- Austria is often the best-value Alpine ski destination for UK skiers
- Fly to Innsbruck or Salzburg for short transfers
- Hintertux glacier offers skiing all year
- Vienna is ideal for culture and Christmas markets
- Airports
- Innsbruck (INN), Salzburg (SZG), Vienna (VIE), Munich for western Austria (MUC)
- Flight time
- about 2h from London to Innsbruck or Salzburg
- Best time to go
- December-April for skiing; May-September for hiking and lakes; December for Christmas markets
- Currency
- Euro (€)
Austria is a favourite with British skiers for a simple reason: it delivers big Alpine skiing, cosy villages and legendary après-ski, usually for less than France or Switzerland. But it's far more than a winter destination. Vienna is one of Europe's great cultural capitals, and in summer the mountains and lakes are ideal for hiking, cycling and swimming.
Here's how to plan your trip, from choosing a resort to getting there and keeping costs in check.
Where to go in Austria
Tyrol
The western state of Tyrol is Austria's ski heartland, with the Zillertal, St Anton and the Arlberg, Kitzbühel, Sölden and the vast SkiWelt all within reach of Innsbruck. At the head of the Zillertal, the Hintertux Glacier is Austria's only ski area open all year, weather permitting.
Vienna
The capital is all palaces, coffee houses and concert halls. Allow half a day for Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' summer residence, and catch a performance at the State Opera or a classical concert. Our Vienna guide covers neighbourhoods, food and the famous Christmas markets.
Salzburg and the lakes
Mozart's birthplace has a beautiful baroque old town beneath its fortress and is the gateway to the Salzkammergut lakes, including picture-perfect Hallstatt. Go early or late in the day, as Hallstatt gets extremely crowded with day-trippers. South of Salzburg, ski areas such as Ski amadé and Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn are popular with UK skiers.
Skiing in Austria
Austrian resorts tend to be traditional villages rather than purpose-built stations, with hotels and chalets clustered around the lifts. Lift passes, ski school and mountain lunches are usually cheaper than in France's big-name resorts, and the lift systems are modern and efficient. Most resorts sit lower than the highest French resorts, so for early or late-season trips choose glacier areas such as Hintertux, Sölden, Stubai or Kaprun, or high resorts like Obergurgl and Ischgl.
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The best-value weeks are usually in January, after the New Year, and from mid-March. February half-term and Easter are the most expensive, so book those early.
Best time to visit Austria
- December-April: ski season. Most resorts open in early December and close around Easter; snow is most reliable from January to March.
- Late November-December: Christmas markets in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck.
- May-June: quiet, green and good value; higher lifts and huts may still be closed until mid-June.
- July-September: best for hiking, lakes and mountain biking, with lifts running in most resorts. September is calmer and still warm.
- October-November: shoulder season; many mountain hotels close between seasons.
Getting to Austria from the UK
Flights take about 2h to Innsbruck or Salzburg and around 2h15 to Vienna, with direct services from London and several regional airports, especially in the ski season. Munich, about 2h by road from much of Tyrol, offers more flight choice and is often cheaper. Transfers to the Zillertal or SkiWelt from Innsbruck or Salzburg typically take around an hour, though Saturday traffic in peak season can stretch that.
Travelling by train is possible via Eurostar and onward connections through Germany, including overnight sleeper options, but allow a full day or more.
UK visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180 within the Schengen area. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on arrival and valid for three months after departure. Expect biometric registration under the EU's Entry/Exit System the first time you enter.
Getting around
Austria's ÖBB railway is punctual and connects Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck; Vienna to Salzburg takes about 2h30 on the fastest trains. Ski resorts are linked by local buses, often free with a lift pass or guest card. If you drive, you need a vignette (motorway toll sticker, now also available digitally) to use Austrian motorways and expressways.
Money and costs
Austria uses the euro. Costs are similar to or slightly below the UK for eating out, with mountain huts serving hearty dishes like Gröstl and Kaiserschmarrn at reasonable prices. Many hotels include half-board, which helps budget. Resorts and cities add a small nightly visitor tax, often bundled with a guest card offering discounts. Rounding up the bill or tipping around 5-10% is customary.
Top attractions in Austria
Ski areaHintertux Glacier
Austria's only glacier ski area open every day of the year, at the head of the Zillertal in Tyrol, topping out at…
LandmarkSchönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs' summer palace on the edge of Vienna, with 1,441 rooms, formal gardens and hilltop views from the…
Austria on the map
Frequently asked questions
Is Austria cheaper than France for skiing?
Generally, yes. Lift passes, lessons, equipment hire and food on the mountain are usually cheaper in Austria than in France's major resorts, though top names like Lech and Ischgl can be pricey.
Where can I ski in Austria in October or November?
The glaciers: Hintertux is open all year, while Sölden, the Stubai Glacier, Kaprun's Kitzsteinhorn and the Pitztal usually open in the autumn, depending on snow.
What is the best airport for Austrian ski resorts?
Innsbruck is closest for most Tyrolean resorts, and Salzburg for the SkiWelt, Ski amadé and Saalbach. Munich has more flights but a longer transfer.
When are the Vienna Christmas markets open?
Most run from mid- or late November until around 23-26 December, with a few staying open until early January. Check individual market dates each year.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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