If you are looking for a picturesque resort with a warmly welcoming atmosphere, you should consider Austrian ski resorts in the first place. In fact, the tourist destinations of this country can be characterized by the high quality of provided services and reasonable prices. Taking into account that French and Swiss ski resorts are way more expensive, numerous tourists prefer to go to Austria to enjoy skiing.
In addition, trail and lift networks linking traditional Alpine villages offer the opportunity to ski to both experienced skiers and beginners. Thus, people aiming to avoid expensive prices and overcrowding can select Austria as an excellent alternative to France, Italy, and Switzerland. In this article, we are going to reveal the 8 best ski destinations in Austria. To find out more about ski pass prices, accommodation options, and how to get to any of these resorts, check out our ultimate guide on HotelFriend.com.
1. Kitzbühel
In order to enjoy ski routes with varying levels of difficulty, tourists should pay attention to Kitzbühel. This lovely town is often compared with Swiss resorts because of its beautiful views and numerous interesting activities. You can easily reach this destination from the surrounding airports of Munich (1,5 hours), Salzburg (1 hour), and Innsbruck (1 hour). Once you arrive at Kitzbühel, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of nearly 160 kilometers of ski routes. In case you are interested in nearby ski spots, use the bus to get to the SkiWelt where you will be able to enjoy 270 kilometers of trails.
2. Lech-Zürs am Arlberg
Lech is known in the entire world, which is why numerous celebrities tend to come here regularly. To satisfy the needs and expectations of VIP tourists, the town is equipped with luxury hotels and restaurants. However, you can also find a variety of budget apartments and cafes there. Zürs is very similar to Courchevel in terms of positive reputation and high quality of provided services. Considering that this ski resort has a huge territory, skiers with different skills will be able to practice there.
3. Mayrhofen
Located between the Penken and Ahorn mountains, this ski spot includes numerous routes of varying difficulties. In fact, the 139km ski area can be used by both expert skiers, as well as beginners and tourists with children. The mix of beautiful views and reasonable prices was the reason why this destination was named the greatest value ski area for the money by one of the European newspapers. Nowadays, Mayrhofen is also very popular among snowboarders, which can be explained by the presence of vast open snowfields and outstanding terrain parks.
4. Sölden
This tourist destination is connected with two glaciers, which is why skiers have the opportunity to practice their skills almost all year around there. In fact, the glaciers reach up to 3,250 meters. Therefore, do not be surprised when you see a skier on the routes of this spot in June. By the way, some scenes from the 2015 James Bond film were filmed in this ski resort. As a result, the number of tourist arrivals has significantly increased in the past several years. Accordingly, if you are looking for a vast terrain with different types of ski routes, pay attention to this destination.
5. Ischgl
The majority of skiers describe this place as the best option for winter vacation, as this resort includes everything that a skier’s heart can desire. For example, 239 kilometers of perfectly groomed slopes combined with 45 cable cars create a great infrastructure in this region. Besides, the high altitude of mountains prolongs the winter season in this area, which is why you will have the opportunity to enjoy skiing or snowboarding even in the spring here.
6. Zell am See
This ski resort is widely known due to breathtaking views of the lake surrounded by trees covered with snow. As a result, skiers often highlight that it is difficult to be concentrated on a certain sport when you can enjoy such a fabulous view. On the one hand, skiers have the opportunity to spend time skiing and snowboarding on the routes of different difficulties. On the other hand, the close proximity of this resort to Salzburg and Schüttdorf is the reason why numerous tourists tend to spend several days in these destinations after visiting Zell am See. Therefore, if you want to combine skiing with excursions to palaces and cathedrals, you should definitely select this tourist destination. You can also visit rackhungry.com and check which winter sports you can try while you are at this beautiful place.
7. Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Tourists aiming to find a high-quality trail network should pay attention to this ski resort. Located near Salzburg, it impresses people with good infrastructure and marvelous views of the surroundings. In spite of the fact that it is lower than other ski resorts, it is not a problem for tourists. In fact, favorable weather conditions with snow and low temperatures make this ski spot tremendously popular among tourists. It is here that they can find approximately 200 kilometers of ski routes served by over 60 lifts. Hence, both experienced skiers and beginners can find the most suitable options for their vacation in this region.
8. Soll
This ski destination used to have the reputation of ‘lads holiday’ due to a variety of options created especially for youth. Nowadays, this spot is widely known as a vacation place for both youth and families with children. In the context of infrastructure, Soll has access to Austria’s biggest linked ski area of 280 kilometers. Therefore, people with varying levels of skills have the opportunity to enjoy skiing in this area. By the way, tourists are able to keep skiing even when the sun sets, as nearly 10 kilometers of routes are included in the greatest night ski area in the country. In the evening, it is recommended to head to the local village where you can plunge into the atmosphere of medieval times and winter a fairy tale.
Even though Europe provides numerous options for skiing in different countries, Austrian ski areas are considered one of the best. It can be explained by the combination of cute alpine villages, breathtaking views, well-developed infrastructure, and friendly hosts.
