With each winter ski season that passes, the team here at Catered Ski Chalets sees more and more skiers and snowboarders turn their attentions from the better-known ski resorts of France or Switzerland to the Tyrolean peaks of Austria – and with good reason.
Austrian ski resorts have plenty to offer, from challenging terrain and top-flight tuition to entertaining childcare programmes for kids, and lively après ski. If you’ve never skied the snowy slopes of Austria, maybe this is the year you give it a try?!
Accommodation options
The majority of UK-based skiers and snowboarders booking ski holidays to Austria opt for the all-inclusive simplicity of a packaged holiday. With flights, airport transfers and half-board catering included, you’re free to relax and enjoy everything the Austrian Alps have to offer.
With that said, there’s also a wonderful range of accommodation-only chalets available – especially at the upper end of the accommodation scale – where guests make lasting memories among friends and family.
Hotels make up the majority of Austria’s ski resort accommodation offerings, but you can find a good range of traditional chalets in the more popular resorts, such as St Anton and Mayrhofen.
Ski areas
Austria’s ski areas link a dazzling range of resorts, with some of the world’s newest, swiftest and most cutting-edge chairlifts and gondolas.
The Ski Arlberg is Austria’s largest connected ski area, and covers popular resorts including St Anton and Lech. Here, 88 lifts service an impressive 305 km – with a staggering range of terrain.
The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser covers the charming the villages of Ellmau, Söll, Westendorf, Brixen im Thale, Going, Hopfgarten, Itter, Kleschau, and Scheffau – with 90 lifts offering swift uplift to the snowy slopes.
Linking Saalbach, Hinterglemm and Leogang, the SkiCircus area covers 270 km of terrain, and reaches altitudes of almost 3,000 metres above sea level. It’s great for families and learners here, with plenty of learner-friendly terrain, and there’s no shortage of exciting activities to try away from the groomed pistes and parks.
The Silvretta Arena is home to Ischgl – in our opinion one of the greatest ski resorts in Europe. Here, heavy snowfall, challenging terrain parks and hidden powder fields offer the perfect blend of terrain for intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders.
Get big air thrills in Europe’s best snow parks
If you’re coming to Austria in search of half-pipes, kickers and rails, there are two resorts you can’t miss: Mayrhofen and Laax. Mayrhofen is home to the world-class Penken Park, while Laax plays host to the annual Laax Open – widely considered among the biggest and best freestyle events in the winter calendar.
Family-friendly resorts and lively après ski
Resorts like Obergurgl and St Anton work wonderfully well for families in search of childcare and gentle learner-friendly ski terrain. Here, you’ll find hotels with comprehensive in-house childcare programmes, where parents can relax knowing the kids are safe and happy.
Finally, we can’t talk of the Austrian après ski scene without mentioning St Anton and Solden – two of Austria’s liveliest ski resorts. Thirsty skiers and snowboarders leave the slopes behind from around 3pm, making a beeline for the biggest and best bars the resorts have to offer. If you’ve never experienced a traditional Tyrolean après ski session, you’re missing a treat!
Take a look below for our selection of chalets and hotels in Austria, and call us on 0203 0800 202 for more details.