Recommended beginner slopes in Austria

If you want to learn how to ski or are just starting out on the slopes and dreaming of pristine powder and majestic mountain views, Austria is your ultimate playground. The Austrian Alpes are famous for their stunning landscapes and amazing après-ski as well as boasting some of the most picturesque and beginner-friendly ski resorts in the world.

Axamer Lizum - Innsbruck Ski Area

Located in the impressive Innsbruck Ski Area and easily accessible by the free local ski bus, Axamer Lizum is the perfect place for a ski break, combining urban style with a laid-back vibe. Axamer Lizum offers a fair share of beginner slopes and wide runs, perfect for those just starting out. Plus, the stunning mountain scenery will make every tumble worth it!

Beginners will find the Kaserwald and Talboden lifts close to the car parks an ideal practice area. Those who want to take it to the next level can take the Hoadl lift up to the top of the mountain. The blue Olympic women's run is relatively easy and very beautiful. Many of the slopes between Hoadl and Pleisen are intermediate runs, but they are wide and manageable enough for somewhat seasoned skiers.
 

Ski Deals in Innsbruck
 

Hochoetz - Ötztal Ski Area
 

The ski resort Hochoetz – Oetz is located in the Ötztal (Tirol) between elevations of 1,410 and 2,272 metres, and with more than 30 % of its slopes aimed at beginners, it is one of the most popular destinations for novice skiers. The beginner-friendly slopes are well-suited for those new to skiing. Accessible via the Weselelift and the Ötzilift these slopes offer a gentle introduction to skiing. 
 

The Balbach chairlift offers excellent beginner slopes, with the Mohrenkopf chairlift and an easy slope providing a smooth return journey. While the valley run to Ochsengarten is marked as a red slope, beginners can still tackle it with ease. In Ochsengarten, there's another practice lift along with beginner-friendly slopes. However, it's worth noting that the Wetterkreuzbahn, Brunnenenkopfbahn, and Acherkogelbahn lifts are better suited for more experienced skiers and are not recommended for beginners.

Ski Holidays in Ötztal

Bergeralm - Innsbruck Ski Area

Innsbruck strikes again! This time, let's talk about Bergeralm - Steinach am Brenner, which is one of the 13 ski resorts that form the Innsbruck Ski Area. Located in the Wipptal, beginners will find excellent conditions for learning, as 33% of the slopes are categorized as Easy Slopes. At the middle station, Noah’s children’s area offers two moving carpets, ideal for beginners to start on. Progressing from there, beginners can make use of the button lift. The local ski school provides a comprehensive range of lessons for all skill levels

For the next step, learners can take the Hoher Turm combined lift and ski down to the middle station on an easy slope, or explore the gentle slopes at the Hochsonnlift. From there on, an easy descent leads back down to the middle station. However, the valley run is not recommended for absolute beginners, they should rather opt for the gondola lift to descend safely to the base.
 

Ski Deals in Innsbruck

Stubai Glacier - Innsbruck Ski Area

Beginner-friendly slopes in a glacier ski area? Yup, that's right - Austria's largest glacier ski resort boast more than 22km of beginner slopes almost all year round, as snow is guaranteed from October until June at the glacier ski resort. And: The Stubai Glacier is only 45 minutes away from Innsbruck, being one of the most popular resorts in the Innsbruck Ski Area. 



 

Beginners will love the beginner area near the Gamsgarten mountain station. There's a covered people mover available to everyone, plus ski school-operated people movers in the BIG Family Ski-Camp at Gamsgarten. Beginners can practice at the Gamsgarten tow rope lift and the Kitz pommel lift to improve their skills. The Murmele and Rotadl chairlifts at Gamsgarten lead to wide and easy slopes, perfect for learners. Most of the upper ski resort consists of easy slopes, including many gentle glacier slopes ideal for beginners. However, the routes down to the base are challenging, so beginners should take a lift instead. With ski schools, rental services, and ski depots, beginners have everything they need for a great experience.

Glacier Skiing in Stubai
 

St. Anton - Ski Arlberg
 

In 2016, the ski resorts of St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech-Zürs, Warth and Schröcken united to form the Ski Arlberg the largest ski area in all Austria, offering more than 300km of slopes for all levels.  

This region is hailed as the birthplace of alpine skiing and remains the top choice for winter enthusiasts. St. Anton is renowned as the ultimate Après-Ski destination, drawing crowds of party enthusiasts, while Lech offers a more tranquil atmosphere. Families seeking a perfect winter getaway will discover their ideal destination in Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken.
 

In St. Anton am Arlberg, as well as in St. Christoph and Stuben, you'll find plenty of beginner-friendly options with practice lifts and people movers conveniently situated near the base. Additionally, at the mountain station of the Gampen lift, there's a designated area tailored for beginners. Between Galzig and Kapall, there are also several wide and gentle slopes suitable for learners.

Ski Deals in St. Anton - Ski Arlberg

 

Penken - Mayrhofen Ski Area

The Ski Area of Mayrhofen is formed by the ski resorts of Penken, Ahorn, Rastkogel and Eggalm and boasts more than 140km of slopes, connected by 58 ski lifts. The ski resort extends over several mountains. Penken is where the action happens, and Ahorn is more suitable for pleasure skiing. Horberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm make up the rest of the winter sports area. 

The ski resort provides excellent amenities for beginners, featuring practice zones equipped with moving carpets and practice lifts at all main lifts. Additionally, various ski schools offer their own dedicated practice areas. At the mountain station of the Penkenbahn lift, learners can take advantage of two moving carpets, two tow-ropes, a button lift, and two ski school areas, providing optimal conditions for skiing or snowboarding instruction.

Beginners will also find well-suited slopes in the Horbergtal valley and near all main lifts on the mountain. A significant portion of the ski resort is accessible via gentle blue slopes. However, it's worth noting that there isn't an easy valley run available.
 

Obertauern

Located in the Salzburger Land region, Obertauern is a modern Ski Resorts, boasting 100km of slopes, more than 60% of which are suitable for beginners! Even the valley run is beginner-friendly and easy to manage - The ideal ski resort for beginners! 

Novice skiers can enjoy practicing in a serene environment at Obertauern's pass area, where there are practice slopes equipped with moving carpets, tow lifts, and chairlifts. Bobby's Monsterpark offers a covered moving carpet, perfect for beginners to practice their first turns on a wide and gentle slope. Additionally, the slopes at Pernerlift, Sonnenlift 3, Kirchbühellift, Schrotteralmlift, and Edelweissbahn lift come highly recommended for beginners.
 

Ski holidays in Obertauern
 

Ischgl / Samnaun - Silvretta Arena 

This Party Hotspot Ski area connects the Tiroler Oberland in Austria and Graubünden in Switzerland. It's 45 lifts transports skiers to the more than 239 km of slopes. Visitors can enjoy unlimited skiing fun and reliable snow conditions from November until the beginning of May. From beginners’ areas with wide runs to challenging steep slopes, the ski resort of Ischgl and Samnaun has something for everyone. 

Beginners have plenty of options for smooth rides from Idalp (Ischgl) to Alp Trida (Samnaun) on gentle slopes. Easy slopes are also available near Höllkar and at the Velillbahn lift. Specifically designed for beginners, the Sonnenbahn lift at Idalp ensures a comfortable learning experience. Additionally, beginners can practice at the Viderböden area on Idalp, featuring a covered moving carpet and button lift.
 

Ski Deals in Ischgl

Schmittenhöhe - Zell am See

Located in the magnificicent Zell am See - Kaprun Ski Area,and boasting 77km of slopes (32km of which are aimed at beginner skiers), Schmittenhöhe offers variety and fun with a total of five valley runs. And if your legs aren’t too tired, opt for the night skiing! 
 

Beginners will find Areitbahn very welcoming. These slopes are perfect for learners, and there are excellent spots near Glockner and Breiteck chairlifts as well. You can access these areas from Zell am See or Schüttdorf. At the areitXpress mountain station, there's a designated beginners' zone with a covered moving carpet. Higher up in the resort, Kapellenbahn, Kettingbahn, and Hahnkopf lifts offer ideal terrain for beginners. You can also ski down to Zell am See and Schmittental on gentle slopes, but the valley run to Schüttdorf is more challenging, so beginners are advised to take the gondola.

Ski Deals in Zell am See - Kaprun 

Kitzbühel - Kitzski

Discover Kitzbühel, the iconic birthplace of skiing, hosting prestigious Hahnenkamm ski race since 1895. It's renowned for the legendary Streif, the thrilling stage for the world's most famous Winter World Cup race for decades. Would you have thought that this huge ski resort, boasting 188km of slopes, 54% of which are categorized as easy, is the ideal ski resort for beginners?

Beginner skiers in Kitzbühel have access to several practice lifts and moving carpets at Rasmusleiten, Mocking, and Pulverturm. In Hausleiten beginners can utilize the Thurn Pass and Aschau areas free of charge, which offer free moving carpets and tow lifts to access beginner-friendly slopes.

The slopes between Hahnenkamm and Pengelstein are particularly suitable for beginners, providing easy runs to practice on. Beginners can also enjoy easy valley runs to Kitzbühel (Asten), Kirchberg (Fleck, Kaser), and Skirast. Most runs on Resterhöhe are beginner-friendly, with an easy slope leading to Thurn Pass. However, slopes like Breitmoos, Zweitausender, Bärenbadkogel, and Wurzhöhe are not recommended for beginners. 

Ski Deals in Kitzski