Until the nineteenth century the province of Tyrol was the poorest of all the regions of Austria. The harsh climate, poor rocky soils, high mountains with glaciers, small valleys surrounding the ring - all this did not contribute to the development of agriculture. And livestock too, since the snow cover is established in Tyrol in November, and winter ends in April. Everything has changed since skiing came into fashion. And enterprising highlanders were able to turn all the minuses of Tyrol into pluses. Austria is now as strongly associated with skiing as Thailand is with a beach holiday. But where exactly to go skiing in Austria? The full list of ski resorts in the country is too extensive to devote a paragraph to each of them here. Only the most popular can be mentioned:
- Bad Gastein,
- Zelle,
- Izhgl,
- Selden,
- Kitzbühel,
- Kaprun,
- Pitztal,
- Mayrhofen,
- Zell am See,
- Zillertal,
- Stubaital and others.
But the good news is that these towns and villages are often combined into a common ski area, and there is a single ski pass. For example, the Zillertal is a whole 670 kilometers of varied ski slopes with ski lifts, fully accessible to those who buy a weekly Zillertal Superskipass for 282 euros.
When to go skiing in Austria
The country lies in the very center of Europe. And the climate there is very mild. The science of geography defines it as moderate and transitional to continental. Winter in Vienna is snowy and cold, up to 2 degrees below zero. But most of the precipitation from December to February falls in liquid form. However, when you arrive at the capital's airport in the rain, do not worry. The weather in the ski resorts of Austria is fundamentally different from the meteorological conditions in the flat part of the country, where Vienna is located. Siberian frosts do not happen there either, but winter temperatures range from -5 to -14 degrees. Many slopes of the Alps in Austria are covered with glaciers. They seem to cool the fallen snow and do not let it melt, even if the sun is already starting to warm in spring. In winter, there is a lot of precipitation in the mountains. But even if nature let us down, cannons will provide stable snow coverage of the slopes. The opening of skiing takes place in November. And the curtain of the season passes at the end of April. These events are accompanied by mass festivities, festivals andfestivities. But it should be said that out of 800 resorts united in 50 ski areas, 20 percent operate year-round, since they are located on glaciers.
Special highlights of Austrian skiing
What is the difference between the resorts of this country and others located in the same Alpine region? They are as well maintained as the Swiss, but less expensive. They have the same well-established après-ski industry as in France, you can treat yourself to the same gastronomic delights as in Italy. Before we begin to review the ski resorts in Austria, the list of which we have given above, we will give their general brief description. In this country, people are too enterprising to attract only a narrow category of tourists. If only one member of the family knows how to ski well, he can come to the resort with all his relatives - there would be money. As a rule, everywhere in Austria difficult routes are adjacent to the simplest, for beginners. There are also tracks for cross-country skiing, as well as slopes for sledding, snowboarding, freeride. Austria has the best ski schools in Europe. Do your relatives not know how and do not want to learn how to ski? Their right! Especially for such clients, the entertainment industry is thought out to the smallest detail in the ski resorts of Austria - from shopping to therapeutic rest in thermal springs. You can come here with children, including very young ones. The resorts have nurseries and kindergartens where your child will be professionally cared for.
Should those who can't standskiing, go to Austria?
If we study all the offers of the resorts of this alpine country, we will not find a single green track anywhere. But don't get upset. It's just that in Austria there is a different marking of the tracks. Those of them that are laid along gentle slopes, without sharp turns and similar tests, from which the beginner's heart skips, are called not green, but blue. And such tracks are available in almost all ski resorts in Austria. For beginners in this country all possibilities are provided. Even at the equipment rental point, skis will be selected for you according to your height and weight. Do not forget that the first skating school was opened not just anywhere, but in Austria. And it happened back in 1922. Since then, teaching methods have only evolved. There are schools for very little peanuts, who can hardly stand on their legs; for kids; for teenagers; for adults. And for the “particularly gifted”, who, after studying in a group, have not mastered a simple science, personal instructors work, including Russian-speaking ones.
Innsbruck and surroundings
Opens our list of ski resorts in Austria, the federal state of Tyrol. Its official capital is Innsbruck. The proof that this city is not only an administrative center, but also a ski resort is the fact that it hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice (in 1964 and 1976). Innsbruck is an old city, full of sights to the eyeballs. With the onset of darkness, the prim neatness of the Tyrolean houses gives way to noisy youth clubs and discos. ATInnsbruck is good for those who are not “obsessed” with skating alone. Do you want to know what the Tyrolean hinterland looks like, but at the same time you want to be within transport accessibility to the capital of the region? Then you need to stop in Igls, which is located seven kilometers from Innsbruck. The pass purchased here (112 euros for 5 days) covers seven ski areas, including the Stubai Glacier, which is accessible to skiers even in summer. One hundred and eleven pistes, 59 state-of-the-art ski lifts, excellent après-ski facilities, many hotels and a rich excursion program - that's what Eagles is all about. The resort is located at an altitude of 900 m above sea level. And the tracks - blue, red and black - ran between 2677 and 575 m above sea level.
Ischgl
This Austrian ski resort is located in the southwest of Tyrol. It originated in the 60s of the last century and in a short time of existence has become the most "promoted" and fashionable. No wonder Ischgl is called "Austria's Courchevel". Sting, Madonna, Elton John and other stars of the first magnitude rested here. The ski area lies at an altitude of two thousand meters, so you are guaranteed natural snow even in the mildest winters. Of the 238 kilometers of slopes, more than half are red. But there is enough space for both beginners and cross-country skiers. Ischgl enjoys special respect among snowboarders (4 jumps, half-pipe) and carving. The latter will find a lot of interesting things for themselves in the northern part of Pardach Grata, Val Gronda and Fesiltale. Besides sports and trendy après-ski, Ischgl is a shopaholic's paradise. After all, it is adjacent toSwiss duty-free zone Samnaun.
Bad Gastein
Tirol is not alone in creating a big name for ski resorts in Austria. The federal state of Salzburg does not lack them either. Not far from Mozart's hometown is the resort of Bad Gastein. The prefix in the name "Bad" is given in Austria and Germany to those places where thermal springs beat. And in Gastein, the spa industry has reached its peak. The baths are accompanied by massages, Ayurvedic procedures, all kinds of wraps and heating with stones, s alt caves, radon baths. But this is not the whole program for après-ski. As Ischgl is called "Courchevel", so Bad Gastein is the "Monte Carlo of Austria". The ski resort is famous for its casino - the oldest of those built on the slopes of the Alps. So Bad Gastein is crowded with far from skiers. The main part of the vacationers are we althy pensioners who explore the beneficial properties of the local thermal waters and spend money in the casino. But for lovers of skiing, all conditions are created here. This is 220 kilometers of blue, red and black runs, two half-pipes, a fun park, freeride slopes. A six-day ski pass costs €200.
Kitzbühel
This is one of the most popular ski resorts in Austria. He rightfully bears the title of the oldest not only in the country, but also in the world. Here mastered the snowy slopes at the end of the 19th century. The technical equipment of the tracks is constantly updated. Kitzbühel is a very, very expensive resort. Buta single ski pass allows you to enjoy all this splendor, and live in relatively cheap villages such as Aurach, Kirchsberg, Anschau, Jochberg, Stukogel, Wright, Resterhöhe and others included in the ski area and connected to Kitzbühel by a network of lifts. And from here it is a stone's throw to another ski area - Söll. Kitzbühel is also famous for the fact that here is the most difficult track - if not in the whole world, then at least in the Alps. The slope of the Streif reaches 85 degrees in some places, and the length of the black road is 3.5 kilometers. At the same time, the elevation difference is 860 m, which allows the skier to reach speeds of up to 140 km / h. But there is also a place for a beginner to master the skill of skating. Of the 200 kilometers of slopes, a third are “blue”. The only disadvantage of Kitzbühel is the short season, lasting from December to March.
Mayrhofen
One hundred and fifty kilometers of blue, red and black slopes (the latter includes the descent called "Harakiri"), a beautiful water park, the Hintertuksu glacier - this is all you need to know about this legendary Austrian ski resort. Mayrhofen is located in the Tyrolean Valley and unites 10 ski areas. Thanks to the glacier, the resort is open all year round. Altitude differences - from 3286 to 550 meters. A six-day ski pass costs €205 for adults and €92 for children.
Kaprun ski resort (Austria)
If you want to feel the charming atmosphere of half-timbered houses, visit a medieval castle between skiing, quickly and easily get to the party Zell am See and at the same time relax relatively cheaply,then you here. The village of Kaprun perched at the foot of the three-thousand-meter Kitzsteinhorn, from which the tongue of the glacier slides. This provides year-round riding. You can go up to the glacier by cable car. Kaprun belongs to the ski resorts of Salzburg (Austria). Therefore, if you want excursions, you can very quickly get by bus to the main city of the federal state. Ski pass for 6 days costs 209 euros. The resort offers significant discounts for children, youth and seniors, making Kaprun a Mecca for families. But assam skiing here will seem a bit boring: the tracks are blue and red.
Ski resort Sölden (Austria)
Only 85 kilometers from Innsbruck - and you are in the realm of glaciers and alpine snows. Two Tyrolean valleys, Sölden and Otztal, are famous throughout the country for the maximum number of sunny days. At the same time, due to the location at an altitude of 1400 to 3250 meters above sea level, you are provided with ideal snow cover. The two valleys are characterized by varied topography. There are flat areas for cross-country skiing, gentle slopes for beginners and steep gorges for aces. Snowboarders also appreciate these valleys, which are surrounded on all sides by mountains over three thousand meters high. Steady snow cover begins in November. At the same time, the risk of fogs and clouds is minimal. Some places are open all year round. You can stay both in Solden itself and in less expensive resorts: Amhausen, Father, Obergurgl, Hochgurgl. The last two villages are the highest in all of Austria (1930 and 2150 m a.s.l.). They are valued not onlyskiers and snowboarders, but also climbers. Every year the number of equipped slopes increases, new modern lifts are built. Sölden has repeatedly hosted the Alpine Skiing World Cups. Of the advantages of the resort, one can name the absence of queues to the ski lifts and the low congestion of the slopes. Of the minuses - high prices. A 6-day ski pass costs €210.
Lengenfeld
It is located just 12 kilometers from Sölden. The Austrian ski resort Lengenfeld attracts more people who want to improve their he alth. A balneological clinic was built at the place where the sulfurous spring came out. The healing properties of this hot spring have been known since the 16th century. People come here to treat joints, rheumatism, blood vessels, circulatory disorders, for rehabilitation after paralysis, fractures and other injuries. But skiers also have a place to turn around. Around the only balneological resort in Tyrol, there are 150 kilometers of excellent pistes - blue, red (most) and black (45 km). They are served by drag, chair and cabin lifts. Apres-ski in Lengenfeld is designed mainly for the main contingent of vacationers - pensioners who came to warm up sore joints in sulfurous sources. For noisy parties, nightclubs and discos, head to neighboring Sölden.
Zell am See
The name itself suggests that the resort is located on the lake. Zell am See is interesting in that the real medieval buildings have been preserved in the town. The resort is located in the federalLand of Salzburg, in the Pinzgau region. There are plenty of activities for those who don't ski. So, you can go up the old narrow-gauge railway to the upper reaches of the Salzach River to look at the Krimml waterfalls - the largest in Europe (cascade 309 meters high). And the pedestrian zone in the center of the village allows you to fully immerse yourself in the ancient atmosphere of Austria. The ski resort in the reviews is characterized as the most thoughtful. Beginners, ordinary skiers and extreme skiers are separated here on different tracks and do not intersect. Although sometimes on the mountain Schmittenhöhe on the red roads there are too steep descents and dangerous turns. Of the advantages of the resort, all vacationers call a single ski pass with Kaprun. This helps to diversify skating a lot. Many advise taking a cab to the Mittel station, and from there take two chair lifts to the top of the Schmittenhöhe. From the mountain, like rays diverging in different directions, the tracks lead to Schutdorf, Schmittental and Zell am See. The connection between the villages is carried out by shuttle buses.
This is not a complete list of Austrian ski resorts. In the reviews, tourists say that wherever you go in this wonderful country, you will not be disappointed.
