Nestled on the border between Austria and Italy, Carinthia is known for its guaranteed snow and exceptional amount of sunny days. This is the perfect place for a family ski holiday or a romantic outing with your significant other, and thanks to the new direct flights from London to Klagenfurt, getting to Carinthia is easier than ever before. With the Top Ski Pass Carinthia & East Tyrol, you’ll have access to 30 ski resorts and over 800km of pistes. Skiing in Carinthia means undiscovered slopes, amazing cuisine and a pristine setting. Here are the top ski areas you should check out.
Carinthia enjoys a long ski season, usually lasting from November to May. In fact, the Mölltaler Glacier stays open for over 300 days a year! Less famous than their neighbours to the north, the Carinthian ski resorts boast uncrowded lift lines and a tranquil atmosphere. Freestylers of all levels will have a blast on the jumps and halfpipes in the snowparks, while freeriders will love the off-piste areas that wind through the magical Carinthian wilderness. Well-groomed pistes and a special focus on children and beginners, including generous discounts in many resorts, ensure fun for the whole family during your Austrian skiing holiday.
Nassfeld - Pressegger See prides itself on having 100 more hours of sunshine than its neighbours to the north, as well as guaranteed snow thanks to its snow cannons. The 110km of pistes and 80km of cross-country trails place Nassfeld squarely at the forefront of Carinthia’s ski areas. Adventurous skiers and snowboarders can make use of the snowpark, fun slope park and freeride areas, or try night skiing on one of the longest floodlit slopes in the Alps. There are plenty of facilities for families, including three practice areas and the popular Bobo’s Kid’s Club. Children receive a variety of discounts throughout the season. Nassfeld is located near the Italian border and boasts fantastic Alpine-Adriatic cuisine, to be savoured at one of the many mountain huts. Alternate activities include snowshoeing, tobogganing, outdoor ice skating, spa treatments with incredible views, horse-drawn sleigh rides and trekking with llamas.
With 103km of pistes, Bad Kleinkirchheim / St.Oswald & Falkert is one of the top ski resorts in Carinthia. Skiing with the family is very reasonable here, with children under 12 paying only €1 per day. Bad Kleinkirchheim is known for its thermal baths, Römerbad and St. Kathrein, and offers several packages which combine wellness with a ski lift pass. In the surrounding biosphere park of the Nockberge Mountains, you can try plenty of activities including tobogganing, snowshoeing, ice skating and winter hiking. There are 8km of cross-country trails available, and it is possible to go ski touring if you’re interested in further exploring the countryside. Bad Kleinkirchheim will host several events for the FIS World Cup this January.
As the only glacier ski area in Carinthia, Mölltaler Glacier offers year-round skiing holidays on up to 17km of pistes. Snowmaking facilities guarantee snow over the whole ski area, which reaches up to 3122m. It’s a good place for training thanks to the well-groomed slopes. There is also a snow park with jumps, kickers and a boardercross course for freestylers, as well as several off-piste access points starting at Mölltaler. Cross-country enthusiasts can explore 2km of classic trails. The middle station has a large youth hostel and a modern restaurant, the Restaurant Eissee, which boasts spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. Mölltaler is a family-friendly ski area and children can learn to ski at Bobo’s Kinderclub.
The focus is on families at Katschberg, with adventure-themed children’s areas for beginner skiers in Katschi's Kinderwelt and a wide selection of ski schools. There are virtually no queues thanks to the modern lifts, but just in case, the 70km of snow-sure pistes are supplemented by freeriding areas. Katschberg is a good choice if you’re looking for après-ski – check out the Lärchenstadl or the Schneeflockerl Katschberg. Be sure not to miss out on night sledging followed by a hot drink at the Gamskogelhütte. Night skiing is available on certain dates, and horse-drawn sleigh rides and cross-country skiing are also available.
Nestled at the foot of the 3798m-high Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria, Grossglockner Heiligenblut enjoys gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding mountains in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The atmosphere is made even more special by the ancient gothic church in the village centre. Explore the ski resort's 55km of pistes or take a guided tour to discover the hidden secrets of the region. Cross-country skiing, snowshoe wildlife tours and winter hiking are also available, as are 15 km² of free-ride terrain.
Gerlitzen Alpe offers breathtaking views of Italy, Slovenia and Carinthia. The 42km of pistes are especially well suited to beginner and intermediate skiers, with many wide, well-groomed slopes. The striking KärntenTherme Warmbad Villach thermal baths offer rest and relaxation in sumptuous surroundings after a long day of skiing. Limited cross-country trails are available, and it is possible to go winter hiking during your skiing holidays here.
Turracher Höhe has 38km of pistes and enjoys a long season, from November to the beginning of May. A good way to get acquainted with the entire ski area is by doing the “2205m around Turrach” circuit. The ski resort is family-friendly, with a choice of ski schools. A must-see is the year-round Nocky Flitzer Alpine roller coaster. Children and adults alike will also enjoy the natural skating rink on frozen Lake Turracher, as well as the varied snowpark and funslope facilities which cater to every level of skier and snowboarder. Other activities include snowmobiling, night tobogganing and cross-country skiing, among others. Prepare to be pampered by the Slope Butler when staying in partner accommodation.
Experts can shred the moguls all day, but it’s not just about downhill skiing in this Austrian state. A ski holiday in Carinthia also means exquisite cuisine, an idyllic setting and quiet cross-country trails where you can feel at one with nature. Go on a guided hike at Koralpe, Kötschach-Mauthen or Bodental, or whiz down a toboggan at Gitschtal-Weissbriach, Klippitztörl, Simonhöhe or Weinebene. If you want adrenaline and nature at the same time, you might choose to explore the freeriding spaces at Ankogel-Mallnitz, Innerkrems or Heidi Alm Skipark am Falkert. Couples will enjoy the carriage rides at Petzen and the spas at Goldeck and Emberger Alm, while families might want to head towards Dreiländereck, Weissensee, Hochrindl/Sirnitz and Flattnitz. Some resorts even offer perks like piste butlers, heated seats and on-piste sauna facilities! With the new direct flights from London to Klagenfurt, this whole world is at your fingertips!
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!
