Austria
Ski Holidays
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Austria ski holidays are known as one of the best (and one of the friendliest) in the world.
From Alpbach's beginner-friendly slopes to the near-vertical faces of St Anton, skiers of all abilities will revel in this true winter wonderland.
Why choose to go skiing in Austria?
- Heaps of resorts for all abilities
- Ample snow-sure glacier skiing on offer
- World-renowned après-ski
With lofty peaks and glaciers galore, there's plenty of great snow on an Austria ski holiday. Play around on snow tubes with the kids, experience the warm hospitality, and, if savouring fine food is more your thing, have your choice of swanky restaurants.
From the beginner-friendly slopes of Zell am See, to the near-vertical faces of St Anton, skiers of all abilities will revel in this picturesque wonderland. For a big ski experience, hit up Mayrhofen and its huge vast of terrain - it’s arguably one of the best places to ski in Austria. Or head to Kitzbühel, another firm favourite, and be won over by its traditional charm.
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KEY INFORMATION
Good to Know
Currency
Euro
Language
German
Travel Time (APPROX)
2 hours
Gatwick
Timezone
GMT+2
Austria Ski Areas
Zillertal ski area
- Total piste KM: 544
- Snow range: 580m - 3,250m
- Closest airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)
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SkiWelt ski area
- Total piste KM: 275
- Snow range: 620m - 1,869m
- Closest airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)
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Ski Arlberg ski area
- Total piste KM: 305
- Snow range: 1,304m - 2,811m
- Closest airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)
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Ski Juwel ski area
Blending Tyrolean charm and laid-back, pow-packed pistes in Alpbach, Niederau-Wildschönau, and Oberau-Wildschönau.
- Total piste KM: 98
- Snow range: 830m - 2,030m
- Closest airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)
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KitzSki ski area
Historic charm, miles of varied terrain, includes resorts such as Kirchberg in Tirol, Kitzbühel, and Jochberg.
- Total piste KM: 118
- Snow range: 800m - 2,000m
- Closest airport: Salzburg Airport (SZG)
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Where are the best family ski holidays in Austria?
- Niederau-Wildschonau is one of Austria’s best family ski holidays, housing heaps of gentle runs and ski schools on the vast slopes of the Ski Juwel region
- Saalbach's miles of perfectly groomed beginner-friendly pistes, modern lift systems, and excellent snowmaking systems make it a super popular choice with young families, especially with first-timers in tow.
- Zell am See is ideal for teens, with heaps of beginner and intermediate runs, as well as an excellent terrain park featuring half pipes, jumps and rails.
- Obergurgl is ideal for Christmas family holidays in Austria and Easter family holidays in Austria, promising snowy high-altitude slopes and quiet runs.
Where are the best group ski trips in Austria?
- Saalbach, Mayrhofen, and Kaprun are the perfect Austria group ski holidays. Come here for fun party vibes and plenty of cruisy pistes ideal for intermediate skiers, as well as deep off-piste powder and snowparks for experts.
- St Anton is ideal for experienced Austria group ski holidays, especially if you want to let your hair down with legendary aprés, and a whopping 303km of pistes.
- Zell am See is fab for group skiing in Austria. From here, you can access one of the largest ski regions in Austria, the Saalbach-Hinterglemm Skicircus.
- Group ski weekend in Austria? Look no further than Seefeld, packed with plenty of quiet, laid-back beginner pistes all just 20mins from Innsbruck airport.
Austria ski holidays
Your questions answered by our Austria ski holiday expert
Lucy Baillie
When is the best time to ski in Austria?
January is the best month to ski in Austria. It’s the coldest time of the year, but that means the snow conditions will usually be at their best. Austria’s ski season starts early and ends late, thanks to some high-altitude and glacial resorts such as Obergurgl and Kaprun.
Are Austria ski resorts snow-sure?
What’s is Austria's largest ski resort?
Ski Arlberg is Austria’s largest ski area, linking the resorts of St. Anton, Lech-Zurs, Warth-Schrocken and more, with over 300km of pistes and over 85 lifts.
Is Austria skiing good for beginners?
What are the best ski holidays in Austria for beginners?
- Seefeld is quiet, with shedloads of gentle terrain perfect for first-time skiers.
- At the same time, jaw-dropping valley views await at the friendly resort of Alpbach, alongside plenty of cruisy blue runs.
- Kaprun is also surging in popularity with beginner skiers, with gentle nursery slopes, a sweet mix of quiet blue runs, and even an excellent family area.
What are the best ski resorts in Austria for advanced and off-piste skiers?
- Mayrhofen’s catalogue of black runs is a smorgasbord of insane gradients and technical trails perfect for experts. It's filled to the brim with thigh-burning terrain, including Austria’s steepest piste, the ‘Harakiri’, and its mind-blowing 78% gradient.
- St Anton is another of Austria’s best ski holidays for advanced skiers. The bravest here can tackle the world-famous ‘Kandahar’ piste or any of its 200km of marked powder runs.
- Ischgl is excellent for advanced skiers; we rate it 10/10! And with altitudes of over 2000 metres, this is one of Austria's most snow-sure ski holidays too.
Steep descents, narrow chutes and deep powder, off-piste skiing in Austria is as good as it gets:
- Venture off the beaten track in Mayrhofen, where most off-piste runs are accessible from the main ski lifts.
- Shred the colossal backcountry playground of Zillertal (such as Zell am Ziller) with over 300km of unpisted terrain.
- For virgin powder and quiet off-piste descents, Fieberbrunn provides an irresistible entrée to some of Austria’s best off-piste skiing. It's a stop on the Freeride World Tour, no less!
- Shred the colossal powder playground of Kaltenbach’s backcountry, with over 300km of unpisted terrain for lovers of freeride skiing.
What are the best high-altitude ski holidays in Austria?
Austria has many high-altitude ski holidays, so it is pretty reliable for snow throughout the season:
- Austria's highest ski resort, Pitztal is perfect for some epic off-piste action as early as September. You can also zip up the lifts to explore its highest piste at 3,440m (making it one of the highest ski areas in Europe).
- Solden's powder is often plentiful on its 'Big 3' mountain peaks, another of Austria’s high-altitude ski resorts.
- Dare to drop in on Kaprun's Black Mamba on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. With descents up to 63%, it's one of the steepest runs in Austria.
What are the best holidays for snowboarders in Austria?
- Ischgl is perfect for snowboarders seeking big, open groomers, with a vibrant party atmosphere that welcomes you with open arms.
- Another of Austria’s top holiday destinations for snowboarders is Mayrhofen. With one of the top freestyle snowparks in Europe, it’s no wonder pros from across the world visit here to compete. And if you love the apres-ski or a party in the snow, make sure to check out Snowbombing or the Altitude comedy festival.
- A group snowboard trip to Saalbach is always a great choice. It offers mellow terrain for beginner snowboarders learning the ropes. While advanced snowboarders can carve hard on the heaps of technical terrain.
What are the best ski holidays in Austria for ski weekends or short breaks?
- Söll and Ellmau are ideal for short ski break or weekend trip, with quick transfers and maximum slope time (one hour from Innsbruck and 90 minutes from Munich).
- Lech allows you to combine a ski weekend with relaxed, immaculately groomed runs and chic hotels.
- Zell am See ski weekends are ideal for group ski trips, with slopes for all abilities.
- Igls and Seefeld take the cake for beginners and families, being a mere 30 minutes from Innsbruck Airport
Where do you fly to ski in Austria?
Salzburg Airport and Innsbruck Airport are among the most convenient airports for exploring the Austrian Alps, offering access to the Salzburg and Tyrol ski areas. Fly to either of these for speedy resort transfers ideal for ski weekends and short breaks.
What are the most popular ski resorts in Austria?
Here are just some of our top ski resorts. To find the perfect one for you, speak to one of our specialists.
Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen is a traditional Austrian village with some of the liveliest apres-ski in Austria. The piste is reached by gondola and offers diverse and challenging skiing and boarding. There is also an easy bus link to the Hintertux Glacier skiing.
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Zell am See
Zell am See is a picturesque, lively village with a car-free centre overlooking Lake Zell and the vast mountain scenery. The ski area is split in two; Zell am See - Kaprun, and although not connected by piste, the resort offers a free shuttle bus service connecting them.
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Saalbach
Saalbach is known for its lively atmosphere and Austrian charm. The skiing is great for all abilities and an excellent lift system connects Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn (skicircus), making it one of Austria's largest ski areas.
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St Anton
St Anton’s reputation is down to much more than its vibrant après scene. With its onion-domed churches, traditional chalets and fresco-painted buildings, it’s the quintessential Austrian resort. It’s also part of the country’s largest linked ski area, the Arlberg, which packs 305km of pistes, mostly in the intermediate range.
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Kitzbuhel
Kitzbühel is a renowned Austrian resort known for its picturesque appeal, luxury hotels, and the iconic Hahnenkamm downhill race, which transforms the town into a lively party hub. With 230km of slopes, including the famous Streif, and two terrain parks, it offers diverse skiing opportunities.
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All ski resorts in Austria
AchenkirchAlpbachAuffach-WildschonauAxamer LizumBad GasteinBad HofgasteinBad KleinkirchheimBerwangBiberwierBrambergBrandnertalBrixen im ThaleDachstein WestDamulsDientenDorfgasteinEhrwaldEllmauFieberbrunnFilzmoosFinkenbergFissFlachauFugenGalturGerlitzen AlpeGerlos
Going am Wilden KaiserGrossarlHaus Im EnnstalHeiligenblutHinterglemmHippachHochfugenHochgurglHochkrimmlHopfgartenIglsIschglJerzensJochbergKaltenbachKapplKaprunKatschbergKirchbergKitzbuhelKleinarlKleinwalsertalKonigsleitenKuhtaiLadisLech-ZursLeogang
LermoosLoferMaria AlmMatrei in OsttirolMauterndorfMayrhofenMellauMittersillMölltal glacierMuehlbach Am HochkoenigMuttereralmNassfeldNaudersNeukirchenNiederau-WildschonauOberau-WildschonauObergurglOberndorf in TirolObertauernOetzPertisauPitztal GlacierRaurisReith im AlpbachtalSaalbach-HinterglemmScheffau am Wilden KaiserSchladming
Why book a Austria ski holiday with Heidi?
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Blogs about ski holidays in Austria
5 of the best Christmas ski resorts in Austria
France Christmas ski holidays are a no-brainer for those wanting to enjoy some of Europe's best December ski resorts alongside fantastically fun festivities.
Phoebe Hewitt
2 May, 2025
1 min read
5 of the best half term ski resorts in Austria
Snowy high altitudes, warm and welcoming alpine villages, big ski areas, and crisp apple strudels… these are just a few of our favourite things about half term ski breaks in Austria.
Phoebe Hewitt
14 Mar, 2025
1 min read
5 of the best Easter ski resorts in Austria
After high-altitude fun this April? Look no further than an Austria Easter ski holiday. Filled to the brim with wide, laid-back cruisy pistes, incredible family-friendly resorts, and some of the best views in the Alps...
Phoebe Hewitt
18 Feb, 2025
1 min read
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