Luxury Winter Resorts
Skiing destinations for discerning travellers

Austria’s luxury and gourmet winter resorts combine high-quality skiing with first-class hospitality, wellness and dining. From premium hotels and to award-winning restaurants and royal-approved destinations, the following regions cater to guests looking for more than time on the slopes. With excellent service, sophisticated amenities and a strong focus on food and relaxation, they offer a refined take on the Austrian winter holiday.

Here’s where guests can experience winter sports and the Austrian “Lebensgefühl” without having to compromise.

Ischgl

Paznaun-Ischgl combines award-dining cuisine with more than 362 km of slopes and a buzzing après-ski scene. It’s indulgence at altitude and perfect for winter sports fans who don’t want to choose between fun and luxury experiences. Ischgl pairs big-mountain skiing with luxury hotels and a serious gourmet streak. It has five Michelin-starred restaurants (Stüva in Hotel Yscla, Paznaunmerstube, Schlosshernstube, Fliana Chef’s Table, Heimatbühne), and huts right next to the pistes for culinary pitstops when out and about. While Ischgl is all about whizzing down the slopes, Galtür is quieter and family-minded with Nordic and winter hiking built in. Kappl and See are comfort-first, easy-going areas that punch above their size for families and beginners.

New for winter 2026/27:

• The new Höllkarbahn C2 in the Silvretta Arena Ischgl/Samnaun replaces the existing lift. The detachable eight-seater D-Line chairlift can transport 4,200 passengers per hour, reducing the average journey time to around 5 minutes.

• In the Kopssee area of Silvapark Galtür, a detachable six-seater chairlift replaces the existing Kopseelift I and II drag lifts, bringing capacity to 2,400 passengers per hour.

• In Kappl a new snow park is being created, including the family-friendly “SunnyCross“, a cross course with obstacles, a Rainbow Bridge and more.

Ötztal

Ötztal has quietly become a home for luxury winter holidays. It’s a blend of skiing, luxury spas, family run hotels and views. The region has six ski areas and more than 360 km of slopes, all included in the Ötztal Super Skipass (Sölden, Hochoetz-Kühtai, Niederthai, Gries, and Vent). Gurgl and Sölden come as an attractive holiday twin pack, connected by a free shuttle bus: Gurgl is surrounded by three-thousanders, and boasting premium ski-in/ski-out hotels with gourmet dining options, night skiing, and winter wellness. Sölden delivers both Michelin-starred restaurants (including the glass-cube iceQ at the Gaislachkogl) and adrenaline, think two glaciers and freeriding terrain. There’s also the 007 Elements – James Bond World an interactive museum focused on "Spectre", which was partly shot in Sölden.

New for winter 2026/27:

• A new 6-seater chairlift will replace the "Gratl" lift after four decades from this winter. The mountain station is being repositioned, increasing the length of the route and creating a new blue run.

• From December 2026 to early March 2027, the swimming lake in Umhausen will be transformed into an illuminated ice rink for the first time.

Zillertal

The Zillertal is one of Tirol's largest ski areas, catering to both beginners and experts. The area boasts a whopping 546 km of slopes and 180 lifts, as well as the Harakiri run with a 78% gradient. The Zillertal Superskipass gives unlimited access to all winter resorts in the area as well as free public transport to get you around the valley. Zillertal is also rapidly becoming a foodie’s paradise. Dining options range from slow-food huts to contemporary bistros and chef-driven menus; nightlife can be as exciting or laid back as you like, with venues to serve all tastes. Two restaurants here proudly hold Michelin stars: Guat’z Essen in Stumm (fine-dining with a focus on plant-based dishes) and Genießerstube at the Alpenhof in Tux (regional cuisine with a creative twist).

New for winter 2026/27:

• The Green Resort in Uderns opens in December 2026 right at the golf course. It features 75 rooms and suites, a 3,300 m2 indoor and outdoor wellness area, a kids’ club, and several restaurants.

Lech-Zürs

Part of the Arlberg region, Lech Zürs is the gateway to more than 300 km of slopes, more than 200 km of powder runs and 85 lifts to whizz guests back up to the starting points. It’s also recognised as a premier gourmet and luxury destination, featuring award-winning foodie hotspots (three Michelin-starred restaurants), traditional inns and more than 40 four and five-star hotels. Away from the slopes, the fine-dining and the hotel spas, guests can enjoy fun activities such as heli skiing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, tandem paragliding and alpacca trekking. Lech Zürs is also a royal-approved winter holiday destination, with everyone from Prince William, Prince Harry and the late Princess Diana to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands having skied here.