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Christmas skiing - there’s nothing quite like it. Imagine waking up each morning to the excitement of fresh snow, delicious food and a warm, festive spirit spread across the entire resort.
Families and friends can jump onto the slopes with some brilliant skiing each day (yes, even Christmas day itself!), before relaxing with a mulled wine or hot chocolate and indulging in all the fabulous festivities that Austria’s ski resorts have to offer.
A December ski holiday to Austria is a Christmas experience that’ll never be forgotten, and a perfect chance to escape the grey skies back at home.
Below, we’ll tell you all about skiing in Austria over Christmas, including the prettiest getaways, where to go for snow, and the resorts with the most wonderful (and sometimes weird) celebrations.
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Have a look at our guide on the top Christmas ski resorts in France for even more options.
What’s it like to celebrate Christmas in an Austrian ski resort?
Christmas in Austria is certainly different to back home in the UK. To add to the children’s joy of being away, they’ll be pleased to find out that presents need to be opened on Christmas Eve - if you want to do it the Austrian way.
And that’s not the only difference. Gifts aren’t delivered by Santa Claus here. Instead, it’s the Christkind, an angelic form of the Baby Jesus with a halo floating above its head.
You’ll also find Santa Claus - in his modern Coca-Cola-red form - doesn’t exist in Austria; a proper Saint Nicholas comes into town early in December to reward all the good children with tangerines and peanuts, while all the naughty children are dealt with by his evil twin, Krampus.
Some things are more recognisable, though - grand Christmas trees tend to stand tall in the centre of every resort, while in quaint Christmas markets, carol singers float around spreading Christmas cheer. Many shops and buildings will display wonderful home-made nativity scenes for you to look at as you sip on a gluhwein and get stuck into some sugary doughnuts.
But most importantly, don’t forget - you’ll be in the mountains, and the skiing doesn’t stop for anything! Even on Christmas Day the lifts will still be whirring, skiers whizzed to the top of the world and dashing back down, hopefully with snow falling.
Not sure is Austria is right for you?
Check out our list of the top 10 best Christmas ski resorts in Europe to discover more festive destinations in France and Italy.
Our Top 7 Resorts for Christmas Skiing in Austria
If you love the idea of a Christmas ski holiday in Austria, but you’re unsure on where to go, we’ve put together this guide to help you.
Using a range of data and our own resort knowledge, we’ve devised a scoring system to work out which Austrian ski resorts are the most attractive for Christmas skiing.
Factors we’ve considered include:
- December snow conditions (because it’s about time you had a white Christmas!)
- Whether or not there are Christmas markets
- How pretty the resort is for all of that Christmas charm (charming features include churches, lakes, whether it's in the tree-line, traffic calming and more). Scored out of 6, 6 being best.
- Whether there are any additional unique festivities and traditions
- Whether there is Christmas Day skiing
According to our research, the top Austrian resorts for a Christmas ski holiday are:
1. St Anton
2. Obergurgl
3. Lech
4. Zell am See
5. Mayrhofen
6. Ischgl
7. Kitzbühel
Compare the stats for each of the resorts in the table below.
| Resort | December snow/week (CM) | December snow days/week | Christmas market | No. Christmas events | Christmas charm | Christmas Day skiing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Anton | 37 | 3.4 | Yes | 1 | 3 | Yes |
| Obergurgl | 30 | 3.6 | Yes | 1 | 4 | Yes |
| Lech | 38 | 3.4 | Yes | 0 | 3 | Yes |
| Zell am See | 19 | 3 | Yes | 3 | 6 | Yes |
| Mayrhofen | 18 | 3 | Yes | 4 | 2 | Yes |
| Ischgl | 32 | 3.3 | Yes | 0 | 4 | Yes |
| Kitzbühel | 20 | 2.9 | Yes | 2 | 5 | Yes |
Discover more about Christmas in each of these Austrian resorts.
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If you're a beginner looking to spend Christmas in the mountains, make sure to check out our guide on the best Austrian ski resorts for beginners. The majority of the resorts above are also great beginner resorts and you can compare their beginner stats in the guide.
Many of the resorts in these guides also feature in our roundup of the best ski resorts in Austria!
1. St Anton
Weekly snow in December: 37cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.4
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing?: Yes
St Anton is a very reliable choice for a Christmas ski holiday in Austria, thanks to its well-established town and location within the outstanding Ski Arlberg area. The resort also scored very well for its snow supply, meaning it's one of the best choices for skiing conditions.
The resort has a Christmas market nestled in the grounds of the town’s museum, within which there is also a life-size nativity scene and carol singing for you to enjoy while you tuck into some Austrian cuisine.
While St Anton is a hotspot for those seeking a lively ski holiday, young families are also exceptionally well catered for. The resort is home to lovely restaurants and the renowned “Advent Magic in the Park” which is a cosy trail with scatterings of candles and log cabins, within which you can get involved in activities like handicraft sessions with elves, among other things.
Read more:
If you are restricted to the school holidays, St Anton is one of the best ski resorts for an Easter ski holiday. The temperature tends to be warmer and St Anton puts on some good Easter events, too.
Find out just how raucous St Anton's après scene gets in our guide to the best bars après hotspots in St Anton.
2. Obergurgl
Weekly snow in December: 30cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.6
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 4/6
Christmas Day Skiing?: Yes
Obergurgl is a great bet if you’re after some fun Christmas celebrations mixed in with a reliable supply of snow. The resort is nestled comfortably among Austria’s more snow-sure resorts, meaning you’ll be in with a chance of finally having a genuine white Christmas.
The resort is linked to more than 110km of pistes which cater to all abilities of skier - whether you’re a beginner or a pro. One of the highest-altitude resorts in Austria, Obergurgl also has an ice rink, plenty of snowshoeing and walking trails, and, in places, a lively après scene.
At the magical Christmas market you can taste traditional Austrian food - like Kaiserschmarrn, a type of fluffy shredded pancake - or buy cute wooden handicrafts and decorations. The reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for shelter during Advent is also a highlight.
If all of this sounds great, discover lots more reasons why you should choose Obergurgl for your Christmas ski destination
Read more:
If snow surety is a key factor for your Austrian ski holiday, make sure to read our guide to the most snow-sure resorts in Austria. You'll find lots more information and inspiration to help you pick the perfect Austrian Christmas getaway.
3. Lech
Weekly snow in December: 38cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.4
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: none
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing?: Yes
If reliable snow is critical to your skiing holiday then Lech is certainly a resort to consider. Located just round the corner (in mountain terms) from St Anton, Lech scored highest in the snow fall category, and third highest in the amount of snow days per week.
This means there’s a decent chance you can get out on the slopes on Christmas Day and whizz around with snowflakes dropping on your jacket. Lech skiing caters to people of all abilities, with most being able to get around the entire Ski Arlberg area which boasts more than 300km of prepared pistes.
Lech’s Christmas market is a beautiful one, although it is only open from the 20th to the 22nd of December, so make sure you get your dates right. It is also fairly pretty, boasting a church, gorgeous trees and stunning panoramic views.
4. Zell am See
Weekly snow in December: 19cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 3
Prettiness score: 6/6
Christmas Day skiing?: Yes
If you’re a lover of unique Christmas traditions then Zell am See should be high on your list. The charming town is perched on the edge of a stunning lake which sometimes freezes over during winter, meaning you can walk on it - or even go ice skating.
While there might historically be less snow than other Austrian resorts like St Anton or Lech, Zell am See’s prettiness and bizarre festivities more than make up for it - and let’s not forget, Kaprun and its glacier and links to the entire Skicircus are just 10 minutes down the road for anyone particularly worried about snow conditions.
On Christmas Day, you can brave the cold to watch the bizarre local tradition where a Christmas tree is dropped into the lake before being rescued by divers. A separate market on the shores of Lake Zell is also open until 31 December.
In addition to the beautiful Christmas market, there is also a collection of spectacular lit up sculptures dotted around the town which also boasts a cosy, pedestrianised high street.
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If you have beginners in your group, fear not - as Zell am See is a great ski resort for beginners. Discover more on what Zell am See offers beginner skiers in our dedicated guide.
5. Mayrhofen
Weekly snow in December: 18cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 4
Prettiness score: 2/6
Christmas Day skiing?: Yes
Mayrhofen is a firm favourite among Austrian skiers at any stage of the season - so it’s no surprise to see it near the top of our list for Christmas ski holidays. The town is well connected by train, and there is also a bus which lets you hop along to the other ski areas along the valley.
There is the usual pretty Christmas market which families will fall in love with - but that’s not all. The magical Scheuling Forest lets you escape into another world, where commercialism is rejected and instead local customs take centre stage and traditional music fills the air.
Children and adults alike can make their own gingerbread men at the Kroll’s Advent Bakery, while seasonal foods and drinks are sold all around. Meanwhile, the Christkind Parade - where Austria’s version of Father Christmas floats down to deliver presents - takes place just a few days before Christmas Day.
6. Ischgl
Weekly snow in December: 32cm
Weekly snow days in December: 3.3
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: none
Prettiness score: 4/6
Christmas Day skiing?: Yes
Ischgl is another staple of the Austrian skiing diet - with its excellent score heavily dependent on its snow cover and the beauty of the town itself. The resort - nestled in the Paznaun Valley - historically receives a healthy 32cm of snow per week in December.
Skiing continues on Christmas Day - as it does in the majority of Austrian ski resorts - meaning you can make the most of the decent snow. While it has a Christmas market selling the usual beautiful Austrian delicacies, there wasn't much we could see in terms of unique Christmas celebrations - and the market was only open for three days in December 2023.
That’s not to say that Christmas isn’t celebrated there, though - there will be lovely lights hung around the town. Ischgl also scored highly in terms of prettiness - the town has a lovely church and lies within the treeline, as well as having a welcoming pedestrianised street and panoramic views.
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With an early season ski holiday already in the bag, you could also consider Ischgl for a late season ski holiday. Thanks to its height and snow making facilities, it's one of our top resorts for skiing in April.
7. Kitzbühel
Weekly snow in December: 20cm
Weekly snow days in December: 2.9
Is there a Christmas market?: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: Two
Prettiness score: 5/6
Is there Christmas Day skiing?: Yes
Swinging back in the opposite direction, Kitzbühel is less about the snow - although it’s still pretty good! - and more about the Christmas traditions. The town certainly takes Christmas seriously, with a magical Christmas market five days a week where people can tuck into mulled wine, crepes or traditional Tyrolean delicacies.
The market is nestled in Kitzbühel's beautiful main town area, and even offers a daily pony riding and petting zoo experience. The market closes each night to the serene glockenspiel from the local church.
Other attractions include the Christkindl Post Office where children drop their Christmas List, ensuring they’ll get their presents. Adults, in particular, can also look forward to the concerts at the Wiltener Sangerknaben, while there is also a lovely lake nearby if you and the children need a break from the hustle and bustle.
Book your Christmas ski holiday to Austria with Iglu Ski
We’ve been pairing our customers up with their perfect Christmas ski holiday for more than 25 years. And with hundreds of deals on hotels, chalets, and apartments, we really are best placed to help you find an incredible Christmas ski holiday for the best price. Why not get in touch with our friendly ski specialists - they'll help you to find the perfect holiday for the most amazing Christmas in the mountains.