Austria in winter is one of the most popular countries in Europe for ski tourism. The traditions of skiing have been developing here for a very long time, so at Austrian resorts you can find developed infrastructure, high-quality slope coverage, various routes, a large number of lifts, as well as opportunities for off-piste skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, etc.

The most convenient way to get to the ski resorts of Austria is through Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich. These are the closest cities to the resorts, which have international airports of arrival. From the airports you can get to the desired resort by public transport or taxi / transfer, and you can also rent a car at any of the listed airports.

In the winter season, group shuttle transfers are allowed from Innsbruck and Salzburg (less often from Munich) to some ski resorts in Austria. For example, you can go to the resorts in 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 are carrying equipment with you or are arriving at night, when public transport no longer runs. Transfer booking services:

Kiwitaxi.ru – a system for ordering taxi transfers from airports, train stations and hotels around the world;

Intui.Travel – a system for self-booking tourist transfers to / from hotels via the Internet.

As for public transport, you can get to the resorts using the following actions:

There is a direct train from Innsbruck to Seefeld;

You can get to Sölden by train to Ötztal, then by bus directly to the resort. This option is relevant from Innsbruck;

In Ischgl you can get by train to Landeck-Zams, then by bus to the resort itself. This way you can get from both Innsbruck and Munich;

In Kitzbühl you can get directly by train from Salzburg or Innsbruck. From Munich you need to change in the town of Wörgl;

In Mayrhofen you can get by train to Jenbach, then change to another train or bus directly to Mayrhofen. This method is relevant when leaving Innsbruck and Munich;

In Zell am See you can get by direct train from Salzburg, or with a change in Wörgl from Munich;

In Bad Gastein there are direct high-speed trains from Salzburg and Munich;

You can only get to Hinterglemm with a transfer. From Salzburg or Munich, you first need to get to Zell am See, and from there take 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, while others, on the contrary, are for experienced and advanced skiers. The infrastructure also differs from resort to resort, many factors affect this, including the difference in climatic conditions. The skiing season at different resorts differs, depending on the availability of snow cover, somewhere it falls earlier, somewhere later. Similarly, in spring – somewhere it melts faster, and somewhere even summer skiing is possible. More details 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. Also in Seefeld there is a fan park with a half pipe and cross-country ski trails. You can relax after skiing in Seefeld in the Alpenpark thermal complex and the Olympia Sport swimming pool. Restaurants, cafes and a small casino are also part of the resort. In the summer, the place is great for hiking, horseback 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 trbokhtyazhnika, which provides Sölden with a long skiing season, 100% snow cover and slopes of varying difficulty levels. The total length of the slopes here is about 150 km. For snowboarders there is a half-pipe and two fun parks. The resort is served by 34 lifts. After a busy day in Sölden, you can relax in the Aquadim thermal complex and 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 slopes – about 240 km. At the same time, the slopes have different levels of difficulty and are suitable for skiing, both for beginner skiers and for skiers of a higher level, including pros. Ischgl is one of the five best equipped resorts for snowboarding, there is a fun park and a half-pipe. Ischgl is also 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->;

Kitzbühl is a resort with history, in fact it is considered one of the very first ski resorts in Austria. Kitzbühl boasts a developed infrastructure and traditions. The slopes here are suitable for different levels of skiing, in total there are about 60 different slopes in the resort. In addition, Kitzbühel has a fun park, 2 half-pipes, and cross-country ski trails. The resort has an aqua park, which is essentially a multifunctional health complex with various opportunities. Kitzbühel is also loved by all fans of haute cuisine, shopping, and other similar entertainment. In summer, Kitzbühel offers rafting, canyoning, paragliding, and golf. More about Kitzbühel->;

Ischgl

Mayrhofen is considered one of the largest and most developed ski resorts in Austria. The total length of the slopes in the resort is almost 140 km, skiers are served by almost 60 lifts, there are great opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowboarding, off-piste skiing. You can relax in the local aqua center, and then try your hand at the ice rink, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, master mountaineering and other extreme sports. In the summer, Mayrhofen offers no less entertainment, 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: ski slopes of varying difficulty levels, a fun park, a half-pipe, toboggan runs. The resort is served by 23 lifts. You can relax here in the spa center, which offers the full range of spa services. In the summer, there are no less entertainment at the resort, almost all of them are connected with the local Lake Zeller. ;

More about Zell am See->

Ski lifts in Kaprun

Kaprun boasts a record length of slopes – almost 140 km, with the level of slopes here varying from the easiest to the black ones. 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 wellness center and several spa complexes are open here. In summer, Kaprun also invites guests and offers them to try, in addition to traditional hiking, real extreme sports – paragliding, rock climbing, mountaineering, canyoning. More about Kaprun->;

Bad Gastein is both a ski and thermal resort. A record 220 km of slopes of varying difficulty levels are open for skiers here. The resort has more than 50 lifts, a snow park, several half-pipes, great opportunities for freeriding, and sledding trails. In addition, the resort is popular for thermal complexes with radon waters and salt rooms. More about Bad Gastein->;

Kaprun

St. Wolfgang is the “gateway” to the Postalm ski valley. The valley is famous for its ski and cross-country trails, in addition, there is a floodlit toboggan run. 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 a variety of spa treatments. In the summer, 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 slopes here is almost 200 km, which makes the resort very popular with vacationers with different levels of skiing. There are more than 50 lifts, 9 ski schools, 3 snow parks, a fun park, ski jumps, and a half-pipe. Hinterglemm is considered a snowboard-friendly resort. You can relax in Hinterglemm on the ice rink, in the pool, on tennis courts, or in the sauna. In addition, Hinterglemm has a very developed nightlife – 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. For example, Salzburg is the most popular for one-day trips. Salzburg has preserved quite a few historical monuments, in particular, the main square of the city, Residenzplatz, the Cathedral, the fortress located at the highest point of the city, Mirabell Palace, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, Mozart’s House, Kapuzinerberg Mountain and much more are of interest.

Trips to Innsbruck are no less popular. Here you can also find no less interesting places and monuments. The central Maria Theresa Street and the Golden Roof, Hofburg Palace, Ambras Castle and, of course, the famous Nordkette cable car attract special attention of tourists in Innsbruck.

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 both a beginner and a skier with an average level of training, and a confident pro can try their hand at skiing.

Panorama of Innsbruck

How to get to the ski resorts Austria

Which ski resort in Austria to choose

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