to link its home slopes, which suit adventurous intermediates best, with snow sure runs on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers.
Söll
Söll has long been popular with groups of beginners and intermediates. Its pretty scenery, gentle slopes, small attractive traditional village, good-value accommodation and lively nightlife attract a mixture of young singles looking for a fun time and families looking for a quiet time.
Zell am See
Zell am See is an unusual resort – not a rustic village like most of its small Austrian competitors, but a lakeside town with a charming old center that seems more geared to summer than winter visitors. It’s a pleasant place, and – since a tunnel now takes through traffic to Schüttdorf – less plagued by traffic
Zürs
Zürs is best suited for intermediate skiers and snowboarders
Ten minutes’ drive towards St. Anton from Lech, Zürs is almost on the Flexen Pass, with good snow virtually guaranteed.
Seefeld
Enjoy nature, holiday, sports activities or simply relax. Seefeld in Tyrol offers an unforgettable destination holiday. Seefeld in Tirol is one of the most delightful regions in the Tirolean Alps where everything is done to make holidaymakers feel welcome.