Off down the slopes! Winter ski holidays in the Innsbruck region

Last updated on 22.11.2024

The cold season is just around the corner – and the ski season is almost upon us. So it’s a good thing that the first ski resorts in the Innsbruck region will be opening soon. This year, they will not only be offering the usual variety of slopes and impressive mountain panoramas, but also one or two distinctive features – from special opening promotions to new offers. So let the winter begin!

A skiing paradise right on the doorstep: you will rarely find a more straightforward ski-in ski-out than in Kühtai, around 2,000 metres above sea level. © Innsbruck Tourismus/Eye5 – Jonas Schwarzwälder

Whether you’re a mileage fiend or a leisure skier, a freeride fan or more of a family guy, a beginner or an expert – the Innsbruck region has the ideal ski run for everyone, with the Axamer Lizum, Kühtai, Muttereralm, Nordkette, Patscherkofel and Rangger Köpfl making a total of six ski areas around the capital of Tyrol. And the first ones will be opening up to ski enthusiasts as early as this November.

Season opening at ski resorts in the Innsbruck region:
• Axamer Lizum: 23.11.2024
• Nordkette: Mid of december
• Kühtai: 29.11.2024
• Muttereralm: 7.12.2024
• Patscherkofel: 7.12.2024
• Rangger Köpfl: 14.12.2024

N.B.: Dates subject to change without notice. More information about the individual ski resorts can be found online at www.innsbruck.info/skifahren/skigebiete.

With its 300 hectares of open terrain, the Axamer Lizum is an ideal playground for freeriders. But there is also plenty more to discover in this ski area – snow guaranteed. © Innsbruck Tourismus/Eye5 – Jonas Schwarzwälder

Off to a good start: events and offers to begin the season
Arrive early for a winter holiday in the Innsbruck region and you certainly won’t go wrong – and not just because you’ll have more time to ski. The opening weekend, 23-24 November 2024, sees the Axamer Lizum hosting the SPORTLER Ski Test Days: here you can try out products and innovations from well-known manufacturers, ranging from skis and bindings through to goggles, rucksacks and avalanche search equipment. Kühtai also has a special offer to start the season: as part of the Ski Free Weeks between 29 November and 20 December 2024, the ski pass for your entire stay is included in the price of accommodation (from three nights) – guaranteeing a successful start to the winter!

The city at your feet: the Nordkette ski area towers above Innsbruck and offers fantastic panoramic views. © Innsbruck Tourismus/Eye5 – Jonas Schwarzwälder

Limitless variety: distinctive features of Innsbruck’s ski areas
Regardless of whether you begin your well-deserved winter holiday at the start of the season, or decide to come later, the ski resorts of the Innsbruck region have everything for all requirements and preferences. If you want to be close to the city, the Nordkette range and Patscherkofel mountain are ideal: just a stone’s throw from Innsbruck, the Nordkette is even directly accessible via cable railway from the city centre. The Axamer Lizum, on the other hand, is a real paradise for freeriders, who can go wild on its 300 hectares of open terrain: what’s more, its high-altitude location guarantees snow until well into the spring. This also holds true for Kühtai, Austria’s highest winter sports resort at over 2,000 metres above sea level: it also features a straightforward ski-in ski-out system, with the slopes practically on your (hotel) doorstep. Finally, the child-friendly ski resorts of the Muttereralm and Rangger Köpfl are particularly suitable for families and beginners, making them ideal for those setting out on skis for the first time.

New: a new combined lift will be in operation on the Rangger Köpfl for the first time this winter. While this means greater comfort on the way up, it also means an even better offer: as part of the modernisation programme, the existing toboggan run has been extended and winter hiking trails are now in place – just in case you want to take a break from skiing.

The Rangger Köpfl ski area, just a few kilometres from Innsbruck, is both family-friendly and diverse in nature. © Innsbruck Tourismus/Klaus Polzer

Yet more choice: the SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck
If you can’t (or won’t) opt for a ski area in the Innsbruck region for your winter holiday – no problem. The SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck not only includes all of the ski areas in the Innsbruck region, but also six others in the surrounding area, including the Stubai Glacier, Austria’s largest glacier ski area. And that’s not all: the pass additionally includes 22 city experiences, such as various Innsbruck museums, the Alpine Zoo or the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens – ideal for all those who, after a day’s fun in the snow, wish to enjoy art, culture and entertainment away from the slopes.

There are numerous ski areas around Innsbruck, making the Alpine metropolis a perfect starting point for winter sports adventures of all kinds. © Innsbruck Tourismus/Christian Vorhofer

Do the mileage on the pistes, not in the car – and arrive stress-free
Many roads lead to Innsbruck – and that includes travelling without your own four wheels. So, if you’d prefer to leave the car at home while on your skiing holiday, you can – all with a clear conscience. Innsbruck airport has good international connections, not least thanks to the new and increased routes available during the winter season. Travelling by rail is just as convenient, both from Austria’s immediate neighbours and more distant cities, from where you can take an environmentally friendly train right into the heart of the Alps. And, within the region, ski buses take winter sports enthusiasts to the nearest pistes in comfort – all free of charge with the SKI plus CITY Pass and the free Welcome Card for guests, available from partner businesses for stays of two nights or more.

Tip: you can enjoy an even more relaxed outward journey if you leave your ski equipment at home: the region’s well-stocked rental outlets mean that you can still head off on your skiing adventure with the ideal combination of gear.

You can walk (or even “wedel”) in the footsteps of Olympians on the Patscherkofel: the mountain was the venue for downhill ski events during the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. © Innsbruck Tourismus/Eye5 – Jonas Schwarzwälder

All information about skiing holidays in the Innsbruck region can be found online at www.innsbruck.info/skifahren.html.

About Innsbruck Tourismus
Innsbruck Tourismus is the official destination management organisation for the Innsbruck region, encompassing the capital of Tyrol and over 40 localities in the surrounding area, from the Inntal valley to the Mieming Plateau via Kühtai and as far as the Sellraintal valley. With almost 3.5 million overnight stays (as of 2023), the Innsbruck region is one of Austria’s largest tourism institutions – a unique symbiosis of pulsating urban space and fascinating Alpine world. The vibrant city atmosphere and sightseeing highlights are just a stone’s throw from your next biking or hiking tour, your next ski adventure or winter walk. The Welcome Card, free for visitors, is the key to the region’s boundless opportunities: public transport, usable at no cost, means that the area’s numerous highlights can be enjoyed both sustainably and comfortably. Visitor enjoyment is the focus of the thoughts and actions of each of the organisation’s 90 or so staff: they pass on their passion and enthusiasm for this alpine-urban space to guests, ensuring unforgettable holiday experiences for all in harmony with both people and nature. With a total of twelve tourist information offices, Innsbruck Tourismus can stay close to visitors, be right in the action and keep a finger on the pulse of events – a true hub for the authentic stories and personal impressions of local characters that can be found on the popular blog and social media channels at #myinnsbruck.

Further links
Blog: www.innsbruck.info/blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Innsbruck
Instagram: www.instagram.com/innsbrucktourism
X (Twitter): twitter.com/InnsbruckTVB
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/InnsbruckTVB
Pinterest: www.pinterest.at/innsbrucktvb/_created