Whether it's family ski passes, childcare or ski schools for beginners – holidays in the snow as a family involve special requirements for accommodation, slopes and infrastructure. The good news is that many resorts in Austria don't just call themselves family ski resorts but are actively working on a family-oriented motto. Whether slope fan, backcountry enthusiast or skiing novice – all snow lovers, from young to old, should get their money's worth at.
Nevertheless, the question arises: Which regions are particularly family-friendly, what is considered a child-friendly ski area and how can you recognise this quality? Our RENTertainers know about the concerns and summarise what is important.
How do you recognise family-friendly ski areas?
A checklist
Attractive specials and offers can be found in every ski region. But what highlights the ski resorts and accommodation that particularly appeal to families? We take a look at the quality-defining factors that characterise a children's ski areas in Austria and which family-friendly services are on offer:
- children's ski passes, discounted family ski passes or family packages
- child-friendly ski schools with their own beginners' area near the valley or close to the gondola
- separate children's lifts or child-friendly access to the lifts
- magic carpets to transport the little skiers
- separate areas for kids with adventure runs, children's land or winter playgrounds
- childcare and babycare services
- suitable infrastructure in the huts such as children's toilets and diaper-changing stations
- short, safe routes to services for children
- additional child-friendly offers (adventure hikes, sledding, animal parks)
Depending on the ski resort the proportional weighting of the individual services may vary. The reason for this is not a lack of quality standards. In the valleys enclosed between mountains, the offer on and off the slopes is largely determined by its topography. And if certain services are not offered, it may well be that other family-friendly services are offered even more intensively.
Tip: When planning your family ski holiday in Austria, it helps to draw up a rough weekly schedule. The services offered by many ski resorts are usually so extensive that you can't do everything within the period of your skiing holiday without neglecting the skiing itself. So don't go by the number of offers but go think specifically about what you may have time for.
Which is the perfect ski resort for me and my family?
The above criteria can serve as a guide when searching for family-friendly ski areas in Austria. However, when it comes to deciding on a specific region or accommodation, the choice is often difficult. After all, all family members should feel comfortable on ski holiday together – so every step of the planning process needs to be carefully considered. And because not every family is the same, a few personal considerations can make the decision-making process much easier.
That's why our experienced RENTertainers have summarised the most important criteria for you – so that you and your family can move into the ideal accommodation in a snow paradise.
Does the size of the ski resorts matter?
Family-friendly? Yes, but how big should the desired ski resort be? Would you prefer a large resort with many kilometres of slopes, numerous lifts and several ski schools, children's areas and the like? Or would you prefer something smaller, clearer and with a less comprehensive offer for the youngest guests, but with an absolute guarantee of satisfaction?
If you go purely by size, you can quickly lose track. Think in advance about what type of skier you are and which slopes and offers appeal to you. In most cases, you can only do a fraction of what you have planned anyway. However, if you already have the offers in advance, you don’t waste any time during your skiing holiday.
The infrastructure in your family ski holiday in Austria: Arrival & accessibility
Whether by car, bus or train – the journey is part of the holiday. However, not every area is equally easy to reach, and factors such as storage space and comfort also play an important role when travelling as a family. That's why it's worth taking a look at the travel options in advance: Can the ski resort be reached quickly and easily by train? Are snow chains necessary if you are travelling by car? Are there any road tolls for alpine passes involved in the journey?
Speaking of accessibility: This is of course also crucial on site. Accommodations in a central location or close to the slopes pay off, especially with children. This means that skis, snowboards and the rest of your belongings don't have to be carried around for a long time and the adventure in the snow can start right on your doorstep. The proximity to the playground, ski school and supermarket can also be a welcome bonus on a family ski holiday in Austria. Another advantage of a central location is that there are usually no busy roads to cross.
Comfort on site
Self-catering in your own flat or would you prefer an all-inclusive stay in a hotel? Both have their advantages, but costs are of course also a decisive factor when choosing accommodation. Renting flats and holiday homes is cheaper in most cases. And although shopping for groceries takes a little time, you can at least spend some quality time when taking your time and cook together on holiday. And while you're at it you can admire the snow-covered peaks.
All about the prices
The topic of price category is part of every holiday planning. There are many options for skiing holidays in Austria that have a significant impact on the budget: For example, is the intended destination a luxury ski resort or an insider tip with affordable offers? Are there discounts for families, for example when buying a ski pass? Do children perhaps even ride the lift for free?
Our money-saving tip: In many ski resorts, you can book complete packages that include both a ski pass and accommodation. This option is usually worthwhile for families in particular, as the overall costs are lower and the distances are shorter.
Renting all the necessary gear on site
Should you bring all the skis and necessary gear yourself or would it be better to rent it? On a family holiday, the luggage can quickly pile up and the number of skis, helmets and poles can be an unpleasant challenge to transport. If you decide to rent equipment, you don't even have to worry about such complications. Simply arrive at the ski resort and benefit from the first-class equipment and their services.
Family-friendly & convenient: With more than 800 shops, INTERSPORT Rent is represented in the most beautiful ski areas worldwide – including in Austria! There you have the opportunity to rent high-quality ski equipment quickly and easily. Favourable family offers and fast online reservations also ensure that you always get the best equipment at the best price.
Looking for a checklist? When planning your next ski holiday, we recommend you take a look at our checklist. That way, you won't forget anything important.
Top 9 child-friendly ski areas in Austria
The land of mountains is made for skiing holidays – fascinating ski resorts and cosy winter tourism as far as the eye can see. Now the only question is: Which regions are best for a family holiday? Our RENTertainers present an overview of Austria's top family ski areas.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
The three Tyrolean villages of Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis form a contiguous ski area of around 460 hectares that is hard to beat in terms of family-friendliness: 125,000 square metres of the area are reserved exclusively for children. The Kinderschneealm and the Murmlipark also provide plenty of variety and pure excitement for young winter sports enthusiasts. With a total of 214 kilometres of slopes, all ski fans are sure to get their money's worth here.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| Kinderschneealm | discounted family ski passes |
| Murmli Park | ski schools |
| Berta's Kinderland (with children's villa included children's stage, entertainment room, snow adventure room and ski depot for children |
childcare (also for babies and toddlers) |
| Berta's Indian Land | Fiss Cave World |
| magic carpet | children's restaurants |
| carousel | zoo |
| children's fun areas | dinosaur themed forest "Dinowald“ |
| climbing tower | sledding forest |
| adventure cours | bear runway |
| snowmobile course |
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental
With 288 kilometres of slopes, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental is one of the largest and most extensive ski areas in the world. The infrastructure there also makes the region a real hotspot for families: large car parks at the valley stations, child-safe chairlifts and many wide and gentle blue slopes down into the valley – the offer leaves nothing to be desired.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| Hexenwiese at SkiWelt Söll | childcare (also for babies and toddlers from 5 months) |
| Ellmi’s Winter World at SkiWelt Ellmau | ski school with its own children's area |
| "Hans im Glück" ski course | family ski depots |
| ski movie route | alpine igloo village in Hochbrixen with ice exhibition |
| sleding run | |
| fun parks for all levels: from beginner to pro |
Stubai Glacier
The ski resort in Tyrol Stubai Glacier has a lot to offer to families. With a total area of 1,450 hectares and 110 kilometres of slopes, there is plenty on offer – even for the youngest skiers. Family-friendly service is a priority in the region. While the children let off steam in the snow, parents can relax in peace or enjoy action-packed adventures on the slopes. All interests can be easily combined on the Stubai Glacier.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| BIG Family children's and youth ski camp (including Miniland, practice lift, magic carpets and children's restaurants) |
family passes and discounted, family-friendly offers |
| BIG Family Slalom | ski schools with their own children's area |
| BIG Family Boardercross | childcare (in our own kindergarten) |
| BIG Family Fun Slope | ice rally through the ice cave on Stubai Glacier |
| speed measuring track & race track with time measurement | viewing platform on the Stubai Glacier |
| children’s carousel | Mammoth playground |
| mascots Zottel and Bommel | winter hikes |
| snow castle at the Gamsgarten | "Stubai Zoo" fun park for all levels |
| snow cat riding |
Schmittenhöhe Zell am See
The Schmittenhöhe family ski area is located close to the picturesque mountain town of Zell am See. As a top destination for winter sports fans of all ages, the region offers exuberant snow fun for all ability levels on 77 kilometres of slopes. The wide range of offers and the award-winning family hotels ensure that all generations feel at home away from the slopes too.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for family members of all ages |
|---|---|
| adventure area with children's slope | family ski passes and discounted family-friendly offers |
| Dragon Park & Kinderland | extensive range of ski schools and ski courses (including K inderland and magic carpet) |
| Dragon mascot Schmidolin | childcare |
| wave track | snowpark |
| dragon tunnel | funslope XXL |
| Schmidolin's magic carpet (including children's lift) | ski movie route |
| children's carousel | jukeboxx gondolas |
Almenwelt Lofer
The family-friendly ski area of Almenwelt Lofer extends over 46 kilometres of slopes in the idyllic Salzburger Saalachtal. More than half of the slopes fall into the blue category for beginners. Practice lifts and children friendly areas make the region the ideal holiday destination for families. And thanks to the varied offer, Almenwelt Lofer also has plenty of fun on the slopes for experienced skiers.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| children's areas (Bobo Kinder-Club, Lofino Kinderland) | various winter hikes |
| children's carousel | ski schools (including children's area, magic carpet and mascot) |
| adventure course | childcare (in our own kindergarden) |
| wave track | playground |
| magic carpet | family friendly slopes |
| children's lift | |
| mascot Lofer Alm Cow |
Zillertal
The Zillertal Arena offers large children's areas, special children's restaurants and numerous children's ski schools to ensure that kids are well looked after during their skiing holiday. In addition to first-class children's slopes, practice lifts and large practice areas, there are many children's programmes that provide the necessary variety. In the ski kindergardens and schools, trained ski instructors look after the little ones and the mascot of the Zillertal Arena called Funty ensures a great atmosphere on site.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| mascot Funty | various winter hikes |
| Various fun fun runs | a rollercoaster called Arena Coaster |
| kindergarten | snowtubing |
| Funty piste | amusement park in Zell |
| sledding run at Krummbachtal | |
| theme trail called Almpromenade | |
| indoor swimming pool |
Soelden
The is located in the the Ötztal valley and ski resort of Sölden heart of has become famous thanks to its presence in one of the James Bond films. Thanks to the Superskipass, you have around 360 kilometres of slopes at your disposal and you can let off steam with your family in all the six ski resorts that are all included. There are also many other offers for the whole family: The many snow playgrounds provide plenty of variety. And if the weather doesn't play along, you can simply head to the indoor pool.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| indoor adventure pool | 007 James Bond gallery/museum |
| snow playground called Ochsengarten | experience alpacas and llamas up close |
| snow playground Vent | snowshoe hikes |
| winter playground at Festkogl Alm | sledding |
| snow playground in Gries’ |
Vorarlberg – Silvretta Montafon
In the Vorarlberg region there is also plenty to do for young skiers in ski resort of Silvretta Montafon. Thanks to the "Kids on Ski" programme, small children up to a certain age can use some of the services free of charge. The programme is rounded off with countless activities that offer fun for young and old. Whether it's a winter hikes or sledding, there's never a dull moment in the region of Vorarlberg.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| free and discounted children's offers "Kids on Ski" | race Area speed track |
| Monti Lux the mascot of the ski resort | winter hikes |
| three ski schools on site | sledding |
| family-friendly huts in the ski area |
Skicircus Saalbach-Leogang-Hinterglemm-Fieberbrunn
In the region around the villages Saalbach, Leogang, Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn the so called Skicircus offers you an area of 408 kilometres of slopes: The choice is yours. If you want to take advantage of everything on offer, you'll definitely be busy here for longer. But it's not only the slopes that offer a variety of fun, as there are also freshly groomed cross-country ski trails in addition to snowshoe hikes and sledding runs. There are also countless activities on and off the slopes for the youngest winter sports enthusiasts.
Highlights in the family ski region
| Highlights for children | Offers for young and old |
|---|---|
| kids winter challenge | speed track at the H2 Kohlmaisbahn gondola |
| “Golden Gate Baumzipfelweg” adventure hike | speed track at the A9 Unterschwarzachbahn |
| family park called U bahn | Timok's Alpine Coaster |
| ski movie piste | Snow Trail Bernkogel |
| fairytale themed forest | guided snowshoe hikes |
Frequently asked questions about the best family ski region Austria:
Where can you go skiing with the family in Austria?
Many ski resorts in Austria offer skiing holidays for the whole family. In the Tyrolean resorts of Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis, for example, children have access to a total area of 125,000 square metres, which only includes children's offers such as the Kinderschneealm. But in the other states, for example in Salzburg, you will also find attractive offers like in the Almenwelt Lofer or Schmittenhöhe ski areas that include family ski passes and/or winter hikes. However, which ski resort you choose depends on several factors:
- Slope difficulty
- Alternative offers to skiing
- Discounts for families
- On-site childcare options
Depending on how you want to organise your skiing holiday with the whole family, the choice of ski resorts can also vary. While some resorts may have lots of blue slopes, others may offer better alternatives such as sledding or winter hikes. Ultimately, the decision about the family holiday is made together.
How much does a ski pass for children cost?
The prices of ski passes for children vary depending on the kids age and the ski resort. In general, however, children up to a certain age pay less than adults. Infants up to the age of 3 sometimes ski for free, while children aged 3-6 often receive heavily discounted or free tickets. For 6-14-year-olds, the price is around 50-60% of the adult rate (approx. €25-45 per day), while teenagers pay around 75-80% (approx. €35-55 per day). Some ski resorts also offer special family discounts.
It's best to enquire about current prices and discounts directly at the ski resort of your choice.
How can you have an affordable skiing holiday?
In many ski resorts in Austria, it is possible to get discounts for the whole family. In addition, the type of accommodation, such as self-catering flats and the costs for alternative activities or the type of travel (train, plane, car) also play an important role. Those who inform themselves early can also benefit from early booking discounts for train tickets or accommodation.
Another option is renting equipment on site. Not only do you save on buying equipment, but you can also travel with less luggage. What's more, you can always benefit from the latest equipment and the associated service.
When is the best time to go on a skiing holiday in Austria?
The decision about when to go on a skiing holiday depends on several factors. As a family, you are often tied to the children's holiday periods. Generally speaking, however, most ski resorts are open from the end of November to the end of April and even beyond.
There is also the factor of guaranteed snow: January and February are considered the months with the most snow, although you should also keep an eye on the location of the ski resort.
INTERSPORT Rent Tip
Safety first – this also applies to the slopes of all family ski resorts in Austria. That's why following certain basic rules and tips for safe behaviour in the snow is an absolute must for a relaxed family skiing holiday. Important aspects are, for example
- the right gear
- a good physical condition
- respect for others
- observing weather conditions
You can find more information about safety on the slopes and important behavioural tips in our article on responsible skiing.
