Best for non skiers

Best Ski Resorts for Non Skiers in Austria

The best Austrian resort for non skiers is Kitzbuhel, a medieval walled town with smart shopping, grand cafes, spas and a lively evening scene that owes nothing to the slopes. Zell am See and the belle epoque spa town of Bad Gastein follow for lakeside scenery and thermal bathing, with Bad Hofgastein the standout value pick. Austria is arguably the easiest country in the Alps for a non skier, because so many resorts are real towns with great food, thermal baths and the warmest apres ski culture in Europe. Below we rank ten on what a non skier actually wants, including a genuine value option and a contrarian pick.

By the Ski Resorts for Kings editorial team · Last reviewed June 2026

What matters

What actually makes a resort work for non skiers

The best resorts for non skiers share five things: a walkable, characterful town you can enjoy on foot, scenic excursions by cable car or train so you can reach the views without skis, good restaurants and cafes for long lunches and dinners, thermal spas for downtime, and easy extras like sledding, shopping or a sleigh ride. Get those right and a non skier has a full, happy week while the rest of the group is on the snow.

Austria does this better than almost anywhere, because it is full of genuine towns rather than purpose built stations, and because thermal bathing and hearty mountain dining are woven into the culture. The apres ski is the warmest in the Alps too, so even a non skier can join the fun on a sun terrace at the end of the day without ever clicking into a binding.

Cost matters, so we have included a clear value pick and a contrarian choice, because the right resort depends on whether you want a polished town, a thermal spa break, or the most sociable evening scene in the country.

An Austrian ski resort street lit up in the evening

A sunny mountain restaurant terrace in winter

A pretty Austrian alpine village in winter

The ranking

Our non skier picks for Austria

Ranked on the things that decide a happy week off the snow: town beauty and walkability, scenic excursions, dining and cafes, thermal spa and wellness, and a welcoming evening scene.

Kitzbuhel

Tyrol | medieval town and glamour

The complete non skier town, with shopping, fine dining and the liveliest evenings in Austria.

Kitzbuhel tops the list because it barely needs the skiing to justify a trip. The medieval, painted walled town is full of designer boutiques, grand cafes, smart restaurants and a famously social bar scene, all wrapped in genuine history rather than resort gloss.

It edges out the spa towns on sheer variety of things to do and the strength of its evenings, which makes it the best pick for a non skier who wants to be entertained from morning coffee to a late dinner. It is not cheap, but nowhere in Austria gives a non skier more.

Zell am See

Salzburgerland | lakeside scenery

A beautiful lakeside town with scenic excursions and the Kaprun glacier nearby.

Zell am See is the scenic choice, a pretty town wrapped around a frozen lake with a walkable promenade, good restaurants and a relaxed pace. Non skiers can stroll the lakeshore, ride up to viewpoints, and take the excursion to the high Kitzsteinhorn glacier at neighboring Kaprun.

It is more relaxed than Kitzbuhel and works beautifully for a non skier who values setting and easy days over shopping and late nights. The lake and mountain combination is among the prettiest in the Alps.

Bad Gastein

Salzburgerland | belle epoque spa town

A dramatic belle epoque spa town built around a waterfall and thermal baths.

Bad Gastein is the most characterful base on this list, a grand, slightly bohemian belle epoque town tumbling down a gorge around a frozen waterfall. Non skiers come for the thermal baths fed by natural hot springs, the striking architecture, the cafes and a quietly fashionable revival scene.

It ranks third because the steep, layered town is less easy to wander than the others, but for atmosphere and thermal bathing nothing beats it. A superb pick for a non skier who loves a place with a story.

Lech

Arlberg | quiet luxury

A chic, low key village built for fine dining, spas and discreet glamour.

Lech is the upmarket choice, a pretty, understated Arlberg village of high end hotels, excellent restaurants and a famously well heeled clientele. Non skiers can enjoy long gourmet lunches, fine spas, winter walks and a refined, calm pace away from rowdy crowds.

It is one of the more expensive resorts in Austria, and the action is in the hotels and restaurants rather than on the streets, which suits a non skier seeking quiet luxury. For elegance over energy, Lech is the pick.

Mayrhofen

Zillertal | a real lively town

A proper Zillertal town with shops, spas, a railway and a famously fun evening scene.

Mayrhofen is the choice for a non skier who wants a real, busy town. It has good shopping, restaurants, a large wellness center, and the scenic Zillertal railway, plus one of the liveliest apres ski and nightlife scenes in the valley if you fancy joining in.

It is flatter and easier to get around than the steep towns, and the train makes car free days out simple. A great all rounder for active non skiers who like a bit of buzz in the evening.

Solden

Otztal | modern and high

A modern resort town with high glacier excursions and a James Bond mountain experience.

Solden is the modern, dramatic pick. Non skiers can ride high to the glaciers, visit the 007 Elements cinematic installation built into a mountaintop, dine at a striking peak restaurant, and use the resort's spa and wellness facilities back in town.

It is busier and more contemporary than the historic towns, with a strong apres ski and nightlife streak, so it suits a non skier who likes excursions and energy over old world charm. A fun, high altitude choice.

Bad Hofgastein

Gastein valley | the value pick

The value choice, a relaxed spa town with one of the best thermal baths in the Alps.

Bad Hofgastein is the value and wellness pick, and the reason this list is not only the priciest names. The relaxed town is home to the vast Alpentherme spa, with pools, saunas and treatments that can fill days, plus good restaurants and easy walks along the valley.

It is more affordable and lower key than Kitzbuhel or Lech, with the same thermal tradition as its famous neighbor Bad Gastein. Our pick for a non skier who wants a spa led week without the top tier price.

Schladming

Styria | a working town with events

A genuine Styrian town with a thermal spa nearby and a famous floodlit night race.

Schladming is the choice for a non skier who likes the buzz of a real working town. It has proper shops, restaurants and a lively center, the large nearby thermal spa, and the spectacle of the floodlit World Cup night slalom each January that fills the town with atmosphere.

It is less postcard pretty than the Tyrolean towns, but it offers everyday variety and good value. A solid all rounder, especially if your trip lines up with one of its events.

Saalbach

Salzburgerland | apres energy

A sunny, sociable village for non skiers who want to be near the apres ski action.

Saalbach is the choice for a non skier who actually wants the party, not to avoid it. The attractive, pedestrian friendly village has one of the most famous apres ski scenes in Austria, with sun terraces and bars that fill from mid afternoon, plus good dining and a spa or two.

It is less about quiet scenery and more about atmosphere, so it suits a sociable non skier traveling with a lively group. Come for the buzz, not for solitude.

Ischgl

Tyrol | the contrarian pick

The contrarian pick, loud and glitzy rather than pretty, for a non skier who loves nightlife.

Ischgl is the honest contrarian choice. It is not a charming old town and the daytime non skier options are thinner than elsewhere, but it has the most famous nightlife in the Alps, with big concerts, glossy bars and a party that runs long into the night.

It earns a place only for the non skier whose idea of a great trip is the evening scene, not a museum or a quiet walk. If that is you, nowhere in Austria delivers a bigger night. If it is not, choose Kitzbuhel or Zell am See instead.

Compared at a glance

The non skier shortlist

Resort	Best for	Scene	The verdict
Kitzbuhel	Overall non skier trip	Town and glamour	Shopping, dining and lively evenings.
Zell am See	Scenery and excursions	Lakeside	A pretty lake town with glacier days out.
Bad Gastein	Spa and atmosphere	Belle epoque	Thermal baths and dramatic architecture.
Lech	Quiet luxury	Discreet	Fine dining, spas and calm elegance.
Mayrhofen	A lively real town	Busy	Shops, spa, railway and good fun.
Solden	Excursions and energy	Modern	High glaciers and a 007 mountain.
Bad Hofgastein	Value spa break	Relaxed	A huge thermal spa for less money.
Schladming	Town variety and events	Working town	Shops, spa and the floodlit night race.
Saalbach	Apres energy	Sociable	Sun terraces and famous apres ski.
Ischgl	Big nightlife	Glitzy	The loudest nights, not the prettiest town.

Book the trip well

Plan the extras around the non skiers

Whichever resort you choose, the thermal spa entries, scenic lift tickets for sightseers, excursions, transfers and any lessons for the skiers are where an Austrian week quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats buying on the day, and reserving the popular cable cars and spas in peak weeks avoids disappointment.

Book the extras and save

Scenic lift tickets, spa entries, airport transfers, lessons for the skiers and travel cover are where an Austrian trip quietly leaks money. Booking ahead almost always beats buying on the day.

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

Keep planning

Related non skier guides

Compare across the range with our wider list of the best resorts for non skiers in the Alps and the country guide for Switzerland. To choose your base, see the full Austria destination guide, and read our reviews of the headline picks, Kitzbuhel and Zell am See.

Questions worth asking

Non skier FAQs

What is the best Austrian resort for non skiers?

Kitzbuhel is our overall pick, a medieval walled town with designer shopping, grand cafes, fine restaurants and the liveliest evening scene in Austria. Zell am See and Bad Gastein follow for lakeside scenery and thermal bathing. The right choice depends on whether you want a glamorous town or a spa break.

Which Austrian resort is best for non skiers on a budget?

Bad Hofgastein is our value pick, a relaxed spa town home to the large Alpentherme thermal baths, with good restaurants and easy walks for less money than Kitzbuhel or Lech. Schladming also offers a real town and a nearby spa at a sensible price.

What is there to do in Austria if you do not ski?

Plenty. Most top Austrian resorts are real towns with shopping, cafes and restaurants, plus thermal spas, scenic cable cars and railways to viewpoints, winter walking trails, sledding and the warmest apres ski culture in the Alps. Thermal bathing in particular is a highlight here.

Are Austrian resorts good for thermal spas?

Yes, exceptionally. The Gastein valley around Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein is built on natural hot springs, and towns like Schladming and Zell am See have large modern thermal spa centers. A spa led week is one of the best non skier options in Austria.

Which Austrian resort has the best apres ski for non skiers?

If you want to join the party rather than avoid it, Saalbach and Ischgl have the most famous apres ski and nightlife in the country, and you do not need to ski to enjoy the sun terraces and bars. Kitzbuhel and Mayrhofen offer a more rounded mix of lively evenings and town life.

Can non skiers reach the mountain views in Austria?

Yes. In resorts like Zell am See, Solden and Mayrhofen, non skiers can buy a pedestrian or sightseeing lift ticket and ride the cable cars to high viewpoints and mountain restaurants without skiing. The Kaprun glacier near Zell am See and the high peaks above Solden are especially worth the trip up.

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