How to get to ski resorts in Austria
Austria in winter is one of the most popular countries in Europe for ski tourism. Skiing traditions have been developing here for a long time, so at Austrian resorts you can find developed infrastructure, high-quality pistes, various routes, a large number of lifts, as well as opportunities for off-piste skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, etc.
It is most convenient to get to the ski resorts of Austria through Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich. These are the cities closest to the resorts, which have international arrival airports. You can get to the desired resort from the airports by public transport or a taxi/transfer, and you can also rent a car at any of the listed airports.
Group shuttles run from Innsbruck and Salzburg (rarely from Munich) to some ski resorts in Austria in the winter. For example, you can go to the resorts of Sölden or Ischgl by minibus of the Otztaler carrier. But most often, tourists get there either by public transport (train + bus) or order an individual transfer. The second option is better if you bring equipment with you or arrive at night, when public transport is no longer available. Transfer booking services:
Kiwitaxi.ru – a system for ordering taxi transfers from airports, train stations and hotels around the world;
Intui.Travel is a self-booking system for tourist transfers to/from hotels via the Internet.
As for public transport, get to the resorts using the following actions:
There is a direct train from Innsbruck to Seefeld ;
Sölden can be reached by train to Etzal, then by bus directly to the resort . This option is valid from Innsbruck;
You can get to Ischgl by train to Landeck-Zams, then by bus to the resort itself. This way you can get from Innsbruck and from Munich;
Kitzbühel can be reached directly by train from Salzburg or Innsbruck . From Munich, a transfer is required in the town of Wörgl;
Mayrhofen can be reached by train to Jenbach, then change to another train or bus directly to Mayrhofen . The method is valid for departures from Innsbruck and Munich;
You can get to Zell am See by direct train from Salzburg, or with a change in Wörgl from Munich;
There are direct high-speed trains from Salzburg and Munich to Bad Gastein ;
You can get to Hinterglemm only with a transfer. From Salzburg or Munich, you first need to get to Zell am See, and from there get on a regular bus directly to the resort.
Ski slopes in Sölden
Which ski resort in Austria to choose
Ski resorts in Austria are very diverse, and each resort has its own characteristics. Some resorts are more suitable for beginners, others, on the contrary, for experienced and advanced skaters. The infrastructure also differs from resort to resort, it is influenced by many factors, including the difference in climatic conditions. The ski season at different resorts is different, depending on the presence of snow cover, somewhere it falls earlier, somewhere later. The same is true in spring – somewhere it melts faster, and somewhere even summer skiing is possible. Read more about the features of each resort below.
Seefeld is a resort located between the mountain peaks of Gschwandtkopf and Rosshütte, the maximum height of which is 2101 m. The resort is more suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers, because the mountains here are relatively low and the slopes do not have steep turns. Seefeld also has a fan park with a half pipe and cross-country skiing tracks. You can relax after skiing in Seefeld in the Alpenpark thermal complex and in the Olympia Sport pool. Restaurants, cafes and even a casino are also part of the resort. In summer, the place is perfect for hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and other active activities. More about Seefeld-> ;
Sölden , as a resort, can offer vacationers a whole range of opportunities. In the vicinity of the resort there are three trbokhthiashnika, which provides Sölden with a long skiing season, 100% availability of snow cover and tracks of various levels of difficulty. The total length of tracks here is about 150 km. For snowboarders, there is a half-pipe and two fan parks. The resort serves 34 lifts. You can relax after a busy day in Zbolden in the Aquadim thermal complex and in the Freizeit Arena recreation complex. If you wish, you can try other extreme sports in Sölden. More about Sölden-> ;
Winter vacation in Sölden
Ischgl has a record total length of tracks – about 240 km. At the same time, the tracks have different levels of difficulty and are suitable for skiing, both for beginner skiers and for skiers of a higher level, including professionals. Ischgl is one of the top five equipped resorts for snowboarding, there is a fan park and a half pipe. And Ischgl is the Austrian center of freeride, the resort has unique opportunities for off-piste skiing. In addition to active recreation, Ischgl is famous for its nightlife and various entertainment, including spa complexes, swimming pools, restaurants, bowling and much more. More about Ischgl-> ;
Kitzbühel is a resort with history, in fact it is considered one of the first ski resorts in Austria . Kitzbühel can boast of its developed infrastructure and traditions. The tracks here are suitable for different levels of skiing, in total there are about 60 different tracks at the resort. In addition, there is a fan park in Kitzbühel, there are 2 half-pipes, cross-country skiing tracks. The resort has a water park, which, in fact, is a multifunctional health complex with various possibilities. Favorite Kitzbühel and all fans of fine cuisine, shopping and other similar entertainment. In summer, you can go rafting, canyoning, paragliding, and play golf in Kitzbühel. More about Kitzbühel-> ;
Ischgl
Mayrhofen is considered one of the largest and most developed ski resorts in Austria. The total length of the tracks in the resort is almost 140 km, skiers are served by no less than 60 lifts, there are great opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and off-piste skiing. You can relax in the local water center, and then try your hand at the ice rink, snowshoes and snowmobiles, master mountaineering and other extreme sports. In the summer, there is no less entertainment in Mayrhofen, the resort has all the conditions for active pastime. More about Mayrhofen-> ;
Zell am See is a year-round resort. In winter, the main component here is skiing, and in summer – water activities in the local lake. Despite the small size of the resort, there is everything you need for skiing here: ski tracks of various levels of difficulty, a fan park, a half pipe, and toboggan tracks. The resort serves 23 lifts. You can relax here in the spa center, which offers a full range of spa services. In the summer, there is no less entertainment at the resort, almost all of them are connected to the local Zeller Lake. ;
Lifts in Kaprun
Kaprun can boast of a record length of tracks – almost 140 km, while the level of the tracks here varies from the easiest to black. In addition, there are 3 snowboard parks, toboggan runs, a half pipe, as well as unique opportunities for cross-country skiing and freestyle skiing. The highlight of the resort is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, which is open for skiing even in summer. For relaxation, the “Optimum” health center and several spa complexes are open here. In the summer, Kaprun also invites guests and offers them to try, in addition to traditional hiking, also real extreme – paragliding, rock climbing, mountaineering, canyoning. More about Kaprun-> ;
Bad Gastein is both a ski resort and a thermal spa. A record 220 km of trails of various levels of difficulty are open to roller skaters. The resort serves more than 50 lifts, there is a snow park, several half-pipes, great opportunities for freeride, toboggan runs. In addition, thermal complexes with radon waters and salt rooms are popular at the resort. More about Bad Gastein-> ;
Kaprun
St. Wolfgang is the “gateway” to the Postalm ski valley. The valley is famous for its skiing and cross-country trails, in addition, there is also an illuminated sledding track. The resort has a ski school where beginners can learn the basics of skiing. In St. Wolfgang itself, you can relax in the thermal complex, which offers many different spa treatments. In the summertime, St. Wolfgang attracts tourists with the presence of a lake and the opportunity to try water activities such as diving, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming and fishing. More about St. Wolfgang-> ;
Hinterglemm is one of the popular resorts in the Glemmtal valley. The total length of the tracks here is almost 200 km, which makes the resort very popular among vacationers with different levels of skiing. There are more than 50 ski lifts, 9 ski schools, 3 snow parks, a fan park, springboards, and a half pipe. Hinterglemm is considered a snowboard-friendly resort. You can relax in Hinterglemm at the ice rink, in the swimming pool, on the tennis courts or in the sauna. In addition, Hinterglemm has a very developed evening life – restaurants, bars and discos until the morning. More about Hinterglemm-> .
Winter panorama of Hinterglemm
Skiing at any of the resorts can also always be diluted with interesting excursion trips. So, for example, Salzburg is the most popular for one-day trips. Quite a lot of historical monuments have been preserved in Salzburg, in particular, the main square of the city, the Residenzplatz, the Cathedral, the fortress located at the highest point of the city, the Mirabel Palace, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Mozart’s house, the Capuchinerberg mountain and much more are of interest.
Trips to Innsbruck are no less popular. You can also find quite a few interesting places and sights here. Special attention of tourists in Innsbruck is attracted by the central street of Maria Theresa and the Golden Roof, the Hofburg Palace, the Ambras Castle and, of course, the famous Nordkette cable car.
In general, we can say that Austria is one of the best destinations for skiing in Europe. The infrastructure of local resorts is developed at a high level, and a beginner, a skater with an average level of training, and a self-confident pro will be able to try their hand at skating.
Panorama of Innsbruck