Luxury Ski Chalets Austria

The birthplace of modern Alpine skiing, Austria sets the standard for world-class lift systems, outstanding snowmaking and lively apres ski. With attractive, traditional villages and exceptional luxury chalets in Austria, it is no surprise to see that this ski-loving country continues to have enduring appeal.


Why Choose Austria for a Luxury Ski Holiday?

  • Austrian ski holidays offer a good number of sizeable linked ski areas including the Arlberg
  • The snowiest resorts in the Alps are in Austria with Lech and Zurs topping the list
  • Luxury ski resorts in Austria are built around traditional chalet-style villages on the valley floor
  • The vibrant apres-ski is second to none
  • Luxury ski trips to Austria are easy to reach by car and several resorts are close to railway stations

Luxury Ski Holidays Austria

With fantastic skiing and arguably the world’s liveliest après-ski, it is clear to see why luxury holidays in Austria have become so popular. Austria has several large ski areas to choose from including the Arlberg, Saalbach and SkiWelt. These areas link multiple resorts, offering well over 200 km of interconnected marked runs. The Arlberg is Austria's largest ski area and is home to many of the ski-in/ski-out luxury chalets in Austria that are set above the main village. With extensive local slopes and a good snow record, St Anton is the most popular ski resort in the Arlberg, followed closely by Lech.

Many Austrian resorts have mid-mountain restaurants where you will find crowds congregating mid-afternoon on terraces to sample the famous apres-ski scene. Many of the luxury ski resorts in Austria are very lively later on at night too. Partying continues through the evening and you are likely to see people in ski boots and carrying skis at all hours. Austria is also known for its traditional cuisine such as goulash and apfelstrudel. If you are renting a catered ski chalet in Austria, make sure you ask your private chef to prepare Kaiserschmarrn, a light and fluffy shredded pancake accompanied with compote or rum-soaked raisins.

Luxury ski holiday in St Anton am Arlberg in AustriaPhoto: Josef Mallaun/TVB St. Anton am Arlberg
Off piste skiing in AustriaPhoto: Josef Mallaun/TVB St. Anton am Arlberg
Luxury ski resort in Austria at nightPhoto: Lech Zuers Tourismus
Scenic horse & carriage ride in AustriaPhoto: Christoph Schoech/Lech Zuers Tourismus
Luxury ski chalet in AustriaPhoto: Chalet Uberhaus, Lech

Luxury Ski Resorts in Austria

Austria has some of the greatest luxury ski resorts in the Alps with St Anton being a favourite among the more adventurous skier. Found in the Tyrolean Alps, the luxury ski resort of St. Anton is often referred to as the “cradle of alpine skiing” due to its role as a trailblazer for modern winter sports. Its mountains are high and steep and there are abundant off-piste opportunities.

Located within two hours’ drive of three international airports and with the railway station just a stone’s throw from the resort centre, St. Anton is easy to reach. It has an attractive, traditional village with a lively pedestrian main street. The resort is also regarded as the capital of catered ski chalets in Austria. Known for its epic nightlife and incredible off-piste skiing, St. Anton is the perfect place for a luxury ski holiday in Austria.


If you are looking for a more refined trip, the luxury resort of Lech may be the perfect fit. Lech has some of the finest ski lodges in Austria such as Chalet N and Chalet Uberhaus, as well as one of the best snow records in the Alps with an altitude ranging from 1,450m to 2646m and a seasonal snowfall average of seven metres. Skiers will have plenty of ski terrain to discover in the Arlberg ski area with four lifts linking this glamorous resort to the neighbouring stations of St. Anton, Zürs and Stuben, providing 305 km of pistes as well as 200 km of ungroomed ski trails.

For a skier's paradise, Kitzbuhel, a Tyrolean resort famous for its historic Hahnenkamm downhill ski races, could be a perfect option. This charming medieval town is found in the Austrian province of Tyrol and has a long skiing history dating back to 1893. First skied down by Franz Resich, the Kitzbuheler Horn is one of the most popular mountains in the Alps with skiers today continuing to push their limits in the world's most dangerous downhill ski race of the Hahnenkamm World Cup. True fans can watch the race from the Austria luxury chalet, Hahnenkamm Lodge.

Other impressive resorts in the Tyrolean region for luxury holidays in Austria include Alpbachtal, arguably the “Most Beautiful Village in Austria” and Zillertal is a diverse valley close to Innsbruck with 515 km of groomed pistes to discover.


Skiing in Austria

The Arlberg ski region in Austria is one of the five largest interconnected ski regions worldwide, offering 305 km of interconnected downhill skiing and 200 km of deep-snow runs. Stretching from cosmopolitan St. Anton and traditional St. Christoph in the south, the area also covers Stuben, Zurs and Lech, as well as Oberlech in the north and on to Warth in the northeast.

Best Luxury Austrian Ski Resorts for Beginners - Lech

When skiing in Lech, you can expect well-groomed pistes, fast lifts and great snow. Beginners have a large choice of both blue runs and nursery slopes on which to practise their technique, while intermediates and experts can enjoy the famous White Ring as well as extensive off-piste terrain and heli-skiing.

Divided into three sectors, the ski area of Lech has an extensive array of terrain waiting to be explored. On the mountain above Oberlech, a majority of blue runs act as a good beginner’s base, whilst the second sector on the other side of Lech has some beautiful off-piste descents and intermediate runs. Connected by the Auenfeldjet gondola, Warth-Schröcken has a combination of challenging black runs, with more intermediate and easy runs.

Best Luxury Austrian Ski Resorts for Intermediates - Kitzbuhel


With 40% of ski terrain in Kitzbuhel most suitable for intermediates, red runs can be found at every corner of the mountain, while experts and intermediates looking for a challenge can take on the famous World Cup downhill course of the Streif. Those who are looking to explore as much of the area as possible will also enjoy the KitzSki Line covering 47 km of runs.

Should you wish to try some alternative winter activities, Kitzbuhel has plenty to offer including tobogganing and cross-country skiing, as well as snowshoeing and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Best Luxury Austrian Ski Resorts for Off Piste - St Anton

St Anton really comes into its own for advanced skiers with several black runs; the steepest being Run 34 Fang at the bottom of the Gampen. If you want to test your knees then mogul enthusiasts can tackle the Mattun and Schindler Kar mogul fields. However, for experts, St Anton is all about off-piste skiing. Some of the best-known routes are in the Valluga/Schindler Spitz sector but there are off-piste opportunities all over the mountain, best explored with a guide.

For a fun long-distance challenge, the Run of Fame is a spectacular 85-kilometre-long ski circuit from St Anton/Rendl via Zürs and Lech to Warth and back again. The circuit takes around a day and can be entered at almost any point in the ski area.

Luxury Catered Ski Chalets Austria

The convenience of a luxury catered chalet in Austria is hard to beat when it comes to choosing accommodation for a luxury Austrian ski holiday. Wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and set yourself up for a day on the slopes with a cooked or continental breakfast prepared for you by your very own private chef. Both Lech and St Anton are fantastic options for a luxury Austrian catered ski chalet with many chalets boasting classic cuisine with authentic Austrian charm.



Best Catered Ski Chalets Austria

Best Luxury Ski Resorts in Austria for Foodies


If you are looking for more freedom on your luxury ski holiday in Austria than a luxury self-catered Austrian chalet could be a perfect choice for you. Staying in a self catered chalet allows you to explore the local restaurants and eateries Austria has to offer and sample classic Austrian cuisine.


Our Top Recommendation in Lech: The Stube at The Arlberg Hotel

Perfect for a cosy Alpine evening, The Stube serves typical Austrian cuisine including fondue and schnitzel in traditional surroundings. Due to a small number of tables, reservations are strongly recommended. For a finer dining experience, The Arlberg Hotel has a second restaurant serving classic European dishes in elegant surroundings.


Our Top Recommendation in St Anton: The Museum

The historic Trier villa, dating back to 1912, serves as a museum by day and a charming, candlelit restaurant by night, spread across four central rooms. Serving a fusion of seasonal Austrian-international cuisine and signature dishes such as grilled Tyrolean beef tournedos in Béarnaise sauce, the Museum also offers a sophisticated wine list and is ideal for celebratory occasions