Best of Austria
Best Ski Resorts in Austria 2026/27: Largest, Highest & for Beginners
By Book & Ski · Sources checked
The short answer
By mapped runs, the biggest ski areas in Austria are Ski amadé (605 km), Ski Arlberg (301 km) and Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn (270 km). The highest is Pitztaler Gletscher, with runs from 3,427 m (11,243 ft); the biggest vertical is at Stubai (2,299 m); and Seefeld - Gschwandtkopf has the largest share of easy terrain (100%).
| Resort | Top elevation | Vertical | Mapped runs | Easy terrain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ski amadé | 2,644 m | 1,976 m | 605 km | 49% | source |
| Ski Arlberg | 2,811 m | 1,507 m | 301 km | 46% | source |
| Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn | 2,090 m | 1,396 m | 270 km | 66% | source |
| SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental | 1,865 m | 1,256 m | 275 km | 47% | source |
| KitzSki | 2,000 m | 1,200 m | 233 km | 50% | source |
| Schladming Dachstein | 2,004 m | 1,281 m | 179 km | 54% | source |
| Serfaus Fiss Ladis | 2,817 m | 1,595 m | 169 km | 22% | source |
| Silvretta Arena Ischgl/Samnaun | 2,872 m | 1,495 m | 239 km | 27% | source |
| Zillertal Arena | 2,501 m | 1,929 m | 120 km | 36% | source |
| Lech/Zürs | 2,441 m | 1,013 m | 120 km | 41% | source |
Highest ski resorts in Austria
Higher resorts generally hold snow longer into spring. These have the highest mapped runs in Austria.
Pitztaler Gletscher: 3,427 m (11,243 ft) →Sölden: 3,340 m (10,958 ft) →Hintertuxer Gletscher: 3,245 m (10,646 ft) →Stubai: 3,208 m (10,525 ft) →Stubaier Gletscher: 3,208 m (10,525 ft) →Biggest vertical drop
Vertical is the height difference between the highest and lowest mapped runs: a guide to how long the longest descents can be.
Stubai: 2,299 m vertical →Kaprun - Kitzsteinhorn/Maiskogel: 2,272 m vertical →Freesports Arena Dachstein Krippenstein: 2,160 m vertical →Sölden: 1,990 m vertical →Ski amadé: 1,976 m vertical →Best for beginners (most easy terrain)
Ranked by the share of mapped run length graded novice or easy. A big share of gentle runs gives beginners more room to progress; also check where the ski school meets.
Seefeld - Gschwandtkopf: 100% easy (9 km total) →Zahmer Kaiser: 85% easy (6 km total) →Ramsau am Dachstein: 83% easy (21 km total) →Feuerkogel: 78% easy (11 km total) →Skigebiet Ehrwalder Wettersteinbahnen: 76% easy (12 km total) →How we chose
“Best” here means measurable: size (km of mapped downhill runs), top elevation, vertical drop and the share of easy terrain, across the 138 ski areas with at least 20 km of runs and five lifts in Austria. Figures come from OpenStreetMap via OpenSkiMap, retrieved 2026-10-10, and can differ from resorts’ own published numbers.
All ski resorts in Austria →Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest ski resort in Austria?
By mapped runs, Ski amadé, with about 605 km and 239 lifts.
What is the highest ski resort in Austria?
Pitztaler Gletscher, with mapped runs starting at about 3,427 m (11,243 ft).
Which Austria ski resort is best for beginners?
By share of easy terrain, Seefeld - Gschwandtkopf (100% of runs graded novice or easy). Also consider ski school locations and lift access.
Official sources
Checked on . Prices and timetables change; confirm with the operator before you pay. How we research.