What better place to take a skiing holiday than Austria, with its traditional alpine villages, lively après-ski and a laid-back attitude? Everything costs that bit less in Austria, snow-making is first class and so are the lift systems. What’s more, flights from the UK aren’t an issue, with various airlines now offering direct flight to Salzburg and Innsbruck.
There are plenty of reasons to choose an Austrian resort for your next skiing holiday. We at CheckYeti have put together the 5 best ski resorts in Austria, to help you find the best destination:
- Kitzbühel: a ski resort in Austria ideal for intermediates
- Lech: the best ski resort in Austria for beginners
- St. Anton: the best off-piste skiing in Austria
- Mayrhofen: the best resort for advanced skiers
- Saalbach-Hinterglemm: the best family skiing in Austria
Kitzbühel: a ski resort in Austria ideal for intermediates
Kitzbühel is a pretty Tyrolean medieval town with pastel-coloured stone buildings & cobbled streets. The resort is surrounded by the Kitzbühel Alps and is known for its luxurious accommodation, fine restaurants and high-class shopping. Kitzbühel naturally attracts royalty and celebrities, and is considered to be one of the best ski resorts in Austria.
For skiers looking to quickly improve their technique, the ski schools in Kitzbühel offer a wide selection of private lesson options. One-to-one lessons ensure fast technical progress, as the instructor can focus on the specific needs of the individual skier.
With almost half of the slopes being classed red, Kitzbühel truly is one of Austria’s best ski resorts for intermediates. Advanced intermediate skiers may even want to test their nerves on the famous Hahnenkamm World-Cup piste.
Lech: the best ski resort in Austria for beginners
Sitting in a sunny position at the foot of the Kriegerhorn mountain, Lech is only 1-hour drive from Bregenz and 1.5 hours from Innsbruck. This traditional town with chalet-style architecture is undoubtedly exclusive, with high-end hotels, restaurants, bars and shopping. Needless to say, Lech has welcomed a long list of rich and famous guests.
With a total of 305 km of pistes, everyone can enjoy excellent skiing in Lech. Additionally, 43% of the runs are blue, so Lech is ideal for first-time skiers.
Ski schools in Lech offer mainly private lessons, so learners can learn the first moves and progress to the blue slopes much more quickly. What’s more, the beginner areas have drag lifts and are conveniently situated by the village. This is ideal for ski novices, as they don’t have to carry their equipment far.
The blue slopes in Lech are wide, gentle and perfectly groomed. With exceptional snow quality, superb surroundings and near-on perfect pistes, it’s clear to see why Lech is the best ski resort in Austria for beginners.
St. Anton: the best off-piste skiing in Austria
Situated in the Arlberg region, less than an hour’s drive from Innsbruck, St. Anton has some of the best skiing in Austria. The resort is charming with an easy-going attitude and offers traditional but stylish accommodation and restaurants for all budgets.
St. Anton thanks its renowned status to three factors: a consistent snow record, a highly-efficient, modern lift network and a wide range of pistes. With 200km of deep snow terrain at hand, the ski schools in St. Anton additionally offer lessons for free riders who want to make the most of the powder snow. Off-piste lessons, tours and guiding courses are also available, the lessons focusing on technical progress and safety on the slopes.
The quintessential mix of style, a laid-back ambience and exhilarating powder terrain puts St. Anton top of the list for the best off-piste skiing in Austria.
Mayrhofen: the best resort for advanced skiers
Mayrhofen is a traditional medieval town located in the Ziller valley in Tyrol, only an hour’s drive from Innsbruck. The resort nestles between two mountains, the Penken and the Ahorn. Despite its low altitude, the ski season in Mayrhofen is long and relatively snow-sure, due to the main skiing areas being up in the two mountains, at altitudes between 1,650 m and 2,500 m.
Skiers of all ages are well provided for by the ski schools in Mayrhofen. Advanced ski lessons are also available for kids, and private lessons including video analysis ensure that technique flaws are quickly corrected. There are even ski racing lessons on offer, for true adrenaline fans.
Mayrhofen is home to Austria’s steepest and most demanding slope, the Harakiri. With the Penken mountain also offering a multitude of challenging runs, Mayrhofen is a hot contender for the resort with the best advanced skiing in Austria.
Saalbach-Hinterglemm: the best family skiing in Austria
Saalbach-Hinterglemm, nestled in the Austrian Alps, is a large ski area renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere and stunning mountain landscapes. Situated in the Salzburg region, this expansive ski area encompasses the interconnected villages of Saalbach and Hinterglemm, creating one of the largest and most diverse skiing domains in Austria.
What sets Saalbach-Hinterglemm apart for families is its commitment to providing a welcoming environment for all ages. The resort boasts dedicated areas for beginners, where children can safely develop their skiing skills. With a wide range of family-friendly accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment options, Saalbach-Hinterglemm ensures that both parents and children can enjoy a memorable winter holiday.
The lively villages offer a charming backdrop for families, fostering a sense of community and making it an ideal destination for those seeking a balance between exhilarating alpine adventures and a family-oriented atmosphere.
I have always loved snow but winter in England was usually more grey than white. Now living in Austria, my kids have inherited my passion for skiing and we make most of every winter, getting out in the snow whenever we can!