Austria Hotel Collection: The Best Winter Hotels

Skiing holiday or city break – a nice hotel to stretch your legs after an adventure-filled day on the slopes or the Christmas markets is an essential part of every holiday. Therefore, it comes with little surprise that choosing the right accommodation takes up a great part of many travellers’ pre-trip planning. After all, some even choose their destination based on a hotel they fancy.

To make things a little easier, let us introduce you to the Austria Hotel Collection, a curated group of premier hotels perfect for a ski getaway, a wintery city trip or a romantic weekend. Every hotel on our list is unique, but they all exemplify the best in Austrian hospitality.

SKI HOLIDAYS THE AUSTRIAN WAY  

Austria remains a leading destination for skiing escapes and active family holidays – who wouldn’t love to wake up in the heart of the snow-covered Alps after all? Ski-in/ski-out from your doorstop, relax your muscles at a dreamy hotel spa after whisking down the slopes, and end your day in style over a traditional Austrian dinner next to a crackling fireplace. Tirol, SalzburgerLand and Carinthia are your go-to places for a fairy tale-style winter stay.

Tirol’s Ötztal is a popular skiing destination and Aqua Dome – Tirol Therme Längenfeld is the perfect fit for holidaymakers wanting to combine their snowy adventures with some spa time. The resort sports a whooping 12 pools filled with thermal waters, 14 saunas, and tons of spa treatment options. Relax in a heated pool while marveling at the snow-covered mountains.     

Forsthofgut in Leogang, SalzburgerLand, a sustainable farm-turned luxury hotel, is another ski and spa resort not to be missed! It has direct access to the surrounding slopes and features Europe’s first forest spa, with an adults-only area (old-wood sauna, herbal and steam baths, 25-m-long sports pool with mountain views), as well as a separate kids water wonderland.

Located in Sölden in Tirol, newly refurbished five-star Das Central is surrounded by more than 250 three-thousanders – guests can ski in five ski resorts with one pass. At the hotel itself everything is top-notch: Highlights include a Venice-inspired spa on three floors and an award-winning restaurant and in-house wine cellar with over 30,000 bottles.

Heading to Austria’s Southern-most province Carinthia? Trattlerhof in Bad Kleinkirchheim in the Nockberge mountains is a cosy and family-friendly winter hideaway currently run by the fifth generation. Guests have quick access to the slopes, with the closest lift only 150 m away. Amenities include a forest spa, wine tasting weekends and horse-drawn carriage rides.

If you’re looking for a luxurious chalet rather han a hotel room, Chalets by The Kaprun Edition in Zell am See – Kaprun, SalzburgerLand, is the place to be. The cosy winter homes in the heart of the ski resort are all built with organic, untreated wood, and come with three to seven bedrooms, a private sauna and – in some cases – a wood-fired outdoor hot tub.
 

CITY BREAKS THE AUSTRIAN WAY

Baroque architecture, cosy cafés with their signature cakes, award-winning restaurants, and world-famous art institutions right at your doorstep: Austria’s cities are worth a visit all year round. But the winter season with its festive lights and romantic Christmas markets might just be the right time to tick them off the bucket list. The following hotels are in the heart of the action, allowing maximum time for exploring and sightseeing.

Vienna

Foodies visiting Vienna will love the new The Amauris on the famous Ring boulevard near the Vienna State Opera, in walking distance of many Christmas markets. The Glasswing Restaurant inside the palais – dating back to 1861 – offers traditional Austrian cuisine with a contemporary touch. Stretch your legs in style after a day of sightseeing at the luxurious in-house spa.

Hotel Sans Souci is a great choice for holidaymakers loving design, the arts, and a tad of luxury: The boutique hotel in the hip 7th district, close to both Christmas markets and trendy  MuseumsQuartier, features complimentary champagne breakfast, tastings every Thursday of the month, and the largest hotel pool in the capital underneath a glittering chandelier.

Trendy Hotel Harmonie owes its name to the former Harmonie Theatre, just a stone’s throw away. Unsurprisingly, owner Sonja Wimmer chose an artistic concept for her hotel, combining Vienna’s rich history with dance traditions. Expect stylish and colourful rooms, pieces of art throughout the building, and many sustainability measures, including a fully vegan breakfast. 

Trendy Hollmann Beletage is a charming boutique hotel very close to St Stephen’s Cathedral (and the famous Christmas market in front of it!). Surprises await at every corner here, like a stylish private cinema, a room solely dedicated to board games (they are even on the walls!) and free “Leberkäse” (traditional meatloaf) and beer for hotel guests in the afternoon.

Organic, fair-trade and sustainable: Henriette Stadthotel Vienna in the hip and central 2nd district, the former home of Johann Strauß, is a small luxury home away from home having earned both the Austrian and EU Ecolabel. It heats its room with an in-house air-to-air heat pump system, while most of the food at the restaurant is regional and organic while all the bedding is 100% plastic-free.

Hotel Altstadt, a carefully restored 19th-century patrician house in the Spittelberg artist district, is a piece of art in itself: All 62 rooms and suites have been individually styled by local and international designers, and over 350 pieces of original art are displayed throughout the hotel. Spittelberg Christmas market, a long-term local favourite, is right around the corner!

Hotel Bristol is the place to be for fans of classical music – it’s right next to the Vienna State Opera, close to most major sights and, of course, the Christmas markets. The rooms boast opulent décor and amazing views of the Opera and the Ringstraße’s grand buildings. Enjoy all-day dining and exquisite cocktails and cognacs at the in-house restaurant, bars, and salons.

Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere is a contemporary upscale, yet relaxed design hotel inspired by Vienna‘s art and architecture. Just across famous Belvedere palace and its romantic festive market, it celebrates style and uniqueness perfectly in line with its name – Andaz is Hindi for “personal style”. Enjoy a cocktail at their rooftop bar (open fireplace to warm up included!).

Opened in 1898, Hotel Ambassador is just as elegant as its surroundings – it sits right in the heart of Vienna’s historic centre, close to St Stephen’s Cathedral, the State Opera and several Christmas markets. Many well-known figures in the music, art, and culture scene have popped in here over the years. The top floor apartments come with picture-perfect city views.

Salzburg

Arthotel Blaue Gans is a favourite for city breaks in Salzburg – and it’s easy to see why! Right in the heart of town across from Festspielhaus (Festive Hall), it houses Salzburg’s oldest inn (dating back to 1350). Expect a prime location in walking distance to the Christmas markets, stylish rooms, more than 120 original artworks, and contemporary cuisine with a Mediterranean touch.

Innsbruck

Tirol’s capital Innsbruck has no shortage of accommodation options but colourful NALA Individuell Hotel stands out from the crowd. The rooms are all individually designed in line with their names (from cinema to zen), it comes with a beautiful rooftop terrace and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. And if all of this wasn’t enough, sustainability is key here.

ROMANTIC GETAWAYS THE AUSTRIAN WAY

Looking for a cosy winter escape right at the lakeside, surrounded by mountains? Romantik Hotel Im Weißen Rössl in the Salzkammergut region, world-famous thanks to the operetta and musical film of the same name, is exactly that. Expect modern interiors, a beautiful spa and romantic restaurant on-site as well as three traditional Christmas markets all around the lake.

Holidaymakers can feel like royalty at Hotel Schloss Dürnstein, a castle built in 1622, in the picturesque UNESCO World Heritage site Wachau an hour away from Vienna. The luxury hotel features vaulted ceilings, fine parquet floors, antique furniture, and views of the river and the surrounding vineyards. It goes without saying, that the wine list is top-notch, too.

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