early season ski resorts in Austria

early season ski resorts in Austria

For that reason, we've concentrated on resorts which are generally high and which usually have a decent part of the ski area open seven days a week in the period from the start of December through to the weekend before Christmas.

Obergurgl

Has to be #1 on the list. Obergurgl has a long history of getting its ski area open early and really, who should be surprised, with the main village at an altitude just under 2000 meters?

Some British travel companies operate 'white weeks' to the resort before Xmas, so there may be deals available both for package holidays and flight seats into Innsbruck.

Advantages: Altitude, extensive early-season area, good accommodation
Disadvantages: Not the best if it is snowing, lack of village atmosphere

Obertauern

Obertauern is Salzburg's answer to Obergurgl. Rather than being up at the end of the valley, it is a settlement on a mountain pass, but it shares a lot of the advantages and disadvantages of the resort above.

The ski runs start outside the accommodation and it shares with Obergurgl the advantage of a very high altitude for the village, meaning that the runs back down from the slopes are generally available. The location on a main traffic artery is also advantageous as the run down from Salzburg airport is mostly on the motorway.

Advantages: Altitude, access to ski runs
Disadvantages: Unpleasant in bad weather, ribbon resort on a mountain pass

Sölden

The first of the Tyrol's big glacier ski areas. Sölden starts the winter ski racing season off and uses that as successful advertising for its autumn skiing.

In December, the glacier skiing is still in full swing but there is also the possibility that some, if not most, of the ski area above the town could be open, meaning that the long haul up the glacier road is avoided.

Advantages: Big glacier area, high altitude
Disadvantages: Long drive up to glacier if connections not open, noisy party resort (if that is a disadvantage!)

Neustift

Another village with access to a glacier ski area. Neustift offers the advantage of being close to Innsbruck airport and yet having very good connections to the Stubai glacier.

Those who have skied in France may dismiss glacier skiing, but some of the Austrian glaciers offer extensive areas and are attractive possibilities for pre-Xmas skiing.

Advantages: Close to airport, nearest to one of big glacier areas
Disadvantages: Ski area above village unlikely to be open

Ischgl

Ischgl is a great high altitude resort during the season and just creeps onto this list ahead of places such as St Anton or Kaprun because of the effort it puts into the early season send-off.

The Top of the Mountain concerts at the beginning and end of the season generally have a world-famous star as the centerpiece of the opening and closing of the ski area.

Advantages: Main ski area at a high altitude, plenty going on at start of season
Disadvantages: Runs down to village possibly not open, main ski area not wonderful in bad weather