Winter Holidays the Austrian Way
Are you ready for the snow and the slopes? Experience Austria like a local this winter season.
Austria holds firm as a winter destination for British holidaymakers. And it's easy to see why: The Alps cover over 60% of our surface, making Austria a playground for skiers and fans of all kinds of winter sports. And then, of course, there's the famous "Gemütlichkeit", the romantic Christmas markets, and all the hearty signature dishes from Schnitzel to Kaiserschmarred and Tiroler Gröstl.
This year, we invite you – and your audience – to experience a winter filled with happy moments around the clock, a memorable time you will still think about in many years. Enjoy the cold season like the locals do - Winter Holidays the Austrian Way!
WINTER IN TIROL
The Arlberg region ranges from Tirol to Vorarlberg and is home to five legendary holiday spots: Sporty St. Anton, Lech, famous for its award-winning restaurants, popular ski hideaway Zürs, historic St. Christoph, and family-friendly Stuben all combine winter fun with Tyrolean charm. Often dubbed the „cradle of alpine skiing“, this is a place where everything is top-notch. Arlberg is one of the snowiest regions of the Alps, the largest connected ski area in Austria (more than 300 km of marked ski runs and 87 lifts) and one of the top 5 worldwide. Skiing has been part of the locals‘ everyday day life here for more than 100 years – holidaymakers can look forward to an authentic winter experience with a tad of luxury.
NEW IN 2023/24: A new 8-person gondola lift in Stuben (Albonabahn I) and modern snow-making facilities in Schröcken.
Gurgl in Tirol’s Ötztal valley sits amid snow-covered three-thousanders and scores with its snow-sure pistes, premium ski-in/ski out hotels, gourmet restaurants, and international flair – it has turned into an inside tip for holidaymakers cherishing the bright sides of life. Skiers can look forward to 112 km of pistes, 25 lifts and literally no waiting times to get whisked up the top of the mountains. And there’s more: The Ötztal Super Skipass includes 5 additional winter resorts (Sölden, Hochoetz-Kühtai, Niederthai, Gries and Vent). Can’t get enough of the fun in the snow? Try early morning skiing and floodlit night skiing and tobogganing. Last but not least, Gurgl is also a popular spa destination, meaning skiers can relax their muscles in style after a long day on the slopes.
NEW IN 2023/24: Luxury hotel Sportlers Lodge in nearby Sölden with a three-storey spa, a 150 m² infinity rooftop pool and fabulous mountain views.
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental, just one hour from Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Munich, unites nine mountain villages and is an award-winning XXL region: It’s one of the largest, most modern, and sustainable ski resorts in the world! Featuring 270 km of groomed slopes and 20 valley descents, it has been powered by 100% green electricity for more than 20 years and has had one of the first solar-powered lifts in Austria since 2008, making it both a fun and sustainable resort. SkiWelt is also home to Austria’s largest night resort (13 km!).
NEW IN 2023/24: The sign-posted SkiWelt Tour taking skiers and snowboarders around the whole region without having to take a single lift twice. It can be taken clockwise (69 km) or anti clockwise (84 km).
St. Johann in Tirol and its neighbouring villages Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf are located right in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps and are a leading destination for family winter holidays. The mostly family-run hotels cater to the needs of even the youngest guests, there are ski schools, tobogganing, Segway tours and special kids’ programmes, with the adventures accompanied by the region’s mascot Yappy. And, of course, the region is excellent for skiing, too: Stay in cosy St. Johann (42 km of slopes), choose the 3 Länder Freizeit Arena ski pass (171 km), or go big with the Super Ski Card (2,750 km plus 3 glaciers).
NEW IN 2023/24: The Dynafit Skitourenpark for ski touring fans, with some trails also accessible in the evening.
If you like superlatives, Zillertal is a go-to place in winter. The valley – consisting of the ski regions Fügen-Kaltenbach, Zell-Gerlos, Mayrhofen-Hippach and Tux-Finkenberg – boasts 544 km of slopes and the steepest run in Austria (max. gradient: 78%). 180 modern cable cars and lifts take guests up to 3,250 m above sea level in no time. And the best thing? The Zillertal Superskipass gives unlimited access to all of this, and includes ski buses and public transport on top. Plus, the snowy fun in Zillertal doesn’t end with the groomed pistes: The ski region is also a hotspot for freeriders! Add the cross country and winter hiking trails, the traditional huts, family-run hotels, and adventures like the Hintertux Nature Ice Palace and Zillertal makes holiday dreams come true.
NEW IN 2023/24: The 10-seater gondola lift Krimml-X-Press and the 2-seater chairlift 6 CLD Mitterleger in Zillertal Arena, as well as Visorium, an indoor leisure facility in Mayrhofen where visitors can learn interesting facts about the Zillertal in a playful way.
In Innsbruck, skiing meets sightseeing, and urban amenities are combined with the world-renowned winter sports facilities of the Olympia SkiWorld. Every day is a new adventure - holidaymakers in Tirol’s capital are truly spoilt with choice! The SKI plus CITY pass gives guests access to no less than 13 ski areas with a total of 308 km of pistes, 111 lifts and cable cars, many of them accessible right from the heart of the city. Away from the slopes, 22 sightseeing and cultural activities await, from the Bergisel ski jump to the Swarovski Crystal Worlds and the alpine zoo. Families with children will especially value the huge variety of winter adventures.
NEW IN 2023/24: A new family-friendly toboggan run (over 1,300m) in nearby Kühtai and H5 Studio, the new partner hotel of nearby Grauer Bär right in the heart of town.
One of the birthplaces of alpine skiing and the home of the famous Hahnenkamm races, (where Dave Ryding wrote history as the first Brit to ever win a World Cup race!), charming Kitzbühel ranks among the best and most well-known winter resorts in the world. 233 km of slopes, 57 lifts, 11 ski schools, more than 60 mountain huts and up to 200 km of skiing await. And the adventure starts right at the hotel door: The Hahnenkamm cable car is just three minutes away from the historic centre and several descents end in the heart of the village. Add the toboggan runs, the countless cross-country and winter hiking trails, the weekly activity programme, and award-winning restaurants, and it comes with little surprise that guests come again and again.
NEW IN 2023/24: Two 6-seater chairlifts replacing the 6SB Trattenbach and 6SB Gauxjoch from December.
Four mountains, two valleys – one big winter adventure for the whole family! SkiJuwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau, less than one hour away from Innsbruck and home to Austria’s “most beautiful village” Alpbach, ranks among the most child-friendly ski resorts in Tirol. Skiers and snowboarders can look forward to 113 km of slopes (with plenty of options for all skill levels, including complete beginners, and designated pistes just for children), 45 lifts, 10 ski schools, snow parks and picturesque untouched nature. Special adventures include early morning and night skiing, co-piloting sessions on piste bashers, tobogganing, and the Top of Alpbach, featuring an observation tower, a restaurant, and a platform with stunning panoramic views.
One of the largest linked, cross-border ski areas in the Alps, Ischgl and its neighbouring resorts Galtür, Kapp, and See give holidaymakers the full Alpine luxury experience. The resort features 364 km of snow-sure slopes (up until early May), 45 state-of-the-art gondolas and chairlifts, and thrilling off-piste freeriding. Winter sports enthusiasts can take their pick from countless four and five-star hotels, while foodies will enjoy dining at a different award-winning restaurant every night of their stay – Ischgl has been named the Tyrolean gourmet mecca by Gault-Millau restaurant guide “A la carte”. Need a break from the slopes? Try the luxury spa Silvretta Therme.
NEW IN 2023/24: New hotel LUF Lodges, a mix of luxury, comfort, and closeness to nature amid the breathtaking alpine mountain landscape.
WINTER IN SALZBURGERLAND
Zell am See-Kaprun is SalzburgerLand’s only glacier ski resort, ensuring skiing fun from as early as October (and up until May) thanks to the Kitzsteinhorn. Winter sports enthusiasts await fun slopes for all ages, thrilling snow parks and freeride options and spectacular views of Lake Zell. The Ski ALPINE CARD connects three resorts and gives guests access to 408 km of slopes, including one of the world’s largest fun piste on the Schmittenhöhe (1,3 km!). Alternative activities include the Tauern SPA (with a large heated outdoor pool), snowshoeing, torch-lit winter hikes, and stunning viewing platforms. A special feature of Zell am See-Kaprun is “Après-Chill”, the relaxed version of après-ski with open fires and lounge music.
St. Johann in Salzburg is just 60 km south of the city of Salzburg and makes an ideal destination for a family snow holiday. Guests can enjoy skiing like back in the day, including at the Hahnbaum family area, where children and newbies of all ages will master their first turns at the platter lift free of charge. A highlight for families is the SoKiWo St. Johann Kids Week, a fun-packed adventure programme on and off the piste (3 - 7 April 2024). St. Johann is part of Snow Space Salzburg, one of Austria’s five largest ski regions, connecting it with Flachau, Wagrain and Flachauwinkl/Zauchensee and featuring a total of 210 km of slopes, including two World Cup runs. Bonus: Holidaymakers can ski-in/ski-out right from their hotel door!
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