They open their doors to millions of tourists from November to April, and the summits of the Alpine glaciers offer excellent skiing all year round. The main ski area is located in the southwestern part of the country, in the federal states of Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Austrian ski centers are known all over the world for the excellent quality of the slopes, modern infrastructure, excellent service and a huge selection of entertainment for every taste. A special charm to winter holidays in Austria is given by the mesmerizing landscapes of mountain lakes, snowy slopes overgrown with fir trees and Tyrolean village houses. You can get acquainted with the best Austrian ski resorts by reading our article.
1. St. Anton (Vorarlberg)
St. Anton is rightfully one of the best ski resorts in Austria. This modern resort with a rich tradition and excellent infrastructure, it is called the cradle of Austrian skiing - it was here that the first ski club in the Alps was opened at the very beginning of the 20th century. Holidays in St. Anton will bring true pleasure to experienced skiers and adrenaline lovers: the trails here are interesting and quite challenging. The total length of St. Anton's routes is more than 300 km, most of them have a high level of difficulty. By the way, the longest 10-kilometer trail in Arlberg is also located in St. Anton. In addition, the resort offers excellent freeriding opportunities thanks to its spacious and steep slopes and excellent snow cover. Fans of an active pastime after skiing will be delighted by the St. Anton ski resort with a huge selection of restaurants and noisy nightclubs.
2. Lech (Vorarlberg)
Ski resort Lech - real paradise for connoisseurs of luxury hotels, great restaurants, fine Austrian cuisine and, of course, the beautiful slopes. Leh has long been a favorite place winter holiday European aristocrats, world celebrities and crowned heads. You will definitely not be able to save on vacation here, but in return for the money spent, you can enjoy the highest level of service and a huge variety of services offered. Of the 300 km of ski trails in Lech, slopes of medium difficulty prevail. There are many comfortable slopes with a slight incline, suitable for lovers of leisurely and comfortable skiing. Skiers with impeccable physical training will surely like heli-skiing - off-piste slopes with delivery upstairs by helicopter. Lech is the only Austrian resort where this rare and exciting skiing is officially allowed. In addition, Lech and St. Anton are united by a common ski pass, which allows you to enjoy extreme skiing on the slopes of the neighboring resort.
3. Mayrhofen (Tyrol)
Mayrhofen is one of the most famous ski resorts Austrian resorts... Its indisputable advantages are a large skiing area with a total length of more than 150 km, impeccable tracks of an average difficulty level, affordable prices and a lively night life... The Mayrhofen resort is very popular with the European public, so you shouldn't be surprised that during the high season its slopes are often congested, and there are long queues at the lifts. The Hintertux glacier has excellent opportunities for descending, the summit of which is located at an elevation of 3250 m. The snow cover here lasts all year round, so skiing on the upper glacier zone is possible both in winter and in summer. And finally, the main highlight of Mayrhofen is the most dangerous track in Austria with the eloquent name "Harakiri": its incredibly steep incline reaches 78%.
4. Sölden (Tyrol)
The Sölden ski resort is well known for its lively atmosphere and wide range of recreational opportunities. Here are a variety of accommodation options from budget hotels to luxury hotels. A huge number of restaurants, bars, discos and nightclubs make a holiday in Sölden especially attractive for fans of a stormy après-ski: the most noisy and incendiary parties in Tyrol take place here. As for skiing, among the 150 km of first-class ski slopes everyone, from beginner to professional, will find a route according to their preferences. And due to the fact that the top of the Sölden Glacier is covered with snow all year round, the skiing season here begins earlier than usual, and the most impatient skiers come here in October.
5. Ischgl (Tyrol)
The small mountain village of Ischgl has firmly established itself as the most expensive and most prestigious ski resort in Austria. From the end of October to the beginning of May, Ischgl turns into a place of a huge glamorous get-together, where, according to tradition, all Austrian bohemia gathers to “see people and show themselves”, and at the same time (as a pleasant addition to rest) and go skiing. Annual opening ski season in Ischgl is a grand show: in different years it was attended by Elton John, Tina Turner, Sting, Rihanna and other legendary performers of the world magnitude. The quality of the tracks and infrastructure here is, of course, at the highest level. The total length of the tracks exceeds 200 km, most of them are rather difficult. The resort has all the conditions for extreme skiing, freeride and carving, and the famous local snowboard park is considered one of the best in Europe.
6. Zell am See (Salzburg)
The picturesque town of Zell am See, located on the shores of the mountain lake Zell, is rightfully one of the most beautiful ski resorts in Austria. With impeccable groomed trails and state-of-the-art infrastructure, it has retained its inimitable natural charm. Zell am See together with the high-mountainous Kaprun glacier form a single ski area with a total length of trails of about 140 km, and the season on the glacier lasts all year round. Zell am See offers its guests a huge range of opportunities for active pastime: alpine and classic skiing, snowboarding, sledging and ice skating, horse riding, sailing on the ice of Lake Purpose, mountaineering, paragliding and parachute jumping. The health-improving effect of the resort is complemented by its excellent ecology, fresh mountain air and the presence of healing mineral springs.
7. Bad Gastein (Salzburg)
The expensive and prestigious Austrian ski resort Bad Gastein is known primarily as a spa resort: as early as the 19th century, the European intelligentsia came here to improve their health “on the waters”. Thanks to the healing mountain air and numerous thermal springs, Bad Gastein is often called the "Alpine Monte Carlo". The unique flavor of the town is given by the old architectural ensembles, a picturesque waterfall in the heart of the resort, elite spa complexes, as well as the oldest mountain casino. For lovers alpine skiing Bad Gastein offers about 200 km of impeccable trails, most of which are ideal for measured, comfortable skiing. There are not many difficult slopes here, but there are several ski schools for beginners, including children's ones. As for the après-ski holiday, you definitely cannot call it stormy and lively here: in the territory of aristocratic Bad Gastein, the most popular entertainment after skiing is leisurely walks along the mountain paths or a visit to the spa.
8. Obertauern (Salzburg)
Obertauern has a reputation for being the snowiest ski resort in Austria. Skiing here is organized at an altitude of 1700 to 2300 m, so natural snow is always guaranteed on the upper slopes, and a modern artificial snow cover support system works below. Of the 100 km of ski routes, more than half are blue slopes, designed for the average level of skiers. There are interesting red tracks with an increased level of difficulty. For fans of extreme skiing, Obertauern can offer only 4 black tracks, but thanks to the abundant snow, there are excellent opportunities for freeriding. This resort is not yet very well known to the Russian public, although it certainly deserves closer attention: here is the most modern hotel in Austria and excellent opportunities for après ski: many bars, restaurants and several nightclubs.
9. Nassfeld (Carinthia)
Nassfeld is another good ski resort in Austria, undeservedly deprived of attention Russian tourists... Therefore, if you prefer a vacation in Europe among Europeans - Nassfeld will be an excellent option for you. Among the main advantages of the Nassfeld resort are the guaranteed abundance of snow, the excellent quality of the pistes and the very convenient location of hotels and apartments, which allows skiing, as they say, "from the door". On the slopes of the Nassfeld, with a total length of about 100 km, there is enough room for both beginners and professionals. Interestingly, it is in Nassfeld that the longest gondola lift in the Alps operates, bringing skiers to the start of the slopes over a distance of more than 6 km. Another highlight of the resort is Mountain Lake Presegger, which, after freezing, turns into a huge natural ice rink.
10. Serfaus - Fiss - Ladis (Tyrol)
The ski resorts Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis, united by a common 200-kilometer piste area, are an excellent option for active family vacation in Austria. There are excellent conditions for intermediate skiers and childrens skiing. At the Serfaus resort, everything is thought out to the smallest detail for maximum comfortable rest with children: a mountain kindergarten famous throughout Europe with exciting animation programs, children's restaurants, a puppet theater, a children's ski school, snow towns and even lifts specially adapted for loading wheelchairs. Another unique feature of the resort is the one-of-a-kind silent metro, consisting of one line and four stations, which delivers vacationers from the center of the resort to the ski lifts completely free of charge.
Austria is located in the heart of Europe and has a very mild continental climate. Therefore, the question of when is the best time to go to Austria can be avoided, because every season is wonderful here in its own way. When planning your trip to Austria, you need to decide what you want to see.
High season in Austria falls on summer months between June and September. During this period, the largest Austrian cities- Vienna and Salzburg are overcrowded with tourists, and most hotels and restaurants are pushing up their prices a lot. If you prefer ski vacation then this time of year is considered the low season in Austria. The best time for a trip on the ski slopes are the winter months and the first half of spring.
Holidays in Austria in winter: where to go
The weather in Austria in winter is usually not very cold. On a flat area, the average winter temperature does not drop below 0 ° C. As for the Austrian Alps, on their territory the air temperature can drop below -15 ° C.
Holidays in Austria in winter are recommended for those tourists who intend to curb as much as possible ski slopes... In Austria, the most Better conditions... Sölden, Mayerhofen, Ischgl, Bad Hofgastein, Schladming, St. Anton am Arlberg, Saalbach, Lech and many other resort towns are perfect for such a holiday.
Features of rest in Austria in the spring
The weather in Austria is warm enough in spring. With the onset of the spring months, in most of the country, the snow gradually melts and only in highlands it persists until mid-spring. Those tourists who, before starting a trip to Austria, want to know when to go to Austria in the spring months should know that in the mountainous area at this time it is possible strong winds- hair dryers. It is they who contribute to the descent of avalanches.
When planning a ski vacation in Austria in the spring, remember that in the Alps it ends in April. The average temperature at this time in the flat part of the country can reach + 15 ° С, and in the mountainous areas, in particular, it warms up only up to + 3 ° С.
Where to go in Austria in summer
The weather in Austria is warm and sunny in summer. In the east of the country, in certain months, a sultry season is even established. The average temperature in the country at this time fluctuates around + 20 ° С, and in the eastern regions it can even reach + 30 ° С.
When planning a vacation in Austria in the summer, you should understand that more than a third of the state is mountainous, so sharp temperature drops are possible here. So, if on a sunny day the temperature indicator can reach + 25 ° С, then at night the thermometer drops to + 10 ° С. Despite this factor, this period is considered the best when to fly to Austria.
Austria - this is, first of all, alpine skiing and snowboarding... The country traditionally ranks first in terms of attendance by Russian skiers.
Why ski Austria so popular?
- a huge selection of ski areas;
- great attention to skiers of different skill levels;
- excellent ski schools;
- modern, constantly updated infrastructure of the resorts;
- perfectly prepared slopes;
- first-class hotels with a homely atmosphere;
- reasonable pricing policy in restaurants, equipment rental shops and hotels;
- numerous opportunities for après-ski holidays.
Cozy mountain huts and farmsteads, alpine glaciers and meadows create a wonderful backdrop for skiing and snowboarding!
When is the best time to go to Austria?
The best time for a ski holiday is Catholic Christmas and New Year's week, from the second week of February to mid-March. The first week of January during the period of Orthodox Christmas and Russian children's school holidays- traditionally the most convenient time for the rest of Russian skiers.
What do you need to be prepared for?
In hotels: One of the attractions of Austrian hotels is that after the reception is closed, the front door can only be opened with the key to your room.
Solution: take your keys with you if you go for a walk in the evening.
In the offices for the rental of ski equipment: there are very few basic equipment models (the cheapest according to price lists). And "top-end" equipment is 1.5-2 times more expensive.
Solution: take skis with you or book in advance (better by e-mail, phone orders are often lost).
With credit cards: the vast majority of restaurants, hotels and even ski pass sales points do not accept payment credit cards.
Solution: have with you the necessary supply of cash.
The language barrier: service workers (hotels, restaurants) usually own English language... But taxi drivers, bus drivers, employees of many municipal services, as well as owners of private boarding houses, communicate exclusively in German.
Solution: learn a few common phrases in German... Our phrasebook will help you with this.
Alpine skiing in Austria is the best service in the world and maximum adrenaline!
Austrian alps
The Austrian Alps, in addition to the pre-Alpine hills in the East, include three main mountain ranges: Northern Limestone Alps (SIA), High alps(VA) and the Southern Limestone Alps (JIA). SIA have many natural valleys, which have sheltered such creations of human hands as, and. BA start from the Oetztal valley (,) and stretch through to and. VA have several comfortable passes, and the Brennerpass and Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse motorways are perhaps the most famous complex combinations of tunnels, bridges and fantastic landscapes in Europe. JIA is the natural border of Austria with Italy and Slovenia.
The Austrian Alps are lower than the neighboring West Italian, Swiss and French Alps, but special climatic conditions associated with high natural humidity and a more northerly (relative to neighbors) position of the country, while observing the low temperatures set for winter by the heavenly office, they please with the exceptional quality of snow, especially in high-mountain resorts.
Home of modern alpine skiing
The name of Austria is forever associated with modern ski technology. As you know, until the end of the century before last, the main skiing technique was the Scandinavian Telemark (refined style, striking in its originality and unexpected grace on modern slopes, just like some old-timer convertible on modern highways!). This retro style was based on the use of bindings not unlike cross-country ski bindings. At the beginning of the last century, Austrian Hannes Schneider radically fixed the skier's heel, using the "snow plow" technique, which allows constant pressure control on the entire sliding surface. The popularization of the new method deserves special mention: in addition to organizing competitions that attracted the attention of professionals to the new technique, Schneider also used cinematography, which was still young at that time, to spread his school among amateurs. And already in the 30s, after the move of H. Schneider's school to the USA, the new technique received almost worldwide distribution.
Seasonality
High Season: Catholic Christmas and New Years Week (December 22 - January 02) and from the second week of February to mid-March. The first week of January during the period of Orthodox Christmas and Russian children's school holidays is traditionally the most convenient time for Russian skiers to relax.
Low season: from the beginning of December to Christmas, mid-January (13.01 to 27.01), from the end of March to the end of April.
Visa
On December 1, 1997, the Republic of Austria joined the Schengen area.
The deadline for applying for a visa is 10 days before the start of the trip (in high season - 2-3 weeks)
The visa processing time is 7 calendar days (in high season - up to 14 working days).
Documents required for contacting the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Moscow:
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1 completed application form,
Certificate from the place of work indicating the annual income,
Medical insurance against an accident, valid in the territory of the Schengen countries during the trip,
Invitation from the host (hotel),
Airline tickets (or printout of airline tickets).
48 EUR for self-submission of documents, 60 EUR for submission of documents through a travel agency
Foreign passport, which expires no earlier than 3 months after the end of the trip,
Dialing codes
Austria (from Moscow): 8-10-43- [area code] - subscriber's number.
Austria (to Moscow, from any phone): 007- [city code in Russia (Moscow - 495) or network code mobile communications] - [subscriber number].
Austria. Vienna (from Moscow): 8-10-43-1- [subscriber number]
Austria. Salzburg (from Moscow): 8-10-43-662- [subscriber number]
Austria. Innsbruck (from Moscow): 8-10-43-512- [subscriber number].
Features of the Austrian service
Hotels. One of the attractions of Austrian hotels is that after the reception is closed, the front door can only be opened with the key to your room ... Do not forget to take your keys with you if you go for a walk in the evening. Saunas. The Austrians know and love the bathhouse no less than the Russians. Steaming (for hygienic reasons) is customary here not with brooms, but with towels. Real virtuosos of their craft - local bath attendants (bademeisters) - have deep traditions of steaming and a dry Finnish sauna or cool Roman sanariums are also not understood, as we do. However, there are almost no chances to “meet” a real bather in a hotel sauna: the “soaring” ritual (Aufguss) is most often performed on a schedule in the “public” saunas of spa water-thermal complexes and consists of 2 (according to the public's mood - 3 x) flavored sacrifices. It is customary to go to public saunas "without cover", and this rule is neither in Austria nor in Germany subject to discussion and has no exceptions.
Ski equipment rental offices. There are two main problems. The first is that there are very few basic models (the cheapest according to price lists). And "top-end" equipment is 1.5-2 times more expensive. There are two options for solving the problem: 1) carry skis with you, 2) book in advance (better by e-mail, phone orders are usually lost). The second problem is drying the boots. The problem is painful in literally the words. Therefore, even if you go to the mountains once a year, have your own ski shoes.
Credit cards. Many restaurants, hotels and even ski pass sales points do not accept credit cards. Have the necessary cash with you. Recall that the most favorable exchange rate for rubles and dollars for euros is in Moscow.
The language barrier. Service workers (hotels, restaurants) usually speak English. But taxi drivers, bus drivers, employees of many municipal services, as well as owners of private guesthouses, use exclusively German to exchange information with the outside world.
Some aspects of the selection of Austrian resorts for this guide
Our survey of Austrian ski resorts did not include more than 50 ski regions. In addition to objective reasons (small ski area and modest infrastructure and low attractiveness in order to specially fly across half of Europe), we would like to note some subjective points that prevent us from including even those resorts that, according to objective indicators, could be included.
Montfon / Montafon(skiing area from 650 m to 2,300 m, the length of the tracks - 203 km). Montafon is picturesquely located in the western part of Vorarlberg and this is where some of the Swiss ski touring routes end. However, the diminutiveness and "sleepiness" of the resorts included in the region, combined with the fragmentation of ski areas (2 km + 26 km + 5 km + 46 km + 3 km, etc.), forcing the use of ski buses, are a sufficient reason, to visit the typologically similar, but better located Sportwelt Amade (Flachau or Wagrain) or Gasteinertal (Bad Gastein or Bad Hofgastein), not to mention SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser (Hopfgarten or Zell) or Kitzbühel.
Nauders(skiing area from 1400 m to 2850 m, the length of the tracks - 111 km). This no less picturesque resort is a place of real tourist pilgrimage, but ... in the summer! If for a relaxing summer vacation in the mountains, a very mediocre ski infrastructure, run-of-the-mill hotels and a poorly developed evening entertainment industry are not a hindrance, then in winter these shortcomings become of serious importance. For comparison, we can cite the bare facts: 55 km of trails in Kaprun (ESR) are served by 28 lifts, and in Nauders 66 km of trails are served by only 14, that is, there are 4.7 km of trails for 1 lift, and 1.96 km in Kaprun. ... And if we take into account that the number of guests in Kaprun and in Nauders does not differ by an order of magnitude (5,500 people and 4,011 people, respectively), then it becomes obvious that the lifts in Nauders are overloaded in comparison with Kaprun. The remoteness of the hotels from the ski lifts completes a number of subjective arguments "against".
Regarding the small glacial zones presented in our guide, we want to note that the value of the resorts offering guaranteed snow, even from the point of view of common sense, should not be questioned. For this simple reason, we have tried to include in "our program" all the main glacial ski areas. Only the Kaunertal glacier remained outside the framework (skiing zone from 2,150 m to 2,330 m, the length of the tracks is 38 km), which is only 26 km from (Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis) and, by and large, does not need a separate detailed representation.
Austria is the premium class in the world of ski holidays. And this is not surprising: the inhabitants of the Austrian Tyrol and Salzburg thought of skimming the legendary alpine meadows not only in the emerald summer, but also in the frosty snowy winter before anyone else in the world - more than 100 years ago. The first downhill competitions took place in the Austrian Alps in 1904, in 1922 the first ski school was opened, in 1928 the first ski lift was launched and, in fact, the ski tourism business in general.
Over a century, hardworking, neat, stubborn Austrians have managed to build a real snow empire on the slopes of their native Alps, which includes more than 800 ski resorts and about 50 ski areas, almost 20% of which are open all year round.
Today Austria is the leader in the reception of skiers and snowboarders. A short flight, a variety of well-equipped slopes - both for children and beginners, as well as for tough off-piste skiing, a wide range of accommodation - from 5-star hotels to more than budget apartments that can be rented "in a joint", the best apre-ski in the world - all this attracts tens of thousands of tourists “armed” with skis and snowboards to the Austrian slopes of the Alps every year.
Express info by country
Austria (Austrian Republic)- a state in Central Europe.
Capital - Vein
Largest cities: Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck
Form of government- Federal Republic
Territory- 83 871 km 2 (112th in the world)
Population- 8.4 million people (94th in the world)
Official language- Deutsch
Religion- Catholicism
HDI- 0.885 (23rd in the world)
Gdp- $ 436.88 billion (27th in the world)
Currency- euro
Borders with: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany
Thanks to visa-free travel, Austria has become much more accessible than before. We have compiled for you a list of the most interesting Austrian ski resorts, which will delight you with a variety of slopes and high-quality service.
Attention! The ski regions of Austria have their own rules, which are somewhat different from the worldwide ones. Therefore, consider:
* There are no traditional amateur “green” trails on the local slopes. Their place is taken by the "blue" - they are intended for training beginners;
* most of the lifts are open between 8:30 and 16:00. Only a few trails provide an opportunity for evening skiing. So it makes sense to think about evening leisure in advance;
* It is customary to book a room in hotels and apartments here from Saturday to Saturday: it can be difficult to check in in the middle of the week.
Ischgl
The most fashionable and pretentious ski resort in the Tyrol region. Ischgl is often called “Austrian Courchevel” - for the same focus on expensive high-quality service and active social life outside the pistes. It regularly hosts concerts of world-famous stars - Madonna, Sting, Elton John were "celebrated" in Ischgl ... Another feature of Ischgl is the abundance of places for shopping: the resort features official stores of many of the world's most famous brands. As for the opportunities for skiing, they are also excellent here: 90% of Ischgl's trails are located above 2000 m above sea level, and therefore winters with little snow do not threaten them, snow - real, alpine, sparkling - is always here. The resort is suitable for families with children: there is a ski school with more than a hundred instructors, "sharpened" for work, including with kids, and a kindergarten.
Trails: the total length of the slopes reaches 238 km. More than half of the slopes are categorized as "red" - designed for experienced skiers. There are also cross-country skiing trails. Special freedom for snowboarders: Ischgl is in the top best resorts for snowboarding in Europe. It offers halfpipe boarders, four jumps and ample opportunities for off-piste skiing.
Ski season: mid November - early May.
Ski pass cost: from 210 to 240 euros, depending on the season (in the periods from November 24 to December 23, from January 7 to January 20, from April 18 to May 1, the cost of the ski pass is reduced). Children's subscriptions are cheaper - about 150 euros.
Bad Gastein
If Ischgl is “Austrian Courchevel”, then located near Salzburg, Bad Gastein is called “Austrian Monte Carlo” - thanks to the oldest mountain casino, the classic European architecture of the town and a wide range of après-ski opportunities. The ski resort has several thermal springs and the appropriate infrastructure (salons for spa and beauty treatments, radon baths, salt tunnels), thanks to which tourists can combine ski holidays with relaxation in the sauna and general health improvement.
Trails: up to 220 kilometers of perfectly prepared slopes at altitudes up to 2700 m. More than 60% are red runs (medium difficulty). The resort also has cross-country skiing trails, a fan park and two half-pipes for snowboarders. There are opportunities for virgin skiing.
Ski season: December - March.
Ski pass cost: about 200 euros for six days. For children (up to 15 years old) and young people (up to 19 years old), prices are one and a half to two times lower.
Kitzbuehel
One of the most famous and popular ski resorts not only in Austria but all over the world. Old town Kitzbühel began hosting skiers back in the 1920s and is now considered the cradle of Austrian alpine skiing. You can ride not only in the most (very expensive) Kitzbühel, but also in the adjacent regions associated with the "cradle" common system tracks.
For example, Kitzbühel is just a stone's throw from the Zell region, which unites several small ski villages with more than humane living costs and an abundance of simple “family” slopes.
Trails: up to 200 km of well-equipped and well-groomed trails, more than a third of which are intended for beginner skiers, including children. However, this does not mean that the professional in Kitzbühel has nowhere to turn around: here is the steepest slalom track in the Alps Streif, which hosts the world's most serious downhill competitions: an 85-degree slope angle provides a descent speed of up to 140 km / h.
Ski season: December - March.
Ski pass cost: about 200 euros for six days. Children (up to 15 years old) and young people (up to 19 years old) are offered a discount by the resort. Ski passes for 12 days are also available at a price of about 320 euros.
Mayrhofen
Located in the Zillertal Valley (also called the Tyrolean Valley), the resort is considered a real ski mecca of the Alps. In Mayrhofen, four narrow mountain valleys, each of which provides opportunities for a variety of skiing. But, of course, the most famous is the Tuxertal valley, leading to the largest glacier in Austria - Hintertux, thanks to which year-round skiing is possible in Mayrhofen. In general, the Tyrolean Valley unites ten skiing regions at altitudes from 550 m to 3286 m, interconnected as shared tracks and excellent bus connections. Therefore, in order to ride the legendary Hintertux or relax in the water park in the evenings, you do not have to live in Mayrhofen itself: you can pick up inexpensive apartments in one of the villages nearby.
Trails:up to 150 km of groomed trails, most of which belong to the blue (initial difficulty level) or red (medium) categories. The length of the black slopes is up to 20 km: this also includes the slope under the eloquent name "Harakiri", the slope on which reaches 78 degrees.
Ski season: year-round.
Ski pass cost: 205 euros for 6 days or 377 euros for 13. Children (up to 15 years old) and young people (up to 19 years old) are provided with substantial discounts: prices for a children's ski pass start at 92 euros for 6 days of skiing.
Kaprun
For real fabulous place for those who want not only to have a great ride, but also to breathe in the atmosphere of the real, original Alps. Touching provincial town is located at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn mountain 3203 m high, from which stretches the "tongue" of the Kaprun glacier, which makes it possible to ski all year round.
Kaprun itself is more like a classic alpine village framed by a mountain wall: there is no snobbery, noise, fuss, and therefore it is ideal for a family vacation. A special atmosphere for tourists will be given by a local medieval castle and prepared trails for mountain walks in any season. For many years, the mountain train was considered a trademark of the ski resort, on which it was possible to climb the glacier region, but it was replaced by cable car- which is also not bad.
Trails: about 50 km of prepared blue and red slopes, as well as over 30 km of cross-country skiing trails. If you wish, enjoying the Alpine atmosphere of Kaprun, you can easily and quickly get from the town by bus to Zell am See - a more modern and noisy resort with an abundance of various trails, including black ones.
Ski season: all year round.
Ski pass cost: € 209 for 6 days. For children (up to 15 years old) and young people (up to 19 years old), prices have been reduced by about one and a half to two times.
Where to go if you ...
... just learn to ski and snowboard: Mayrhofen, Zell am See, Kaprun, Lech, Serfaus, Obertauern;
… Ride confidently and love speed: Ischgl, Bad Gastein, Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen, Zell am See, St. Anton, Serfaus, Saalbach;
... love off-piste skiing and freeriding: Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Zell am See, Mayrhofen, Lech, Serfaus, Saalbach, Obertauern;
... you prefer snowboarding: Ischgl, Mayrhofen and the entire Zillertal, Bad Gastein, Sölden region;
... appreciate not only mountain, but also cross-country skiing: Mayrhofen, Kaprun, Zell am See, Innsbruck;
... love to slide down the slope right to the hotel door: Hochgurl, Obergurgl, Obertauern, Zürs;
… Crave a varied holiday with a daily change of activities: Ischgl, Sölden, Lech, St. Anton, Saalbach-Hinterglemm;
... want to relax in peace with your family and children: Kitzbühel, Kaprun, Mayrhofen, Zell am See, Serfaus;
... do not ski, but want to feel the atmosphere of a ski resort and not get bored: Kitzbühel, Kaprun, Bad Gastein, Seefeld, Innsbruck;
… You love good food: Ischgl, Kitzbühel, Bad Gastein, Mayrhofen, Seefeld, Innsbruck, Kirchberg, Seefeld;
… Need a variety of evening entertainment, parties and shopping: Ischgl, Mayrhofen, St. Anton, Obertaurn, Bad Gastein, Innsbruck, Seefeld.
