Seven is a lucky number in Tiroler Zugspitz Arena. Not one but seven villages cluster together around the Zugspitze mountain on Austria’s border with Bavaria to form this ski area of 142km pistes.
Family-friendly villages
Between Ehrwald, Lermoos, Berwang, Biberwier, Bichlbach, Heiterwang am See and Namlos, you have a huge variety of slopes, family-friendly villages, entertaining activities and even a glacier ski area at Zugspitze.
If you want more skiing, it’s very easy to extend your ski pass with the Top Snow Card for a total of 213km of slopes straddling Austria and Germany.
Free shuttles connect all the villages, and each one has something special to offer.
Getting around
At Zugspitzplatt, you can head up to Zugspitze's peak (2,962m) for wondrous views of Switzerland and Italy, as well as Austria and Germany, from its panoramic platform.
Have a go on the snowparks at Ehrwald and Lermoos, and head over to Berwang for night skiing. For night-time tobogganing, zoom down the sledging trail at Ehrwald.
Beginners can hone their skills on the 10km blue run – one of the longest in Austria – in Lermoos, whereas freeriders in Biberwier have a special route just for them. Cross-country skiers can explore tranquil landscapes covered in snow as they make their way through 131km of trails.
For night-time thrills, take a ride on one of the piste-bashers as it cruises up and down while grooming the slopes.
Off the slopes
Make the most of Zugspitz’s winter wonderland by learning how to build your own igloo, left. For a romantic treat, snuggle under blankets as you take a ride through snow-covered villages in a horse-drawn carriage.
Winter hikers and snowshoers have some enchanting landscapes to discover, and you can sign up for a guided snowshoe hike to explore some of the best routes. Budding climbers can scramble on the boulders and climbing wall at Kletterhalle in Ehrwald.
Whether you’re on skis or on foot, you’ll have a wide range of mountain huts where you can stop for lunch and enjoy some magnificent views at the same time.
Get a superb view of all the action on the pistes from the sun terrace at Tirolerhaus, right near the Ehrwalder Alm cable car. At Kögele Hütte in Berwang, there’s a pleasantly rustic atmosphere to go with a menu of hearty Tirolean meat and cheese dishes. Kids even get their own restaurant at Sunnalm above Biberwier, which has sweeping views from its position at 1,624m.
To find out more about the Austrian Tirol, visit austria.info and zugspitzarena.com
