1. Give Skiing a Try
Skiing could just be Austria’s national sport – both mountain and cross-country skiers will be spoiled for choice when visiting here.
Kitzbühel is one of the top-rated ski resorts in Austria, with over 170 kilometers of slopes, 54 cable cars, and every possible level of skiing imaginable. In Austria’s Arlberg area, St. Anton is a resort for serious skiers looking for high altitude and off-piste challenges.
The villages of Lech-Zürs are where celebrities and royalty head for upscale skiing and high-end lodgings, while Sölden, surrounded by glaciers, offers perfect snow conditions well into spring.
Every March, as the ski season comes to an end, there’s a unique event on Feuerkogel mountain known as the «Nostalgia Ski Race,» where skiers dress in early 20th-century clothing to slide down the mountain as the locals did over a century ago. Events and celebrations last well into the night, when both adults and children are invited to take on the slopes as well.
2. Experience Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking
For the non-skiers, Austria offers just as many trails and stunning mountain views in the form of snowshoeing and winter hiking. Depending where you are in the country, you’ll have a chance to explore enchanting forests, glacier trails, or Alpine valleys covered in powdery snow.
If you’re in Salzburg, you can take the cable car up to the Mauterndorf ski area and find the snowshoe trails that zigzag through the top of the mountain. Or venture down into the Rauris Valley forest, surrounded by thundering peaks and wildlife. Tirol’s Tannheimer Tal Valley is another popular place to visit for snowshoeing, perfect for exploring the rolling hills under blue winter skies.
If you don’t own snowshoes, you can rent a pair at most hotels or try winter hiking, which doesn’t require any special equipment. Winter hiking is best near towns, where the roads are cleared of deep soft snow regularly.
