Ischgl

Resort description:Ischgl Ski Resort is situated high in the Paznaun valley in the heart of the stunning Silvretta mountians. An efficient high altitude lift system and stunning scenery helps make Ischgl a paradise for skiers and those who enjoy a lively apres ski.Ischgl though quite big now,is easily walkable from one end to the other, thanks to lifts and short-cut tunnels.In common with many Austrian resorts, Ischgl offers more authentic buildings, typical of an Austrian ski resort, which creates a quite pretty and atmospheric resort.The area offers much of its skiing abover 6000ft ensuring some of the best and reliable snow in Europe and is far above and out of sight from the road, the lifts and the town.Normally on the same ski pass and not far up the valley, is the more sedate resort of Galtür, a picturesque village of only 20 restaurants, which is spread out around a lovely church.Not connected to Ischgl on the slopes but by the fairly frequent bus, it’s much smaller and quieter with a much smaller ski area.Great for families.

Ischgl has more than 40 lifts, the majority of them high speed and some heated gondolas, for those cold winter days.The skiing really is excellent in a huge area offering more than 230km, most of it high.The highest point, the Palinkopf, is 2,865m,so the snow is pretty much guaranteed beyond the end of April. The pistes are being continually widened with big sweeping runs, which all levels of skiers can enjoy. The long run from the Palinkopf back to the village is nearly a mile of vertical.

The Swiss/Austrian border crosses the slopes and you can drop over onto the Swiss side for more magnificent runs,some of the best and most varied in the Alps, to the Swiss duty-free pocket of Samnaun.A large cable car returns you back to Austria.This add on over 100km to the immediate ski area.

The runs back in to Ischgl get slightly steeper towards the base and get very crowded at the end of the day.A good option would be to take one of the three high-speed gondolas back from the mid-station. Or you could drop in to the Alpenhaus at Idalp for a well earned drink and then make the journey back in peace and tranquility, as the sun begins to set.A perfect end to a perfect day.

There is a lot of good off-piste skiing and it doesn't get tracked out as quickly as many French resorts, so you can practice your more leisurely off-piste turns with a little more confidence.You willhave plenty of opportunities, too. Even on a day with early morning fresh snow, there won't be that many people out and about. 

Ischgl offers some of the best skiing in Austria.Cracking food, excellent accommodations and charming Alpine village atmosphere, coupled with some of the liveliest après-ski and nightlife in Austria.Having fun appears to be compulsory and is less for those wanting a quieter,more sedate resort, but more for thigh slapping and tea dancing. For those wanting awesome skiing with a wild apres ski, then Ischgl is hard to beat anywhere in the world.Many manage to keep their ski boots on all night after going straight from skiing, to apres ski..to bed.

Resort Information

Season 	            Dec - Mid April
Nearest Airport     Innsbruck or Salzburg
Ski Area 	    230km or 350km whole area
Ski Lifts 	    42
Ski Runs 	    126
Longest Run 	    9km
Resort Height 	    1400m

Snowball Ratings

Beginners 	    4 / 5
Intermediates 	    4.5 / 5
Experts 	    4 / 5
Families 	    3.5 / 5
Nightlife 	    5 / 5
Affordability 	    3.5 / 5
Non Ski Activities  4 / 5