Winter vacation in Austria 2020/21 - the 5 best ski resorts

Kitzbühel

Photo by Vncnt Jcqssn

“200 days of snow guarantee”

Interesting facts

● Kitzbühel wears the titles “World’s Best Ski Resort 2015” and “Austria’s Best Ski Resort”.
● The first mention of Kitzbühel dates to the year 1165.
● The Hahnenkamm race on the Streif celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2020.
● The first ski races in Kitzbühel were carried out in 1894-1895.
● 280 million dollars is the total number since 2000 invested in the development of the ski area infrastructure.

Who: Kitzbühel is a suitable travel destination for families with children, experts and intermediates.

Height: 800 - 2000 m.

Characteristics	Activities
215 km of pistes	skiing
36 km of ungroomed ski routes	snowboarding
54 cable cars and lifts	freeriding
60 guest houses and ski huts	alpine touring and winter hiking
beginner lifts in the valley for free	tobogganing
extra-large tours on the KitzSki Line	night skiing
a FIS-race course
snowparks
the Toboggan Run on the Gaisberg

But that is not all. As this ski area is connected with another one - SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, you have the possibility to test additional 284 kilometers and 90 lifts.

Piste map

https://map.kitzski.at/en/winter/

Drawback: The mountains are not higher than 2000 m.

Prices

Discount for children and youth (proof of age required):

● Infants born in 2015 and younger: free transport.
● Children born in 2005 - 2014.
● Youth born in 2002 - 2004.

 Tip: You shouldn’t have to wake up early in the morning to go skiing. And you shouldn’t have to ski the whole day (except that is what you like). The later you come, the lesser you pay. You can buy tickets with discount from 11:30 a.m., 12:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

If you haven’t got a lot of time and don’t want to ski the whole day, purchase an hourly ticket and get a partial refund (in case of returning tickets within 1-4 hours). Please notice the dependence of prices on the season (Saving and benefit season).

You can learn more about refunds here: https://www.kitzski.at/en/tickets-prices/tariffs-winter/hourly-tickets.html

Ski pass option (10 days for the season)

	Presale (until 09.12.20)	Standard price (from 10.12.20)
Adults	458,00 €	509,00 €
Children	229,00 €	254,00 €
Youth	343,00 €	381,00 €

Season ticket

	Presale (until 09.12.20)	Standard price (from 10.12.21)
Adults	629,00 €	699,00 €
Children	314,00 €	349,00 €
Youth	471,00 €	524,00 €
U25	534,00 €	594,00 €
Seniors	566,00 €	629,00 €

 Tip: The prices are even lower during the super presale, than during the presale. The super presale dates for the next season will be known later on the website: https://www.kitzski.at/en/tickets-prices/tariffs-winter/season-ticket/season-ticket.html

Discount for season tickets and ski pass options (proof of age required):

● Infants born in 2015 and younger: free.
● Seniors born in 1940 and older: annual ticket 50,00 € (without use of indoor pool) (presale discount isn’t possible).
● Families with many children: you buy season tickets for the 2 eldest children / adolescents (d. o. b. 2000-2012), your other children get free tickets. Child allowance notification required.

Those, who want to go skiing in several ski areas, should consider the following variants:

🌟 Super Ski Card (23 ski regions, 201 days from October until May), valid until 01.05.21.

 Tip: Until 05.12.20 Super Ski Cards are cheaper.

All ski regions: https://www.superskicard.com/en/23-skiregionen

Prices: https://www.superskicard.com/en/prices

🌟Snow Card Tirol (92 ski regions, more than 4.000 km, more than 1.100 lifts, season ski pass), valid until 15.05.21.

Adults	797,00 €
Youth (d. o. b. 2002-2004)	637,00 €
Children (d. o. b. 2005-2014)	399,00 €
Disabled people (from 60%, original disabled person card required)	637,00 €
Infants (d. o. b. 2015 and younger)	free

All ski regions: https://snowcard.tirol.at/de/skigebiete/alle-skigebiete

🎿 Ski rental

 Tip: If you have absolutely no experience in skiing or you visit ski areas very rarely, it is recommended to you to rent skis. This tip is also suitable for those who go on a short trip. It will be cheaper to rent skis online.

Accommodation

There are all possible accommodation variants. At the beginning of the peak season in Kitzbühel, you can find...

 Tips: The earlier you book accommodation, the lower the prices are.
The choice of holiday flats and holiday houses is bigger when you are renting for more than 1 day.

How to get there

The nearest airports to Kitzbühel are:

✈ Airport Salzburg (about 75 km): by train from Salzburg (round 2,30 h) or by car (round 1,20 h).

✈ Airport Innsbruck (about 98 km): by train from Innsbruck (round 1,40 h) or by car (round 1,20 h).

✈ Airport Munich (about 163 km): by train from Munich (round 2,40 h) or by car (round 2 h). A car drive through the mountains could be a little bit difficult and exhausting for a child.

Ski Arlberg

Photo by andywebgallery

Interesting facts

🔹 The pass Arlberg was a part of a trade route in ancient times.
🔹 Ski Arlberg has been considered to be the largest combined ski area in Austria since the season 2016/2017.
🔹 The highest peak in the region is the Valluga (2809 m).
🔹 In St. Anton am Arlberg there is the Parish Church St. Jakob, mentioned in 1275 for the first time.
🔹The Hall of Fame (an exhibition dedicated to the ski stars of Arlberg and located at the mountain station of the mountain cable car Flexenbahn) and the Run of Fame (an 85 km long and 18.000 m high run) are situated here.

The ski area Ski Arlberg with guaranteed snow cover consists of the following regions:

🔸 St. Anton / St. Christoph / Stuben; 🔸 Lech / Oberlech / Zürs; 🔸 Warth-Schröcken.

Who: Ski Arlberg suits almost everyone: families with children, beginners, intermediates and experts.

Height: up to 2809 m.

Piste map

Prices

⛷ Peak season

(19.12.20 - 05.04.21)

Tip for beginners: It would be optimal to plan a winter vacation in Austria for 7-10 days. Skiing can be quite exhausting and just in a week you will be dead tired … but happy!

Of course, you can enjoy the mountains longer: not only 10 days but also the whole season.

 Please notice: The proof of age is required almost for all categories.

Tip: When using daily choice tickets pay attention to the admission time: before 11:50 a.m. 3 points, after 11:50 a.m. 2 points, after 15:00 p.m. 1 point. The points will be deducted after every first entrance per day.

Ski Arlberg offers even more variants: hourly tickets with refund, tickets for beginners and people without snow equipment. Learn more about it here: https://www.skiarlberg.at/en/regions/tickets-en

Don’t forget to visit stanton park - “the freestyle mecca on the Arlberg”, as it is called. Both beginners and experts will have a great time here.

Tip: Ski Arlberg is one of the family-friendliest ski areas in Austria. There are numerous ski schools, fun slopes and clubs.

🎿 Ski rental

Tip: When renting skis, you have the possibility to test different equipment types and brands. It will help you to understand your preferences better in case of ski buying in the future.

Accommodation

In St. Anton am Arlberg a room for 1 guest costs from 130 € per day in the peak season, in St. Christoph - from 260 €, in Stuben - from 240 €, in Lech - from 300 €, in Zürs - from 150 €, in Warth - from 130 € (the prices can vary). It is quite difficult to find accommodation in Zürs and Schröcken, that’s why it is recommended to book a room several months in advance. You have a wide choice of accommodation in St. Anton.

How to get there

The nearest airport is situated in Innsbruck. You can go by train (1 h) or by car (about 98 km, more than 1 h).

Ischgl

Photo by Matyas Dubai

Interesting facts

🔹“Ischgl” comes from the Romansh language and means “island”.
🔹 Every year the season start is opened with a big pop concert.

Who: In Ischgl experts as well as beginners and intermediates will receive a lot of pleasure.

Height: 1377 - 2864 m.

Characteristics	Activities
239 km of pistes	skiing
20 blue, 40 red and 25 black pistes	freeriding
45 lifts	winter hiking and snowshoeing
SKYFLY (a 2 km long fly at a speed of up to 85 km/h)	tobogganing
riding and ski schools	figure skating
snowparks	horse sledding
	touring
	night skiing
	snowboarding
	skiing on the smuggler’s circuits

Tip: Ischgl is known for numerous entertainment possibilities such as restaurants and events.

Piste map

https://www.ischgl.com/en/Active/Active-Winter/Skiing-in-Ischgl/Skimap/Map

⛷ Low season

(26.11.20 - 23.12.20); (09.01.21 - 15.01.21); (10.04.21 - 02.05.21).

* VIP ski pass: available on presentation of a guest card from Ischgl / Mathon; valid at 45 lift facilities in Ischgl + Samnaun; children under 10 years free (accompanied by an adult).
** Silvretta ski pass: available from Ischgl / Mathon without a guest card; valid at 73 lift facilities in Ischgl / Samnaun, Galtür, Kappl and See; children under 8 years free (accompanied by an adult). Please notice: ¼, ½ and 1 day ski passes are available only in Ischgl / Samnaun and valid only for Ischgl / Samnaun.

⛷ Peak season

(24.12.20 - 08.01.21); (16.01.21 - 09.04.21).

 Please notice:

⚡ DiThe prices can be changed.
⚡ The children’s rate applies to disabled people (by 70%).

Prices for season tickets:

	Adults	Seniors	Children
Season ticket	839,00 €	755,00 €	477,00 €

🎿 Ski rental

Tip: You have less problems with the transporting of the equipment.

Accommodation

A hotel room in Ischgl for 1 guest costs from 220 € per day in the peak season, in Kappl - from 109 €, in See - from 143 €, in Galtür - from 160 €. The prices can vary.

How to get there

The nearest airport is situated in Innsbruck and Thal (Switzerland). A car drive from Innsbruck to Ischgl will take 1,3 hours (105 km). You will drive by car from the St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport in Thal to Ischgl about 2 hours (130-140 km). You can learn more information about arriving from Germany, Switzerland and Italy here: https://www.ischgl.com/en/More/Directions.

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

Photo by Jondick2012

Interesting facts

🔹 At least 5 big events are carried out in this ski area: Snow Mobile Saalbach Hinterglemm, Mountain Attack, Harley & Davidson gathering “Biker Mania”, World Games of Mountain Biking, Rave On Show.

🔹 Originally Fieberbrunn had another name - Pramau. Legend has it that Margarete Maultasch suffered from fever (“Fieber” in German) and drank water here from the sulfur spring. She overcame her disease and Pramau was renamed to Fieberbrunn.

Who: families with children, beginners, intermediates, experts

Height: 840 - 2096 m.

Piste map

https://www.saalbach.com/en/winter/ski-resort/piste-map

Prices

Please note:

⚡ The proof of age is required.
⚡ A photo is required from the 9-day ski pass and up.
⚡ The ski pass from 1 day and up is valid from 15:00 p.m. of the previous day.

🎿 Ski rental

Tip: When you rent equipment, you don’t have to care about storage and maintenance costs.

Accommodation

In the peak season, you can book a hotel room in Saalbach-Hinterglemm for 1 guest from 98 € per day, in Fieberbrunn - from 152 €, in Leogang - from 130 €. The prices can vary.

How to get there

The nearest airport is situated in Salzburg. A car drive to Saalbach-Hinterglemm will take about 1,30 hours (round 90 km), by bus you will go about 2 hours.

Sölden

Photo by petrduchac

“Absolute snow guarantee”

Interesting facts

🔹The movie by Alfred Hitchcock “The Mountain Eagle” was filmed in Obergurgl.
🔹 In 2014/2015 Sölden served as one of the film locations of the movie “James Bond 007: Spectre”.

Who: beginners, intermediates, experts, families with children. But overall the ski region suits intermediates the most.

Height: 1.350 - 3.340 m.

Characteristics	Activities
144 km of pistes (blue 69,8 km; red 44,8 km; black 27,4 km)	skiing
1,9 km of ski routes	tobogganing
31 lift facilities	cross-country skiing
3 3000-metre peaks	snowshoeing and winter hiking
33 ski huts	figure skating
Adrenalin Cup	touring
2 glaciers	freeriding
the Freizeit Arena Sölden	snowboarding
thermal springs “Aqua Dome Längenfeld”
ski schools

Piste map

Prices

* Children: d.o.b. 2004 - 2010; Youth: d.o.b. 1999 - 2003.

Please note:

⚡ The prices of online sales can be significantly cheaper than on-site.
⚡ Children born 2013 - 2016: 2 € per day.
⚡ Seniors born in 1941 and older: children’s rate.
⚡ Disabled people (from 60%): children’s rate (not valid for season tickets).
⚡ Only tickets from 1 to 14 days can be reduced.
⚡ Lost ski passes can’t be refunded.

Ötztal Super Skipass is an offer for those who would like to test more Austrian ski areas. The Ötztal Super Skipass holder gets access to 6 ski regions (Sölden, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, Hochoetz-Kühtai, Niederthai, Gries and Vent), 356 km of pistes and 90 facilities.

Learn more about Superskipass prices here: https://www.oetztal.com/winter/the-full-winter-variety-in-oetztal/skiing-in-oetztal/oetztal-super-skipass.html

🎿 Ski rental

Tip: A serious disadvantage of the ski hire is the time limit.

Accommodation

In Sölden, you can find a hotel room for 1 person from 139 € per day. The prices can vary.

How to get there

The nearest airport is situated in Innsbruck. A car drive from Innsbruck to Sölden will take about 1,15 hours (round 85 km).

Conclusion

To sum up, here are a few points to consider:

● The prices in all ski regions are almost the same. However, Kitzbühel and Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn are a little bit lower-priced.

● Your ski travels in Austria will be cheaper if you organize everything in advance: tickets, accommodation and the equipment.

● Ski Arlberg, Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn and Kitzbühel are the most suitable for families with children.

● Families with children quite often have an ability to learn skiing only on holidays in the off-season. In this case you should choose a glacier area, for example, Sölden.

● It is advisable for experts to visit Kitzbühel and Ski Arlberg. Here you will find numerous possibilities for improvement of your skills such as multifarious competitions, pistes and snowparks.

● People looking for the eventful night life will find a wide variety of entertainments in Ischgl.