Tyrol
Tyrol is the heartland of Austrian skiing and the best all round ski region in the country. It combines storybook villages, the liveliest apres ski in the Alps and a string of glaciers that keep the snow falling from autumn into spring. Whatever your group wants, somewhere in Tyrol does it well.
The honest verdict: Tyrol is the most complete ski region in Austria, unmatched for apres ski, village charm and snow sure glacier skiing. St Anton leads for experts, Solden and Mayrhofen for big modern mountains, Kitzbuhel for atmosphere and Serfaus Fiss Ladis for families. With Innsbruck airport within an hour of almost everything, it is also one of the easiest regions to reach.
What Tyrol is
Tyrol is the Austrian state that wraps around Innsbruck, packed with more ski resorts than anywhere else in the country. The skiing ranges from the serious high alpine terrain of the Arlberg in the west to the postcard villages of the Kitzbuhel Alps and SkiWelt in the east, with the glacier giants of the Otztal and Zillertal in between.
Two things set Tyrol apart. First, the apres ski, which here is a discipline rather than a footnote, peaking at Ischgl, St Anton and Mayrhofen. Second, the glaciers, with Solden, Stubai and Tux Hintertux offering some of the most reliable early and late season snow in Europe.
The resorts we would actually pick, ranked
We rank Tyrol's resorts on terrain, snow reliability, village quality and apres. Each links to a full review.
| Rank | Resort | The verdict in a line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Anton | Austria's serious skier's mountain. Huge Arlberg terrain, deep off piste and roaring apres. |
| 2 | Solden | Big, high and modern, with two glaciers for snow sure skiing and a lively scene. |
| 3 | Kitzbuhel | The most beautiful medieval town in skiing, home of the Hahnenkamm. Charm over altitude. |
| 4 | Mayrhofen | Lively Zillertal hub with strong intermediate terrain and the steep Harakiri. |
| 5 | Ischgl | High, snow sure and the wildest apres ski in the Alps. Not for the quiet seeker. |
| 6 | Obergurgl | High, reliable and low key. A safe snow bet with a calm, upmarket village. |
| 7 | Serfaus Fiss Ladis | The best family region in Tyrol, with superb beginner areas and kids facilities. |
| 8 | Tux Hintertux | The only Austrian glacier open every day of the year. Snow when nowhere else has it. |
| 9 | Soll | Gateway to the vast, gentle SkiWelt. Great value cruising for families and groups. |
| 10 | Stubai Glacier | Tyrol's largest glacier, close to Innsbruck, with a long dependable season. |
Who the region suits
Book it if
You want a proper Austrian village, big nights out and the security of a glacier in reach. Experts head for St Anton and Ischgl, families for Serfaus Fiss Ladis and the SkiWelt, and anyone chasing early or late snow for Solden, Stubai or Hintertux. Value is generally better than Switzerland and the western French names.
Think twice if
You want the single largest lift linked ski area in the Alps, in which case France's Trois Vallees is bigger, or you want guaranteed peace in the evenings, in which case the busier Tyrolean party towns will not suit. Strong skiers wanting marquee scenery may also weigh Switzerland.
Pass, access and when to go
- Main airport Innsbruck, within about an hour of most resorts
- Other gateways Munich, Salzburg, Zurich
- Snow sure backup Solden, Stubai, Tux Hintertux glaciers
- Apres capitals Ischgl, St Anton, Mayrhofen
- Best months January and February, glaciers into spring
- Best for villages, apres and snow security
Most resorts sell their own area pass, and regional passes such as the Arlberg and Zillertal tickets link several mountains. Compare options through our lift pass partner, arrange an Innsbruck transfer with our transfer partner, book ski school through our lessons partner and pick up gear via our ski hire partner.
For the wider view, read our guide to skiing in Austria and the best ski resorts in Austria. If you want this trip priced by specialists, tell us your dates and budget below and we will route your brief to the right operators.
Plan My Ski Trip
If you want a Tyrol trip priced by specialists, from a snow sure glacier base to a charming village week, tell us your dates, your group and your budget and we will route your brief to operators who know the region.
Questions worth asking
St Anton is the best resort in Tyrol for strong skiers, with vast linked terrain across the Arlberg and legendary off piste. For all round appeal, Solden and Mayrhofen offer big modern lift systems and glacier backup, while Kitzbuhel wins on charm and apres ski. The right pick depends on your group.
Tyrol is the apres ski capital of the Alps. Ischgl, St Anton and Mayrhofen run some of the liveliest mountain party scenes anywhere, with slope side bars that fill from mid afternoon. If you want a quieter evening, choose a gentler village such as Alpbach or Serfaus.
The glacier resorts of Tyrol hold snow longest and open earliest. Solden, the Stubai Glacier and Tux Hintertux all ski into late spring and even summer in places, making them the safest bets for early season or a warm winter. Obergurgl is also high and snow sure without a glacier.
Serfaus Fiss Ladis and the SkiWelt villages such as Soll are the friendliest for beginners, with broad nursery areas and good ski schools. Solden and St Anton are better left to intermediates and above, as their terrain is steeper and the easy runs are fewer.
Innsbruck is the central airport and sits within an hour of most Tyrolean resorts, which is unusually convenient. Munich and Salzburg are larger gateways around an hour and a half to two and a half hours away, and Zurich serves the western Arlberg resorts.
For village charm, apres ski and value, Tyrol often beats France. France usually wins on the sheer size of its linked ski areas and high altitude snow security. If atmosphere and a real Austrian village matter most to you, Tyrol is the better choice; if you want the biggest possible lift linked domain, look at France.