Would you like to finally learn how to ski or get back on the slopes after years of not skiing? Then you don't need just any slope, you need the right ski resort for beginners! In Austria, you will find numerous resorts with lots of blue slopes, gentle slopes and first-class ski schools that are perfectly tailored to beginners of all ages.
In this guide, we present the 10 best ski resorts for beginners in Austria. You will find out which resorts are particularly beginner-friendly and where you can find the best practice areas:
- What makes a good ski resort for beginners?
- An overview of the top 10 ski resorts for beginners
- Almenwelt Lofer
- Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
- Obertauern
- Stubai Glacier
- Obergurgl-Hochgurgl
- Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
- Wildkogel Arena
- Silvretta Montafon
- SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental
- Kreischberg
- Tips for your day of skiing
- Frequently asked questions
What makes a good ski resort for beginners?
Not every ski resort is equally suitable for beginners. A really good ski resort for beginners should make you feel safe right from the start and not overwhelm you. The right conditions determine whether you give up in frustration after the first day or continue practising with motivation. Therefore, pay attention to these criteria:
- High proportion of blue slopes: at least 40-50%
- Wide, clear runs without sudden steep sections
- Practice areas with conveyor belts or gentle drag lifts
- Professional ski schools with beginner courses
- Manageable size of the ski resort – not too sprawling
- Modern lift facilities: gondolas and chairlifts instead of just T-bar lifts
- Child-friendly atmosphere with mascots and play areas
- Slopes down to the valley – no complicated approaches necessary
Expert tip: Book your ski equipment online at SPORT 2000 rent – you'll benefit from up to 20% discount and save valuable time on site. Our professionals will adjust your ski bindings and boots to your needs and select poles according to your height!
An overview of the top 10 ski resorts for beginners
From varied ski resorts with 140 km of easy slopes to smaller family destinations – Austria's mountains offer the right slope for every beginner. We have compiled a list of the top 10 resorts from all federal states and sorted them according to the percentage of blue slopes. This allows you to see at a glance which resort best suits your ability and preferences.
| Rank | Ski resort | State | Blue slopes | Percentage |
| 1 | Almenwelt Lofer | Salzburg | 32 km | 70% |
| 2 | Tiroler Zugspitz Arena | Tyrol | 80 km | 70% |
| 3 | Obertauern | Salzburg | 61 km | 61% |
| 4 | Stubai Glacier | Tyrol | 39 km | 60% |
| 5 | Obergurgl-Hochgurgl | Tyrol | 60 km | 54% |
| 6 | Skicircus Saalbach | Salzburg | 140 km | 52% |
| 7 | Wildkogel Arena | Salzburg | 35 km | 47% |
| 8 | Silvretta Montafon | Vorarlberg | 60 km | 43% |
| 9 | SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser | Tyrol | 115 km | 42% |
| 10 | Kreischberg | Styria | 17.5 km | 41% |
1. Almenwelt Lofer
This small but beautiful ski resort is perfect for anyone who still feels unsure and wants to take their first turns in a relaxed atmosphere. In the Almenwelt Lofer in the Saalachtal valley in Salzburg, 32 km of the total 46 km of slopes are suitable for beginners – that's the highest proportion of blue slopes of any Austrian ski resort. Here, you can glide carefree over wide, gentle slopes without having to worry about suddenly ending up on a red or black run. There is also a covered practice area at the Loferer Alm Bahn II mountain station. This makes practising fun even in bad weather.
Highlights for beginners in the Almenwelt Lofer
- 32 km of blue slopes
- Two children's areas
- Several conveyor belts
- 10 gondola and chair lifts
- Family-friendly ski schools
2. Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena
The Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena combines seven smaller ski areas such as Ehrwald, Lermoos and Biberwier and offers a total of 80 kilometres of blue slopes across 143 kilometres of downhill runs. Each sub-area has its own character, so you can explore a new area every day. The Ehrwalder Alm with its flat, sunny slopes and the Biberwier ski area with its less demanding slopes below the Marienbergjoch are particularly recommended for beginners. The Blueline XXL on the Grubigstein is almost 10 km long, making it the longest blue run in Austria
Highlights for beginners in the Tyrolean Zugspitz Arena
- 80 km of blue slopes spread across 7 sub-areas
- Numerous practice slopes and beginner areas
- A total of 55 modern lifts
- Several ski schools
- Zugspitz panorama
- Several kids' parks, fun slopes and much more
3. Obertauern
With 61 kilometres of blue slopeson a high plateau between 1,630 and 2,313 metres, Obertauern is a dream for every beginner. What makes it special is that the lifts are arranged in a circle around the village, allowing you to explore the entire ski area as a beginner on the Tauernrunde circuit. However, be sure to take the blue route. Around the Obertauern pass, you will also find several spacious practice slopes with conveyor belts, which are perfect for your first turns. The altitude guarantees you first-class snow conditions
Highlights for beginners in Obertauern
- 61 km of blue runs
- Easy practice slopes
- Conveyor belts
- 26 lifts
- Several ski schools offering beginner courses
4. Stubai Glacier
The Stubai Glacier is Austria's largest glacier ski area – and surprisingly beginner-friendly! 39 km of the 65 km of slopesare blue, including particularly beautiful, wide runs around the Gamsgarten mountain station. Right next to the mountain station, there is a spacious practice area with conveyor belts and gentle slopes. The highlight: you can learn to ski with a breathtaking glacier panorama and guaranteed snow from October to June! The nearby Schlick 2000 ski area in the Stubai Valley also offers excellent conditions for beginners who want to learn to ski
Highlights for beginners on the Stubai Glacier
- 39 km of blue slopes
- Large practice area at the Gamsgarten mountain station
- Modern gondolas & comfortable chairlifts
- Guaranteed snow from October to June
- Glacier panorama
- Professional ski schools
5. Obergurgl-Hochgurgl
At the end of the Ötztal valley lies the majestic Obergurgl-Hochgurgl ski resort – a ski resort with many blue runs between 1,800 and 3,080 metres above sea level. Most of the 60 km of beginner-friendly slopes are located in Hochgurgl. Here you can practise on perfectly groomed slopes when there is no snow elsewhere. The high altitude guarantees snow from November to May
Highlights for beginners in Obergurgl-Hochgurgl
- 60 km of blue runs
- Spacious beginner areas in Hochgurgl
- Flat practice slopes
- Modern gondola lifts
- Snow guarantee from November to May
- Ski schools with small group courses
6. Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
With an incredible 140 kilometres of blue slopes, Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is an absolute paradise for beginners. The ski resort not only offers you endless practice opportunities, but also a relaxed atmosphere where you can make your first turns without any stress. Particularly beginner-friendly: all four valley villages – Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn – have their own practice areas designed especially for beginners. Here you will find specially marked beginner zones with conveyor belts and flat slopes.
Highlights for beginners in the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
- 140 km of blue slopes
- Beginner areas and practice slopes
- Free practice lifts & modern gondola lifts
- Wide runs and marked beginner zones
- Ski schools for children and adults
7. Wildkogel Arena
The Wildkogel Arena is considered THE family and beginner ski area in the Salzburg region. 35 km of the 75 km of slopesare marked blue and are perfect for first turns. The ski resort is easy to navigate and offers wide, gentle slopes – ideal if you are still unsure on your skis. In addition, special practice areas with a conveyor belt, platter lift and children's area take away beginners' fear of their first few metres. And as an alternative, Austria's longest illuminated toboggan run awaits – a great highlight for mixed groups!
Highlights for beginners in the Wildkogel Arena
- 35 km of blue slopes
- Large practice areas with conveyor belt, children's area and platter lift
- Modern, family-friendly lifts
- Manageable ski area
- Wide, gentle slopes
- Longest illuminated toboggan run in Austria
- Ski schools for personalised instruction
8. Silvretta Montafon
Silvretta Montafon in Vorarlberg is not only scenically impressive, but also a top ski resort for beginners. 60 km of blue slopes invite you to learn at a relaxed pace. The ski resort offers numerous practice slopes and several conveyor belts that are specially designed for beginners and those returning to the sport. Particularly nice: in the Kinderland Golm, little ones can playfully explore the Golmi Forest on 13 kilometres of blue slopes and celebrate their first successes. And for more experienced skiers, there are another 140 kilometres of slopes – enough space to further develop your skills!
Highlights for beginners in Silvretta Montafon
- 60 km of blue slopes
- Several conveyor belts, practice slopes & children's area
- Golmi's research trail for children
- Modern lifts
- Experienced Vorarlberg ski schools
9. SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental
The SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental is one of the most popular ski resorts with many blue slopes in Tyrol. You can improve your skiing technique at your own pace on 115 km of easy slopes. The ski resort is spread across nine locations, each with its own practice slopes and beginner areas. The wide, gentle slopes around Söll, Ellmau, Westendorf and Itter are particularly recommended for beginner skiers. Thanks to the modern infrastructure with 90 lifts, you can get anywhere comfortably – and enjoy fantastic views of numerous three-thousand-metre peaks.
Highlights for beginners in the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental
- 115 km of blue slopes
- Numerous practice areas
- 80 modern lifts for short waiting times
- Wide, enjoyable runs
- Austria's largest night skiing area
- Ski schools with beginner courses and childcare
10. Kreischberg
Kreischberg in Styria is a real insider tip among ski resorts for beginners. 17.5 km of the 42.5 km of slopes are marked blue and offer you numerous opportunities to practise. At the mountain station of the 10-person gondola lift, there is a spacious practice area with several conveyor belts and very wide slopes. In addition, the snow conditions between 1,500 and 2,118 metres are excellent. The ski area is less crowded than the big names in Tyrol or Salzburg – perfect if you want to make your first turns in a relaxed atmosphere.
Highlights for beginners at Kreischberg
- 17.5 km of blue runs
- Large practice area at the mountain station
- Several conveyor belts
- 13 modern lifts
- Guaranteed snow & less crowded
- Ski schools for optimal instruction
Tips for your day of skiing in a beginner's ski area
To ensure that your first day on the slopes is a complete success, we have summarised the most important tips for you. With the right preparation, good equipment and a little patience, nothing stands in the way of your skiing adventure:
- Book your ski equipment online in advance – Reserve in advance at SPORT 2000 rent and save up to 20%. Our professionals will adjust your skis, boots and poles to fit you perfectly, and you can pick everything up the day before – saving you time and stress.
- Invest in a ski course – Just 2-3 days with an experienced ski instructor will help you progress much faster. You will learn the correct skiing technique right from the start.
- Stay on easy slopes – Start on wide, blue slopes and stay away from red or black runs. A ski resort with lots of blue runs offers enough variety without being too challenging.
- Make extensive use of practice lifts and conveyor belts – Some ski resorts have free practice facilities in the valley. These are ideal for practising before you take the gondola higher up, as you can practise here in peace and without stress.
- Take regular breaks – Tired legs lead to more falls. Take a break after 1-2 hours at the latest, drink plenty of fluids and warm up properly before you start.
Austria is a paradise for beginners on skiing holidays. The 10 best ski resorts offer perfect conditions for your first turns: wide slopes, modern practice areas with conveyor belts, professional ski schools and the right atmosphere for relaxed learning. With the right preparation and professional equipment, nothing stands in the way of your skiing adventure!
Ready for your skiing adventure? Find your SPORT 2000 rent location in your chosen ski resort now and secure your equipment online – with up to 20% discount and professional advice on site.
Frequently asked questions about ski resorts for beginners
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The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn has the most beginner runs with 140 km of blue runs. In second place is the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental with 115 km, followed by the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena with 80 km.
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January to March is ideal: good snow conditions and less crowded slopes than at Christmas or during the semester breaks. Avoid school holidays and weekends – then you'll have more space to practise. In spring (March/April), conditions are often the most pleasant: warmer temperatures and softer snow.
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Theoretically, yes, but we strongly recommend taking a ski course. A professional ski instructor will help you learn the right technique from the start, saving you the hassle of having to relearn later on. Even 2-3 days make a huge difference! Many ski schools also offer cheaper taster courses.
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For beginners, hiring is often the best option! At SPORT 2000 rent, you can get modern, well-maintained equipment that is perfectly tailored to your needs. This allows you to test different skis before investing in your own. It is only worth buying your own equipment after 8-10 days of skiing. What's more, you don't have to transport anything!