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Early-season skiing in Austria is a great option if you're looking for quiet slopes, minimal queues, and great snow cover for your December ski holiday.
Most resorts that are open around this time also put on lift pass discounts for the first few weeks of their season, making it a great way to save some money.
You may even get lucky with sunny weather – we’ve looked at data for sunny days in the past few seasons to give you an indication of what to expect.
Finally, you’ll probably notice a unique buzz in the resort as the season kicks into life for the first few weeks – it really is a great time to ski.
As resorts are opening up, there may be a few pistes still in their preparation stage for the season, but there's sure to be plenty of terrain to get stuck into.
Iglu Ski team member, Aimee, sums this up:
“I went skiing in the first week of December 2024 and it was incredible to ski near-empty slopes, and have pretty much the whole resort to explore bar just a few runs that they were still preparing”.
According to our research, the top Austrian resorts for an early-season December ski holiday are:
1. Obergurgl
2. Sölden
3. Lech/Zürs
6. Saalbach
7. Kitzbühel
9. Ischgl
To clarify, this guide isn’t about Christmas - that’s covered in our top resorts in Austria for a Christmas ski trip guide.
Compare the stats for each resort in the table below. All dates below are based on the 2024-25 season, and ‘average’ statistics are based on the last 5 seasons:
| Resort | Average snow per week | Average snow days per week | 2024-25 opening date | Average sunny days per week | Early-season lift pass discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obergurgl | 30cm | 3.6 | November 14 | 2.3 | €68 / €15 (depending on when visiting) |
| Sölden | 33cm | 3.7 | November 14 | 1.9 |
€30.50 / €8.50 |
| Lech/Zürs | 38cm | 3.4 | December 4 | 1.9 | €131 / €66 |
| St Anton/St Christoph | 37cm | 3.4 | December 4 | 1.5 | €131 / €66 |
| Kaprun/Zell am See | 26cm | 3.3 | November 29th / December 6th | 2.1 | €40.50 |
| Saalbach | 23cm | 3.1 | November 29th | 1.4 | €40.50 |
| Kitzbühel | 20cm | 2.9 | November 28th | 1.1 | €66/€33 |
| Ischgl | 32cm | 3.3 | November 28th | 1.8 | n/a |
READ MORE: Keen on Austria, but need more information? Have a look at our best après-ski resorts in Austria.
Alternatively, have a look at our best early-season ski resorts in France for more inspiration.
1. Obergurgl
Average amount of snow per week: 30cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.6
Opening date for 2024-25 season: November 14
Average amount of sunny days per week: 2.3
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €68 or €15 (explanation below)
Obergurgl prides itself on the quality of its skiing above everything else, and that is certainly reflected in the stats above. Its snowfall record is very strong, and the resort also tops our list of the most snow-sure resorts in Austria.
Surrounded by glaciers, Obergurgl’s local ski area has more than 110km of pistes and connects with sister resort Hochgurgl via the TOP Express gondola.
So strong is the snow that skiing opens way back in mid-November, a feat matched only by Sölden and Kitzbühel, both of which we’ll get into below.
And lift passes are cheaper the earlier you go, too. If you visit during “pre-season” (14th November-6th December) then you’ll save a whopping €68 on a 6-day lift pass compared to if you visit during the main season, which is after the 20th of December. Meanwhile, a trip in the period from 7th December-20th December will save you a useful €15.
Obergurgl is also part of the Ötztal Valley, which brings into play the major resort of Sölden, as well as additional minor ones like Hochoetz and Kühtai. That being said, these connections are made by road - they are not skiable. Sölden is a 25-minute bus ride from Obergurgl, while the latter two are more like an hour away.
And finally, out of all the Austrian resorts, it’s had the most sunny days in December on average over the past few seasons - you can expect the equivalent of just over two full days over a week’s skiing.
Everything you need to know about Obergurgl:
Beginner's guide to Obergurgl
Après-ski and nightlife in Obergurgl
Reasons why Obergurgl is a great ski resort
2. Sölden
Average amount of snow per week: 33cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.7
Opening date for 2024-25 season: November 14
Average amount of sunny days per week: 1.9
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €30.50 or €8.50
A close competitor to Obergurgl for the top spot, and located just round the corner, Sölden is another of Austria’s’s most snow-sure resorts - reflected in the fact it also opens way earlier than most ski resorts back in mid-November.
Much of the period until the 7th of December will revolve around the 34km of glacier slopes - great for a short break, plus remember Obergurgl is only half an hour away for additional terrain.
When all is open, Sölden has close to 150km of pistes and is particularly popular with intermediate and advanced skiers, although beginners are still catered for as well - about 70km of slope are described as “easy”.
It’s also where chase scenes were filmed for the James Bond film, Spectre, - and you can visit its interactive museum which tells the story of filming.
Meanwhile, Sölden scores highly for snowfall received, and you can also expect the equivalent of almost two full days of sunny skiing.
You’ll save €30.50 on a 6-day lift pass if you visit before the 7th of December, and €8.50 between the 7th and 20th of December.
3. Lech/Zürs
Average amount of snow per week: 38cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.4
Opening date for 2024-25 season: December 4
Average amount of sunny days per week: 1.9
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €131 or €66
Over in the famous Ski Arlberg area, the iconic pair of Lech and its quieter neighbour Zürs are top choices for an early-season ski trip.
The Ski Arlberg has a whopping 305km of slopes to explore, with all abilities of skier catered for. Lech and Zürs have got the best December snowfall in Austria, making the resorts another very reliable choice.
Perhaps the most enticing aspect of Lech and Zürs is the money you can save on lift passes if you go right at the start of the season, compared to the main bulk of it.
A trip between the 4th and 8th of December will save you an incredible €131 on a Ski Arlberg lift pass, while you’ll also save €66 for a trip between the 9th and 20th of December.
The Ski Arlberg area is one of Austria’s most popular and is also home to the famous party town of St Anton…
4. St Anton/St Cristoph
Average amount of snow per week: 37cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.4
Opening date for 2024-25 season: December 4
Average amount of sunny days per week: 1.5
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €131 or €66
While Lech and Zürs are the high-end resorts of the Arlberg area, St Anton is more of an après-ski hotspot where the crowds descend - its most famous offerings are Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh.
Neighbouring St Christoph is a quieter alternative, and the pair have similarly excellent snowfall stats, while the sunny weather should make several appearances if the past few years are anything to go by.
As above, the Arlberg ski area lift pass discounts are huge: €131 saved if you visit between the 4th and 8th of December, and €66 saved between 9th and 20th of December.
Everything you need to know about St Anton:
Beginner's guide to St Anton
Après-ski and nightlife in St Anton
Reasons why St Anton is a great ski resort
5. Zell am See/Kaprun
Average amount of snow per week: 26cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.3
Opening date for 2024-25 season: November 29/December 6
Average amount of sunny days per week: 2.1
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €40.50
Another strong option to explore is the Zell am See/Kaprun area, which has a healthy 138km of pistes to explore when everything is open.
While you can’t actually ski between Zell am See and Kaprun, the two are just a 10-minute ski bus away from each other which is free to use and runs every half an hour between 7:30am to 7:30pm.
The area offers some of the prettiest skiing around, with tree-lined runs leading you to stunning views of Lake Zell (‘See’ means ‘lake’ in German) which the town is built next to.
Kaprun opens its doors relatively early on the final weekend of November, while Zell am See’s section is skiable by the 6th of December. You can save a healthy €40.50 on a 6-day lift pass if you visit before the main season starts on the 21st of December.
You can also extend your skiing to nearby Saalbach via another ski bus, which would take your entire skiing area up to a monumental 408km…
Everything you need to know about Zell am See
Beginner's guide to Zell am See
Après-ski and nightlife in Zell am See
Reasons why Zell am See is a great ski resort
6. Saalbach
Average amount of snow per week: 23cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.1
Opening date for 2024-25 season: November 29
Average amount of sunny days per week: 1.4
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €40.50
As mentioned above, Saalbach (which opens into the Saalbach-Hinterglemm area) is a short bus ride away from Zell am See.
Its own ski area has 270km of piste, which goes up to 408km when combined with the Zell am See-Kaprun area, if all is open.
Doors open at the final weekend of November, and again you’ll save a very useful €40.50 each per lift pass if you visit before the 21st of December.
7. Kitzbühel
Average amount of snow per week: 20cm
Average number of snow days per week: 2.9
Opening date for 2024-25 season: November 28
Average amount of sunny days per week: 1.1
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): €66 or €33
Kitzbühel is one of Austria’s more glamorous resorts and opens in November - indicating strong snow conditions each year.
It’s got a brilliant 233km of pistes connected by 58 efficient lifts, and has a vast altitude difference between town and slopes above, ensuring good quality skiing.
Another early opener, you’ll save a very handy €66 per lift pass if you visit before the 8th of December, while you can get €33 cheaper lift passes between the 8th and 21st of December.
8. Ischgl
Average amount of snow per week: 32cm
Average number of snow days per week: 3.3
Opening date for 2024-25 season: December 28
Average amount of sunny days per week: 1.8
Early lift pass discount (adult 6-day pass): n/a
Another of Austria’s top après-ski resorts, Ischgl is known for its good quality snow, accommodation and nightlife.
It lies within the 239km-big Silvretta Arena ski area, which also crosses over into Switzerland’s Samnaun resort.
It’s an excellent resort for advanced skiers and intermediate skiers, with plenty of black and red runs, and has a good snow history for December, with its doors opening in November.
Unfortunately, there are no cheaper lift pass prices for early-season skiing, hence the lower ranking on the list. Apart from this though, Ischgl is as good as any for a trip at the start of December.
Discover the wonders of early-season skiing in Austria with Iglu Ski
If you like the sound of being among the first on the slopes for the season, then let us help you out.
As the UK’s largest ski travel agency, we’ve been finding people their perfect holidays for more than 26 years. We really are the ski experts - all of us have done seasons in the mountains.
Have a look at our best December ski holiday deals, leave us an enquiry or give us a call on 020 3848 3700. Feel free to ask us anything!
You might also want to read our group holiday booking guide, which could make your life easier if you’ve been put in charge of sorting out a big group holiday!