The ski scene of Austria is set in a traditional background of trail and lift lines that define the small Alpine villages enclosed by breathtaking snowy peaks.
Cue High Culture
The Habsburgs have over the years invested their vast resources into the world of fine art, music and acquiring palaces the way would collect a stamp. Their cultural impact is still unmistakably distinct in Austria today and you can feel it watching the prance of the Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School, or seeing the Rubens genius pieces in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Music festivals such as the Bregenzer Festspiele and Salzburg Festival are held by the mountain tops or picturesque lakesides while the songs of timeless pop stars- Mahler, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Strauss, grace the air ever so loudly.
The Innsbruck – Kranebitten Airport (INN) in the Tyrolean capital is a great place to start your exploration. You can access at least 8 major ski areas from the airport. In the space of a hour drive, you could be in the serene resorts of Alpbach, Mayrhofen and Soll while a further drive for the next one hour and more will take you to the Italian resorts of Selva Gardena and Corvara, the fascinating Lech, and the Swiss resorts of Laax, Davos and Klosters.
The Salzburg WA Mozart International Airport (SZG) is another good place to begin your journeys as it will take you to a large number of ski resorts. Within an hour, you can find yourself in Ellmau or Alpendorf, in 2 hours you could be at the legendary Mayrhofen or Kitzbuhel and if you are prepared to travel for 3 hours and more, you will be sure to get to the Zurs and Lech resorts of Austria, the Ortisei resorts of Italy and the Bled and Kranjska Gora resorts of Slovenia.
Baroque And Beyond
Austria at first sight depicts an air of a charming old-fashioned city with its sky-high cathedral churches, regal Habsburg headquarters (Schloss Schönnbrunn) and medieval architectural styles such as the Stephansdom. However, the country is much more than the ceremonial splendor that meets the eye. There is a new wave of building design taking over its cities and creating a beautiful fusion of vintage and modern style. In fact, some of the conspicuous icons in this present age are the contemporary ones such as Vienna’s Museums Quartier, the color-shifting giant Rubik’s Cube in Linz and the pro sci-fi Kunsthaus Graz. These places will open your eyes to the real beauty of Austria.
Although the Innsbruck – Kranebitten Airport is at the center of Tirol, the Munich International Airport (MUC) is still the best airport to get to Tirol because of its excellent international network and fair flight prices on the average. The Munich Airport is also the best means to get to Ost Tirol, Süd Tirol and the Dolomites. The network roads are smooth and superb and you’ll be right on track the Autobahn straight from the airport.
The ski resorts of Austria are a calm opposite to the showy resorts of France and Switzerland. The snow-covered peaks provide a charming and scenic background for the small Alpine villages and you can ski all day without boredom. From gentle slopes to moderate trails and steep runs, there’s a terrain for youngsters, amateurs, professionals and everyone alike.
St. Anton am Arlberg
The official figures put the extent of the ski area as average- 145kms of piste and 33 lifts. This appears bigger in reality because of the horizontal and vertical scope of the runs. There are good ski schools here with […]
Innsbruck
Innsbruck is located at a natural crossroad in the Alps. The East to West axis of Innsbruck is home to strategic Inn Valley while to the South is the Brenner Pass linking Italy to the rest of Europe. The city’s […]
Alpbach
A 50-minute drive from the Innsbruck Airport will take you to family-friendly ski resort known as Alpbach. Winner of the “Most Beautiful Village in Austria” competition, Alpbach is also a popular tourist destination all year round and is linked by […]
Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Saalbach and Hinterglemm are Siamese in nature as they share a close connection at the hip. Add Leogang and Fieberbrunn and you have the Skicircus, a huge lowland area in the Austrian Alps. Skiing is however just one of the […]
Zell am See
The official figures put the extent of the ski area as average- 145kms of piste and 33 lifts. This appears bigger in reality because of the horizontal and vertical scope of the runs. There are good ski schools here with […]
Söll and the SkiWelt
The official figures put the extent of the ski area as average- 145kms of piste and 33 lifts. This appears bigger in reality because of the horizontal and vertical scope of the runs. There are good ski schools here with […]
Mayrhofen
Family-friendly but still lively enough for the younger crowd, Mayrhofen is a low-lying ski resort with high extensive ski slopes by Austrian standards. It’s also connected by bus to the other Zillertal Valley ski resorts, including the snowsure glacier at […]
Ischgl Silvretta Arena
In a country that parties as hard as it skis, Ischgl outshines other après-ski resorts with its snowy, mini-Ibiza that’s for both boarding and skiing. Ischgl is more recognized as for après-ski rather than skiing. It has an interesting list […]
Sölden
Sölden has the height that gives it a snowsure advantage and has over the years built a reputation of offering winter tourists just what they want. The main resort is located at a height of 1377m, the satellite resort (Hochsolden) […]
Lech-Zürs am Arlberg
The twin resorts of Lech and Zürs are ideal for couples and families. These resorts have an unwavering dedication to excellence and this is evident in the type of wealthy clientele they attract. You will find in the Arlberg ski […]
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel is the World’s Best Ski Resort with a ski area that holds great appeal for winter sports. This charm is linked to the extraordinary beauty of the Kitzbühel|Kirchberg scenery. There are exciting snowboard fun parks, vast stretches of cross-country […]
Hintertux
The Hintertux Glacier is a snowy fun place has one of the highest ski peaks in Europe. Its icy slopes are open through the year and has steep gradients that encourage downhill racing training by ski teams throughout the off-season. […]
What to experience
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Travel to Austria: A First-timers Guide
Austrian Currency – A Brief Cost Guide
The local currency is the Euro (EUR) and there’s no doubt you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to spend it. How much money will you need in Austria? €106 ($117) is the average daily price for traveling in Austria. The average price of meals in Austria for one day is €25 ($28). The average price of a hotel in Austria for a couple is €114 ($126).
Tipping in Austria
A 10-15 percent service charge is normally added to hotel and restaurant bills in Austria, but it is customary to leave another 5 percent if satisfied with the service.
For more information visit https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/europe/austria.
Do I need a VISA?
Entry requirements for americans
US passport holders require a passport valid for three months beyond period of intended stay, but a visa is not needed for a stay of up to 90 days.
Entry requirements for canadians
Canadians require a passport valid for three months beyond intended period of stay, but no visa is needed for a stay of up to 90 days.
* Pricing and availability are subject to change. All itineraries/tours/guides are based on airlines, travel agencies, hotel, tour policies, schedules and operational conditions at the time of booking.