Ischgl. One of the Best Ski Resorts in the Alps.

Ischgl ski resort is situated high in the Paznaun valley in the heart of the stunning Silvretta mountains. An efficient high altitude lift system and beautiful scenery makes Ischgl a paradise for skiers.

Ischgl Ski Resort, Austria
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Ski Resort Piste Map.

Ischgl Piste Map
Ischgl Ski Resort Piste Map.

Ischgl has more than 40 ski lifts, most of them ultra-fast, including some fantastic eight man chairs lifts, and even, heated gondolas. Not only do they not swing, they don’t break down, and most have windshields.

The skiing is superb. It’s a massive area, more than 230km, most of it high – the top point, the Palinkopf, is 2,865m – so snow is pretty much guaranteed right up to May. The pistes are being continually widened, big sweeping runs, which all skiers can enjoy. The huge run from the Palinkopf back to the village has more than 1.4km of drop.

The Swiss/Austrian border crosses the slopes, and you can drop over onto the Swiss side for a magnificent run, one of the best and most varied in the Alps, to the Swiss duty-free pocket of Samnaun. The way back to Austria is via an amazing double-decker cable car – grab the top deck for the best views.

The runs back in to Ischgl steepen slightly towards the bottom and get very crowded at the end of the day. So you might want to take one of the three high-speed gondolas back from the mid-station. Or retire to the Alpenhaus at Idalp for a beer or two, and then make the journey back in glorious isolation as the pink Alpenglow starts to bathe the peaks.

There is a lot of good off-piste skiing (hire a guide off the back of Alp Trida) and it doesn’t get tracked out too quickly. This place has not yet pulled in the powder fiends of Chamonix or Alagna, so you can practice your more leisurely off-piste with a certain self-belief. And you’ll have plenty of opportunities too. Even on a day with early morning fresh snow, there won’t be that many people out.

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Getting to Ischgl.

By Plane – Nearest Airports.

  • Műnich: 300km / 187 miles – 2.5 hours
  • Salzburg: 300km / 187 miles – 3 hours.
  • Innsbruck: 100km / 62 miles – 1 hours.
  • Zurich; 2.5 hours.

Bus services to Ischgl are available from these airports.

By Train.

Landeck: 30km (19 miles) by rail; frequent bus services from railway station. The 4240 line to Ischgl and Galtur leaves directly from in front of the station.

Innsbruck: Hire a rental car at the station.

By Road.

From Germany:

Once on the S16, the Arlberg dual carriageway, take the exit to Pians and keep driving on the Silvretta main road (B188) for about 20 km towards Ischgl. Three routes will bring you to the S16 in Tyrol:

  • To get to Ischgl you take the German A7 or A95 heading south. The route takes you to the Fern Pass main road (B179) via Imst and Landeck to the A12 motorway which links onto the S16 (Arlberg dual carriageway) to Pians.
  • Take the German A93 towards Innsbruck. The Austrian Inntal motorway (A12) takes you via Kufstein, Innsbruck and Landeck to the S16, the Arlberg dual carriageway, and on to Pians.
  • Take the A96 towards Lindau in Austria and get onto the A14. Follow this motorway via Bregenz, Feldkirch and through the Arlberg tunnel to the S16 and on to Pians. In summer you also have the option to exit the motorway at Bludenz and take the Silvretta high alpine road to Ischgl.
From Italy:

Driving on the S16, the Arlberg dual carriageway, take the exit to Pians and keep driving on the Silvretta main road (B188) for about 20 km towards Ischgl. Two routes bring you to the S16 in Tyrol:

  • Heading north on the A22 motorway over the Brenner Pass, you follow the Austrian A13, then take the A12 in Innsbruck and drive towards Bregenz to the S16 and on to Pians.
  • You enter Austria heading north on the SS40 then go over the Reschen Pass onto the B180. The route takes you via Nauders and Landeck to the S16 towards Bregenz and on to Pians.
From Switzerland:

Drive to Austria on the A3 to Feldkirch or the A1 to Lustenau and Dornbirn. In Austria, follow the A14 towards Innsbruck. Follow this motorway through the Arlberg tunnel to the S16 and on to Pians. Take the exit to Pians and keep driving on the Silvretta main road (B188) for about 20 km towards Ischgl.

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Ischgl Ski Resort in Brief.

Height: 1,400 – 2,990m (4,600 – 9,510ft)

Skiable Terrain: 506 hectares.

No of Ski Lifts: 42. 3 gondolas, 2 aerial ropeways, 23 chair, 12 drag.

Marked Pistes: Whole area: 340km, Ischgl: 230km.

Types of Pistes: 30% beginner, 50% intermediate, 20% advanced.

Longest Piste: 11km.

Main Advantages: Large ski area; snow-sure slopes; lively nightlife.

Drawbacks: Not recommended for beginners, expensive.

For the latest reviews and information from Ischgl read our blog entries.

For information about skiing in Ischgl visit this page.