Skiing With Kids
Resorts for family winter holidays in Austria

Austria’s family-friendly ski resorts make winter holidays easy, accessible and enjoyable for all generations. With manageable slopes, dedicated children’s areas, ski schools and family-focused facilities, they offer the right conditions for young beginners as well as more experienced skiers. Many resorts also combine skiing with activities away from the slopes, making them a good choice for families looking for a varied winter break in the Alps.

Here’s where to take the kids on a family winter holiday – and give them a first taste of the Austrian “Lebensgefühl”.

Ski Juwel

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau, less than an hour drive from Innsbruck, has a mix of slopes for all abilities, making it a prime destination for families and those seeking a more relaxed style of ski holiday. Skiers and snowboarders of all ages can look forward to 114 km of varied slopes, including options for complete beginners, ten ski schools, and snow parks to master your skills. Childcare is available at many hotels and guest houses across the region. For those looking for something extra special beyond the slopes can book co-piloting sessions on piste bashers, whizz down the Alpbachtaler Lauser-Sauer, a fast-paced, year-round Alpine coaster, go tobogganing, or visit the Top of Alpbachtal, featuring an observation tower, a restaurant, and viewing platform.

St. Johann in Tirol

St. Johann in Tirol sits right in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps and – together with its neighbours Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf – makes the perfect spot for family holidays or a quieter, traditional experience. It offers 42 km of slopes and is brimming with huts and sunny terraces. And if this isn't enough, you can pay a small surcharge for the 3-Länder Freizeit-Arena pass and open up access to 171 km of pistes across Tirol, SalzburgerLand and Bavaria. Families will find plenty of options across the region, but those arriving with young children are especially well catered for in the small ski areas in Erpfendorf and Kirchdorf. Beyond the slopes, St. Johann in Tirol scores with Christmas markets, an illuminated ice rink, winter hiking, snowshoeing, and more than 170 km of cross-country trails.

New for winter 2026/27:

• The new 10-person Jodlalmbahn gondola will replace the existing 2-person chairlift, providing a direct connection up the Harschbichl at 1,603 m.

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is a top-tier winter destination in the Austrian Alps, offering 214 km of slopes, 68 lifts and 100 km of winter hiking trails. The region is an Eldorado for families with three dedicated children’s worlds covering 125,000 m2. (Berta’s Kinderland, Murmli’s Kinderalm, Murmli Park), ski schools offering courses from the age of just three, and activities beyond skiing that the whole family will love, including tobogganing, ice skating on a pond, a Skyswing and a flying fox. Love culinary experiences? Try breakfast with a view at Sunrise Hexensee or a sunset dinner at the Masner, or head on a pisten bully tour. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis also has an average of 2,000 sunshine hours per year and the highest mini tube in the world!

New for winter 2026/27:

• The Plansegg lift is being replaced by a modern 8-seater chairlift. There will also be a new bar called Gampenbar at the valley station.

• Families with children can look forward to Murmli’s Family Run, leading from the Gampen descent through a forest to the middle station of the Komperdellbahn. The Sun Park in Fiss has been expanded with a new Rail Line and a Funslope Line.

• Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has two new photo points, one at the Wonnealm and one at the Alkopfbahn mountain stations.

SkiWelt

As one of Austria's largest interconnected ski areas, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental has become a perennial UK family favourite. Located just an hour from Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Munich, it connects nine mountain villages and features 275 km of slopes, 20 valley descents, and a large nightskiing resort with 13 km of illuminated slopes. The villages surrounding the slopes come with 22 ski schools with dedicated kids’ areas, offering taster courses from the age of three, family-run accommodations, daycare from the age of five months along with plenty of tobogganing, spas, and restaurants. Children and teenagers up to the age of 15 ski for free during the FamilySkiWeeks, and parents with kids three years or younger can share a ski pass for three or more days all season long.

SalzburgerLand (Hochkönig, Obertauern, Großarltal & Salzburg)

Pistes for all ages and skill levels, historic chocolate-box villages and cosy huts make SalzburgerLand a prime destination for family-friendly winter holidays. The Hochkönig region welcomes young guests and their parents with a guest kindergarten, kid-friendly ski schools and attractive package deals, in addition to its highlight for all ages, the Königstour (6 peaks, 35 km of slopes, 7,500 m of altitude). Obertauern offers kid-friendly slopes, ski schools and snow parks for the youngest, and cold water swimming for the adults. In Grossarltal, just south of Salzburg, familes can look forward to a snow park, an Adventure Hill, and Hollywald, a fun slope featuring characters from famous children’s films. Fancy a ski and city break? Schedule in a couple of days in in Salzburg, explore the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, walk in Mozart’s shoes and – the kids will especially love that one – head to the Christmas markets in town and nearby Hellbrunn.   

New for winter 2026/27:

• Guests in the Hochkönig region will have a new digital companion this winter: Alois is a small interactive character that connects to smartphones via an NFC (Near Field Communication) chip. Guests can talk to him, listen to stories from the region and access up-to-date information about their holiday region.

• Hotel Enzian in Obertauern will open its new Recharge Spa in a separate four-storey building in November 2026, featuring a koi pool, saunas with panoramic views, the Tokyo Lounge, a swaltwater steam bath, a yoga room and more.

• Family-run Hotel Kathrin in the Grossarltal is being transformed into “Kathrin – pure alpine living“ following a complete renovation. It will have a new wellness area, lounge, and flexible services such as breakfast and fresh-bread delivery.

Tiroler Zugspitz Arena

Winter in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena unfolds across seven resorts, offering roughly 140 km of slopes in total along with 60 km of winter hiking trails. Families will find three family-certified ski areas here with beginner-friendly slopes, ski schools and huts designed with young guests in mind. There are also a fun slope, a family park and a kids halfpipe, adding some extra fun and action to a family winter holiday. Beyond the pistes, winter reveals its quieter side. Snowshoe and winter hikes lead through forests and along pastures, while torchlit walks invite guests to experience the mountains after the sun has gone down. Also worth noting are the digital winter hiking trails, special adventure trails, with audio guides, videos, mini-games, puzzles and prizes for kids waiting at the end.