Austria has long been a favourite for groups of British adults to go skiing! The ski-in/ski out hotels, lively apres-ski scene, and vast expanses of skiing make it one of, if not the top location in the world for such a winter holiday. But Austria is not just for adults, it’s equally an ideal place for an action-packed family holiday with a plethora of off-piste activities, top quality ski-schools and kids clubs, and family friendly hotels. For families searching for their winter wonderland, these are our highlights.
 

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (Tirol)

Ski Juwel has quietly built a reputation as one of Tirol’s hidden gems. The family-friendly ski resort has a mix of slopes for all abilities and caters well to families and those seeking a more relaxed style of ski holiday. Just an hour from Innsbruck, Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau, is home to Austria’s “chocolate box” villages such as Alpbach and Niederau, and is ranked as one of the most child-friendly ski resorts in Tirol. Skiers and snowboarders can look forward to 114 km of varied slopes, 10 ski schools, snow parks and the kind of picturesque untouched nature that you can only find in the Austrian Alps. For those looking for something a little special you can book co-piloting sessions on piste bashers, tobogganing, or visit the Top of Alpbachtal, featuring an observation tower, a restaurant, and a platform with stunning panoramic views.

For winter 2025/26, the area has invested around € 3 million Euro to boost piste quality and snow reliability with 30 new snow generators in Alpbachtal and 14 in Wildschönau. Most excitingly, they have added mobile ticket technology, ski passes can be purchased on the online store and loaded directly onto smart phones.
 

NEW FOR WINTER 2025/26

• € 3 million Euro invested in new snow-making facilities
• Mobile ski passes available for purchase
• New kids’ piste & new conveyor belt lifts
• Open Faces returns 7th Feburary 2026
   

St. Johann in Tirol (Tirol)

St. Johann in Tirol is located right in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps and makes the perfect spot for family holidays or a quieter, more traditional Tyrolean experience. It’s less crowded than some of its neighbours but still offers 42 km of slopes and is brimming with cosy huts and sunny terraces. But if this isn't enough, you can pay a small surcharge for the 3-Länder Freizeit-Arena pass and open up access to 171 km of pistes across Tirol, Salzburg and Bavaria. Off the slopes, the Panorama Badewelt has a 1,800 m² illuminated ice rink and there are natural toboggan runs in Kirchdorf and Oberndorf to ride at night.

Nature is so important here, St. Johann offers numerous kilometres of cross-country trails and winter walking paths, for those looking for peace and relaxation. The region wears its sustainability focus proudly, having just been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism Destinations (2025). Families will find plenty on offer in St. Johann, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf. Those with small children are especially well catered for in the small ski areas in Erpfendorf and Kirchdorf—this is where youngsters learn to ski in peace and with lots of fun.
 

NEW FOR WINTER 2025/26

• Gondel-Dinner nights (22 Jan & 5 Mar 2026) and Lift & Liebe chairlift-dating Saturdays (10 Jan–14 Feb).
• Award of the Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism Destinations (awarded in August 2025) underlines the region’s sustainability focus.
• Hotel Oberforsthof reopens in autumn 2025 with 6 new treatment rooms, adult only spa, and a dedicated family area in the restaurant.
   

St. Johann in Salzburg (Snow Space Salzburg)

St. Johann in Salzburg keeps things simple for families, with ski-in/ski-out hotels, friendly schools and a compact centre that’s easy to navigate with little legs in tow. Just 60 km south of the city of Salzburg, it is an ideal destination for a family holiday this winter. Though smaller, this resort offers a cosy and charming atmosphere, making it a good choice for a quieter, more traditional winter holiday experience. However, for those looking for more extensive skiing, St. Johann is part of Snow Space Salzburg, one of Austria’s five largest ski regions. It connects with Flachau, Wagrain, and Flachauwinkl/Zauchensee, featuring a total of 210 km of slopes and 70 ultra-modern cable cars, including two World Cup runs.

Highlights for families include the Hahnbaum family area, where children and beginners of all ages can master their first turns at the platter lift free of charge, as well as the annual SoKiWo St. Johann Kids Week, a fun-packed adventure programme on and off the piste.
 

NEW FOR WINTER 2025/26

• 150 Years of Liechtensteinklamm
  (a very famous gorge trail developed by Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein)
   

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (Tirol)

Serfaus-Fis-Ladis is a top-tier winter destination in the Austrian Alps, offering over 200 km of slopes. The region is a true Eldorado for families with three dedicated children’s worlds covering 125,000 m² (Kinderschneealm, Murmli Park, Berta’s Kinderland), excellent ski schools, and activities beyond skiing for all ages, such as tobogganing, skating or fat biking.

And it's not just the views that are spectacular, you'll be equally seduced by the charming alpine villages. Love culinary experiences? Try breakfast with a view at Sunrise Hexensee or a gourmet lunch at the Crystal Cube. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis also has the most hours of winter sun of any Austrian ski resort (2,000 per year) and the highest mini tube in the world! Kids and adults alike will love the watershows at the Ladis castle pond and the cosy “Magic Ladis” market. For 2025/26 there is a new Waldbahn multi-storey parking garage and a modernised Ladis valley station with a premium comfort ski-depot featuring heated lockers, beauty stations, interactive walls, games, ski-school office, and a shop.
 

NEW FOR WINTER 2025/26

• Waldbahn parking facility and revamped Ladis base area.
• State of the art ski-depot comfort hub (opening Dec 2025).
   

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental (Tirol)

As one of Austria's largest interconnected ski areas, SkiWelt has become a perennial UK-family favourite. Located just an hour from Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Munich, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental connects nine mountain villages and has received numerous awards. The resort features 270 km of groomed slopes and 20 valley descents, all powered by 100% green electricity for over 20 years.

Remarkably, it also introduced one of Austria's first solar-powered lifts back in 2008. What's more, SkiWelt boasts Austria’s largest night skiing resort with 13 km of illuminated slopes. The villages surrounding the slopes come with high-quality ski schools, family-run accommodations and plenty of tobogganing, spas, and restaurants. At SkiWelt kids born in 2020 or later ski for free and they offer a “Young Family Pass”, where two parents can share one lift pass! Families can choose from 22 ski schools with dedicated kids’ areas, childcare is available from as young as five months, giving parents time to explore the pistes without the kids in tow!
 

NEW FOR WINTER 2025/26

• Kids born in 2020 or later get a free ski pass.
• Free skiing for children up to 15 during FamilySkiWeeks (6-19 Dec 2025 and 14 Mar–6 Apr 2026).

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