Gridlocked access roads to the village, crowds at the supermarkets and queues for the ski lifts. They may all be avoided if you choose a winter sports holiday in one of Austria's quiet ski resorts. No hordes of winter sports enthusiasts and hopping crowds. Just enjoy your skiing holiday in peace. Does this appeal to you? This article presents you with an overview of ten quiet ski resorts in Austria.
On the border of Styria and Carinthia lies one of the quiet ski resorts in Austria, Turracher Höhe. With over 40 kilometres of pistes, it's not a big area, but how nice it is here! The slopes are located around the same lake, in Biosphere Reserve Nockberge and in Europe's largest pine forest. The Seetaxi makes it easy to cross the frozen lake, and a fun way to explore the area's most beautiful spots is via the Seerunde ski tour. A Pistenbutler will provide you with complimentary prosecco, you will find Europe's biggest fun mountain, and skiing aside, no one will be bored here. Turracher Höhe is not a village as such but more of an atmospheric ski resort with lots of accommodation on the slopes.
Are you looking for a quiet ski resort in Austria that also offers you the most beautiful views? Then put Großglockner Resort Kals-Matrei on your list. This ski resort is in a stunning setting full of three-thousanders, including Austria's highest mountain, the 3798-metre Großglockner. From the villages of Matrei in Osttirol and Kals am Großglockner, you can access more than 40 km of slopes in this beautiful ski area. Be sure to visit the Adler Lounge. Certainly for the view of the mountain world, but also a tasty lunch or hot chocolate. And do you want something other than skiing? We can recommend taking a snowshoe hike with a ranger through Hohe Tauern National Park. So beautiful!
The Kaunertal is a beautiful valley in Tyrol with no fewer than two ski resorts: the Kaunertal Glacier and Winterberg Fendels. If you are looking for snow-sure and quiet ski resorts in Austria, this is the right place. There are no long queues or crowded pistes to speak of in the Kaunertal, so you can enjoy your skiing holiday peacefully. The ski area on the Kaunertal Glacier has just over 20 km of slopes. To get there, you first drive up via a beautiful mountain road. Most pistes are blue, and you will also find some beautiful off-piste routes. Winterberg Fendels is located at the beginning of the valley on a sunny mountain plateau. The 10 km of pistes are particularly popular with families with young children. They can practice their first turns in the snow quietly.
The Austrian state of Vorarlberg is home to several ski resorts that have yet to be discovered by the masses. One of these is Sonnenkopf. It's also called the little brother of nearby Ski Arlberg. Most people drive on to St Anton am Arlberg or Lech am Arlberg, and few stop in Wald and Klösterle. From either village, you'll be on the Sonnenkopf in no time. A small but cosy ski area with some 30 km of slopes. A big advantage is that it is never really crowded here. Not even in the spring holidays! The ski area may not be big, but it is no punishment to ski certain runs ten times a row. Moreover, you can ski long runs here too! There are several lovely mountain huts for lunch or a short break. For children, there is a cosy children's area with a practice area at the Sonnenkopfbahn mountain station.
The lesser-known ski resorts are often also the quieter ski resorts in Austria. Goldeck is a good example. This small but varied area is located in sunny southern Carinthia, near the village of Spittal an der Drau. The more than 25 km of pistes attract mainly families, although free-riders and tour skiers also feel at home here. The latter group finds beautiful terrain with stunning views here. Remember that the valley descent is a black run, although you can also take the ski lift back down. At the top of the ski area, you will find mainly red and blue runs.
Close to popular ski resorts such as SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental, Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn and KitzSki is also a quieter alternative. Together, St Johann in Tirol and Oberndorf form a fine and cosy ski resort with just over 40 km of slopes on the Kitzbüheler Horn's flanks. Mostly, locals from the region frequent it, and there are rarely long queues for the ski lifts. The ski resort offers various slopes with magnificent views of the Kitzbüheler Alpen. There is no lack of cosy mountain huts (you can even go on a culinary ski safari!), and the same goes for opportunities for families with children.
Where most winter sports enthusiasts stop in Sölden for a well-deserved skiing holiday, few drive on to Vent. You will find this village and ski area of the same name at the end of Ötztal, where, among other things, you have stunning views of the 3774-metre Wildspitze. Vent is ideal for those looking for peace and quiet and families with children. You won't readily get lost with over 15 km of pistes, and there are good ski schools to teach skiing. And should you fancy a day on more slopes, you can easily make a trip to Sölden or Obergurgl from here!
Brandnertal is a beautiful valley in Vorarlberg, not far from the town of Bludenz and the German border. A great advantage of this ski destination is its tranquillity. From the villages of Brand and Bürserberg, you have access to a ski area with over 50 km of slopes. Bear in mind that you can ski to Brand from Bürserberg, but you have to take the ski lift the other way around. You will find several accommodations on the slopes, fun ski islands for children, and plenty to do outside skiing. Handy fact: Brandnertal's multi-day ski pass (the Montafon Brandnertal Card) also gives you access to the slopes of the nearby Montafon.
One of the larger quiet ski resorts in Austria is Bad Kleinkirchheim. You have access to just over 100 km of slopes here, primarily red runs. Perfect for the more experienced winter sportsman, although there are plenty of options for beginners. One of the highlights is the Franz Klammer World Cup descent. Bad Kleinkirchheim is also perfect for winter sports with children and offers many facilities for families. Wellness enthusiasts have also come to the right place. This village in Carinthia has been known for its thermal spas for centuries! You will find several in town where you can relax after a day of skiing.
Galtür is close to the large and popular ski area Silvretta Arena Ischgl - Samnaun, but you don't notice much of it. There are no big crowds in this village and ski area at the end of Paznaun. Even in high season, there are no long queues at the ski lifts. Not surprisingly, this ski destination deserves a place in this list of quiet ski resorts in Austria. Galtür is also particularly child-friendly. Mascot Sigi makes it a party every day! With over 40 kilometres of pistes, the ski area is not very big. Still, it offers plenty of variety and stunning views.
I grew up in Slovenia, close to the Julian Alps. Early on, my parents put me on skis and skates, and the winter sports enthusiasm hasn't left me since. I also enjoy cross-country skiing and have been a keen snowboarder for the past 20 years.
