Ski Areas in the Austrian Tirol

Austria remains a very popular ski country with Brits, but which resort and ski area is best for you? Read our guide to pinpoint the ideal holiday destination for you.

Discover why you really need to ski the Tirol at some point. The Tirol (or sometimes Tyrol) is a huge geographic area of Austria that has some superb ski resorts. Describing this ski region is like describing a magnificent beast. As a leading ski destination, it has everything you need for an amazing holiday. There are 36 picturesque regions, and 3,500 km of groomed slopes; the only difficulty will be deciding which part of the region to visit. Strictly speaking it's not a ski area - it's a whole part of the Alps.

Ski Resorts

Ski The Tirol and you find resorts like St. Anton, Mayrhofen, and Kitzbühel - and they are just three of the biggest resorts in the Tirol, each with their own character, lively aprés ski scene, and range of ski and snowboarding facilities. St Anton attracts many experienced skiers and snowboarders to it's 276 km of varied terrain. The town also has facilities for ice skating, and floodlit tobogganing.

Visiting The Tirol

Mayrhofen is a popular resort for families who come to ski the Tirol, and it offers skiing for all ability levels. Lift passes for this area also enable you to access cross country skiing, 27 mountain restaurants, and the large Zillertal Ski area. Both of these towns have a cosmopolitan nightlife, but if you're looking for some architectural beauty, then you need to visit Kitzbühel. Looking down on medieval archways and cobbled streets are 168km of piste, that cater well for beginner and intermediate skiers.

Kitzbühel has also played host to the famous Hahnenkamm Ski Race, just one of a number of fun or competitive events held throughout the Tirol each year. But even when there are no events going on, the rest of the Tirol is far from quiet. Hintertux and Stubai offer excellent Glacier skiing, or you may prefer the high altitudes of Obergurgl in the Ötztal valley. There are also 9 ski areas surrounding the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck, including several 'Olympic Resorts', and a large number of slopes for all abilities.

All of the Tirol is accessible from Innsbruck Airport, which is the closest, or Salzburg and Munich Airports, with transfer times to resorts ranging from 1 hours to 2 hours. If you're ready, then culture, history, panoramic views, and some of the best skiing in Austria is all waiting for you.