Skiing in Austria is a blast for all levels of skiers, even those who have little or no experience on the slopes. The Austrian Alps characterize much of Austria’s landscape, and come wintertime, this beautiful alpine country is a skiing mecca. People from all over the globe come to experience the world-class conditions, not to mention the Austria ski lodges, which often have a warm fire going around the clock.

A ski vacation Austria experience can be just what the doctor ordered when you find yourself with the winter doldrums, and when you’re not churning up some powder in the Austrian Alps, you can interest yourself in some of Austria’s other charms, like its cuisine, its culture, and its castles.

A great destination any time of year, Austria is prime in the winter.The top ski holiday Austria destination is Innsbruck, which is the capital of the state of Tyrol. Tyrol in general is an all around great place for skiing in Austria, and Innsbruck makes for the perfect base. The Winter Olympic Games have been held in Innsbruck twice, which helps to give testament to its quality of slopes, and there are no less than five ski areas in the immediate area.

From the city, you can even catch a cableway (funicular) up to the trails at Hungerburg, which is a favorite Innsbruck ski area. For the best all around conditions near Innsbruck, Axamer Lizum is ideal, and you’ll also want to look into hitting the slopes at Igls, which offers some great runs that extend outwards from under Patscherkofel Mountain.

Also in Tyrol, Kitzbuhel is a world-renowned destination, offering some of the best skiing in Austria. You can take a run here that extends for 50 miles downhill, and the trails through the forest are utterly exhilarating. Two other Tyrol ski resorts worth checking out when planning your ski holiday Austria are St Anton am Arlberg and Seefeld. The former is a most picturesque village, and it offers slopes that reach up to 9,000 feet above sea level.

The snow is known to fall in abundance at St Anton am Arlberg, so don’t forget your goggles. Seefeld is well-known in Europe, and it is one of the continent’s best international ski resorts. Nordic events for the Olympic Games were held here, and if you like cross-country skiing, there are over 100 miles of tracks to enjoy.

While Tyrol is a premier ski vacation Austria destination, the country’s most exclusive and chic ski resorts are found further west in the state of Vorarlberg. Lech and Zurs are high-class hangouts where beginners and intermediate skiers will feel right at home. There are a number of wide, gently rolling slopes here where you can take it easy, and many of the resorts can be accessed right off the slopes, meaning you can ski in and ski out.

These two Voralberg ski resorts are neighbors, so it won’t be hard to include both on your ski vacation Austria itinerary. Bregenz is the capital of the state of Vorarlberg, and you can either base yourself at one of the Bregenz hotels when enjoying your ski vacation, or opt for one of the ski lodges closer to the slopes.

Western Austria is definitely the best part of the country for a ski holiday Austria experience, and in addition to the destinations already mentioned, you can also consider Zell am See, which rests on the shores of one of Europe’s cleanest lakes. For those who are heading to southern Austria instead for their ski holiday Austria experience, the city of Klagenfurt makes for a great base.

Klagenfurt rests at an elevation of 1,460 feet above sea level, and because the state of Carinthia is quite mountainous, enjoying a Klagenfurt ski vacation in the winter is the aim of many visitors. It’s not the best skiing in Austria, but there are a number of ski resorts within an hour or two from the city that will prove enjoyable. One of the more notable Klagenfurt ski areas is found in the municipality of Bad Kleinkirchheim, which is about an hour’s drive from the Klagenfurt airport. This ski area is often the site for the Alpine Skiing World Cup, so you can bet that there are some great runs here.

The best conditions for skiing in Austria are found between the months of December and March, though there are some glaciers that can be skied year round as well. Booking your hotel room in advance at one of the Austria ski resorts is always a good idea when possible, though even if you show up without reservations, you should be able to find a fitting place to rest your head.

In addition to the ski lodges and more standard hotels, those planning a ski vacation Austria getaway can also consider booking a stay at one of the vacation rentals in Austria. These vacation rentals provide a home away from home where you will enjoy a bit more privacy, and often times, a bit more space as well.

Reaching There:

This resort town is surrounded by various airports located nearby namely Salzburg, Innsbruck and Munich. Also with the Railway station at Kufstein located 25km away Ellmau is very well connected through either of the travelling options one chooses to use.

Skiing Locations:

Mid December to mid April is the best time to experience skiing at its best in Ellmau. This resort is located at one end of the Skiwelt area which in turn covers the skiing areas of almost 8 other resorts thereby making it the largest skiing location in the world. All these 8 resorts forming the Skiwelt are very well connected by high speed lifts and the newly constructed Tanzbodenbahn which is a six person high speed chairlift. The skiing slopes native to Ellmau are themselves very famous amongst the beginners.

The amateurs also hold high the three skiing schools located here which embark upon them the basics of skiing. The skiing area beyond Ellmau on the Skiwelt is heaven for the intermediate level skiers. With abundant choices of slopes rated between easy to moderate the slopes of the Hartkaiser Mountain and the nearby location of Schneewinkel are ideal bets for them.  Though options for the professional may be a little limited but they still have the Silleralm and Eiberg runs on the Hohe Salve Mountain to explore.

Activities beyond Skiing:

The relaxed, calm and attractive surroundings of Ellmau attract families in hordes. The Kaiserbad Leisure centre featuring a swimming pool, sauna, health centre and a sauna are much frequented by travelers who have had enough of skiing on the mountains. Other outdoor alternatives available to people include an almost 5 km long sleigh ride and the thrilling toboggan run on the winter footpaths. Also worth visiting and exploring is the nearby town of Kitzbuhel and Salzburg. The local traditional produces of the area can be bought from its numerous shops in the market.

Nightlife and Food

Ellmau may not be offering nightlife of the likes of other skiing resorts but it still has its fair share of choices in pubs, restaurants and bars. Otzy and Café Pub Memory are two such options which also have the facility of live karaoke to entertain guests. Traditional Austrian cuisine can be tasted at various eating options found throughout the town. Pizzeria Sterndl and the restaurant Ellmau serve global cuisine with panache and excellence. Tenne nightclub and the Heldenbar are the area’s to head for which have live music to entertain one and all.

Reaching There:

The airports at Salzburg and Innsbruck are located near to Soll and thereby make this ski resort destination of Soll easily accessible. It is further an hour’s drive on road from either of these airports to reach Soll.

Skiing Locations:

The skiing area in Soll has options to suit the novice skier, the intermediate as well as the professional skier. With slopes earmarked for all these categories skiing here is fun. Beginners can hone their skiing skills on the numerous wide and gentle slopes while the middle slopes of the Ski Welt have intermediate skiers polishing their skills. The expert skiers can show off their skill and head off towards the blacks which number 8 in total and are located all along the Ski Welt.

Here is a city that was founded on salt being mined in the region and is now a popular resort and historic center.

Left mostly untouched by war, you can walk through the narrow streets and impressive squares of the town that gave birth to Mozart. Today, his memory lives on in the Mirabell Palace, where he performed and in the house where he was born. See it from the fortress high above the old city. It is a memorable sight….

Imagine a city built on a rushing river, bedecked with colorful buildings in the shadows of snow-capped mountains and crowned by a massive fortress.

Imagine a city that boasts Mozart as a native son, where you can visit the home of his birth and the home of his youth. Imagine a city where, in late June, 181 musical events are staged, including 44 operas, 73 concerts and 64 plays and readings. And don’t forget to include in this an impressive list of shows and concerts that extend the year round.

This is Salzburg, a perfect holiday city with warmth, visual delights and music, music, music. It may be an over-used expression, but it’s true that Salzburg is “a special place.”

Take a Walk to the Mirabell Gardens

Just a walk among the flowers and statues of the Mirabell Gardens or the baroque splendor of the Mirabell Palace makes it worthwhile. Inside there’s a monumental staircase, decorated by sculptures and an imposing marble hall, where a young Mozart captivated audiences with his performances.

This same hall is now a desired place for weddings. Nearby is the Makartplatz, the Landestheatre, the marionette theatre, and the “Dancing Master’s House,” the residence at Number 8, where the young composer lived from 1773 to 1780.

Nearby, at St. Sebastian’s Church Cemetery, you can see where many important Salzburgers are buried, including Mozart’s wife, Constanze, and Leopold, the composer’s father.

It is near here that two of my favorite restaurants are found. One is the modern but unobtrusive Italian eatery called Waterfall, where water trickles along the sides of the restaurant’s aisles. Here you can have most meat dishes and many types of pasta. It is modern, pleasant, and the service is excellent.

Try the Tafelspits at the Hotel Restaurant Stadtkrug

A few doors away at Number 20 is the simple but typically Austrian Hotel Restaurant Stadtkrug in a building going back centuries. Here the ambiance is warm and the fare typical. If you want to taste the traditional foods of the region, try Stadtkrug. The tafelspits (boiled beat) is superb. It was the favorite of Franz Joseph, so it can’t be bad. Local wines are a treat, or you can top it off with a magical soufflé.

You might even want to stay there, since on the left as you enter you are in the hotel lobby. Prices differ by season, but singles start at 79 Euros and doubles at 119 Euros per room. There are even four-person apartments costing between 317 and 367 Euros per night. You may also choose to eat on the roof terrace with its unbeatable view.

Walk down to the bottom of Linzer Gasse. I always pause here to watch children running through the gushing waters of the underground fountain.

One never knows when the pressure will change; the children usually come out drenched, but happy.

A Visit to the Old Town Hall and Mozart’s Birthplace

Across the River Salzach via the Staatsbrucke Bridge, you come to the old town hall (circa 1407) and the busy and old market place. Here the colorful old houses are again reminders of Mozart, since he was born at Number 9 on busy Getreidegasse in 1756.

It is a traditional Salzburg dwelling of the period and now serves as a museum with portraits, letters, music, instruments and personal objects belonging to the child on view. The shops along both sides boast fancy wrought-iron signs showing visually what is sold inside. Across Marketplatz, you’ll see Ludwig Schwanthaler’s exciting statue of Mozart.

From here it is a short walk to the oldest Austrian funicular cable-car railroad, originally built in 1892, which will whisk you silently to the summet of Monchsberg Mountain and the formidable Hehensalzburg Fortress.

This is the largest citadel in Central Europe, dating from 1077. The views of old Salzburg are impressive, as is the Fortress Museum with its exhibit of military weaponry. You can sit at an open terrace and enjoy the view as well as the cold local beer. There’s another beer cellar at the base of the mountain. Steigl’s is exciting. Ask anyone for directions when you get back to the bottom.

Enter the St. Peter’s Cemetery, considered among the most beautiful in the world. It was here that some of the fight scenes from the Sound of Music were filmed. Mozart’s sister Nannerl is buried here. Look up at the catacombs built into the rock face of Monchsberg.

Salzburg Boasts Summer Festivals

Salzburg boasts a summer festival, the Whitsun Concerts, Mozart Week and Salzburg Cultural Days. There are palace concerts, fortress concerts, church concerts, and more. Music is king here.
For theatregoers there are first-class performances at Landestheatre, Kammerspiele, the marionette theatre, and even dinner theatres like Sternbrau, where you can see a dinner Sound of Music show nightly at 7:30 p.m.

You can also enjoy jazz, pop and ‘rock and roll,’ or even contemporary theatre, dance and music. There are open-air rock concerts that draw thousands.

Vienna is considered as one of most beautiful places in the world and one cannot really doubt that fact. It is impossible that one would come to Vienna and not fall in love with this magnificent place. The capital of Austria, Vienna has stood the test of time with its majestic spirit, thanks to its glorious palaces and huge mansions.

The city of Vienna also has a rich heritage of musical culture, where great classical composers like Strauss, Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert, Hayden and Mozart all lived and performed. Presently, the city’s tradition of music is kept alive by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Opera. The city itself is synonymous with music but its beauty lies in much more than just music.

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