Skiing in Austria: The Lesser-Known Resorts
Austria is one of the most popular countries in Europe for ski vacations among skiers worldwide. Today, when "ski" and "Austria" are mentioned in the same sentence, we immediately think of St. Anton, Mayrhofen, or Sölden, but there are several other resorts well worth knowing and discovering.
Bad Gastein
Bad Gastein, located about an hour's drive from Salzburg, initially became famous as a spa town, as the surrounding area is blessed with numerous thermal hot springs known for their health benefits.
The healing thermal springs still bubble around Bad Gastein, and at the same time, the town has developed into one of Austria's leading ski hubs. The ski area offers 25 slopes with a total length of no less than 190 km, alongside an additional 35 km of cross-country trails, virtually endless options for spectacular off-piste skiing, and a well-equipped snowpark.
The resort is particularly suitable for intermediate skiers. Although there are beginner slopes, access to them is slightly less convenient, and transitioning after lessons to slightly more challenging pistes can be difficult due to their steepness and length.
Bad Gastein's longstanding status as a resort town has made it an ideal vacation spot thanks to the wide variety of activities it offers off the slopes. Among other things, visitors in Bad Gastein can enjoy toboggan runs, squash courts, bowling, a casino, ice skating, an extensive selection of restaurants, lively bars and clubs—and, of course, pampering spa complexes and the aforementioned revitalizing thermal baths.
Guided Tours in Austria from Viator:
Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel is one of the relatively lower ski resorts in Austria (though its slopes still reach altitudes of up to about 2,000 meters), and therefore snow conditions can sometimes be less than optimal (despite the presence of snow cannons)—yet the wonderfully romantic atmosphere that prevails throughout more than makes up for it.
Kitzbühel is an ancient village that grew into a thriving town, while still preserving its charming, rustic historic character at its core.
In total, the Kitzbühel ski area offers around 150 km of runs, most of which are suitable for beginners or intermediate skiers. At the same time, the resort also boasts 12 black runs, including a famous and challenging downhill course, as well as excellent off-piste terrain. The area is also well-suited for snowboarders, who enjoy a spacious park packed with features, and for anyone who finds Kitzbühel itself not vast enough, there is the option to purchase an extended ski pass for the giant SkiWelt area.
Alongside its unique romantic ambiance, diverse leisure activities (including hot air balloon rides), and vibrant nightlife, Kitzbühel is also famous for the large number of celebrities who visit to indulge in a luxurious winter vacation.
Saalbach
Saalbach is one of the most popular ski resorts in Austria, primarily thanks to roughly 200 km of exceptionally high-quality slopes.
In fact, it encompasses two towns, Saalbach and Hinterglemm, which merged into a single resort area following rapid development (located about a 1.5-hour drive from Salzburg and about 3 hours from Munich).
The 200 kilometers of this well-maintained ski area offer plenty of options for every type of skier—beginners can enjoy no fewer than 32 great blue runs (especially in the Bernkogel area), snowboarders will find wide, flat-free slopes (along with an excellent snowpark), and thrill-seekers can take on the downhill run at Zwölferkogel (a course that previously hosted World Championships)—while everyone benefits from the resort's top-tier infrastructure and fast, convenient access across the mountain. Some slopes are also situated on a glacier.
Saalbach and Hinterglemm also excel when it comes to après-ski (an area where Austria generally shines). Unforgettable parties, live shows, festivals drawing skiers and partygoers from all over the world, and the option for night skiing are just part of the wide range of entertainment these lively towns offer.
This article was written by the Skibid team – www.skibid.co.il