Thinking about hitting the slopes this winter? Whether you like to snowboard or ski, Austria’s alpine landscape is a favourite for anyone that appreciates après and is even perfect for first-timers.
When it comes to Austrian ski resorts, there are plenty of great destinations to enjoy the season from December to April. These months are the ideal time for an Austrian ski holiday so you may want to plan your trip to line up with ideal local conditions.
You may even want to visit in December as local Christmas markets make a memorable and charming way to spend your time when you’ve got your skis off! So to start dreaming of your next snowy trip – here are our pick of the best ski resorts In Austria for each skill level.
Mayrhofen (All Levels)
First up among our pick of the best places to ski in Europe is known for a peak that isn’t for the faint-hearted. Nicknamed Harakiri, a ride down here is definitely for thrill seekers so if you want to raise pulses on your Austrian ski trip it could be the destination for you.
Onsite you’ll find 142km worth of pistes and ski routes and the top altitude is an incredible 2500 metres! For anyone hoping to ease into their snowy adventure, you can rest assured there are also warm-up slopes and a family park area.
With plenty of ski lifts to get around this resort, it’s a great place to get your first taste of the Austrian skiing experience. Be sure to make a stop at The White Lounge – this blend of igloo village and a cosy bar is the perfect place to unwind after a long day on the slopes!
Zell Am See (All Levels)
Just south of Salzburg, our next snowy stop spans an incredible 408km of perfect pistes! This destination with three slopes is ideal for beginners and intermediates.
If this is your first time taking a winter skiing holiday, this could be the ideal place to start. Along with the main attractions in the snow, you can also count on cosy spots to eat and huts to stop off in for evening entertainment.
Remember that for any trip to enjoy some of the best ski resorts in Austria, you can bring your car onboard with P&O. This makes winter skiing holidays a whole lot easier as you can pack all the equipment you might need.
Alpbach (Beginner/Intermediate Level)
Looking for a picture-perfect ski holiday to Austria? Alpbach is a stunning town that was voted the nation’s most beautiful village so you can count on stunning snowy landscapes that you won’t forget any time soon. Part of this town’s charm is thanks to tight rules on the local architecture that has preserved a traditional Austrian look.
For cross-country experiences, this has to be one of the best Austrian ski resorts for beginners as you can enjoy over 20km of flat trails. Along with more exciting slopes from the resort’s three lifts, you can also enjoy a whole range of other activities like tobogganing and paragliding!
Söll and the SkiWelt (Intermediate Level)
Our next pick for ski trips to Austria is a wonderland for anyone that loves snow sports as you can explore a massive 284km worth of linked slopes. This one’s best suited to intermediate skiers as it doesn’t have some of the extremely long and steep runs you can expect at Mayrhofen and other slopes.
With as many as ninety lifts taking you back up the peaks to try and conquer some of the best skiing in Austria, you’ll be sure to make it all over the mountain in no time. For the moments you spend off the slope you can also count on the seventy ski huts, restaurants and après bars for some quality downtime!
St Anton (Expert Level)
Our final pick of the best places to ski in Austria has recently been linked with a staggering 306km of slopes that are part of the Ski Alberg range! Linking these areas together means you can easily navigate from the resort town of St Anton to nearby pistes with ease.
As a much loved Austrian ski resort, St Anton wouldn’t be complete without some brilliant bars and snow sports fans flock to Moosewirt and Krazy Kangaruh in huge numbers.
You should note that if this is your first ski trip, you might the learning curve steep and a lot of pistes can often get uncomfortably crowded. Of course, you may be a long-time lover of the slopes and looking for some of the best skiing in Austria combined with awesome entertainment.
With this rundown of some of the most beloved ski destinations in Austria, you can start dreaming of your next trip to one of the best places in the world for snow sports!
