Innsbruck Skiing

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Innsbruck Austria
Innsbruck Austria
The skiing at Kuhtai near Innsbruck is sensational.
The skiing at Kuhtai near Innsbruck is sensational.
Innsbruck Austria
Innsbruck Austria
Modern lifts at Stubai Glacier near Innsbruck.
Modern lifts at Stubai Glacier near Innsbruck.
Innsbruck is a tram, bus and train transport hub.
Innsbruck is a tram, bus and train transport hub.
Nordkette ski resort has the most challenging terrain near Innsbruck.
Nordkette ski resort has the most challenging terrain near Innsbruck.
Historic Innsbruck includes the iconic Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl).
Historic Innsbruck includes the iconic Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl).
Stubai Glacier has the best overall terrain near Innsbruck.
Stubai Glacier has the best overall terrain near Innsbruck.
Innsbruck Austria
Innsbruck Austria
Ski powder from the summit of Patscherkofel above Innsbruck.
Ski powder from the summit of Patscherkofel above Innsbruck.
Explore amazing off-piste freeride routes near Innsbruck
Explore amazing off-piste freeride routes near Innsbruck
Mountains like Glungezer soar 2,000m above Innsbruck.
Mountains like Glungezer soar 2,000m above Innsbruck.
Stubai Glacier has some of the best facilities in Europe.
Stubai Glacier has some of the best facilities in Europe.
Enjoy a 10km sled run at Oberperfuss near Innsbruck.
Enjoy a 10km sled run at Oberperfuss near Innsbruck.
Stunning views abound near Innsbruck, including from the top of Axamer Lizum ski resort.
Stunning views abound near Innsbruck, including from the top of Axamer Lizum ski resort.
Bars, vinotheks (wine bars) and restaurants abound in Innsbruck.
Bars, vinotheks (wine bars) and restaurants abound in Innsbruck.
Innbruck
Innbruck's central train & bus station - gateway to Europe's best ski resorts.
Innsbruck ski resorts have wonderful children, family and beginner facilities.
Innsbruck ski resorts have wonderful children, family and beginner facilities.
Three Innsbruck ski resorts are accessible by tram from the city centre.
Three Innsbruck ski resorts are accessible by tram from the city centre.
Cosmopolitan Innsbruck. One of the world
Cosmopolitan Innsbruck. One of the world's best ski cities.

Innsbruck Skiing

Readers Ratings

Innsbruck

Innsbruck4/57
Innsbruck4 out of 5 based on 7 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    86%
Backcountry Books Ski & Snowboard Guide Books & Maps

Innsbruck Ski Resorts

Axamer Lizum
Bergeralm
Glungezer
Hochoetz
Kuhtai
Nordkette
Oberperfuss
Patscherkofel
Schlick 2000
Stubai Glacier

    Innsbruck Ski + City Pass Resort Map
  • Innsbruck Ski Resorts Map
  • Vertical (m)
    800m - 3,210m (2,410m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    3 - 10m+
  • Lifts (86)
    21 Gondolas/cable cars
    29 Chairlifts
  • Opening Dates & Times
    Sep to June
    Times vary b/w 8:00am to 5:00pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 300km+
    Longest run - 10km+
    Advanced - 15%
    Intermediate - 35%
    Beginner - 50%
  • Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 22/23
    Local ski resort tickets
    Adult - €30 - 57.80
    Child - €16 - 28.90
    Child u/ 6-10yr - Free (varies)

    Ski+City Pass (min 2 days)
    Adult - €124
    Child - €62
    Child u/8yr - Free

Innsbruck

Innsbruck Austria is the capital city of the Tyrol (Tirol) & surrounded by world class skiing including the 13 different ski areas collectively called Olympia Ski World. The city is in the narrow Inn valley hemmed in by rugged mountain peaks that soar dramatically 2,000m above the city.

Innsbruck is a key city for anyone travelling to a vast number of ski resorts in the Austrian Tyrol, Salzburg & Vorarlberg states, plus it is close to a huge number of Italian South Tyrol and Dolomites ski resorts.

But skiing from Innsbruck is only part of the vacation. Innsbruck is a European cultural experience in a city that offers both beauty and old-world charm.

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

Innsbruck has hosted the Olympics twice (in 1964 & 1976), so it’s a city with plenty of experience when it comes to winter sports. The area around Innsbruck includes 13 diverse ski resorts ranging in size, terrain & altitude. All are included in the Ski+City Pass. There are small local ski resorts like Patscherkofel (Igls), Muttereralm, Oberperfuss (Rangger), Schlick 2000, Glungezer & Nordkette. Medium sized resorts like Axamer LizumHochoetz & Kuehtai (the highest resort base in Austria) plus the high-altitude ski resort Stubai Glacier.

Check out the ski resorts map for Innsbruck below.

Innsbruck Ski Resorts Map
Innsbruck Ski Resorts Map

The Innsbruck ski resorts, regardless of size, have excellent lifts, pistes & facilities. Nearly all the ski resorts have impressive 1,000 to 1,500m skiable verticals.

Most of the local ski areas are small enough to only warrant a single day visit, unless of course it is a powder day. The exceptions are Stubai Glacier, Schlick, Kuhtai & Axamer Lizum. With 26 lifts, 1,515m vertical, superb terrain and facilities, Stubai warrants at least several days visit. Having said that, even some of the smaller ski resorts have a huge skiable vertical & & can fill in a few days quite easily if conditions are good. Even tiny Nordkette has nearly 1,400m vertical in good snow conditions.

The Innsbruck ski resorts of Patscherkofel, Muttereralm & Oberperfuss have long open trails & appeal to families, novices & intermediates. Axamer Lizum ski resort has the Olympic funicular lift which enables access to the women’s downhill course & a variety of other cracking trails & off-piste areas, some of which are for advanced skiers. Nordkette (funnily enough to the north of Innsbruck!) has the regions iconic steep, challenging runs for advanced & expert skiers & snowboarders. Kuhtai has superb piste & freeride terrain plus exceptional snow quality.

Lift Passes & Tickets

All the Innsbruck ski resorts have local lift passes offering excellent value. Most day passes are around €40 for an adult (2021/22 prices), the exception being the larger Stubai Glacier. The Powderhounds recommend Kuehtai as the best value ski resort in the area.

A Ski+City Pass, which is for a minimum 2 days, allows access to all 13 ski resorts in the region using the one lift pass. The big advantage of this pass is that multiple small ski resorts can be skied or sledded in the one day i.e. Patscherkofel or Glungezer in the morning, Nordkette in the afternoon, then sledding on Oberperfuss at night. The pass is also valid for entry into 22 local sites including the castles, museums & the Alpenzoo. If only skiing one resort a day, just get a local lift daily lift pass.

Summer Skiing

The closest glacier ski resort to Innsbruck, Stubai Glacier, offers skiing all the way through to the start of summer, generally at least mid-June (may vary depending on snow conditions). Once closed for the remainder of summer, the lifts start turning for skiing again in mid-September at the earliest, or early October at the latest. An hour's drive from Innsbruck, Hintertux Glacier is open every day of the year to satisfy everyone's 365 days/year snow-sliding urges!

Where is Innsbruck Austria?

Innsbruck is in the heart of the Tyrol (Tirol) and is perfectly located to access some of the best ski resorts in Europe. The city is only 150km south of Munich but nearly 500km west of the Austrian capital Vienna, & 300km east of Zurich. Gateway airports are Innsbruck (INN) (for European & UK flight origins) or Munich (MUC) (for everyone else).

If you want to POW (Protect Our Winters), travelling to Innsbruck from anywhere in Europe is recommended by train. Search & book train & bus tickets to Innsbruck.

For more information on how to get there, see our Travel to Innsbruck page.

Innsbruck Accommodation

Innsbruck is a large cosmopolitan city with a full range of hotel, apartment & guesthouse accommodation options within the atmospheric old town walls, the surrounding city & mountainside villages.

Search & book all Innsbruck accommodation.

Innsbruck's 'old town' is sensational. With views up into the mountains & loads of nooks & crannies to explore, staying overnight here is a must. For the full old town experience one cannot go past the gorgeously ancient Gasthof Weisses Rössl. This fabulous hotel guesthouse has around 600 years of history within its walls. Also try the Hotel Maximilian & Hotel Grauer Bar.

If having a short stay or transiting through Innsbruck, there are excellent hotel options located opposite the central train, bus & tram station. Try the Grand Hotel Europa or Hotel Ibis.

Budget room options that still provide quality are available at several hotels located across the river from the Old Town. Many great hotels are located out of town near the ski resorts, particularly handy for those with a rental car. The Powderhounds have previously stayed in a chalet up towards Nordkette which provided one of our best European ski accommodation experiences ever. If you have a car try the 2 Chalets Innsbruck - rustic, quiet, perfect.

For more information on the best places to stay in Innsbruck, see the Innsbruck Accommodation Info page.

Ski Rentals Lessons & Guiding

Our local partners have a convenient equipment rental location in the centre of Innsbruck, between the old town & central train station, plus is a wide variety of nearby villages & ski resorts. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Innsbruck Ski & Snowboard Rental page.

The search for fresh tracks can be made easier by skiing with a local, but a mind-boggling array of ski instructors, ski schools & mountain guides ply their trade near Innsbruck & its numerous resorts. To narrow down the field, search & book a private/group lesson or mountain guide with the best providers via our Innsbruck Ski Lessons & Guiding page.

Travelling Around Innsbruck & Local Ski Resorts

Innsbruck has an excellent bus, tram & train network so a car is generally unnecessary if just staying in the city and/or skiing nearby resorts like Mutters, Nordkette & Patscherkofel.

All the Ski+City Pass resorts are connected by a free ski bus network from major hotels (with a 'Welcome Card') plus some public bus & tram network services. Therefore, staying in Innsbruck has the distinct advantage of offering a variety in ski experiences if you plan on visiting all the resorts. However, the associated disadvantage of not staying on-mountain includes having to travel each day.

Depending on your circumstances, travelling by bus each day may not be the most attractive option. There is on-mountain (or nearby) accommodation in each village associated with a ski area, but this then restricts accessibility to other resorts unless you hire a car. Having your own vehicle can make travel decisions easier & more efficient when based in Innsbruck. Car hire & rental is available at several locations in the Innsbruck city centre & airport.

Nearby Ski Resorts

Innsbruck is centre stage for a huge range of Austrian and even Italian ski resorts, making it a perfect starting point for awesome multi-resort ski safaris by train or even more efficiently by car. It is a train transport hub that allows easy travel east to the Zillertal (with Mayrhofen, Hochzillertal & Hintertux Glacier) and further to Kitzbuhel, Skicircus Saalbach, Kaprun & Zell am See.

Perhaps head west to St Anton & the huge Ski Arlberg area, or the brilliant Pitztal Glacier & the monstrosity that is Soelden in the Oetztal. Also in the Ötztal is the fabulously named Obergurgl Hochgurgl - well worth the journey to the upper end of the valley, but only if you have a car.

A short(ish) drive or train trip south are the Dolomites & Plose, Gitschberg-Jochtal, Kronplatz & 3 Peaks - not to mention all of the other Dolomiti Superski resorts. The beautiful town of Vipiteno & its lovely ski resort of Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) is just on the other side of the Brenner Pass south of Innsbruck.

Everything is so close. That is why Powderhounds loves skiing Austria & visiting Innsbruck.

Innsbruck Activities

The city of Innsbruck has plenty to offer with a history of over 800 years, and many attractions including the castle, palaces, theatres, opera houses, museums, and the iconic Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl) dating from 1500AD.

In addition to the inner-city attractions, there are other things to do such as a ride on the Olympic bobsled run at Patscherkofel or visit the Olympic ski jump and the viewing platforms that afford fabulous views of the city and the spectacular natural beauty surrounding it.

An unmissable journey is the tram, funicular & cable car journey from the Innsbruck city centre (560m) up to the top of Nordkette at Hafelekar (2256m). Stupendous views, great dining and if you are up for it, some serious ski and snowboard off piste terrain await. Another enjoyable journey is the Line 6 tram to Igls. It meanders through the forest past a castle, small villages, sculpture gardens and other points of interest. Winter walking from one tram stop to the next makes an enjoyable non ski day out. Other winter walking opportunities to restaurants high above Innsbruck include to the top of Patscherkofel and Glungezer.

The Oberperfuss (Rangger) ski resort west of Innsbruck has a 10km rodelbehn (sled run) that is accessible by gondola and illuminated at night for some exhilarating family fun. Other with major sledding trails include Elfer & Serles in the Stubaital.

The Innsbruck old town has beautiful architecture, plus many cosy bars, vinotheks & restaurants. The après ski is centred in Innsbruck rather than slope-side. Exceptions are the rollicking Hotel Alpensport below Stubai Glacier) and anywhere in vibrant Kühtai.

More Reasons to Ski Innsbruck

Innsbruck is a great place for a ski holiday because it offers so much more than just an enjoyable & diverse skiing or boarding experience. It provides the opportunity to lap up the Austrian mountain culture.

To experience more Austrian culture, there are excursions to Vienna & Salzburg plus you can discover more of Europe with a day trip over the Brenner Pass into Italy to visit Bolzano, Venice or the Dolomites.

Review

The Powderhounds have visited Innsbruck many times, the last in 2022. We always have a wonderful time in the city & surrounding mountains and are due to return whenever we are the area. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all our reviews!

See how the Innsbruck ski resorts compare to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.

Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.

Ski Tours based in or near Innsbruck

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Guide & Ride Private Off Piste Freeride Powder Tour
PRIVATE GUIDED POWDER SKI TOUR
1 Full Day Skiing near Innsbruck
Ability: Advanced to Expert
Enjoy the best snow & terrain in the ski resorts near Innsbruck in the Austrian Tirol with a professional guide on this fully customised private off-piste freeride ski tour. Go solo or get a group together & book in for your best dates & duration....
Price p/p Based on a 1-day tour with minimum 4 people
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 162
View Details
 
Guide & Ride Private On Piste Ski Tour
GUIDED ON-PISTE SKI TOUR
1 Full Day Skiing near Innsbruck
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Enjoy the best snow & terrain in the ski resorts near Innsbruck in the Austrian Tirol with a professional guide on this fully customised private on-piste ski tour. Be guided through the ski resorts on the groomers, improving your technique as you go. Get a group together & book for your best dates & duration....
Price p/p Based on a 1-day tour with minimum 4 people
Base/invoice currency is in EURO inc. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 162
View Details
 
Austria Innsbruck Freeride Tour
HOSTED & GUIDED MULITI-RESORT TOUR
7 Days | 6 Nights | 5 Days Snowboarding | 7 Ski Resorts
Ability: Intermediate to Expert
Based in Innsbruck, this trip is for intermediate to advanced (or better) snowboarders taking in some of the best ski resorts in the Austrian Alps. Join the "fixed date" tour with your own group, come alone & meet new friends or fully customise a private tour.
Price p/p From price based on single-share room occupancy on a 7 day tour.
Base/invoice currency is in EUR inc taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 2,538
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Innsbruck here
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