Wildschönau (Niederau, Auffach and Oberau)
The Wildschönau has the largest group of our Tyrol homes, spread through Niederau, Oberau and Auffach. Niederau has long been a beginner favourite with British skiers, and from Auffach the Schatzberg lifts connect to Alpbach in the shared Ski Juwel area. In summer the valley is farmland, meadows and easy walking. Innsbruck airport is around an hour away, and Salzburg about an hour and a half.
Best for: Beginners, families and anyone who wants a quiet valley with good-value skiing
Not for you if: You want high, snow-sure slopes: the Wildschönau is mid-altitude and snow can be thin in March.
Seefeld, Leutasch and Reith (Seefeld plateau)
The Seefeld plateau sits above the Inn valley with hundreds of kilometres of cross-country tracks and hosted the Nordic World Ski Championships in 2019. Downhill skiers get the Rosshütte and Gschwandtkopf. Leutasch is a long, quiet valley next door, and Reith is just below Seefeld. Trains run down to Innsbruck, and the airport is about half an hour by car.
Best for: Cross-country skiing, winter walking and summer hiking close to Innsbruck
Not for you if: You want a large downhill ski area: Seefeld's own slopes are modest.
Kitzbühel, St Johann, Oberndorf and Kirchberg
Kitzbühel's walled old town and the Hahnenkamm downhill course are well known, and the KitzSki area is large, linking to Kirchberg next door. St Johann has its own family-friendly ski area and a working market town, with Oberndorf a few minutes away. Being low, these resorts rely on snowmaking early and late in the season. Salzburg and Innsbruck airports are each around an hour and a quarter away.
Best for: Keen skiers who want a famous ski area and a proper town
Not for you if: You're budget-led: Kitzbühel is one of the most expensive resorts in Austria.
Brixen im Thale, Hopfgarten, Westendorf and Ellmau (SkiWelt)
These villages sit on the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, one of Austria's largest linked ski areas, with long, cruisy runs and plenty of mountain restaurants. Brixen im Thale and Hopfgarten have lifts from the village and are on the railway, Westendorf is a smaller resort with its own hill, and Ellmau is under the rock walls of the Wilder Kaiser. Innsbruck and Salzburg are about an hour to an hour and a quarter away.
Best for: Intermediates who want lots of linked pistes at sensible prices
Not for you if: You want guaranteed snow at Easter: the SkiWelt is low and can be patchy late in the season.
Ehrwald and Lermoos (Zugspitz Arena)
Ehrwald and Lermoos sit under the west face of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, and the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn cable car runs from Ehrwald to the summit. The local ski areas are the Ehrwalder Alm and the Grubigstein, and in summer the area is known for walks to mountain lakes. Innsbruck airport is around an hour away, and Munich is about an hour and a half.
Best for: Mountain views, high walking and a cable car to the Zugspitze
Not for you if: You want one big linked ski area: the Zugspitz Arena is several separate hills.
Imst, Telfs, Axams and Innsbruck
Telfs and Imst are market towns in the upper Inn valley. Imst has the Rosengartenschlucht gorge walk and an alpine coaster, and the Pitztal and Ötztal valleys are within reach for glacier skiing and summer hiking. Axams sits below the Axamer Lizum ski area, around 30 minutes from Innsbruck. Innsbruck has its old town, the Nordkette cable car from the centre and an airport about 15 minutes away.
Best for: A flexible base for both seasons with a city close by
Not for you if: You want a classic ski village: these are working towns, and you drive to the slopes.
Achenkirch and the Achensee
The Achensee is Tyrol's largest lake, with boats linking the shore villages and a steam cog railway climbing up from Jenbach in summer. Achenkirch, at the northern end, is a quiet spread-out village with walking into the Karwendel and the Rofan mountains. The water is cold even in August, so it suits sailing and paddling more than long swims. Innsbruck airport is around 45 minutes away.
Best for: Summer lake days, boats and easy walking
Not for you if: You want serious skiing: winter here is mainly cross-country and small family slopes.
