If you want to feel that you are enjoying the very best ski holiday you could find anywhere, one you’ll always remember for all the right reasons, Austria is the place to be.
Of course, you want fabulous skiing, something for everyone and reliable snow, but the fast, comfortable modern lifts that Austrian ski areas are famous for really add to the pleasure. Then there are the strict building controls that mean Austrian ski areas are picture-perfect collections of Alpine chalets, with a backdrop of forest and stunning mountain scenery. There’s a vast range of accommodation, fabulous family facilities and loads to do off the slopes so that even non-skiers in the party will be very happy.
©Tourismusverband St Johann in Salzburg Simon Hutter
What takes Austrian ski holidays to the next level is the fabulous food we fuel up on in the Alps. Nowhere does mountain cuisine better than Austria, where there are now numerous gourmet-rated restaurants and winter food festivals that celebrate the thousands of warm, welcoming mountain huts that have been serving up great food for generations in the Austrian Alps.
Knowing you’ve got everything right and are in the best place for your perfect ski holiday is a state of being that the Austrians call ‘Lebensgefühl’, which means the kind of ski holiday perfection that we all need!
Gurgl in Ötztal
With access to hundreds of kilometres of high-quality skiing at the far end of the Ötztal valley in Tirol, surrounded by awe-inspiring 3,000m peaks, Gurgl is one of the most exclusive ski resorts in the Alps, renowned for its reliable snow conditions, with runs between 1,800m and 3,030m. There are 112km of slopes for all ability levels, which grows to hands-free access to 363km of slopes at six local ski areas including neighbouring Sölden if you purchase the Ötztal Superskipass.
© Skiing in Gurgl Oetztal Tourism Roman Huber
You’ll feel very fulfilled with a great choice of dining in Gurgl, including some special experiences you can only enjoy here. The Top Mountain Star, high above 3,000m, offers both fabulous food and 360° panorama views, including over the Italian border to the Dolomites. The footbridge next to it has gained a reputation for being an amazing spot for wedding proposals! There’s also the newly renovated Festkogl Alm or the Hohe Mut, where you have amazing views of the surrounding 3,000m peaks. One unusual option Gurgl offers is the chance to indulge in a gourmet meal, complete with Perrier-Jouët as you travel up the mountain with the Gourmet Gondola Cabin.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis are neighbouring mountain villages that sit together on a high plateau in the Austrian Tirol. They’ve been welcoming visitors here for many years and the sense of community and desire to offer the best hospitality are deep-rooted values here. The area has 214km of slopes for all abilities spread over a 1,200 vertical up to a snow-sure 2,828m.
Food plays a big part in the Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis holiday experience. Most of the wonderful restaurants are traditional, but the stunning Crystal Cube restaurant, located up at 2,600m, is ultra-modern. Along with fabulous food, it offers a fantastic 360-degree panoramic view. You can enjoy anything from breakfast with sparking wine to luxurious lunches and high teas and even get married here!
Sunset Dinner © Seilbahn Komperdell GmbH, Andreas Kirschner
Another special treat is a sunset dinner taking in the mountainscape turning pink at the Monte Mare mountain restaurant, at 2,430m. The Ski Lounge at 2,000m serves up international cuisine, cosy Leithe Wirt has great Tirolean cuisine and the Zirbenhütte at 2,100m creates dishes using the premier-quality Fisser Imperial barley, such as the gorgeous Gerstl risotto. Finally, the Sonnenburg family restaurant serves up delicious pizzas straight from the stone oven.
Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau
The family-friendly Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau ski region in the heart of Tirol is a beautiful, unspoilt corner of the Austrian Alps with a special focus on families. The Ski Juwel was created by the connection of the neighbouring Alpbachtal and Wildschönau valleys, both home to picturesque, unspoilt villages and fabulous natural environments, creating 113km of varied piste for all abilities.
© Shoot & Style – Culinary Hut Visit with Family, Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau
There are 25 cosy huts on the slopes, offering traditional, authentic dining. Ingredients are locally sourced and usually produced by the hut owner, the recipes are traditional and the portions are hearty. Regional classics such as “Knödel” (dumplings) and “Spätzle” (cheese noodles) are popular, as are pretzel soup and “Kaiserschmarren” (pan-fried pancakes).
Top choices include the Gipföhit am Schatzberg, a modern yet rustic mountain guesthouse where specialities include organic beef and pretzel soup. Another cosy hut, Norderbergalm on the Markbachjoch, is close to the toboggan run down to Niederau, so that could be a way back after your meal! The Böglalm has a sunny terrace and is famed for its delicious Kaiserschmarren, made in a giant pan. Finally, the Berggasthof Hornboden ski hut is located right on the slopes and has a large terrace and chill-out area.
St. Johann in Salzburg
St. Johann in Salzburg is one of the closest ski areas to the provincial capital, lying just 37 miles to the north, but you’ll feel you are a world away in this relaxed small town with its family-friendly atmosphere and beautiful natural environment. Skiers will delight in the 210km of slopes in Snow Space Salzburg, which links St. Johann to neighbouring villages and is just a part of the larger Ski amadé regional pass. The resort is home to the high altitude village of Alpendorf, which offers ski-in/ski-out holidays where you click into your skis right outside your hotel door.
Family in St Johann in Salzburg ©Tvb St Johann in Salzburg Chris Perkles
The mountains are full of warm, cosy huts where you’ll find a hearty welcome from local families who also grow or source their ingredients locally. Pastries, or ‘pofesen’, are a particular speciality of the region, and you should definitely treat yourself to a hearty slice of Sachertorte during your visit. You can take a winter hut hike to sample the food at several of them, or of course ski between them, too. There are many great ski huts dotted around the slopes with the Kreistenalm Oberforsthofalm, Gernkogel, Buchauhütte and Gut Berg Stadl among the most popular.
Main Image Top of Alpbachtal Hornbahn 2000 mountain station © Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschoenau
If you are looking for the perfect destination for your next trip, our Resort Guide has everything you need to know.