Best for families

Best Ski Resorts for Families in Austria

The best family ski resort in Austria is Serfaus Fiss Ladis, whose childrens facilities, magic carpet zones and on mountain entertainment are unmatched in the country. Saalbach Hinterglemm and Alpbach follow for scale and storybook charm, while Soll is the standout value pick and Obergurgl the most snow sure. Below we rank ten Austrian resorts on what actually decides a family week.

By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed August 2025

What matters

What actually makes a resort work for families

The best family resorts share five things: gentle, well groomed nursery and blue terrain, a ski school with reliable English lessons, ski in ski out or near ski in ski out lodging so small legs do not have to walk far, dependable snow, and enough off the snow to fill an afternoon. Get those right and the week works.

Convenience beats raw size every time with young children. A compact, snow sure base where the nursery slope is a two minute walk will always beat a vast linked area that needs a bus and three lifts before anyone is skiing. We weight ease of day to day logistics heavily.

Budget matters too, and family costs add up fast across passes, lessons, hire and childcare. We have included at least one strong value pick on every list so the ranking is not just the most expensive names.

The ranking

Our family picks for Austria

Ranked on the things that decide a family week: gentle terrain, ski school quality, ski in ski out convenience, snow reliability and what there is to do off the slopes.

Serfaus Fiss Ladis

Tyrol | best kids infrastructure

Austria's family champion, with childrens facilities on another level.

Serfaus Fiss Ladis is the most family engineered resort in Austria and the clear number one. Sprawling magic carpet zones, kids restaurants, mascots, adventure parks and even an underground village train mean small children are entertained from dawn to dusk, and the sunny plateau terrain is forgiving.

It beats Saalbach for the top spot because nothing in Austria matches its depth of dedicated childrens infrastructure. The only catch is a premium price for the region.

Saalbach Hinterglemm

large, lively and well rounded

A big, sunny circuit with great schools and a lively, sociable village.

Saalbach and its twin Hinterglemm offer a large, well connected ski area with gentle valley runs, strong ski schools and a genuinely fun village. It works well for families with a mix of ages and abilities.

It is livelier in the evenings than the gentlest family resorts, which suits families who want some buzz alongside the kids club.

Alpbach

the prettiest Tyrolean village

Often called Austria's prettiest village, calm and genuinely family friendly.

Alpbach is a storybook Tyrolean village of timber farmhouses, calm, welcoming and well suited to families who want charm over size. The Ski Juwel area gives gentle, uncrowded terrain.

It is smaller than the giants, which is exactly the point for parents who value an intimate, easy week.

Ellmau

SkiWelt | gentle and charming

A charming, gentle gateway to the huge SkiWelt circuit.

Ellmau is a pretty, friendly village on the edge of the vast SkiWelt, with gentle nursery slopes, good schools and easy blue cruising once children find their feet. It balances charm and scale nicely.

Low altitude means snow is not guaranteed at the margins of the season, so favour the heart of winter.

Obergurgl

snow sure and safe

The snow sure, safe and compact premium family option.

Obergurgl is one of the most snow sure resorts in Austria thanks to its high altitude, with a compact, safe village and gentle terrain close to the lodging. Parents who worry about snow and traffic relax here.

It is pricier and quieter than the big circuits, ranking as the reliable, premium choice rather than the budget one.

Zell am See

lakeside with lots to do

A scenic lakeside town with plenty to do off the snow.

Zell am See wraps skiing around a beautiful lake and a real working town, so there is always something to do off the slopes, from skating to swimming pools. The nearby Kaprun glacier adds snow security.

The town slopes are low, so pair it with the higher Kaprun area for reliable cover in warm spells.

Wagrain

Ski Amade | central and gentle

A central, gentle base in the giant Ski Amade with a family focus.

Wagrain sits in the middle of the huge Ski Amade network, with gentle local terrain, good schools and a family friendly village. It is a practical, well priced base for families who also want scale.

Like much of the Salzburger Land it sits relatively low, so mid winter is the safest bet for snow.

Soll

SkiWelt | the budget pick

The value contrarian, gentle SkiWelt cruising and classic Tyrolean value.

Soll is the budget play, part of the huge gentle SkiWelt with easy blue mileage, a friendly village and some of the lowest family costs in the Alps. It is proof this list is not just the priciest names.

The trade off is altitude, so favour mid winter, but for a first family trip on a sensible budget it is excellent.

Mayrhofen

Zillertal | great schools, lively

A lively Zillertal town with one of Austria's best ski schools.

Mayrhofen runs a famous, slick ski school and a dedicated childrens area, set in a busy, well connected Zillertal town with plenty of amenities. Older children and teenagers enjoy the energy and the snowpark.

It is livelier and busier than the gentlest picks, which suits families with a mix of ages.

Westendorf

SkiWelt | quieter family value

A quieter, charming SkiWelt village with strong family value.

Westendorf is a charming, lower key SkiWelt village with a good ski school, gentle nursery terrain and access to the vast linked area. It offers much of Soll's value with a slightly prettier, calmer feel.

As with all the SkiWelt bases, altitude is modest, so plan for the core of winter.

Compared at a glance

The family shortlist

Resort	Best for	Snow	The verdict
Serfaus Fiss Ladis	Kids infrastructure	Good	Austria best, premium family polish.
Saalbach Hinterglemm	Scale and buzz	Good	Big, lively and well rounded.
Alpbach	Village charm	Fair	The prettiest village, calm and gentle.
Ellmau	Charm and scale	Fair	Gentle gateway to the huge SkiWelt.
Obergurgl	Snow security	Excellent	Snow sure, safe and compact.
Zell am See	Off slope variety	Good	Lakeside town, glacier nearby.
Wagrain	Central scale	Fair	Gentle Ski Amade family base.
Soll	Budget	Fair	The value pick, gentle SkiWelt.
Mayrhofen	Ski school	Good	Great school, lively Zillertal town.
Westendorf	Quiet value	Fair	Charming, calmer SkiWelt value.

Save on the extras

Book the trip well

Whichever resort you choose, the lift passes, transfers, lessons and ski hire are where a family week quietly leaks money. Booking these ahead almost always beats the resort window price.

Book the extras and save

Lift passes, airport transfers and lessons are where a family trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats the resort window price.

Compare lift passes Book a transfer Find lessons Reserve ski hire Travel insurance

Keep planning

Related family guides

Compare with our family lists for the wider Alps, France, Switzerland and Italy, or read the full Austria guide. For practical help, see ski school explained for parents and the best age to take kids skiing.

Questions worth asking

Family skiing FAQs

What is the best ski resort for families in Austria?

Serfaus Fiss Ladis is our clear pick, with childrens facilities, magic carpet zones and entertainment unmatched anywhere in Austria. Saalbach Hinterglemm and Alpbach follow for scale and charm respectively, while Soll is the standout value choice.

Which Austrian resort is most snow sure for families?

Obergurgl is the most snow sure family resort thanks to its high altitude, holding reliable cover when lower resorts struggle. Pairing Zell am See with the Kaprun glacier also gives good snow security in warm spells.

What is the best value family resort in Austria?

Soll in the SkiWelt is our value pick, with gentle terrain and some of the lowest family costs in the Alps. Westendorf nearby offers similar value in a quieter, prettier village.

Are Austrian ski schools good for young children?

Yes, Austrian ski schools are among the best in the Alps for young children, with Mayrhofen and Serfaus Fiss Ladis particularly well regarded. English lessons are widely available, but book early for peak weeks as the best instructors fill up.

Is Austria better than France for family skiing?

Austria often wins on village charm, friendly service and ski school quality, while France tends to win on snow sure altitude and ski in ski out convenience. For pretty villages and a warm welcome choose Austria, for guaranteed snow and skiing to the door lean French. Compare our France family list to decide.

When is the best time for a family ski trip to Austria?

January and February give the most reliable snow, important given Austria's lower resort altitudes. The Christmas and February half term weeks are busiest and priciest, while March can offer sunny value at the higher resorts such as Obergurgl.

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