Austria Ski Resorts

Austria is known for its alpine charm and big mountain skiing, whether you are skiing the Arlberg, Otztal, or Salzburg region. A family ski holiday in the Austrian Alps is a fantastic combination of old world charm - dining and staying in classic chalets in historic ski village, and riding modern ski lifts to beautifully prepared (groomed) ski trails at huge ski resorts with extensive off-piste terrain for the adventuresome.

Our editors have personally reviewed St Anton, Lech/Zurs, Soelden, and Obergurgl Hochgurgl. St Anton is probably the best known village in Austria's Arlberg ski region which includes Lech, Zurs, Stuben and St Christoph. In this vast Arlberg region, you can ski numerous ski resorts all on one Ski Arlberg lift ticket that includes 84 lifts, 160 miles of groomed ("prepared") ski runs and thousands of acreage of natural off-piste terrain (powder bowls and chutes) if you are an advanced skier. These resorts provide excellent ski schools for all ages, and mountain guide services if you wish to venture off-piste - which can be incredibly rewarding but you need to know where to go (and where not to).

St Anton's stylish Austrian ski town offers a variety of lodging, dining, and family activities like sledding and a sports center, plus après ski and nightlife in a beautiful alpine village. Many consider St Anton to be the best skiing in the Alps with a fairy tale setting in winter for a family ski vacation. Nearby Lech Zurs is another mega ski resort with several delightful ski villages for lodging.

Also in the Tirol, Solden offers two high elevation glaciers, snow is assured early and late season at this impressive ski resort with 35 lifts and 3 mountain peaks over 10,000-feet. Nearby Obergurgl Hochgurgl offers skiing on two mountains connected by a high mountain gondola. While smaller than other Alps ski resorts, this high elevation ski resort has less skiers, making it popular with families - especially the Brits.

Ischgl is another extensive ski resort in Austria's Tirol with 44 lifts and 238 kilometers of prepared runs. Many skiers know of Kitzbühel, which comprises four mountains, revered for the famous Hahnenkamm downhill. Kitzbuhel ski resort covers over 160 kilometers (100 miles) of groomed trails connected by 60 lifts, including five cable cars and a gondola.

Innsbruck is a popular eastern Austrian ski destination with expert runs and a beautiful historic city for après ski, shopping, dining and partying. Innsbruck’s ski season is long due to skiing on the nearby Stubai Glacier. Austria’s Salzburg region offers fantastic ski vacations, including Maria Alm.

Austria is considered the birthplace of alpine skiing, this is where Hannes Schneider founded the first ski school. The first ski club was originated in the Arlberg in 1901, and Dopplemayr constructed the first ski lifts in Austria. Families on ski holiday in the Austrian Alps will enjoying learning about the origins of Alpine skiing, while taking in spectacular scenery, skiing and snowboarding big mountains with quality snow, and being treated to genuine Austrian hospitality. See our Videos of Skiing in Austria.

Austrian Ski Reviews: St Anton l Lech Zurs l Solden l Obergurgl Hochgurgl

Austrian Ski Photos Galleries: St Anton l Lech Zurs l Solden l Obergurgl Hochgurgl