Ski Resorts in Austria
Austria is a great country for improvers to ski.
Beginners can find cheaper, quality places to learn, intermediates will find many flattering slopes to ski on but the number of resorts with really testing pistes, apart from St.Anton and the Arlberg, makes Austria, in general, a little limiting for advanced skiers.
Low lying, gentle mountains make this a cruiser's paradise, so improvers up to advanced intermediates would most benefit.
The skiing is mostly in quaint, traditional villages where the apres ski is generally lively.
Tuition is of a high standard and almost always on time.
Unfortunately Austria is not the cheapest country to ski in,(there are a few 'budget' exceptions like Neiderau) but is generally good value for money.
Many of the lifts need updating (they are working on it) and are a good walk from the hotels (although most resorts now run an efficient, free, ski bus service.)
Austria used to be the number one destination for British skiers but it's popularity plummeted due to its priciness, and a few winters with a lack of snow.
It was overtaken by France with it's snow assured, high altitude resorts, doorstep skiing and easier accessibility.
However, France may have better more reliable skiing but their purpose-built resorts will never replace the charming, romantic, old ski villages of Austria.
Some of these resorts are rated below.
These rating are purely the opinions of the contributors, and not necessarily those of the website owners.
Badgastein
* *** *
An older traditional Austrian resort. Most hotels are a good walk to the lifts, which are apparently now in the process of being upgraded. When I was there the lift system was quite ancient and lift queues common. However once up on the mountain the skiing was worth the hassle. The skiing is varied but best suited to intermediate skiers, although there are some good advanced pistes too, beginners opportunities are limited. There are 5 nursery areas, but the progression from these is difficult. Apres ski is well catered for with thermal baths (recommended) a casino not recommended unless you are lucky, or rich) and a good variety of nightlife.
James Masters
Itter
** ***
Small Village, Cheaper and quieter than big neighbour - Soll. Since I was last there they have had gondola built in village which provides fast uplift with no queues. Apres-ski provided by 3 or 4 hotel bars. Good long red run back to village (8km) but skiing mainly for beginners. Free ski bus into Soll (about 30 mins.) opens up unlimited skiing over two valleys and 7 resorts with the Grossraum ski pass.
James Masters
Neiderau
* **
Small, attractive beginners resort, most of the runs are classified as easy and served by drag lifts. Limited for intermediates and of little value to advanced skiers. Inexpensive, but being low altitude often suffers from lack of snow at beginning and end of season. This situation can be eased by purchasing the Wildschonau lift pass which links Neiderau to Oberau, Auffach & Thierbach. Auffach has probably the best skiing on this pass, and also the highest pistes (1,903 metres).
James Masters
Rauris
* ** ****
Small resort (only 10 lifts) which is mainly suitable for beginners.
Excellent nursery area at bottom of an modern, efficient gondola lift system.
Snow cannons comprehensively cover this beginners area plus several excellent blue pistes at the top of the mountain (some of which would be rated red in other countries).
Downside is that there isn’t one genuinely rated, easy blue run that would make the progression from nursey area to the top of the mountain an easy transition.
Novice & Intermediate skiers would find enought to keep them occupied here for the week but advanced would not.
Two good ski schools in the resort and excellent mountain restaurants are reasonably priced.
This is all offset by a very expensive lift pass which at 155 euros is dearer than other Austria resorts such as Soll and also many French resorts that provide a much more extensive ski area.
The village is picturesque with several bars and sports shops, supermarket, pharmacy, etc. but it is sleepy.
Not for party animals, although Shakes Beers Bar does get quite lively and Bellino’s and Speedys also have their moments.
Conclusion: I would personally not ski here again but would recommend it for any other first timers wanting a cheap skiing holiday as the expensive lift pass is easily offset by the cheapness of everything else.
The ambience of the resort and quality, easy slopes makes Rauris an great experience for novices.
Steve Atkinson
Soll
* **** ****
Attractive, lively resort. Nightlife based around numerous bars. Most accomodation requires short free ski bus journey to lifts. Two linked 8 man gondolas to summit ensure lift queues are normally short. Now has plenty of snow cannons which ensure good snow on lower nursery areas. Skiing in Soll mainly good for intermediates and beginners and now the 'local' lift pass also includes skiing in Itter and Westendorf.
Many skiers make the mistake of purchasing the Grossraum ski which covers two valleys and is great for advanced skiers who can go cruising on a full days, exhausting, ski safari through 9 resorts, starting at Going in the west and finishing up at Kitzbuhel in the north east !
The Grossraum pass provides a wealth of varied skiing for all levels - 250 km of pistes and 93 lifts, but is an expensive luxury for lesser level skiers who will find more than enough to keep them happily occupied for the week in Soll alone.
James Masters
Zell am See
** **** **
Not long back from a week in Zell am See and it is well worth a visit.
A Lovely town on a lake with the mountain - the Smittenhoe behind.
If you are going independently it is very easy to get to - cheap flight to Salzburg - bus from airport to train station and then direct train (they run every hour) to Zell.
It is a great resort for intermediates but the nursery slopes are challenging with several of the blues more like easy reds. The quality of the snow (January 5th) was excellent and we all found that our skiing had improved immensely by the end of the week. Apres ski started at the base of the slopes about 4.30 but by 6.30 most had staggered back to their hotels. As for anything later - we gave it a miss. We were in a large group with a lot of kids between us, so we made do with the vino at dinner.
Rent your skis from the intersport shop at the gondola station as they also provide lockers and they will store your skis overnight also. Saves carting them around the town with you. Rental was expensive (as most of Austria is) but worth it for the handiness.
Beryl