The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental draws hordes of visitors year-round and it's no wonder: with 284 kilometres of pistes, 90 lifts and 81 mountain restaurants, this is a huge ski area by any standards. Here, you can choose from a variety of destinations, from warm and welcoming Ellmau or Westendorf, to family-friendly Söll, Scheffau or Brixen im Thale. What makes the SkiWelt so special? It's a combination of the après-ski, the family activities, the cosy mountain restaurants and of course, the incredible skiing. In this article we've listed some of the special touches that put the SkiWelt a category above other ski resorts.
The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental is one of Austria's largest ski areas, with 284 kilometres of pistes in total. Go on a day trip or ski your favourite run again and again - in the SkiWelt you have endless possibilities! The ski area has slopes for every level, meaning even beginner skiers can get their groove on here.
The Alpeniglu Dorf is a must-see destination in its own right. You get here by taking the gondola from Brixen im Thale to Hochbrixen. In the igloo village you'll find a restaurant, an ice bar and an ice sculpture exposition, among other things. Order a drink at the bar and you'll notice that it's served in a glass made of ice! If you want the adventure to keep going, you can book a night here in an igloo.
In the early season and from March 14 through April 13, 2020 it's even cheaper to take the family skiing at the SkiWelt! Kids under 15 receive a free ski pass when accompanied by an adult who buys a ski pass for at least 3 days. As if that's not enough, the SkiWelt also hosts Men's and Ladies' Days, when adult male or female skiers, respectively, can ski for the price of a youth ski pass. Ladies' Days take place every Wednesday, while Mens' days take place every Tuesday.
If you're still not tuckered out from skiing all day, head to Söll, where you'll find 10km of floodlit slopes for skiing at night. You can also choose to go tobogganing here. Be aware: your ski pass is not valid for night skiing or tobogganing here. You'll have to purchase an additional pass. Night skiing costs €27 for adults and tobogganing costs €21.50 for children.
No, that's not a typo! You'll find a mountain restaurant virtually around every corner in the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental. This culinary-minded ski area offers a large selection of restaurants that serve up traditional local food. We particularly like the Rübezahl Alm in Ellmau and the Alpenrosenhütte in Westendorf.
Westendorf is known for its après-ski scene, which draws skiers and snowboarders from all over Europe. For a good time we recommend Gerry's Inn, the Karat Bar or Moskito. During the month of March, the SkiWelt hosts the Skihütten Gaudi après-ski weeks. You'll find live performances at the mountain hut terraces every day, bringing together bands, traditional Tyrolean acts and singers.
Before you get the idea that the SkiWelt is targeted towards beginners, check out the Hohe Salve, home to a black slope with a gradient of 74%. This places it amongst the steepest slopes in the Alps. We also heavily recommend the Alpen Seite black slope from the Choralpe for anyone who's feeling uppity!
With 5 snow parks, 2 Ski Movie pistes, 3 tobogganing tracks and various speed runs, the SkiWelt has enough to tempt any daredevil. We especially recommend the speed run in Brixen (piste #7), the SkiMovie slalom course in Scheffau am Wilder Kaiser (piste #66), the snowboarder's mecca in Westendorf and the Hexenwell in Söll (piste #46).
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
