Chasing the Sun: Spring Skiing in Austria

Spring in the mountains brings a special kind of magic to the skiing season. Longer sunshine hours, milder temperatures on the pistes, and perfectly groomed slopes create ideal conditions for unforgettable days in the snow. Add to that the charm of traditional mountain huts with spacious sun terraces right by the runs, and spring skiing becomes an experience all its own.

Many of Austria's winter sports resorts have extra-long seasons thanks to their high altitude and glaciers, meaning skiers can get the best of both winter and spring while whisking down their dream pistes. And to make the deal even sweeter, there are also plenty of spring deals on offer, either money-wise or coming with additional experiences towards the end of the season.

Austrian ski resorts with XXL seasons

Looking to stretch the winter season? Here are some resorts that are open well until after Easter: Winter sports enthusiasts can hit the slopes up until 12 April at Tirol’s Zillertalarena and Ski Amadé, while the Arlberg region (St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Oberlech, Zürs) is open until 19 April and Ötztal’s Gurgl, famously known as British world cup winner Dave Ryding’s favourite Austrian resort, until 21 April 2026.

For skiing even longer into spring, head to Obertauern, Ischgl and Sölden (all open until 3 May). The Stubai Glacier near Innsbruck stretches the season until 17 May, and Kaprun’s Kitzsteinhorn until 25 May. Looking for all-year-round skiing? Look no further than Hintertux Glacier in Zillertal.

Early morning skiing

More sunshine hours mean more time for skiing, adding an additional benefit to hitting the slopes in springtime. Depending on the resort, 50 to 100 skiers can enjoy the freshly groomed pistes before everyone else – and many early morning ski passes also include a hearty mountain breakfast at a hut afterwards.

Obergurgl kicks off sunrise skiing in early February (guide and mountain breakfast included), while SkiWelt offers early morning skiing on weekends from mid-February to early April. The Zillertalarena opens selected lifts at 6:55 AM on Thursdays and Sundays throughout March, while St. Johann in Tirol offers “Good Morning Skiing” every weekend the same month. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has “First Track Skiing” from 7:30 AM on three Wednesdays in March and April.

Ski in spring - and save money

Those skiing later in the season can also benefit from significant discounts, especially when travelling with kids: At SkiWelt, for example, families buying a pass for at least three days receive free tickets for children up to the age of 15 between 14 March and 6 April, while adults without children get 15% off on lift passes during the same period. St. Johann in Tirol runs a similar family deal from Mid-March to the end of the season, and Zell am See-Kaprun offers free ski passes for children when accompanied by a parent holding a ticket for four or more days.

St. Johann in Salzburg rewards families going on longer skiing breaks with Easter discounts on both hotels and lift passes when staying for seven nights.

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