Last Updated on 4th July 2026 by Steve
There is a wealth of choice for those looking for a destination for their summer ski holiday in Austria. But it is probably easier to split the list of ski resort options into two different kinds of resorts: those that offer almost year-round skiing and those which close late in the spring and then open again in late summer or early autumn. (That would be fall, for those reading in North America…)
Almost year-round
Hintertux Glacier – Tyrol
The Hintertux ski area is just about the most un-glacier-like you could imagine, with some tough red and black runs alongside the cruiser blue pistes. The glacier skiing used to boast 365 days a year but now closes towards the end of July before re-opening in early autumn. There are some cute Tyrolean mountain villages to stay in near the base (or the livelier resort of Mayrhofen further away down the valley).
Stubai Glacier – Tyrol
The Stubai glacier is not far from the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck and it is another of Austria’s summer ski areas which provides a relatively extensive skiing challenge over much of the year. The winter/spring/early summer season finishes near the end of June and the late summer/autumn skiing starts up again in late September or early October.
High Summer Break
Kitzsteinhorn Glacier – Salzburg
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier near the ski resort of Kaprun in the province of Salzburg is another large glacier skiing destination with a longer season than most in Austria. The winter/spring season finishes near the end of May and then switches to a non-ski lift experience in the summer before the autumn ski opening in October.
Sölden – Tyrol
The Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers above Sölden make up an extensive high-altitude ski area in the winter, fully linked to the main ski runs above the town. The winter season lasts until early May, when the glaciers close to reopen again in late September for autumn skiing. The area, reached in summer and autumn by a glacier road, is a popular training location for national ski teams and Sölden usually kicks off the World Cup ski race season in October.
Kaunertal Glacier – Tyrol
The Kaunertal glacier winter season finishes in mid-May before opening again in late summer – generally towards the end of September.
Pitztal Glacier – Tyrol
The Pitztal glacier is another of the smaller glacier areas which close late and open at the start of autumn. Generally the area finishes near the beginning of May and reopens in mid-September.
Mölltal Glacier – Carinthia
Photo: Felix Koenig/Wikimedia
The Mölltal glacier ski season used to be more extensive but now it tends to restrict itself to a long autumn/winter/spring period from around mid-October to the end of May. The skiing here goes up to over 3000 metres and the fact that the Austrian and German National Ski Teams have used this as one of their training bases will give you an idea of how reliable the snow tends to be.
