Austria's Snow-Sure Ski Areas

High above Ischgl in the Paznaun Valley lies the Silvretta Arena – one of the most modern ski resorts in the Alps. With 239 km of perfectly groomed pistes and cutting-edge cable cars and lifts, it takes you straight to the heart of the action.

Whether it’s skiing or snowboarding, funparks or freeride areas – Ischgl is the ultimate hotspot for those who love winter and want to combine Alpine adventure with international flair.

Wide runs, off-piste slopes, and a mix of rustic mountain huts and lively bars make Kühtai a true insider tip for those who love great skiing and authentic alpine charm.

The best part? Many of the 51 km of pistes lead right to your hotel door – it doesn’t get more convenient than that. Austria’s highest winter sports village, Kühtai has a ski season running from late November to mid-April – surrounded by quiet, wide open spaces and alpine scenery.

At the head of the Ötztal lies a village at over 1,800 metres, framed by 21 three-thousand-metre peaks. Obergurgl and Hochgurgl are linked by the Top Express gondola. With 112 kilometres of piste and 25 lifts, this is skiing and snowboarding high in the mountains. The season runs from November to April.

The ski area in Tirol’s Oberland has 214 kilometres of piste, 38 modern lifts and a season running from December to April. Three areas reserved for children, and two ski schools specialising in teaching them with more than 700 instructors between them, introduce the youngest skiers to the slopes. Interactive, fast-paced, fairy-tale or with a hint of a thrill – there’s always something new to discover. And at the centre of it all? The whole family.

Skiing, sun-facing slopes and side valleys: with 150 kilometres of piste and 52 lifts, the Zillertal Arena invites unhurried exploring. Some 77% of the pistes lie above 1,700 metres. Skiers and snowboarders will find long descents, a sporting challenge and quiet spots to pause. On the piste or off it, family time is what counts here.

Ski Arlberg is Austria’s largest ski area: with around 300 kilometres of linked piste, it ranks among the five largest in the world. There are runs to suit beginners and experts alike, and the area records an average of nine metres of natural snowfall a season. A total of 85 lifts and cable cars connect the ski areas around St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Oberlech, Zürs and Warth to form Ski Arlberg.

Silvretta Montafon has 140 kilometres of piste across a range of difficulty levels, and some 87% of them lie above 1,500 metres. Freeriders can head off-piste to the deep-snow slopes - with the right equipment, and ideally with a local guide, while the snowpark has rails, kickers and jumps for showing off your tricks. If you’re after speed, there are timed race courses. And for a gentler pace, the cross-country trails run through changing terrain.

In the Gasteinertal in the SalzburgerLand, four peaks and three ski areas combine to make 180 kilometres of piste, for beginners and confident skiers alike. The Schlossalmbahn takes you straight into the valley’s largest linked ski area, with long, open runs and views across the Gastein mountains. At 2,650 metres, Sportgastein is the highest ski area in Ski amadé and a favourite with freeriders - with the right equipment and local knowledge. On the Graukogel, natural snow lies between old Swiss stone pine forests. The Dorfgastein-Großarl ski circuit adds around 70 kilometres of piste for anyone who likes long, sweeping turns.

Obertauern’s season runs from November to May, with around 100 kilometres of piste set in the wide mountain scenery of the Radstädter Tauern. Its altitude has earned the village its nickname, the “Schneeschüssel” or snow bowl. It draws freeriders and relaxed cruisers alike. Modern lifts carry you quickly and comfortably to the top of the ski area – for a winter holiday in the SalzburgerLand that stays with you.

A snow-covered winter landscape and a family-friendly ski area with 75 kilometres of piste, open from mid-December until after Easter. Around 85% of the runs are blue or red, which makes the area particularly suitable for beginners and for anyone returning to skiing after a break. The Wildkogel Arena lies between the Hohe Tauern National Park and the Kitzbühel Alps. From the top station at 2,100 metres, the view reaches across to the three-thousand-metre peaks of the Hohe Tauern.

The Grossglockner Heiligenblut ski area lies at the head of the Mölltal in Carinthia, within the Hohe Tauern National Park region. It has 55 kilometres of piste, five ski routes, a 1,500-hectare freeride area and 11 lifts, operating from December to April. The area is known for its natural snow, short lift queues and the open terrain alongside the pistes.

Skiing, cross-country skiing and winter walking, from November to April. The plateau on the border between Carinthia and Styria has 15 cable cars and ski lifts and 43 kilometres of piste, all of which can be covered by snowmaking. One particular highlight is the Pistenbutler: charming, attentive and always on hand, he looks after you with small touches and personal tips, and turns a day on the slopes into something you’ll remember.

One of Austria's largest ski areas awaits, with 123 kilometres of well-groomed piste, 16 mountain huts serving food and drink, and the Kaiblinggrat eight-seater chairlift taking you straight into the Schladming-Dachstein ski region. As part of the Schladming 4-Mountain ski circuit, Hauser Kaibling in Styria’s Ennstal is linked to Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm – skiing across four mountains without a break.

Die Tauplitz is Styria's largest standalone ski area, in the Ausseerland-Salzkammergut region. The season runs from late November to early April, with 43 kilometres of piste, sporty descents and wide, deep-snow slopes – all with views of the Dachstein, the Grimming and the Totes Gebirge.

Most of the ski area lies above the treeline, which means plenty of open, sunny slopes. A good choice for families, relaxed cruisers and anyone who likes a quieter kind of winter.

High above Lake Hallstatt, in the heart of the Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage region, the Dachstein Krippenstein draws skiers from December to March who want more than groomed pistes.

The lifts take you up into open terrain, where 30 kilometres of off-piste routes run through the karst landscape – between rock ribs, hollows and open slopes, far from the crowds.

The nine-kilometre valley run is among the longest in Upper Austria and finishes down by the lake. Little wonder the Krippenstein has long been regarded as a hotspot of the freeride scene.

Hochkar at Göstling an der Ybbs has a winter season from December to early April. Eight lifts serve 19 kilometres of piste, split between easy, intermediate and difficult runs. The children’s area has two magic carpets, and the freeride centre caters for those who ski away from the groomed pistes. That makes it a good fit for beginners, families and powder fans.