5 fun tips to do in winter in Zell am See
August 20, 2024
- Austria
Lois Weeterings
Content
When you talk about winter sports in the Stubai Valley, you are talking about wide slopes, impressive rock formations, amazing views and good food. The Stubai Valley is a beautiful winter sports destination in the Austrian Alps, with the Stubai Glacier as the literal highlight. The glacier is not only the largest ski area in Stubai, but it is also one of the largest glacier ski areas in Europe. But what else does Stubai's beautiful valley offer?
The Stubaital
The Stubaital, also known as Stubai, is a valley consisting of 5 villages: Neustift, Fulpmes, Telfes, Mieders and Schönberg. They are relatively small villages, but together they form a wonderful winter sports destination in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Some 15,000 people live in Stubai and there are also some 15,000 beds available in the valley. This means that the number of people in Stubai can double during the peak season, both in winter and summer. Although I was not in Stubai during the peak season, I can't imagine anything but that it is nice to come home here after spending a day in the mountains. The Stubaital is a cozy valley with typical Austrian hotels, nice stores and cozy restaurants.
Skiing in the Stubai Valley
One of the reasons to travel to the Stubaital is because of the various winter sports options. Skiing, snowboarding, freestyling and cross-country skiing are some examples of the winter activities you can do here. By the way, did you already know that the Stubaital has 4 ski resorts? The fact that they are all so different from each other makes it possible to enjoy yourself here for a week. You must have been in the Stubai Valley at least once. And with these tips you will get the best out of your winter vacation!
Good to know: With the Stubai Skipass you have access to all ski areas. A 6-day ski pass costs €298 (for an adult in 2024).
1. Discover the most beautiful ski areas in the Stubai Valley
What makes the Stubaital so interesting as a winter sports destination is that the valley offers access to no less than 4 ski resorts. These are: Stubai Glacier, Schlick 2000, Elferbahnen and the Serlesbahnen. I visited 3 of the 4 ski areas during my stay in Stubai, and all three of them you must have visited at least once. And then let me know if the Elferbahnen is also worth visiting?
The Stubai Glacier is by far my favorite ski area in the Stubai Valley. Why? This is because the glacier offers long runs for skiers and snowboarders, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Alps on clear days, and also because of the good snow conditions. By the way, you're at a high altitude here and you'll soon notice that. So plenty of drinking! The highest point here is the iconic mountain the Schaufelspitze with its 3,333m altitude.
The most impressive place for winter sports in the Stubai Valley is the Schlick 2000 ski area. With around 25 kilometers of slopes, you will have explored the area in no time, but you will never tire of the insane views of the rocks of the Kalkkögel here. This ski area is ideal for both beginners and advanced skiers and also offers many off-piste options for the adventurous.
Near the village of Mieders you will find the smallest ski area in the Stubai Valley, the Serlesbahnen. Because the area is so small, this is the perfect location for learning to ski, but also the ideal place for other winter activities. Even though it won't make your heart beat faster as an avid winter sportsman, the Serlesbahnen is still a place you have to go. If only because of a visit to one of my favorite mountain huts, about which more later. You also come here to enjoy the beautiful views of the Serles Mountains.
2. Fun tips for non-skiers
I already hinted a little bit, but not every ski area in the Stubaital is suitable for the diehard skier or snowboarder. But it is for the winter sportsman who likes to do other winter activities besides skiing or snowboarding. How about tobogganing in the Elferbahnen and taking a winter hike through the Serlesbahnen? If there is one activity that positively surprised me, it is the winter hike. Because as an avid skier, I never made time for this, but it is so beautiful and soothing to walk through the snow-covered mountains. And otherwise, you can always schedule a day in Innsbruck. A nice city with beautiful sights, great shopping and good restaurants.
3. My favorite mountain huts in Stubai
For me personally, what makes a winter sport complete is a nice lunch on the slopes. Because after a fanatical morning of skiing on various slopes, it is important to have a good base for the afternoon. Fortunately, in the ski areas of Stubai you will find many cozy mountain huts and restaurants where you can sit down for a Wiener Schnitzel or a portion of kaiserschmarrn.
These are my favorite mountain huts in the Stubai:
Galtalm - at this cozy restaurant in the Schlick 2000 ski area, on a sunny day you will not only enjoy the insane views of the Serles mountains, but also homemade dishes of regional cuisine. You will find the mountain hut along slope number 13;
Das Koppeneck - after a hike through the snowy landscape of Serles, it is great to settle down on the terrace of this restaurant. Here you can quickly catch the first rays of sunlight and admire the Serles mountains from a different perspective. My tip: the kaiserschmarrn here are finger-licking good. Order these for dessert to share with your company;
Schallerhof - Even though this is not a mountain hut on the slopes, this restaurant is among my favorite spots in Stubai. The restaurant at Alpengasthof Schallerhof offers traditional food, namely: Hut-Essen. This is similar to fondue where a fondue in the shape of a hat is placed on the table. In the rim of the hat cooks in broth small cut soup vegetables and on the hooks of the hat you can grill your meat. A great tip for an evening out for dinner in the Stubai Valley!
4. Where to stay in Stubai, in which village?
Stubai, as indicated earlier, consists of 5 villages. Some larger than others, each with their own atmosphere. I stayed in the village of Neustift and I can recommend this to everyone. Neustift is the largest village, has a cozy center with nice restaurants and stores. Also, the village is close to the 4 ski areas and you can easily get there by ski bus, cab or your own transport. A fun fact about Neustift is that the village is the third largest in Tyrol in terms of surface area!
Alpenhotel Tirolerhof
The Alpenhotel Tirolerhof in Neustift is a typical Austrian family hotel with comfortable hotel rooms and fine wellness facilities. If you book half board then you can eat in the restaurant in the morning and evening, enjoying an extensive 3-course dinner with access to the salad bar in the evening. A stay at the Alpenhotel Tirolerhof costs an average of €200 per night per room.
5. What is the best season to go on winter sports?
If you ask me, there are actually two periods when the best time to go on winter sports to Stubai is in January or March. January is pretty much the beginning of the ski season where the snow conditions are often very good. Add to that the fact that the slopes are not crowded. Although the days during this month are short, because of the good snow and almost empty slopes you can ski a lot of kilometers. A little more sun and January is a great time in Stubai!
Another favorite time of mine to go on winter sports is March. The days are longer and you are more likely to have sunshine and warmer temperatures. Of course, it can still be quite cold in the mountains, but with any luck you'll still be dining on the terrace at one of my favorite mountain huts.
These days the weather is hard to predict, even in the Austrian Alps. In this case, remember one place where you can almost always do winter sports during the winter months: the Stubai Glacier.
How to get to Stubai
For the Dutch, the most common way to travel to Austria is by car. After all, you are often in the middle of the Austrian Alps with about 10 to 11 hours of driving. And if we look at the distance from Rotterdam to the Stubaital, this also corresponds. By the way, I personally always enjoy going on winter sports by car. This is ideal if you still want to do some shopping or drive to the different ski resorts.
Would you rather not take the car on your winter vacation to the Stubaital? Then you can also consider traveling by plane or train. In both cases you will then travel to the big city of Innsbruck, from where it is still about a 30-minute drive to Stubai.
Flying to Innsbruck
Skycanner flies to Innsbruck several times a week, sometimes even a day, during the winter months. Locations from where Transavia flies are Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam and Brussels. The flight time is about 1.5 hours and you only need a valid ID to fly. The average price of a return ticket Innsbruck is €200, of course this depends on the period in which you travel and when you book your ticket.
By train to Innsbruck
The most sustainable option for going on winter sports is when you by train to your winter sports destination travels. You can board the night train in the Netherlands at the stations of Amsterdam, Utrecht and Arnhem. So this leaves the Netherlands in the evening and after a night's sleep on the train, you will arrive in Austria in the morning. Tip: there is a direct connection to Innsbruck.
Lois Weeterings
A dreamer and adventure seeker, always on the lookout for new experiences. But also a hard worker with a thousand ideas racing through my mind. As a personal travel consultant and travel blogger, I share my passion for faraway destinations, thrilling adventures, and winter sports. With deep knowledge of places like Namibia, Colombia, the ABC Islands, and the Middle East, I’m here to help you craft a trip you’ll never forget. Through my personal stories and expert tips, I aim to inspire you to explore the world your way. Always with my camera in hand, I’m determined to capture every magical moment and share it with you.
The 7 Best Beaches in Aruba: Our Favorite Beaches & Hidden Gems
August 13, 2026
7 Best Things to Do in Tirana, Albania
July 22, 2026
