Winter in Austria – 11 tips for your holiday

When the gondola slowly makes its way uphill, over powder-sugar pine peaks. When big and small winter sports enthusiasts let off steam together on endless kilometres of slopes. When the snow crackles under the soles of your shoes while hiking… all seem to be conjured out of a picture book of Winter in Austria.

If you can’t wait to finally leave behind snow angels in a magical setting again, here are a few absolute highlights for winter in Austria that are looking for a place on your bucket list for the coming season.

1. Combine an active winter holiday with enjoyment in the Bregenzerwald

In the westernmost part of Austria, just a few kilometres from Lake Constance lies the Bregenzerwald region with its 23 pretty villages. Those who travel here can look forward to a successful mix of nature and architecture, tradition and modernity, and combine an active holiday in the mountains with enjoyment and culture.

Snow enthusiasts will be delighted with the “3 Valley Ski Pass“, which, thanks to the short distances, allows you to try out a different one of the eight ski areas every day. And you should, because in the Bregenzerwald you can discover 241 kilometres of pistes, take a walk on several winter hiking trails and enjoy the view of the 2649-metre-high Braunarlspitze.

2. Explore romantic Gastein in winter

Gastein offers the ideal mix of urban flair, rustic cosiness and a perfect alpine panorama in winter in Austria. In hardly any other region can you let off steam in such a variety of ways: Whether you want to go skiing, freeriding or cross-country skiing, challenge your adrenaline level with ice climbing, let yourself be pulled through the romantic winter landscape in a horse-drawn sleigh or by huskies, relax in a thermal spa with a view of the mountains or simply want to eat well – Gastein around the three towns of Bad Gastein, Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein offers something for everyone. In winter 2022/2023, for example, there are culinary winter trips, guided snowshoe hikes and even Yoga on Snow.

3. The perfect downhill run in the Kitzbühel Alps

The Kitzbühel Alps stretch from Wörgl to Hochfilzen. Together with the “SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental”, “KitzSki” in Kitzbühel-Kirchberg and the “Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn” they form the six top ski areas in the region. Here you can discover no less than 2750 kilometres of pistes. With many pistes in the blue beginner level, even novice skiers and families can have a lot of fun and relax on the slopes with a great view of the mountains and the Kaiser Mountains standing out.

4. Go tobogganing through Kufsteinerland or go on a snowshoe tour

The region around Kufstein, which is worth a visit for its great fortress alone, attracts families in particular to winter in Austria. The two ski resorts nearby can be both idyllic and quiet or eventful and full of adventure. However, mountain and snow are also an excellent match for all tobogganing fans. For example, the natural toboggan run Aschinger-Alm is a great place to go on two runners. Or you can trudge up to the Pendlinghaus equipped with snowshoes, which rewards you with a breathtaking view.

5. Experience a sustainable winter holiday in Montafon

In the summer, it’s dotted with endless green mountains and blue mountain lakes; in the winter, it’s a dreamy white wonderland: the Montafon is a 39-kilometre-long valley in Vorarlberg on the border with Switzerland and is known above all for its extensive programme on and off the slopes. Either explore the 297 kilometres of pistes from morning to night or try your hand at ice climbing on the Silvretta-Bielerhöhe, go on a picnic snowshoe hike, ski all the way to Switzerland on the Madrisa rundtour or go on an extended winter hike.

Another reason to take a holiday in the Montafon is the sustainable orientation of the region: the Silvretta and Vermunt reservoirs supply the businesses with hydroelectric power, many restaurants and accommodation establishments rely on the use of regional products, there is a photovoltaic chairlift and a sustainable drainage system for snowmaking in case the snow does not come.

6. Fill up on pure sunshine on the in the Murray region

The Murau region is one of the sunniest areas in Austria. Four large skiing and snowboarding areas, fun parks for freestylers and three other smaller skiing facilities attract a colourful mix of guests to the region. All the slopes are in top shape, so it’s no wonder that they have been awarded five stars. Don’t forget sunscreen and then head off to the powder. If you want to try something new, you can save yourself the strenuous way up with the toboggan at the “BERGaufRODELN” and simply get transported with the T-bar lift. On selected days this even works at night!

7. Marvel at snow-covered villages in the Pitztal valley

The Pitztal valley seems to have sprung from a picture book! A heavy mass of snow lies here on villages, forests and peaks, transforming the roof of Tyrol into the perfect postcard motif. Three ski areas with a total of 80 kilometres of pistes and 21 lifts attract visitors here. By the way, children ski for free up to the age of 8 – at Hochzeiger even up to the age of 10 – and there are free ski lessons for beginners up to the age of 5. Another highlight in the truest sense of the word: Café 3440 at the same altitude invites you to take a dizzying break.

8. Be enchanted by the medieval flair in Radstadt

Radstadt welcomes city travellers only 70 kilometres from Salzburg with a unique natural setting. Grab your hiking boots to discover the local mountain Rossbrand, whizz down the six-kilometre toboggan run, go cross-country skiing ten times over or let the night watchman with his halberd and old costume tell you about the stories and legends of the little town. Things get especially contemplative once the Christmas market in Radstadt is set up. From 26 November 2022, you can stroll through the square every Saturday and Sunday, buy special gifts for your loved ones or taste genuine Pongauer Blattlkrapfen and mulled wine.

9. Turn night into day when skiing and snowboarding in SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental scores on all levels: Just an hour from Munich, you’ll find one of the most ecological ski areas in the world with Austria’s largest night ski slope and free practice lifts in the valley. By the way, the new KitzSkiWelt Tour connects “SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental” with the skiing area “KitzSki” and thus ensures almost endless skiing pleasure.

10. Taste the Tyrolean cuisine in the cross-country skiing mecca of Seefeld

Seefeld not only has 250 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, widely cleared winter hiking paths, varied and family-friendly ski areas with a total of 35 kilometres of pistes. The region can also offer particularly fine Tyrolean cuisine. From Kaiserschmarren to Schlutzkrapfen and Kaspressknödeln, you will be spoilt for choice and hopefully even hungrier.

The best thing to do on Tyrol’s high plateau is to try out all of the 24 huts, which, in addition to culinary delicacies, spoil you with panoramic views and sun terraces. The Gaistalm, for example, is particularly beautiful, situated between the Wetterstein Mountains and the Mieminger Range. Perhaps the best view all year round is from the Rosshütte directly on Seefeld’s local mountain.

11. Fall in love with the panorama of the Zillertal 

No matter which activity you choose in the Zillertal, you never have to miss out on a breathtaking view. Whether it’s winter hiking on a route of over 460 kilometres, on the 113 kilometres of cross-country ski trails or on a fun toboggan run. Of course, the four skiing areas in the Zillertal also make our hearts beat faster. If you want to relax after so much action, make yourself comfortable in the fireplace lounge on the Larmachalm or visit the stylish Kristallhütte at 2147 metres above sea level. You can find more tips for the Zillertal at any time of year here.