Austria delivers a very distinctive ski holiday experience, combining beautiful traditional villages and cutting edge technology on the mountains. The resorts tend generally to sit in charming valleys, with onion-domed churches and houses that feature painted exteriors. Ski resorts in Austria are rightly proud of their heritage and it shines through. Austria can also claim to now have the most efficient ski lift systems in Europe as well as excellent snowmaking creating reliable snow-cover even at the low altitudes of some Austrian resorts.
The many wooded mountains provide gentle slopes perfect for beginners and timid intermediates; yet for those looking to push themselves, the Arlberg ski area features some of the finest skiing to be found anywhere in the world. With excellent value on mountain restaurants and plenty of them to choose from, as well as very lively après starting in the early afternoon, it is easy to see why for many skiers and snowboarders, only Austria will do.
The most famous ski area in Austria is the Arlberg, which due to recent developments can now claim to offer Austria’s largest linked ski area. The most famous of the resorts within this area is St Anton, which is one of the finest resorts in the world and the home of Alpine skiing. It delivers everything you could ever want in a winter destination with beautiful chalets, endless skiing with plentiful snow and a lively and charming resort centre. If you like to ski off-piste, endless descents and deep powder then St Anton is a must visit.
Also part of the same extensive Arlberg ski area are the contrasting resorts of Lech and Zürs. Lech has a classical and long established tone with horse drawn carriages and fur coats. Stunning new chalets with stylish interiors all add to the glamour along with some of the most perfectly groomed ski slopes in the world.
Zürs is one of the snowiest places in the Alps with an average of 11m of the white stuff each season! This is the place for relaxation, away from the bustle of modern life and with jaw dropping slopes and extensive off-piste right on your doorstep.
One of the most famous names in European ski resorts, Kitzbühel is not only home to the Hahnenkamm, the world’s most difficult downhill race, but also a beautiful medieval resort centre. The skiing is equally wonderful, with extensive and varied slopes as well as the longest ski season of any non-glacial ski resort in Europe.
The Zillertal is the world’s largest skiing valley with 179 lifts and 508km of marked slopes, perfect for your own private ski safari. The Zillertal is divided into 4 extensive skiing area; Hochzillertal-Hochfügen-Spieljoch, Zillertal Arena, Mayrhofner Bergbahnen and Ski & Gletscherwelt Zillertal 3000.