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The Best Spots for Skiing
Innsbruck: Tyrol's capital, the medieval city of Innsbruck, is set against a scenic backdrop of high mountain peaks, with good skiing in virtually all directions. Two Olympic Winter Games have been staged in the Innsbruck area. It's somewhat inconvenient to get to the slopes, but it's worth the effort. There are five ski resorts around Innsbruck. Hungerburg is the local favorite because a funicular from the city heads directly to the base station at Hoch Innsbruck at 300m (984 ft.). Nearby Igls also enjoys great favor with its extensive slopes under the Patscherkofel peak. Although it's the farthest from Innsbruck, Axamer Lizum offers the most extensive all-around skiing. Good snow conditions are generally the rule.
St. Anton am Arlberg: This picture-postcard Tyrolean village sits at 1,304m (4,278 ft.), although its upper slopes climb to more than 2,801m (9,190 ft.). Massive snowfalls attract intermediate and expert skiers from all over. St. Anton lies at the eastern base of the Arlberg Pass. St. Christoph, 10km (6 miles) west, lies almost on the Arlberg Pass and is another chic winter enclave. Four major ski areas at St. Anton -- Galzig, Valluga, St. Christoph, and Gampen/Kapall -- are interlinked to form one big ski circuit.
Seefeld (Tyrol): Seefeld is one of the major international ski resorts of Europe, and hosted the Nordic events for the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Winter Games and the 1985 Nordic Ski World Championships. On a sunny plateau at 1,052m (3,451 ft.), it has prime skiing conditions and a network of surface lifts, chairlifts, and cable cars that appeal to skiers of all levels. In addition, there are 200km (124 miles) of prepared cross-country tracks. Seefeld is also known for its other winter sports, including curling and outdoor skating.
Kitzbuhel: This home of the world's original lift circuit is a medieval walled city and regal resort that in the 1960s blossomed into a premier international spot. Visitors flock here in winter to ski forested trails and broad alpine ridges. The Hahnenkamm ski circus has more than 50 lifts at elevations of 800 to 2,000m (2,625-6,566 ft.). The main season runs from Christmas to mid-March.
Lech & Zurs: In Vorarlberg, these neighboring resorts feature the best skiing in Austria. They are also among Europe's most exclusive ski resorts, drawing a chic crowd. Both resorts cater to novice and intermediate skiers with broad boulevards winding between peaks and runs that fall straight back to the resorts. The resorts also offer high altitudes and good snow conditions, plus a high-tech lift system. Huge chunks of skiable terrain above both resorts provide a 20km-long (12-mile) circuit with generally superior ski conditions.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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