1. Best for families... Brandnertal; Vorarlberg
Located in and around the resort villages of Bürserberg and Brand, the Brandnertal ski area in Vorarlberg includes 55 km of groomed piste and skiing up to 2000m, reached by around 14 lifts.Excellent for families, Brandnertal makes a very strong point of being child-friendly, with a colourful ‘Kinderland’, free ski passes for under-8s and discounts for under-18s.
Off the pistes there’s plenty to keep little ones amused, including a dog sledding school for kids, a weekly programme of cultural activities and fun-filled toboggan runs among many other distractions designed to keep kids on their toes and help parents enjoy their holiday too.
Other resorts you might like:
- Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis; Tirol
- Ötztal; Tirol
2. Best for après-ski... Ischgl; Tirol
If you can’t wait to get the party started on holiday, Ischgl in the Tirol should be top of your list. Big and brash, the Ischgl ski region boasts more than 230km of pistes, a season that stretches from November to March, and a superb selection of activities that make it an attractive option even if you’re not a convert to the snowbunny cause.What really makes Ischgl stand out is the quality and variety of its après-ski: celebrated ski lodges welcome partygoers from lunchtime onwards, while the legendary clubs and late night lounges are as good as any city.
Whether you want to get your gladrags on and dance into the sunrise, or start the celebration straight off the piste, you’re certain to find something to whet your après-ski whistle.
Other resorts you might like:
- Obertauern; Salzburg
3. Best for serious skiers... Warth-Schröcken; Vorarlberg
A resort for people who take their powder seriously, this outdoor playground is a must thanks to an extended season and excellent, dependable snow conditions.Due to its geographic location on the north side of the Alps, wedged between the Arlberg and Lech valleys and the Forest of Bregenz, Warth is a veritable snowtrap.
A climactic quirk means that the resort’s mountains are a natural hurdle for incoming northwest weather systems, ensuring regular snow dumps from moisture-laden clouds. As a result, Warth is one of the snowiest ski resorts in Europe, with an incredible average of 11 metres of new snow every year.
This corner of the Vorarlberg region is also blessed with a unique terrain that has given it a reputation as a freeride mecca, with an abundance of awesome lines, deep snow runs and exhilarating gullies.
Other resorts you might like:
- St. Anton; Tirol
- Kitzbühel; Tirol
4. Best for off-piste... Lech; Vorarlberg
Sometimes, you just want to leave it all behind and focus your energies on something more rewarding than the daily grind.When a bluebird day beckons, there’s nowhere better in Austria than Lech for giving you a soaring feeling of freedom, thanks to the resort’s unmatchable off-piste opportunities.
As you navigate the deep snow runs of the Lech Zürs terrain, the exhilaration of leaving your tracks in pristine snow is a rare sensation that will soon have you hooked.
The availability of heliskiing and professional snow guides means you can enjoy around 180km of off-piste runs in a way that maximises the downhill and minimises the up – in other words, paradise for committed powderhounds.
Other resorts you might like:
- Silvretta Montafon; Vorarlberg
5. Best for late season skiing… 5 Tyrolean Glaciers
Incorporating Pitztal, Kaunertal, Sölden, Stubaital and an all year round offering in Hintertux, the Five Tyrolean Glaciers tower over other Austrian resorts when it comes to late season skiing.While the resort occupies a dizzying location at 3000m above sea level, it caters for all comers from beginners to would-be pros as well as non-skiers who want to enjoy the resort’s glacial alpine surroundings.
A sunny climate, ultramodern lift system and the amazing panoramas that crowd into your vision from every angle make this a sure bet for a memorable skiing holiday; the fact that skiing extends so late into the springtime makes the gap between ski and bikini seasons appealingly short.
