Austria in Winter
Austria in winter is a treasure trove of delights. Fulfilling anyone’s picturesque alpine dream, it’s easily-accessible mountains offer up dramatic snowy landscapes. Whether you choose to admire them from a cozy Kitzbühel chalet or head out onto the ski pistes around St Anton, there’s really no end to the allure of Austria in winter.
Other winter activities include snowshoeing and sledging, while those keen to let out the stresses of the summer months have some extraordinary spas to enjoy. Add to that the pick of Europe’s best Christmas markets, and you have a range of Austria weekend breaks which suit every kind of traveler this winter.
The Ideal European Skiing Destination
With more ski resorts than there are days of the year, you really can’t go too far wrong with weekend ski breaks in Austria. Of the country’s incredible 435 resorts, Kitzbühel is perhaps the most well-known internationally, but nearby St Anton is catching up fast.
Situated roughly halfway between Innsbruck to the west and Salzburg to the east, Kitzbühel sits at an elevation of 762 meters. Its altitude means that snow on the surrounding slopes is generally guaranteed from the start of November right through to March, if not April the following year, providing at least five months of skiing and winter sports.
At its heart, Kitzbühel is a medieval town with chocolate box worthy building frontages, but also has everything you would want and need from one of the region’s top ski destinations. Its Hahnenkamm Mountain hosts World Cup ski races every year, pointing to the standard of its slopes, drawing in crowds to fashionable Kitzbühel’s 10,000 hotel beds, almost 170 km of skiable pistes, and 56 chair and other lifts that will get you there.
A ski trip to Austria’s St Anton is similarly first rate. Situated in Austria’s west, this area’s skiing is rated as some of the best in the world, as is its apres-ski scene. The Arlberg region in which St Anton rests has an even greater length of pistes than Kitzbühel at 340 km, connected by no fewer than 94 ski lifts and aerial tramways. What’s more, they’re all covered by a single ski pass and have a great mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced runs
Austria’s Other Winter Sports
For many, Austria in Winter is all about the skiing, perhaps closely followed by the nightly dining, drinking, and dancing that forms its much-loved apres-ski. However, dominated by its mountain landscapes, Austria is a natural playground for all outdoor activities come the winter months.
It’s not unusual for Austria weekend breaks to include snowshoeing, skating, and sleigh rides too. Step away from the groomed slopes of the region’s ski runs, and you’ll discover an almost endless range of options for snowshoeing. The Rauris Valley, sitting to the south and east of Kitzbühel, has a superb snowshoeing reputation. This is largely down to the fact the valley is situated within Hohe Tauern National Park. Forming the largest protected area within the entire Alps, it’s possible to enter ancient pine forest which may not have been explored for days, even along the clearly marked and dedicated snowshoe trails.
For ice skating, head to Lake Weissensee, or ‘the White Sea,’ named after the pale limestone of its valley home. Freezing over across the winter months and safe to skate on, Weissensee becomes a skating surface some 6.5 square km in area. You’ll also often find local curling teams honing their technique on the glistening surface. And when it comes to refreshment, Weissensee finds itself within a Slow Food Region, meaning there’s plenty of hearty cuisine just waiting to be dished up.
Taking the weight of your feet, sleigh rides in the centrally-located Schladming-Dachstein Region make for a wonderful addition to any weekend ski breaks in Austria. Maintaining a steady warmth thanks to the pile of soft blankets placed around you, there’s nothing quite like discovering the wider region thanks to the pulling power of two beautiful horses. There’s 40 km of trails specifically laid out for sleigh rides, ensuring plenty to see and experience!
Charming Christmas Markets
If you thought the sleigh rides of the Austrian Alps oozed festive cheer, just wait until you see their Christmas markets, which run from the first or second week of November until at least the end of December each year.
Combining gift buying opportunities with a dose of culinary delights, Austria’s Christmas markets can easily be included in a ski trip to Austria. Certain to get you in the Christmas spirit, these free entry events tend to hit their peak as the sun goes down, as an alternative to the usual apres-ski scene. Dotted throughout the country, you’ll never be far from one, with many located within extraordinary settings, such as beside ancient churches, within castle grounds, or along attractive village main streets.
Our favorite? It has to be the Christmas market taking place at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, the Austrian capital. Set around a giant Christmas tree in front of the palace’s grand façade, Schönbrunn’s Christmas market never fails to impress, with around 90 different stalls creating an atmosphere and ambience straight out of a fairytale.
Sumptuous Alpine Spas
But Austria in Winter has at least one more trick up its sleeve – an impressive array of sumptuous spas called thermen. Created with nothing but wellness and relaxation in mind, thermen are often unique, but what defines them is the presence of warm mineral-rich pools, saunas, fitness rooms, places to eat, and therapy rooms featuring a long list of beauty treatments and massages.
It’s possible to do as much or as little as you would like, and can even stay overnight in some to extend the enjoyment further. Therme Wien in Vienna has a great reputation with day visitors, and is family-friendly too, while Salzburg’s Tauern Spa and the Tyrol region’s Aqua Dome also include rooms. That said, you’ll find both types of Austrian spa right across the country.
Austria in Winter
Few could argue that Austria in winter is a wonderland of enjoyable vistas, excellent skiing, great outdoor winter sports, and superb indulgences from Christmas markets to sumptuous spas. Experience all Austria in winter has to offer with our range of vacations today!