 Poster: A snowHead
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I have just retired (UK) and whilst I've got 2 ski trips in 2025, am at the early stages of planning a bucket-list month or two in Austria in 2026. The Tirol Card looks extremely good value and our plan is to base ourselves at one or two places in the valleys and then day trips to as many ski resorts as possible. We're looking for advice on places to base ourselves, towards the West Tirol (Otz Valley looks central?), Zillertal and then potentially the Kitzbuheler Alps. We have stayed in Hopfgarten and rather like it, but there are fewer resorts on the card in this area. We don't want to base ourselves in Innsbruck - although I'm sure we'll visit there at some point.
We have a very good LR 4x4 vehicle with 3PMFS Tyres and chains so not worried about access to resorts.
Any advice on accommodation and other considerations gratefully received. Any "hidden gem" resorts that 1-week a year skiers just don't/can't get to?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Sfellows, consider coming over for an early season glacier trip, you'll then be able to pick up the pass for a cheaper price. You won't save any money overall by the time you come for an early season trip, but it's a good excuse!
Are you looking for a base in each location to then drive to a variety of resorts? For Zillertal, Mayrhofen has the most going on of an evening, but in my opinion the best skiing in the valley is elsewhere. So you need to decide whether you want to drive to Mayrhofen in the evening (last train back along the valley is around 8pm ish) or do you want to stay in Mayrhofen and travel along the valley for skiing.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@swskier, - Thanks. We are looking for a base in each location (area) and then drive to the resorts rather than be in a "resort". We are not looking for "apres ski" (although I'm sure this might happen a few times  ). We will be there to ski and experience Austria.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Sfellows, in that case, for the Zillertal, I'd pick somewhere around the middle of the valley, Kaltenbach, Stumm, Aschau, Zell am Ziller as examples. That'll be cheaper than staying in Mayrhofen and you'll be within a 15 minute drive to all the major valley lifts.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Sfellows, A couple of things to look out for, as mentioned it is worth looking for the "early season" discounts and also check out "senior" ie old git discounts. I have managed to get a season pass for the Arlberg for €550! In general the early season discounts are only available to purchase in person (long boring story about EU consumer law) though it turns out that in the Arlberg case they were available on line too. This might all change next season as there has been a fair amount of fuss in Tirol about all of this ie non locals being able to buy the "cheap" tickets which were only previously available to those resident in Tirol.
As far as the area tickets go there is also the https://www.freizeitticket.at/ . Not totally clued up on the differences between this and the Tirol Card but the Freizeitticket includes 3 days in the Arlberg which is not in the Tirolcard. If you are going to spend a few months in the Tirol skiing you really should visit the Arlberg it has the best skiing in the eastern Alps. Easy to get to St Anton (train station in centre of the village) from Landeck, Ötztal Bahnhof or Innsbruck so no need to drive (limited parking in St Anton) though try to go on a sunny day with recent snow (though any easily accessible fresh powder is skied out shortly after the lifts open) to see it at its best.
Openskimap https://openskimap.org/ is a very useful resource. Also the "Where to Ski in Austria" book see but it is now out of print though the authors are selling off the remaining stock for the cost of postage, there is a thread somewhere on here with details
Landeck might be a good spot for a while, easy access to St Anton, Ischgl, Galtür, Kappl, See, Serfaus/Fiss, Nauders plus some local slopes. The issue with the Ötztal is it is a long way to Sölden & Obergurgl and a long way back though Hochoetz and Kühtai worth a visit. St Johann in Tirol might be a good spot less expensive than Kitzbühel but easy access to Kitzski / SkiWelt also a small area Steinplatte on the border with Bavaria. Not sure Fieberbrunn is covered by any of the Tirol passes (it is in Tirol but part of the Saalbach Hinterglemm area). Zillertal has to be on the list @swskier, would know the best spots.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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If getting the Tirol ski card, I would recommend some time in Ost Tirol, there are quite a few resorts accessible from Lienz. These included Defferengtal, lienz, Sillian, Kals Gross Glockner, Matrei.
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| As far as the area tickets go there is also the https://www.freizeitticket.at/ . Not totally clued up on the differences between this and the Tirol Card but the Freizeitticket includes 3 days in the Arlberg which is not in the Tirolcard. If you are going to spend a few months in the Tirol skiing you really should visit the Arlberg it has the best skiing in the eastern Alps. Easy to get to St Anton (train station in centre of the village) from Landeck, Ötztal Bahnhof or Innsbruck so no need to drive (limited parking in St Anton) though try to go on a sunny day with recent snow (though any easily accessible fresh powder is skied out shortly after the lifts open) to see it at its best. |
The positives to the Freizeit ticket vs the Snowcard are:
3 days in St Anton
Night skiing is included
Access to swimming pools
Summer lift usage
Freizeit ticket doesn't include Zillertal though, or anything east of Schwaz pretty much.
For this case, i'd say the Snowcard is a better option.
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@swskier, @munich_irish, Thanks so much for this. Will look into that card too. As far as the Arlberg is concerned my trip to Lech in 2025 will be the 4th time in 5 years.  . Agreed it’s fantastic but I’ve never been to Solden, Ischgl etc so I’m focussing on that and the Zillertal currently and maybe on the way home going back to the Arlberg. So much choice. So little time. God! I wish I’d thought of doing this years ago when I was working.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Sfellows, Definately stay over in the Tyrol. Salzburgerland sells out of Steradent and incontinence pants before Christmas.
If you do venture this way then Hochkonig, Dachstein West, Grossarl/Dorfgastein and even Werfenweng are all worth a day trip.
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Depending on how far east you want to go, I'd add Alpbach and the rest of the Ski Juwel area to the list as a day trip or for a couple of days to do the 2 valleys justice, and then if you really want to go out on a limb then Steinplatte at Waidring is worth a visit for a day out from somewhere around Kitz/St Johann especially as it allows you to ski over the border into Germany as a bit of a novelty. It seems you probably know the Skiwelt and Kitzbuhel fairly well
Agreed on the Zillertal, but I'd go for Zell am Ziller as the base and then head in all directions - one day at Fugen/Hochfugen, one out from Zell to Gerlos/Konigsleiten and back, one in Mayrhofen and surrounds, and one on the glacier at Hintertux.
I have no experience of anywhere further west, but on my own list of possibilities is Serfaus/Fiss/Ladis, Soelden, Ischgl, Hochgurgl and of course the St Anton area. The primary reason why I've not gone further is that the Salzburg Superski card has always been more attractive, and now that the Tirol card can only be bought at an early bird discount in person that's added to the reasons.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Having retired (together with Mrs MA) and bought the Tirol Snowcard in winter 2021/22, I can't recommend it highly enough. It's unbeatable, in my view - over 90 ski areas and glacier skiing from early until late season.
We skied from November to May and booked self catering stays:
- In Neustift in Stubaital for early season skiing at the Stubai and Pitztal Glaciers.
- In Kappl (for skiing there, Ischgl, Galtur, See and the local Landeck ski area).
- Near Öetz for skiing Hochöetz, Sölden, Hochzeiger and Imst.
- In the Zillertal to ski most of the ski areas in that valley.
- In Innsbruck to ski Muttereralm, Patscherköfel, Nordkette and Seefeld.
- In Sölden for end of season skiing at the Sölden and Kaunertal Glaciers and at Obergurgl.
We had an absolutely fantastic season, with brilliant snow conditions It was fantastic to discover so many great ski areas (big and small) that are virtually unknown in the UK.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| RedandWhiteFlachau wrote: |
@Sfellows, Definately stay over in the Tyrol. Salzburgerland sells out of Steradent and incontinence pants before Christmas.
If you do venture this way then Hochkonig, Dachstein West, Grossarl/Dorfgastein and even Werfenweng are all worth a day trip. |
I’d probably add Dachstein Krippenstein - Upper Austria’s longest piste at 9km with (IMHO), some of the best views from a piste on the way down, especially Hallstattersee. Depending on the ski pass you elect to buy, Loser and Tauplitz are also worth a day in each.
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One area on the Tirol card despite being in the Pinzgau ie Land Salzburg is Wildkogel. Fairly easy access from the Zillertal over the Gerlos pass. It is not far from the Pass Thurn part of Kitzbühel, I would guess you can see the top of the lifts on the ridge over the valley. Went for a day many moons ago. Definitely worth a visit and as it is well off the beaten track likely to be quieter than many other places. The Pinzgau is very quiet, it has a narrow gauge railway but the long valleys to the south have a few huts and farms and lead up to a national park dominated by the Grossvenediger which is clearly visible from many of the Tirolean & Salzburgerland ski areas.
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