Voted as Austria's most beautiful village, this West Austrian ski resort is one of the larger in Tyrolean resorts. It was established in the 1930s and has been a popular ski destination with Brits ever since, particularly couples, families and anyone looking for a peaceful ski holiday. It's easy to understand why we can't get enough of this picturesque resort - the village is quiet and has maintained a lot of its traditional charm. It's pretty much car-free, with no main roads running through the centre. This resort's accommodation is mainly hotels, which offer a good range of facilities to suit every traveller's needs.
In terms of location, the region is within comfortable driving distance from four major airports making your transfer simple and giving you a convenient start to your holiday. The ski area offers endless powdery pistes making it a great place to start, or continue, your love affair with skiing! The main lift is only a 4-minute bus journey from the village.
While you'll feel like you've stepped back in time, all modern conveniences are easily found here. You don't need to worry about over-packing a suitcase for your holiday; there are two supermarkets in the village where you can purchase your necessities during your stay. There is a fantastic range of restaurants, including romantic fine dining establishments, local cuisine and great places for families.
The après ski here is fairly quiet compared to larger Austrian resorts, making it ideal for those seeking a peaceful holiday but there are some good bars for those looking to enjoy a drink or two. Off slope activities are abundant - there is an ice rink and sledging slopes, both of which are great activities for kids and a large indoor swimming complex with pools suited to children and adults, with large Jacuzzis to relax in!
Location: Tirol
Established: 1930
Open: December- April
Downhill: 45km (local) 109km (area)
View our detailed Alpbach snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Alpbach snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Innsbruck (INN) | 58 km, 1 hr |
Munich (MUC) | 168 km, 2 hrs |
Salzburg (SZG) | 143 km, 1 hr 45 |
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Top Altitude: | 2,030m |
Bottom Altitude: | 1,000m |
Resort Altitude: | 1,000m |
Longest run: | 4km |
Slope Orientation: | NW, N |
Vertical Drop: | 1,209m |
Skiable Vertical: | 1,209m |
Night Skiing: | Yes |
Glacier: | No |
Downhill Runs: | 45km (local) 109km (area) |
Beginner slopes: | 22% |
Intermediate: | 54% |
Advanced slopes: | 24% |
Lift Pass Price: | 6-day adult €254.50 |
Nearby resorts: Niederau, Oberau |
The local ski area is part of the famous Ski Juwel which connects to other resorts including Auffach, Kramsach, Niederau, Oberau, Reith im Alpbachtal and Thierbach.
The area is best suited to beginners, with excellent facilities for learning to ski, including 3 nursery slopes for those who want to find their feet before getting out on the pistes. The longest piste is a 4km family run in Inneralpbach which is a great run to do as a family at the end of the week. Alpbach is a fantastic place to learn to ski and will ignite a passion for the sport that will make you want to return every year.
The ski area also caters well for intermediates with a decent amount of red pistes to explore and enjoy. Whilst there is no significant choice for expert skiers, there are two black runs that offer some challenging routes. Expert skiers should attempt the area’s most challenging route, which is at the top of Gmahkopf. The slope goes down from the top of the gondola down to Inneralpbach and is an excellent route for the more adventurous skier. There is also 17km of marked off-piste for advanced skiers to explore. They are usually quiet and crowd-free so that you can enjoy some peaceful powder skiing.
You can enjoy night-time skiing here between Christmas and March. Night skiing is a truly breath-taking experience and will give you lasting memories of a fantastic holiday.
With reasonably wide and quiet slopes, Alpbach is a great destination for snowboarders, particularly beginners. If you’re looking to have a go at some freestyle, the recently opened Fun Park is excellently suited to snowboarders and skiers alike, with a good selection of kickers, rollers and rails. For those of a higher standard, there’s also a 40-metre half-pipe and some incredible natural terrain for freeriding.
As the resort caters mainly for families and couples the après ski is fairly casual compared to other Austrian resorts. Despite this, you can still find somewhere where the atmosphere can be quite lively with a selection of bars, including two après ski inns to choose from. One of the most popular venues is Joe Salettl’s, an attractive sun terrace with amazing views to gaze at with a drink in hand. Jakober bar is the main attraction for many visitors and locals, with great drinks and live music.
There are plenty of restaurants around the resort, and most of the hotels offer fine dining. Flo’s restaurant and bar has a great children’s menu if you’re looking for a family meal out. A perfect place for couples and groups is Liftstüberl which offers excellent food if you plan a romantic night out or celebrate a special occasion. It also has a lively après ski bar where you can enjoy an Austrian beer and dance to the latest hits if you feel like partying after your meal.
You’ll find lots to do off the slopes if you fancy a break from skiing or if there is a non-skier in your party. For an active day, why not try sledging or ice skating? There are also some great winter hiking routes if you want to see the sights on foot. For a different way to spend some time, visit the indoor swimming complex with pools for adults and children and jacuzzis for those aching muscles after a day on the slopes.
The ski season runs between December and April. Despite the village not being at a particularly high altitude, it enjoys a good snow record, offering powdery fresh snow that is well-preserved on the north-facing slopes. The area isn’t easily defeated in times of low snowfall either - thanks to the slopes covering grassland, you can ski comfortably on a fairly thin layer of snow and there are 67 ski cannons to provide extra snow coverage if needed. For the best times to visit when the town is really buzzing, read about our peak dates below.
During Christmas in Alpbach, the village is beautifully decorated and the kids will be entertained by traditional Christmas carols and Christmas Eve gift exchange. A number of restaurants offer delicious festive menus so you can experience the taste of an Austrian Christmas. Alpbach Christmas ski holidays ‣
This is the perfect place to be for a quiet New Year with your family or your partner. You will experience the delights of an authentic Austrian New Year in Alpbach and can party with the locals in an outdoor village party. There are fireworks and live music to enjoy and it really is a great way to see in the New Year! Alpbach New Year ski holidays ‣
During half term in Alpbach, the resort is a haven for families, and with great on-slope and off-slope activities for kids, there is something for everyone. Half term is a great time for children to learn to ski, so book in with a ski school before your trip. There are also plenty of things to keep the adults entertained, with the resort offering great ski conditions and excellent food and drink. Alpbach Half Term ski holidays ‣
A ski trip to Alpbach in Easter is a great family break, with lots of things for the kids to do, including a great Junior Ski Club. The snow cannons ensure that the slopes are still in a good condition late in the season so the skiing is still great! Alpbach Easter ski holidays ‣
Alpbach is a family-oriented resort and an excellent place for a family holiday! There are good ski schools and equipment hire for the kids, with plenty of beginner areas and practise centres with magic carpets. These are a great place for children to get a feel for the sport and find their feet in a friendly and safe environment. For older children and teenagers there is a recently opened Fun Park which is a good place to snowboard and freestyle ski.
There are a number of non-skiing activities you can enjoy as a family, such as sledging or ice skating and the resort regularly hosts a popular children’s party for kids of all ages. You can also visit the resorts large indoor swimming pool complex for some family fun. A lot of the hotels offer childcare and crèche facilities, check when you’re enquiring with us to find out more.
There are a number of family-friendly hotels that are great if you are travelling with kids as well as apartments if you prefer to stick to your own cooking and routines. Another great aspect of this resort for families is that there are plenty of other kids around for your children to play with. As it is the most popular Austrian British resort then your children will make friends easily and have some great buddies to go to ski school with!
We have some brilliant hotels and apartments that will keep parents and children happy in Alpbach. If you are thinking of booking a family holiday over the holidays or during peak date such as Christmas then it is important that you book your accommodation as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
The après ski in the area is fairly quiet compared to other Austrian resorts, making this a good place for a laid back, relaxing group holiday where you can spend quality time with your friends and family. There are no night clubs in the resort but there are a number of après ski bars that can get lively in the evening for those seeking a bit of nightlife.
The region suits mixed ability groups well – it has a good area for beginners and intermediate skiers and black runs and off-piste options for the more advanced skier. Alpbach also has a good connection to surrounding ski regions if more adventurous skiers want to travel further afield in search of more challenging slopes. A good group experience is night time skiing which you can do Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings from Christmas until March. Although the resort is centred on skiing there are a number of other activities that non-skiers can partake in if some of your party prefer to stay off the skis. Non-skiers can still enjoy an active holiday hiking, ice skating or sledging while the rest of the party are on the slopes. There is also a great indoor swimming complex to enjoy and many of the hotels come with spa facilities for a relaxing day being pampered.
We have some brilliant hotels and apartments for group holidays in Alpbach. Book a hotel for the option of booking extra people in later on in the process. You can sometimes request adjacent or adjoining rooms so you and your group can be close by at all time. For a cheaper group holiday, get an apartment: everyone can take turns with cooking and washing up and you can bring your own drinks to enjoy in your accommodation without having to trek back in the evening. Give us a call to find the best places for groups in Alpbach and learn about our fantastic group holiday deals.
Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
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Hotel Alpbacherhof | 7 | £ 1299 |
Hotel Böglerhof | 7 | £ 1629 |
Alphof Hotel | 7 | £ 739 |
Haus Edelweiss Apartments | 7 | £ 619 |
Haus Edelweiss | 7 | £ 639 |
Hotel Alphof | 7 | £ 758 |
Haus Andreas | 7 | £ 657 |
Pension Fürstenhof | 7 | £ 549 |