By George Shaw
Austria’s luxury and gourmet winter resorts combine high-quality skiing with first-class
hospitality, wellness and dining. From premium hotels and to award-winning restaurants and
royal-approved destinations, the following regions cater to guests looking for more than time
on the slopes. With excellent service, sophisticated amenities and a strong focus on food
and relaxation, they offer a refined take on the Austrian winter holiday.
Guests can experience winter sports and the Austrian “Lebensgefühl” without
compromise.
Ischgl
Paznaun-Ischgl combines award-dining cuisine with more than 362 km of slopes and a
buzzing après-ski scene. It’s indulgence at altitude and perfect for winter sports fans who
don’t want to choose between fun and luxury experiences. Ischgl pairs big-mountain skiing
with luxury hotels and a serious gourmet streak. It has five Michelin-starred restaurants
(Stüva in Hotel Yscla, Paznaunmerstube, Schlosshernstube, Fliana Chef’s Table,
Heimatbühne), and huts right next to the pistes for culinary pitstops when out and about.
While Ischgl is all about whizzing down the slopes, Galtür is quieter and family-minded with
Nordic and winter hiking built in. Kappl and See are comfort-first, easy-going areas that
punch above their size for families and beginners.
New for winter 2026/2. In Kappl a new snow park is being created, including the family-friendly
“SunnyCross“, a cross course with obstacles, a Rainbow Bridge and more.
Ötztal
Ötztal has quietly become a home for luxury winter holidays. It’s a blend of skiing, luxury
spas, family run hotels and views. The region has six ski areas and more than 360 km of
slopes, all included in the Ötztal Super Skipass (Sölden, Hochoetz-Kühtai, Niederthai, Gries,
and Vent). Gurgl and Sölden come as an attractive holiday twin pack, connected by a free
shuttle bus: Gurgl is surrounded by three-thousanders, and boasting premium ski-in/ski-out
hotels with gourmet dining options, night skiing, and winter wellness. Sölden delivers both
Michelin-starred restaurants (including the glass-cube iceQ at the Gaislachkogl) and
adrenaline, think two glaciers and freeriding terrain. There’s also the 007 Elements – James
Bond World, an interactive museum focused on “Spectre“, which was partly shot in Sölden.
New for winter 2026/27:
The new Höllkarbahn C2 in the Silvretta Arena Ischgl/Samnaun replaces the existing
lift. The detachable eight-seater D-Line chairlift can transport 4,200 passengers per
hour, reducing the average journey time to around 5 minutes.
In the Kopssee area of Silvapark Galtür, a detachable six-seater chairlift replaces the
existing Kopseelift I and II drag lifts, bringing capacity to 2,400 passengers per hour.
- A new 6-seater chairlift will replace the “Gratl” lift after four decades from this winter.
The mountain station is being repositioned, increasing the length of the route and
creating a new blue run. - From December 2026 to early March 2027, the swimming lake in Umhausen will be
transformed into an illuminated ice rink for the first time.
Zillertal
The Zillertal is one of Tirol’s largest ski areas, catering to both beginners and experts. The
area boasts a whopping 546 km of slopes and 180 lifts, as well as the Harakiri run with a
78% gradient. The Zillertal Superskipass gives unlimited access to all winter resorts in the
area as well as free public transport to get you around the valley. Zillertal is also rapidly
becoming a foodie’s paradise. Dining options range from slow-food huts to contemporary
bistros and chef-driven menus; nightlife can be as exciting or laid back as you like, with
venues to serve all tastes. Two restaurants here proudly hold Michelin stars: Guat’z Essen
in Stumm (fine-dining with a focus on plant-based dishes) and Genießerstube at the
Alpenhof in Tux (regional cuisine with a creative twist).
New for winter 2026/27:- The Green Resort in Uderns opens in December 2026 right at the golf course. It
features 75 rooms and suites, a 3,300 m2 indoor and outdoor wellness area, a kids’
club, and several restaurants.
Lech Zürs
Part of the Arlberg region, Lech Zürs is the gateway to more than 300 km of slopes, more
than 200 km of powder runs and 85 lifts to whizz guests back up to the starting points. It’s
also recognised as a premier gourmet and luxury destination, featuring award-winning
foodie hotspots (three Michelin-starred restaurants), traditional inns and more than 40 four
and five-star hotels. Away from the slopes, the fine-dining and the hotel spas, guests can
enjoy fun activities such as heli skiing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, tandem
paragliding and alpacca trekking. Lech Zürs is also a royal-approved winter holiday
destination, with everyone from Prince William, Prince Harry and the late Princess Diana to
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands having skied here.