For decades Ischgl has been Austria’s leading destination for German visitors, but in recent years it has also gained a strong following among Brits. This is largely due not only to the quality of the tracks, but also to the music.
Ischgl’s famous season start and end Top of the Mountain concerts attracted A-list international stars including Elton John, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, Beach Boys and Kylie Minogue.
The resort has expanded its event lineup for 2022/23 to a “Spring Blanc” that includes four major concerts as well as sunset parties and a dinner week in April.
As for the slopes, they are wide, snow-guaranteed, sunny and mostly above tree line, with spectacular views. The 239-kilometer Silvretta Arena ski area stretches along the Swiss border to the Engadin resort of Samnaun and is best suited for mile-hungry intermediate skiers who enjoy covering a lot of ground each day before returning to the resort for some of the most famous après skiing in the Alps area.
Catch up on the essentials from the resort below and scroll down for our insider guide to a day on the slopes, expert reviews and advice. For more Ischgl inspiration, check out our guides to the resort’s best accommodation, restaurants and après-ski.
In this guide:
Inside the facility
Ischgl’s village retains its traditional Tyrolean style, but with some contemporary touches – an airport-style traveler in a tunnel through a giant rock connects the two ends of Ischgl. The resort is a former farming village that has become a sophisticated tourist destination with stylish hotels and huge bars.
The main roads leading to the slopes pass through three heavy gondolas. One from each end of the resort goes to Idalp, the main center in the middle of the mountain at 2,320 m, and the third goes to Pardatschgrat, at 2,624 m.
The après-ski resort in Ischgl caters largely to older, testosterone-fuelled men aged 30 to 50 than the revelers who flock to Mooserwirt on the slopes above the famous party resort of St Anton – as it looks to clean up the resort’s image due to the coronavirus pandemic effort was made.
Despite this, there is still a pleasant and lively atmosphere that lasts all winter long and it is possible to escape from the craziest parties; Choose accommodation away from the main street.
Unlike many Austrian resorts and hotels with high standards of cooking and prices to match, Ischgl also has a wide range of independent restaurants. For fine dining, the Paznaunerstube with its four Gault Millau hats at the Hotel Trofana Royal is a good choice. Contemporary restaurants serving fine dining on the mountain can be found in Alpenhaus VIP and Gampenalpe.
Ischgl is home to a 7km toboggan run with a drop of 950 metres, open two nights a week. For something different, there’s the Ischgl Skyfly – two parallel 2km zip lines from Silvretta mid-station to the village. The exciting ride can be done with skis or boards attached to the back with a harness. MoonBiking tours are also available at the property.
The resort’s Silvretta Therme opened for 2022/23. This thermal spa, a €75 million investment by the Silvretta Cable Car Company, has five floors with a large sauna area, fitness center and ice rink.
on the slopes
Ischgl’s high altitude – its highest peak, Greitspitz, has a peak lift station of around 2,870m – combined with the most advanced snowmaking anywhere in the Alps, virtually guarantees at least adequate snow cover here since last season. Weekend from November to May 1st.
Except for the lower runways just above the resort, nearly all of the runways are above tree line, so it’s best to head to the lower runways to avoid whiteout conditions when the weather closes.
Thanks to Silvretta Arena’s 239 km of wide, snowy and sunny terrain, intermediate level players can play ball here. Some of the black will be marked red at other resorts, and highlights of the track include the spectacular 1,000 vertical meters of red served by a giant cable car, the Piz Val Grondabahn. There is a general absence of truly steep slopes, but off-piste and guided tour opportunities are excellent.
Two of the three main access gondolas ascend to the center of the ski area at Idalp (2,320 m), while the Pardatschgrat gondola feeds a network of ski lifts and pistes that stretch from one end of the city, across the Swiss border and into the village. Samnaun’s 1,840 m.
The ski area’s 45 chairlifts are constantly being updated, and two chairlifts received serious improvements in 2019. The two-seater Velileck in Pardatschgrat, which has been in place since 1978, now has a six-seater structure with airtight covers and heated seats, while it is located on the Samnaun side. Upgraded from the Alp Trida to the Visnitzkopf, the eight-seater Visnitz has heated seats and bodywork and carries 900 more passengers per hour than the four-seater it replaces. The seats are also decorated with paintings depicting the history of Samnaun.
Beginners need to purchase a full chairlift pass and ride the Silvretta, Fimba or Pardatschgrat cable cars from the city to the mountain base in Idalp. The ski school meets here and the wide, soft children’s pistes are serviced by a moving carpet, T-bar and a chair lift. After the initial turns, students can progress to slightly more challenging blue runs on the east side of the bowl. The roads into town are red and can become icy and crowded during afternoon rush hour; Those in the first week are highly recommended to catch the gondola at the end of the day.
Jeep Snowpark Ischgl is one of the best terrain parks in Europe. Its presence, music aside, is a deliberate appeal to 20-something snowboarders and twin-tip skiers who might otherwise think Ischgl is too middle-aged and expensive for their tastes.
The park is one of the longest parks in the Alps, it is well-maintained and constantly updated. It has lots of ramps, ramps and rails and is served by three chairs. Separate beginner, medium and large series are matched according to varying technical skills. There is also a halfpipe and a boardercross course. In Samnaun there is the Obstacle Freestlye park, specially designed for experts.
Who should go?
There is an exciting atmosphere in the village and on the slopes of the track. This, like its record snow and advanced snowmaking, makes it a perfect choice for the New Year’s holiday. The restaurant scene is often overlooked, as is the terrain park, both of which are great attractions. Inclines are best suited for mile-hungry intermediate users who like to cover a lot of ground.
Know before you go
Basic knowledge
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British Embassy Vienna: (00 43 1 713 1575; gov.uk), Jauresgasse 12, 1030 Vienna
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Emergency services: call 112
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Tourism Office: Check ischgl.com, the Ischgl Tourist Association’s website, for weather reports, lift availability, webcams, traffic details and local event listings. Pick up maps, brochures and other information from the office just off the main intersection in the city centre.
Fundamentals
Local laws and etiquette
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Formal greetings are the norm when meeting someone and everywhere you go you will hear the words ‘Grüss Gott’ (greeting the almighty) or the more mundane ‘Guten Morgen/Tag/Abend’ and it is customary to return the greeting. .
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Gratuities are not included and it is not usual to leave them on the table. After the waiter gives you the bill, add roughly 10 percent and ask for it to be added to the total.
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A simple thank you’danke‘; ‘Bitte’ It means both ‘please’ and ‘you’re welcome’.