Austria is a convenient place for winter holidays. Most of the country is covered by the Alps, a tourist destination has developed since the mid-19th century. This allowed the country to take the first position in terms of attractiveness for tourists and independent travelers. For relaxation, you can consider the Zillertal ski resort, which has slopes for skiing enthusiasts and professionals.
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Location
There are several ski resorts in the Zillertal valley. It is located in the federal state of Tyrol in Austria. This piece of land is conditionally divided into four areas for ski holidays – Zillertal, Fügen-Kaltenbach, Zell-Gerlos and Mayrhofen-Hippach. They are connected by a common road scheme. Travelers can combine a vacation at one of the bases with daily movements on all slopes and descents.
Location of ski resorts:
- The nearest large settlement is Jenbach. It is located next to Innsbruck, 15 minutes’ drive. You can get to them from Vienna.
- The valley is divided by the river Ziller. The roofs of churches on different sides of the river differ in color – red and green.
- The international airport is located in Vienna. The distance from it to the valley is 350 km. Travel time by car is 5 hours.
For independent travelers, you need to explore the recreation centers. All of them have good infrastructure – ski slopes, hotels, entertainment for children and adults. In winter, hotel rooms are booked in advance – 2-3 weeks before the start of the trip.
Description of the recreation center
The division of the Zillertal ski resorts into four zones is conditional. Each has places to stay, in bars and restaurants you can taste dishes of national Austrian cuisine. To save space when carrying luggage, ski equipment can be left at home – recreation centers offer rental of skis, snowboards and equipment. This is convenient, but entails additional costs.
To select slopes, you need to consider the general scheme of routes. Ski resort characteristics:
- The total length of the tracks is 166 km. Of these, “red” – 144 km, “blue” – 42 km, and the most difficult, “black” – 10 km.
- Lifts. For the convenience of tourists, there are 21 chair lifts, 18 drag lifts, 12 cable cars and one gondola.
- There are several trails for free skiing on fresh snow. They are located far from the equipped slopes.
For training, you can visit the snow parks – Arena Hot Zone and Arena Coaster. Their peculiarity is that the slopes are made in the form of gutters, riding resembles a ride on a roller coaster. For slalomists, two high-speed descents were made. There are schools for teaching children the basics of skiing. The same service is available for adult skiers.
In the evening, you can spend time in local bars or restaurants. Over a mug of mulled wine and classic Viennese sausages, listen to stories about the ski resort and the celebrities that have visited it. Entertainment events are held for young people, the nightlife in the valley is active.
Weather
Winter in the Austrian Alps is mild. During the day the temperature does not fall below -8°C, at night there are frosts down to -12°C. But in the Zillertal there is a large amount of precipitation – up to 60 mm. Therefore, in early December, the snow cover is unstable, it can melt due to rain. Closer to the New Year holidays, the weather stabilizes, the snow cover becomes uniform.
Features of the weather in the ski resort of Zillertal:
- Few sunny days. The tracks do not form an ice crust due to melting. No glare from snow.
- Lots of snow, but no wind. Storms and bad weather are rare in this region of Austria.
- Until October or April, you can go hiking in the mountains and sights.
Recreation centers operate in the summer. Here you can undergo a course of treatment or rehabilitation after an illness or surgery. This is facilitated by fresh alpine air and developed infrastructure.
Attractions
Daily skiing on the slopes of the Zillertal Arena can get boring quickly. An alternative is walking or car excursions to local attractions. So you can “dilute” the rest, make it interesting and informative. Tour agencies work here; you can plan trips on your own by renting a car.
Attractions in this region of Austria:
- Zillertal Alps. This is a national park, on the territory of which there are many glaciers and natural attractions. For tourists, safe and beautiful routes have been compiled.
- Hintertux. This is a high-mountain glacier, famous for the cave, which is located above all others.
- Krimml waterfall. Its peculiarity is a cascading relief, its height is 350 m. At its top there are good landscapes of mountains and a valley.
In the villages there are many old buildings – churches and cathedrals. Many of them are active, during visits you need to follow the rules – choose clothes, behave quietly. Be sure to visit the Swarovski Museum and the House with the Golden Roof.
How to get there
The Zillertal ski resort is conveniently located on the map of Austria. It can be reached from Salzburg, Munich or Vienna. The roads are in good condition, even during snow drifts they are constantly cleaned. Travel time is up to 5 hours. There is an airport in the city of Innsbruck, from which the recreation center is 50 km away. Aircraft of local airlines land here.
Developed railway communication. Trains stop at Zell am Ziller, Fügen, Kaltenbach. Train timetables are available at railway stations or on websites. You can rent a car to plan your own trip. This is convenient if the Zillertal valley is an intermediate point on the route.
Holiday prices
Prices in the Zillertal Arena ski resort are average for the region. It can be visited during the peak season; you only need to book a hotel or hotel in advance. Prices for Sky – Pass for two days for an adult tourist – 102 Euro. For a child, this service is cheaper – 46 Euro. It is advantageous to book a weekly stay. Then a ticket for the lifts will cost 282 Euros, for young travelers – 217 Euros. For regular visitors there are discounts and bonus programs.
Prices for accommodation – from 55 euros per day per person. This price includes breakfast. Ski equipment rental up to 40 euros per day, depending on the model chosen. Snowboards cost up to 30 euros. When ordering equipment for a week, the daily price is reduced by 15-20%.