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Family ski holidays are some of the most memorable times of your life.
The children rushing around with excitement at the sight of fresh snow, hot chocolates up the mountain, and opportunities to mess around with new friends after ski school are all unmissable moments – and we’re here to make sure your Austrian family ski holiday is full of them.
We’ve rounded up the stats and insights from the team to give you the lowdown on which Austrian ski resorts are great options for a family.
Austria's most family-friendly resorts are:
1. Lech/Zürs
3. Kitzbühel
4. Söll
5. Alpbach
6. Zell am See
7. Obergurgl
8. Mayrhofen
What to look out for when considering a family ski resort
There are a number of things to think about when choosing a family-friendly ski resort - some might be more important to you than others.
The number of blue slopes tends to be important, as the children (and possibly the adults!) need them to learn, or get back to feeling comfortable. If you’ve been researching ski holidays, you may have spotted that France ski resorts have green slopes. These don’t exist in Austria - blue is the easiest slope gradient.
Some ski resorts offer free beginner lifts, which is handy as it means you can delay buying a lift pass until absolutely ready.
We’ve looked at family lift pass discounts, as well as general lift pass prices and what ages children can ski for free up until.
You might also consider the transfer time from airport to resort, and the cost of ski lessons for children and adults, as important factors.
We’ll also delve into the non-ski activities in each resort that’ll keep the children entertained when the slopes close.
All of the resorts below are popular with British skiers, are safe, have good quality ski schools, and quiet areas of town to stay in.
Have a look at our table below to see the stats in full, and continue after that for more details. Remember, the order is very subjective - all are strong in various ways.
| Resort | Blue Slopes | Adult private lesson (hour) | Child group lesson (hour) | Number of free lifts | Local lift pass cost (day) | Free child lift pass* | Discounted family lift passes | Transfer time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lech/Zürs | 60 | €75 | €35 | 0 | €75 | Discounted for Under 8 | No | 1h 30m |
| St Anton/St Christoph | 60 | €75 | €35 | 0 | €78 | Under 8 | No | 1h 15m |
| Kitzbühel | 29 | €100 | €40 | 10 | €72 | Under 5 | No | 1h 30m |
| Söll | 63 | €70 | €30 | 2 | €69 | Under 6 | No | 1h |
| Alpbach | 24 | €70 | €25 | 0 | €63 | Under 6 | No | 1h |
| Zell am See | 31 | €65 | €25 | 0 | €65 | Under 6 | Yes | 1h 30m |
| Obergurgl | 16 | €65 | €25 | 0 | €72 | Under 6 | No | 1h 30m |
| Mayrhofen | 43 | €85 | €30 | 0 | €73 | Under 6 | No | 1h 30m |
*Free child lift pass ages listed above are a rough guide. Austrian resorts allow children born after a specific date (which changes each season) eligible for lift passes, rather than under a certain age. Please check this carefully when making your decision - our sales team are happy to help with this.
1. Lech/Zürs
Free beginner lifts: 0
Blue slopes: 60
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Not free, but discounted for Under 8s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €75
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €75
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €35
Part of the esteemed Ski Arlberg area, which is Austria’s largest at 305 km of pistes, Lech and neighbouring Zürs score highly largely because of the vast amount of blue runs accessible from them.
The Ski Arlberg area has brilliant skiing for beginners and those moving up to the early intermediate stage - in fact it has brilliant skiing for all abilities!
Lech and Zürs also stand out because, while there are no free lifts, its fenced off children’s areas are completely free to use, fully equipped with useful magic carpets and poles to ski in and out of for practice.
While no children will be able to ski for absolutely free on the main lifts, children up to the age of 7 will be able to for just €11 a day, which is pretty useful.
Aside from the skiing, Lech has a toboggan run for all ages, and a leisure centre which puts on plenty of sports, including tennis, badminton and ping pong (among others) - as well as a wellness area for the parents to relax in. “Thurnher’s Spa”, meanwhile, has an indoor swimming pool and various saunas and steam rooms.
These are both fairly quiet resorts, away from the hustle and bustle of St Anton - although lively places can still be suitable for families…
2. St Anton/St Cristoph
Free beginner lifts: 0
Blue slopes: 60
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 8s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €78
Transfer time: 1h 15m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €75
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €35
Also lying within the Ski Arlberg area, St Anton and its quiet neighbour, St Christoph, have all the same skiing benefits as in Lech and Zürs, minus the free beginner ski areas. Also, children up to the age of 8 can ski for free!
With a slightly shorter transfer time, St Anton is quite lively - but we don’t mean just pubs and bars.
Down in town, you can visit the Arlberg Wellness Centre, which has a toddlers’ paddling pool, and child-suitable pools (including whirlpools) for the older kids, as well as saunas and steam rooms for the parents.
The Arl.rock leisure centre has both indoor and outdoor climbing walls, as well as tennis and squash courts, and a bowling alley. There’s also an ice rink in town where you can skate for €8 per person, and of course no shortage of cafes where you can get a nice hot chocolate.
Nearby Verwall Lake is great for a walk, and there’s all the usual mountain activities that can be done - think tobogganing, snowshoeing, sledding.
Hotel Rendlhof
Just a 2-minute walk from the nursery slopes, ski school meeting point, ski kindergarten and day kindergarten.
3. Kitzbühel
Free beginner lifts: 10
Blue slopes: 29
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 5s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €72
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €100
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €40
Not many Austrian ski resorts provide free lifts for beginners (in fact, it’s more of a French thing!), but pretty Kitzbühel is a major exception to that rule, with a whopping 10 free ones.
It’s got a healthy 29 blue slopes and toddlers ski for free, and while there’s a reputation for plenty of challenging pistes, it’s got just as many gentle slopes at the bottom for beginners, near the Kitzbüheler Horn area - making it a great choice if the kids are already good skiers, or you have faith they’ll learn fast.
The town, meanwhile, is full of pretty buildings in various colours and has some fun activities. Horse-drawn carriages are a common sight, and it also has an ice rink that can be used by families during certain hours (check in resort, as this depends on games, training etc.).
Over in nearby Kirchberg (an 8-minute bus ride) there is a fun indoor archery centre, while you could also explore the Aurach Game Park, which is home to various types of deer, lynx, yaks and plenty of other animals - children also get the chance to feed certain animals.
WHERE TO STAY
The Hotel Bruggerhof is perched on the edge of the pretty Schwarzsee lake, and has a children’s pool, as well as an adults’ pool and spa facilities…
Or opt for Hotel Erika, which has two indoor pools, a fitness room, table tennis, a children’s playroom with toys.
4. Söll
Free beginner lifts: 2
Blue slopes: 63
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €69
Transfer time: 1h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €70
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €30
Söll is another strong choice - part of Austria’s second-biggest ski area, SkiWelt, it’s got loads of slopes to cover (63 blues!), but at typically cheaper prices than in the more well-known Ski Arlberg area.
The SkiWelt also gives you access to slopes over in Ellmau, Scheffau, and several other resorts, and as it’s less well-known, it is also a bit quieter than over in the Ski Arlberg area. Its rapid 1-hour transfer time is also very attractive, while children up to the age of 6 can ski for free.
Söll’s village centre is pedestrianised and has plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy hot chocolates and meals out, while there is also a 3.8km floodlit toboggan run which can be enjoyed until 1am!
The Panoramabad (“panorama baths”) in town are a popular swimming centre with various slides and chutes, as well as saunas for the parents. You can also nip over to nearby Ellmau (half an hour on the bus) where the Kaiserbad centre has an indoor adventure pool, lazy river, outdoor pool and water playground.
Hotel Tyrol
This lovely hotel has a kids’ playroom with toys and games, as well as a mini climbing wall and indoor pool.
5. Alpbach
Free beginner lifts: 0
Blue slopes: 24
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €63
Transfer time: 1h
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €70
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €25
While Alpbach doesn’t have a huge ski area (113km in total), it is a charming, tree-lined paradise which doesn’t attract many advanced skiers who whoosh around - meaning the slopes have a really sleepy, family feel to them.
Prices are quite attractive, with local lift passes at just €63 per adult per day, while the transfer time from Innsbruck Airport can take less than an hour - ideal for very young families.
While there aren’t any free lift pass deals or free beginner lifts, the general family atmosphere more than makes up for it. And with 24 blues, it’s perfect for early skiers, rather than those with teens who are venturing onto hard reds and blacks.
The village itself is also quite sleepy, with non-ski activities typically revolving around the mountains - think tobogganing, snowshoe hiking and ice skating.
Aktiv & Wellnesshotel Pirchnerhof
This beautiful hotel has a heated indoor pool, as well as a kids’ play area and a games room with pool and table football. The ski room has heated boot racks, too.
6. Zell-am-See
Free beginner lifts: 0
Blue slopes: 31
Discounted family lift pass: Yes
Free child lift pass: Under 6s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €72
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €65
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €25
Zell am See is another resort popular with families, thanks to its beautiful lakeside setting, which makes for some incredible views while skiing on the tree-lined slopes above.
It’s got 31 blue slopes, and also connects with nearby Kaprun’s ski slopes via a modern gondola, which opens up the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, where you’ll find lots of easy, wide runs.
The Zell am See/Kaprun area totals close to 140km, while you can also ski down one side of the Zell area and get a 10-minute bus to Saalbach, where a further 260km-plus awaits you.
There’s also a family discount on lift passes! If 2 children (older than 6) in the family get a lift pass, all additional children in the same family receive a free lift pass. Proof of age and relation is of course required - but it’s a fantastic opportunity to save money if you’ve got 3 or more children.
Meanwhile, Zell am See is a proper town with year-round residents, meaning there’s plenty going on. You can watch live ice hockey matches at the town’s indoor ice rink, or go on it when there aren’t any matches or training going on. There’s also an outdoor ice rink with a stunning mountain backdrop.
You can go tobogganing and paragliding, or opt for something in town. There’s plenty of lovely cafes and restaurants, while an indoor swimming pool with various wellness and sauna facilities is located right next door to the indoor ice rink. This has got a heated pool, 74m water slide, toddler pool and pirate play ship.
WHERE TO STAY
The Sportresort Alpenblick has a 3-8 kids’ club, as well as a games room with table football, board games and table tennis, plus heated indoor and outdoor pools and a heated boot rack…
Or choose the Hotel Waldhof, which has a children’s playroom with toys, a games room with pool, table football, table tennis and computer games, and an indoor and heated outdoor pool.
7. Obergurgl
Free beginner lifts: 0
Blue slopes: 16
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €72
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €65
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €25
A lesser-known resort to the other already mentioned, Serre Chevalier is a fine choice for a family ski holiday. With a couple of free lifts and a very good 21 green slopes, first-timers won’t have a problem learning the ropes here.
Under 6s go free on the lifts, and because it’s a relatively minor resort, lessons and lift passes tend to be much cheaper here. It’s also only a 2 hour commute from Turin.
Unfortunately there isn’t a family lift pass deal, although activities off the slopes could make up for it. You can go ice skating in the town centre, or explore the various surrounding villages, where there’s often something going on.
In town, there’s also a swimming centre, a bowling alley, a gallery, and a museum to enjoy.
WHERE TO STAY
Despite its name, the Austria Gourmet and Wine Hotel has a completely free kids’ club for those between the ages of 2-12, as well as a large games room, indoor pool and heated outdoor pool with panoramic views…
Or go to the Hotel Lohmann, which also puts on a free kids’ club for children older than 2, and has a playroom with toys, heated bootroom, and the option for staff to collect children from ski school and take them back to the hotel for lunch.
8. Mayrhofen
Free beginner lifts: 0
Blue slopes: 43
Discounted family lift pass: No
Free child lift pass: Under 6s
Local adult lift pass cost/day: €73
Transfer time: 1h 30m
Adult private ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €85
Child group ski lesson average cost/hour: Around €30
Mayrhofen is another solid choice, with a very healthy 43 blue runs and close to 150km of slopes to explore.
With a fairly short transfer time from Innsbruck, it’s also a busy town as ski resorts go, with various swimming pools in town (including one with a 101m slide and crazy river), a 3G sports pitch with a playground, and a mini golf course all within walking distance.
The high street has lots of nice shops and cute cafes to enjoy a hot chocolate in, while there are plenty of nice walks to tackle as a family. Toboggan runs and ice skating are also options.
Mayrhofen is also connected by train to the rest of the Zillertal Valley. You can go for day trips out, or stay in cheaper areas like Ramsau and get the train in for skiing each day.
WHERE TO STAY
The Hotel Neuhaus has a children’s playroom, separate games room with billiards, a bowling alley, and will babysit for a fee on request…
Or opt for the Sport & Spa Hotel Strass, which is located literally next door to the main gondola and right in the middle of town, and has a games rooms with billiards and table tennis, as well as squash and tennis courts among its many benefits.
Experience your perfect family ski holiday with Iglu Ski
Let us help you secure your perfect skiing getaway with the family by helping you choose the perfect resort and accommodation based on your preferences. We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency and have been doing what we love for more than 26 years.
Have a look at our best family ski holidays in Austria, and remember, you can give us a ring on 020 3848 3700, or leave us an enquiry and we’ll get back to you with all the details you need.
Thinking about doing a joint ski holiday with other families? Take a look at our group booking guide if you’re stuck on the finer details.