Ski-ing and Snowboarding at it’s very best

10 Reasons to Ski in Austria

Snow-sure pistes suitable for all ages and skill levels, great value for money, and the world-famous “Gemütlichkeit”(Cozyness) These are just some of the reasons why you should make Austria your next skiing getaway. Want to know more? Browse our top 10 list below!

1. Snow is Guaranteed

Snow-guarantee is a crucial factor when choosing a winter destination. And, luckily, Austria’s Alps are blessed with a long and lavish snow season. Therefore, it comes with little surprise that the country is widely recognised as one of the world’s best snow-sure skiing destinations.

2. Austrian Gemütlichkeit & Hospitality

The Austrian notion of Gemütlichkeit is hard to explain. So special and unique to this country, it embodies cosiness, comfort and homeliness and is a word that just can’t be translated. You’ll find lashings of this during your winter skiing adventure. Cosy rustic mountain huts invite you to while away the hours, nursing a hot spicy Glühwein or a home-made schnaps in front of a crackling log fire, surrounded by friendly locals you will soon call your friends.

3. Unrivalled Infrastructure

Looking back on a long tradition in skiing (we are one of the birthplaces of Alpine skiing after all!), Austria has some of the very best winter sports infrastructure in Europe, and seamlessly combines modernity with the authentic vibe of the past. Come to Austria for a wealth of perfectly groomed pistes suitable for all ages and skill levels, fun snow parks, top-of-the-range snow-making facilities and ski-hire equipment, impressive viewing galleries and photo spots, as well as the state-of-the-art lift and cable car installations.

4. Great Value for Money

Austria is well known for winning on the value-for-money stakes, with everything from lift passes, ski schools, eating out, and partying costing less than in many other comparable popular ski destinations. Not only will you enjoy a skiing holiday that won’t break the bank.

5. Unrivalled Après-Ski

From rocking beats into the night in the valley to friendly gatherings outside a mountain hut, Austria really does have an enviable and unrivalled après-ski culture. Unlike in other countries, the party kicks off in the early afternoon. You can expect friendly crowds, delicious food, catchy tunes, Jägertee, fantastic local beer or schnaps, and the indescribable uplifting feeling when all the people in the room seem to know the words to the après-ski songs and erupt in a chorus, dancing on the tables.

6. Great Variety

Austria’s skiing regions offer no end of variety of ski runs, activities and stunning scenery. Whether you’re looking to mix it up and prefer not to ski the same slope more than once during your stay (for example at Skicircus, one of the top 10 biggest ski resorts in the world, or Arlberg, now Austria’s largest contiguous skiing area) or small and intimate is more your thing (such as hidden gems like Sankt Johann in Salzburg or Hochkönig), you’re certain to find the right thing for you amongst Austria’s 426 ski areas.

7. Resorts with an Authentic Village Life

Austria’s mountain resorts not only meet the best standards, but often exceed them in value and service. Most of the four- or five-star hotels in Austria have their own spa facilities, so you can relax your mind and muscles in style after a long day on the slopes.

8. Premier World-Class Ski Schools

In Austria, there are world-class ski schools for all levels with roughly 18,000 ski instructors from all over the world. Most ski schools have at least one English-speaking instructor, so you don’t even need to be able to speak German to attend.

9. Safety Is a Priority

Not only does Austria rank high up on the safest countries to travel and live in worldwide, but all the investment in the sport and its infrastructure means that slopes are incredibly safe for winter sports enthusiasts. The high quality of its ski lifts, meticulously groomed pistes together with the well-trained ski patrol and emergency services means that skiing in Austria is safer than in many other European countries.

10. There’s Lots to Do Beyond the Ski Slopes

Thanks to the fantastic arena of mountains and lakes, snow and ice, Austria’s winter wonderland offers up countless activities off the slopes. Owing to its extensive areas of natural thermal water and fresh Alpine air, the country looks back on a long tradition of health and well-being with a wealth of superior spas just a stone’s throw from the winter slopes.

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