Ski in Austria
When you think about skiing in Europe the first thing that might come to mind is Switzerland and the Swiss Alps, of course. But the Austrian Alps can also offer you an amazing ski experience! God blessed Austria’s Alps with a long and lavish snow season. In the winter, Austria is a winter wonderland with ski resorts, cozy picturesque villages, and adventures galore. Whether you’re a skier perfecting your glides or a snowboarder looking to twist some turns in freshly fallen snow, you’ll find everything you need!
Is it expensive to ski in Austria?
A ski holiday in Austria is usually much more affordable than one in Switzerland or France! If you choose the right place to go skiing in Austria, you’ll be traveling on a budget. Access to tons of ski areas, easy access to the lifts, cozy village accommodation and traditional food! So you get a lot of bang for your buck in Austria that isn’t quite as commercialized as the other popular skiing destinations both in Europe and around the world.
Cozy winter holidays in Austria
The Austrian notion of “Gemütlichkeit” is hard to explain. So special and unique to this country, it embodies coziness, comfort and homeliness. It’s difficult to translate this word to English. You’ll find lashings of this during your winter skiing adventure. Cozy rustic huts invite you to while away the hours nursing a hot spicy Glühwein or schnapps in front of a crackling log fire surrounded by friendly locals. The service excellence and hospitality that you encounter all over the country will leave you with a warm glow even in the cold winter weather.
Most accommodation in Austria is good quality, family-run hotels on a half-board basis, meaning course after course of hardy mountain food. Wellness is a big part of Austrian life! That’s why you can usually expect a SPA or at least a sauna and steam room.
How to prepare for skiing in Austria?
Many of the people skiing in Austria will be bringing their own equipment, but if you don’t have any don’t fret! You can easily rent your ski gear at your resort. Moreover friendly staff will help you find the perfect fit for your size and abilities.
Lastly, you should know what types of skiing are available and what other activities you’ll want to do. The resorts offer marked pistes in three levels of difficulty: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. There’s also cross-country skiing, tobogganing, ski tours, off-piste skiing, free-riding areas, snow parks, and even night skiing. Nail down your preferences and explore the activities different resorts have available in order to have your best possible ski holiday in Austria.
With all these options available and so many different ski resorts, which ones are the best ski resorts in Austria?
Best ski resorts in Austria
Alpbach is one of Austria’s most picturesque villages – a traditional winter wonderland. The sweeping ski slopes of the Alpbach area are among the most attractive in the Alps. And there’s relaxed après ski with a friendly atmosphere in the charming village center. The Alpbach and Niederau (Wildschönau) ski areas have been linked to create the aptly named Ski Juwel, with a combined 145 km of piste. And there you can find traditional Tyrolean restaurants and mountain huts, with lots of delicious local products to sample.
The largest ski resort in Ötz valley, Sölden is one you won’t want to miss. Linked to two glaciers reaching a high altitude of 3250 meters above sea level, this resort is a favorite for almost year-round snow-sure skiing in Austria. You may know it as the setting of the 2015 James Bond film “Spectre”. This resort has a pretty energetic après-ski scene. That’s why there’s plenty to do once you’re off the slopes as well!
The small village of Galtür is quieter than neighbouring Ischgl. And it has a cozy Tyrolean atmosphere with fantastic facilities for families. Galtür’s Silvapark ski area is just a 5-minute bus ride from the village. It offers 40 km of pistes and dedicated areas for children, teenagers, off-piste and free-riding as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter walking.
Considered one of Europe’s best resorts for its serious slopes and epic, challenging landscapes, St. Anton am Arlberg attracts throngs of advanced skiers to its mountainous terrains every year. The runs range from demanding to devilish. Therefore it is an area only appropriate for confident skiers and snowboarders. However you’ll be able to find some friendlier slopes a few miles away in the towns of Lech and Zürs.
Have never tried skiing before?
In Austria, there are world-class ski schools for all levels with ski instructors from all over the world. Most ski schools have at least one English-speaking instructor so you don’t even need to be able to speak German to attend. The ski schools of St. Anton am Arlberg look back on a long tradition, with the first school there being established in 1921, and Kitzbühel was the first place in Austria to introduce ski instruction, with prestigious schools such as the Rote Teufel (‘Red Devils’). Runs for every level skier are available on Austria’s slopes, giving you ample opportunity to practice your newly learned moves and techniques.
Skiing in Austria is quite the experience, as you can see: stunning views, legendary slopes for all types of skiers, and a traditional and authentic European ski holiday.
So what are you waiting for?
Remember that this time of year is when the popular winter holiday periods start to get booked up, so if you are planning to go skiing after Christmas or New Year then now is the time to check what is available in your favorite ski resort. Jerulita team is ready to help you to organize best winter holidays! Get ready to ski Austria this winter!
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