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Slope style: The best ski resorts in Austria

03 Oct 2024 | | By Kari Colmans

Fast becoming the hottest Alpine destination in Europe, if Austria’s slopes are unfamiliar terrain, we’ve got you covered

With countless resorts and towns along its perfectly powdered mountain ranges, Austria provides the ultimate winter holiday destination if you’re looking for some fun on the slopes. Whether you’re an expert skier, intermediate snow bunny or just starting out on the baby slopes, travelling alone, with friends, or with the kinder in tow, there’s a range, resort – and luxury hotel – to suit every taste and requirement. From St. Anton to Innsbruck, Ischgl to Lech, the hills are alive with the sound of snowfall at the best ski resorts in Austria.

St. Anton

st anton austria

Best ski resort for: Seasoned skiers and après-skiers

Among the crags and chutes of St. Anton’s 2,809m Valluga mountain sit some of the most renowned descents in the Alps. Known as much for its party culture as its celebrated, white-knuckle terrain, an off-duty racetrack called the Fang will tempt the most gung-ho of guests, while the Kandahar promises a bumpy, yet thrilling ride. One of Austria’s more accessible resorts (it can be reached in a day when travelling from London), there are also some beginner slopes at St. Anton’s eastern suburb of Nasserein.

Where to stay in St. Anton: Raffl’s St. Antoner Hof

raffl's st antoner hof hotel

Bright and beautiful, this colourful hotel harks back to the Sixties and is the place to indulge after a solid day on the slopes. The language on the Raffl’s St. Antoner Hof website may sound kooky, but don’t be put off: this quirky five-star property boasts a beautiful, fully-equipped spa (think pool, saunas, and massages on request) and great places to eat, plus the Galzigbahn cable car is just a five-minute walk away, with stays including a free shuttle service to boot.

From £825 per night.

Lech

lech austria

Best ski resort for: Pared-back luxury

If your ideal slope-mates include a sprinkling of royals, then Lech’s quietly luxurious feel is just the ticket. St. Anton’s longtime other half when it comes to the large, multi-faceted Arlberg area, here you’ll find an avalanche of mid-level pistes, coming together in the White Ring, as well as the vertiginous Langerzug for those seriously confident on their skis. Plus, there are plenty of off-piste options too, if the black runs just aren’t exciting enough. Half a day on these gloriously powdered slopes will also take in neighbouring Zürs, Zug and Oberlech, as well as some of the most stunning views you’ll find in the Arlberg.

Where to stay in Lech: Arlberg Hotel

Steeped in history going back to the 1950s, and having provided the perfect annual hideaway for Princess Diana and her young princes, the rooms at the Arlberg Hotel are all warm oak woods, natural stone and lush furs, while the spa’s indoor and outdoor pools, hydrotherapy chamber, and range of treatments will ensure your every aching limb is catered to. Visit in-house restaurant Stube for gourmet fondues, with ingredients including the finest Wagyu beef, or Alpine fine dining at La Fenice. Plus, the hotel’s ski room has been designed with the same careful attention to detail as the rest of the artfully plush property.

From £780 per night.

Innsbruck

innsbruck austria

Best ski resort for: More than just a ski trip

The capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol, the city of Innsbruck has long played host to Europe’s winter sport crowd. Easily accessible by its international airport, travel-wise it couldn’t be smoother, and the rich cultural city is surrounded by peaks in every direction. The city’s Ski Plus City pass provides access to a whopping 13 separate ski areas, covering a countless range of terrain and slopes, with the Patscherkofel a good choice for intermediates, and the Nordkette ideal for dare devils. With railways and cable cars in abundance, it’s easy to get around – once you decide where first to take the plunge.

Where to stay in Innsbruck: Nala Individuellhotel

nala individuellhotel innsbruck

An expertly curated design hotel tucked away down a quiet street, Nala Individuellhotel is a hidden gem boasts a decidedly cool urban vibe, with its basement gym, spa and enchanting walled garden ticking all the relaxation boxes. Centrally located for public transport, as well as taking a day away from the slopes for some sightseeing, skiers should take the Nordkettebahn up to the peak of Hafelekar.

From £142 per night.

Obergurgl-Hochgurgl

hochgurgl austria

Best ski resort for: Family fun

Located at the end of the Otz valley, you’re all but guaranteed season-round snow in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, which makes it a great choice for a family holiday getaway. The fantastic lift system, featuring nine gondola lifts, nine chairlifts, four drag lifts, two platter lifts and one rope, will whisk you up the 3,000m peaks while snow cannons are in place for back-up on almost all pistes. Its broad, mid-level runs stay open from mid-November until the end of April, offering guests a long window in terms of catching the peaks at their best, while the two quaint towns of Obergurgl at 1,930m and Hochgurgl at 2,150m, are full of fun things to do with the kids, as well as several luxury hotels.

Where to stay in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl: Hochfirst

hochfirst hotel

Where the lifts reach their highest peaks elsewhere, the ski resort of Obergurgl, Austria's highest ‘church village’, just begins – and it’s here you’ll find Hochfirst. This luxury wellness resort is beautifully designed in pale oak woods and decked out with custom-made crystals from the tradition-rich Tirolean company Swarovski. But the real draw to this ski-in, ski-out resort is the spa, spanning 1,500 square metres: think warming sauna cabins, soothing steam baths and relaxing rest areas, as well as glorious indoor and outdoor pools. A multitude of restaurants offer a great variety of gourmet cuisines, while the extensive wine library provides the perfect setting for a private dining experience.

From £750 per night.

Ischgl

ischgl austria

Best ski resort for: Mixed-level groups

With between 1,365m and 2,853m of stunning mountain space lining the border between Austria and Switzerland, the almost guaranteed snow-covered range at Ischgl, near Tyrol, is famed for its sheer volume of red runs all in one place, as well as its 1,100 snow cannons. Hop on board the Piz Val Gronda cable car for a chance to experience some epic off-piste runs, too. Although a popular destination for confident, experienced skiers, Ischgl does attract all kinds of crowds and holiday-makers, as much for the buzzy town and après-ski scene as the family-fun activities on offer. One of the top ski areas in the world, Tyrol’s Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Ski Dimension offers a plethora of panoramic downhills, wide family slopes, and sporty carving stretches, as well as top terrain for free-riders and boarders.

Where to stay in Ischgl: Schlosshotel Fiss

Refined and elegant, the stunning five-star Schlosshotel Fiss is a great year-round holiday destination, whether you’re skiing, biking, hiking or just looking to relax and rejuvenate. Its enviable location enables guests to ski-in and ski-out to and from the Fiss slopes, while the range of dining options, from an afternoon buffet post-slope to a fine-dining restaurant for decadent dinners, is sure to satisfy every tastebud. As well as the superbly located Schloss spa, which you’ll find on the sun-dappled Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis plateau, there is also a unique family spa, where kids can enjoy saunas and fun treatments while cuddled up in their dressing gowns.

From £525 per night.

Read more: The best ski resorts in France