Whilst there are many outstanding destinations around the world for winter sports, few can match the charm, facilities, and snow quality found in Austria. The heavily mountainous nation has a proud ski heritage that is deeply woven into its identity and has been a global leader in the ski world for more than a century.
Austria boasts incredible mountain slopes for both on and off-piste skiing, some of the most advanced lift systems in the world, and wonderful hospitality that has become ingrained in the country’s ski culture. The following resorts and ski areas are not only the best that Austria has to offer, but ones that consistently rank among the best in the world.
Ischgl
Stretching across the Austrian-Swiss border, Ischgl sits within the Silvretta Arena, offering skiers roughly 239km of pristine pistes to glide on. The piste map comprises a mix of wide running red runs, lazy blues, and several heart-pounding, fast black runs. One of the resort's signature runs is the descent from the summit of Mount Greitspitz back to the village. At a length of 11km, it is a favourite for seasoned skiers who want to maximise their skiing experience. The lift infrastructure is exemplary, with high-capacity gondolas – including the famous double-decker Twinliner that brings skiers back from the long run down to Samnaun in Switzerland – and heated chairlifts with retractable canopies to stave off the winter chill.
Located just over an hour from Innsbruck airport, Ischgl is very much a modern ski resort with impressive local infrastructure, including an expansive above and below ground lift and escalator network to ease travel off the slopes. Accommodation options range from exquisite private apartments and chalets to the opulence of landmark resort hotels such as the Trofana Royal and Schlosshotel Ischgl. Both properties offer exceptional spa facilities, complete with saunas, steam grottos, indoor pools, and lounges to relieve the ache from a long day on the slopes.
St. Anton am Arlberg
The Arlberg is Austria’s largest ski area with more than 500 km of tracked pistes and marked off-piste routes. It is renowned for its challenging, steep black runs, long powder descents, and exhilarating hidden gullies like the Valluga Nord, which are suited to only the most advanced skiers. But with so much ski area available, enthusiasts of all abilities continue to flock to the town of St. Anton thanks to its abundance of favourable snowfall throughout the year, its sheer size, and the insatiable Apres Ski scene.
The Galzigbahn and Gampenbahn gondolas rise directly from the village, while the Flexenbahn lift links St. Anton to Lech, Zürs, and beyond, creating an almost boundless ski domain which is the envy of many resorts around the world. The town is the best-connected resort in Austria, sitting on a main railway line with direct international trains, and just under a ninety-minute drive from Innsbruck, allowing for quick and convenient travel from almost any destination to one of Europe’s greatest ski areas.
Flachau
Part of the expansive Snow Space Salzburg – which is now connected via a modernised lift system to nearby Wagrain and Sankt Johann Alpendorf, as well as Zauchensee – Flachau is one of the most heavily modernised resorts in Austria. Visitors can access over 210km of pistes only half an hour away from the city centre of Salzburg with the Star and Achter Jet chairlifts from the village centre, running fast, six and eight-person lifts that get skiers to the slopes in record time. An ideal area for all abilities, skiers can enjoy the many comfortable blues, wide-piste reds, and choice speed runs like the Hermann Maier World Cup course, to push themselves to the limit.
Boasting a state-of-the-art artificial snow system which ensures reliability throughout most of the season, skiers can expect the area to remain open without interruption, despite whatever plans the weather might have. Salzburg Airport is just 50 minutes away, making it possible for visitors to arrive on the tarmac in the morning and be out skiing by lunch. In resort, hotels such as the Schlosshotel Lacknerhof are a delight for spa-lovers, offering thermal pools, indoor and outdoor steam rooms, and sauna experiences that are ideal for embracing the fresh, rejuvenating alpine climate.
Sölden
Sölden is one of Austria’s highest and most reliable resorts for snowfall, with a season that stretches from October to May thanks to its two glaciers that boast pistes reaching as high as 3,340m. The BIG 3 Rallye route links the resort’s three highest peaks through a fast and efficient lift system, easily allowing visitors to cover 50km of piste in one day. The Giggijochbahn alone moves 4,500 skiers per hour, while the Gaislachkoglbahn gives direct access to the resort’s highest slopes, including access to the legendary Ski World Cup course and the notorious Piste 31 super-steep black run.
Close to the border of Italy (regrettably inaccessible due to the valley being closed off during winter), the closest airport to the resort is Innsbruck, reachable in about an hour and a half by car. On the way from the airport sits Längenfeld, home to the Aqua Dome – a vast thermal spa complex with stunning views of the glaciers and waterfalls – and a copious selection of thermal outdoor pools to relax in. Sölden also has a rather unique addition in the form of the 007 Elements installation atop Gaislachkogl – an interactive James Bond museum at the filming location for one of the franchise’s more recent films, Spectre – a must-visit when taking a break from the slopes.
Zillertal (Mayrhofen & Hintertux)
The Zillertal valley comprises a ski area of over 500km, connected across multiple resorts by an incredibly efficient bus and rail system. Mayrhofen serves as the central hub for the wider area, with easy access to the Penken and Ahorn ski domains, offering steep blacks like the infamous Harakiri run (Austria’s steepest groomed slope at a terrifying gradient of 78%), as well as plenty of long, cruise worthy reds, and beginner-friendly slopes. Whilst snowfall can vary greatly across the area due to its vast size, for guaranteed snow, the Hintertux Glacier is open 365 days a year and is just 40 minutes away by road, offering wide, open slopes at a height of up to 3,250m.
The Zillertalbahn train line runs through the valley and connects with the national rail network at Jenbach, with connections to Innsbruck and Salzburg taking just over an hour by both rail and road. Mayrhofen is famous for its hospitality and nightlife, with standout accommodations such as the Elisabeth Hotel and Hotel Neue Post offering adult-oriented spa breaks, whilst The White Lounge Igloo Hotel on Ahorn Plateau offers one-night stays in a purpose-built suite made entirely of ice. The international music festival, “Snowbombing”, has been running on the slopes of the town for 25 years, drawing some of the biggest EDM artists in the world to its frosty stage every year.
