Head to Ischgl for guaranteed snow
Enjoy perfect skiing conditions, mountain top concerts and excellent Tyrolean cuisine in this resort in the Austrian Tirol
You’re guaranteed high times in Ischgl – on snow-sure slopes that soar to 2872m and stay covered from November to May. Life moves at a cracking pace in the Austrian Tirol’s Paznaun Valley, where some of Europe’s speediest lifts take you round 239km of superb slopes in the Silvretta Arena.
There’s a piste for every skier and every level. Take a gentle glide down a blue slope or a hair-raising whoosh down an old Smuggler’s Run that crosses the Swiss border into Samnaun. Freeriders can hire a guide for an exhilarating tour of the Piz Val Gronda area, and skiers and snowboarders alike can tackle the jumps in the Jeep Snowpark. If these aren’t challenging enough, you’ll get a proper workout on Route Eleven, the red-black run that starts at the Greitspitz peak and finishes in Ischgl town centre – 11km later. It’s one of Austria’s longest runs, and you’ll get breathtaking views from the Greitspitz cable car.
Not fast enough for you? Then strap yourself into the Skyfly at the Silvretta cable car’s middle station. You’ll fly into the valley at a thrilling 85km per hour along this 2km zipline.
Starry nights
Ischgl glitters with four- and five-star hotels – the biggest concentration in a single Austrian resort. Enjoy the luxurious spa as well as top-notch cuisine in the five-star Trofana Royal. You’ll have the slopes right on your doorstep at the ski-in-ski-out Elizabeth, whose five-star services include fabulous winter views from the spa. Soak up the romantic atmosphere at the five-star Schloss hotel Ischgl, whose Schlosslounge is a sophisticated spot to sample Ischgl’s nightlife.
Hit the right note
Ischgl’s Top of the Mountain concerts are the stuff of legend. More than 20,000 people gather at the huge outdoor mountain stage to watch global stars kick off the season in November, carry on the party at Easter and then bring everything to a raucous close in May. Catch this year’s opening concert on 24 November, when Jason Derulo follows in the footsteps of previous stars including Robbie Williams and Elton John.
Mountain feasts
Ischgl’s culinary scene is as starry as its hotels, with an impressive number scoring highly in the Gault & Millau guide. Savour the exquisite dishes created by Martin Sieberer at Trofana Royal’s award-winning Paznaunerstube restaurant. Check out the excellent Tyrolean and Austrian cuisine in the Stiar, the latest hotspot to get the taste buds tingling. For classy après-ski, raise a glass of fizz at the Champagner Alpine Lodge.
With daily scheduled flights to Innsbruck from London Heathrow and London Gatwick, as well as services from Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool, it’s easy to discover the Austrian Tirol. For more details see ischgl.com/en and visittirol.co.uk