Knowing the right time to ski can enhance your ski holiday experience. If you want a quiet slope experience or bluebird days, the departure time is key. There is a brilliant choice of ski resorts in Austria for different months of the year. This is why our ski experts have created a guide for the best time to go skiing in Austria. We cover where to go skiing in Austria in December, January, February, March and April.
Skiing in Austria in December
Christmas and New Year in Austrian ski resorts are fantastic. A lot of the ski resort villages still have a lot of their traditional alpine charm and there are still a lot of classic festive activities. Austrian cuisine is fantastic at this time of year, with plenty of glühwein and alpine dishes available. Skiing in Austria in December is an exciting time of the year.
Obergurgl is a brilliant choice in December because it has a great mixture of accommodation near the slopes. In addition, it also has excellent snow conditions for this time of year. The village itself is easy to get around and there is 110km of slopes to explore in the area. It’s an ideal ski resort for families with great ski schools and childcare options.
Skiing in Austria in January
Skiing in Austria in January is a quieter time to enjoy the mountains. Although skiing is the national sport even the locals aren’t out in full force during this time. Temperatures tend to drop which means either firm snow or powder days. Celebrate the new year in style by enjoying a relaxed ski trip in Austria.
The Arlberg ski area is an excellent choice for January. It is one of the snowiest destinations in Europe and has a great range of runs for all abilities. In addition, there are fantastic luxury ski accommodation options in the area. There are great links between St. Anton, Lech, St Christoph, Stuben, Warth-Schröcken and Zürs.
Skiing in Austria in February
Like most European ski resorts, skiing in Austria in February is peak time. Families from around the world head to Austrian ski resorts during this time. Despite it being busy, ski conditions are still brilliant and the atmosphere will be fun and lively. Most major resorts have excellent lift networks that cut down on queuing times.
The SkiWelt ski area is the second largest in Austria and takes pride in its family-friendly set-up. If you buy a full lift pass there are 284km of slopes to explore with great links between Söll, Ellmau and Westendorf. Each village has its own charm and excellent accommodation options. The area is large enough to cope with the half-term rush.
Skiing in Austria in March
The sunshine starts to arrive more frequently when skiing in Austria in March. Depending on when Easter falls each year, for the most part, March is quiet in Austrian ski resorts. This is the last time snow depths have hit heights before the snow starts to melt in spring. In addition, the days are longer too compared to December through to February. March skiing is a real delight before the ski resorts start to wind down.
Mayrhofen is an ideal choice in March because it has high-altitude slopes (up to 3,250m) which is ideal for this time of year. If you buy a full lift pass you can access 204km of slopes in the area in the heart of the Zillertal ski area. You can also easily access nearby ski resorts such as Fügen, Kaltenbach, Zell am Ziller and the Hintertux Glacier.
Skiing in Austra in April
Before the ski season draws to a close, skiing in Austria in April is a great option. There are some great ski resorts to enjoy the sun and the last snow of the season. The snow goes softer a lot quicker at this time of year but up high maintains a good standard of piste conditions. Make sure you pack high-factor sun cream.
Sölden is one of the highest-altitude ski resorts in Austria and has glacier skiing too. This means even in April ski conditions are great and most runs are still open. The ski resort has a reputation for having the longest season in Austria, so this bodes well for April skiing. There’s a great party atmosphere at this time of year with end-of-season music events and festivals.
To find out more about the best time to go skiing in Austria, please call our ski experts on 0207 471 7700.
