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COST OF LIVING

Is it possible to have a cheap skiing holiday in Austria?

Skiing is an expensive sport but also a popular pastime in Austria. Are there places in the Alpine country where skiing is actually affordable and other ways to cut costs?

Published: 11 December 2023 13:36 CET
Updated: 7 January 2024 08:20 CET
Is it possible to have a cheap skiing holiday in Austria?
Skiers take a chair lift at Pitztal glacier near Sankt Leonhard im Piztal, Austria on November 27, 2019. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

The skiing season has started in Austria, and most resorts are now open for those seeking the downhill adrenaline on skis or snowboards.

Winter sports are considered a tradition in the country of the Alps, but skiing and similar outdoor pastimes are notoriously expensive, especially for those who just want to try it out and don’t have season tickets or the equipment.

Day ticket prices to some of Austria’s famous ski resorts can cost over € 70 – and that’s only to use the lifts and go down the pistes, not counting expenses from the equipment, outfits, food or beverages. 

Is there any way to ski cheaply in Austria? Are there more affordable resorts? Here are our tips to enjoy skiing without breaking the bank.  

Find less expensive ski resorts

Some sports are cheaper than others (find a ball and something to act as the goal and you will have yourself a football match), and we can’t deny that skiing is on the more expensive side. However, ski resorts also charge for their “brands” and locations, so some will have a higher price tag simply because they are more sought after, have a busy nightlife, are traditional spots for higher earners or have prettier views.

READ ALSO: 29 ways to save money in Austria (but still have fun)

If you go near Ischgl, in Tyrol, for example, a day pass will be upwards of € 70, and you can expect accommodation and food prices to be higher as well.

Other resorts and ski runs are much cheaper. Here are a few examples:

  • Bödele, in Vorarlberg, has day tickets for adults costing € 43.20
  • Axamer Lizum, in hotspot Tyrol, has day tickets for adults costing € 49.50 in the high season
  • Salzburg is also expensive, but some places offer €54 for a day ticket for adults, like Fanningberg.
  • In Upper Austria, an adult can ski during the whole day for €24 in Kirchschlag or €21 in Hochlecken.
  • In Carinthia, day tickets for adults cost €38.50 in Koralpe.
  • Rieseralm, in Styria, has day tickets costing €38.
  • In Lower Austria, there are cheaper options as well, such as Aichelberglifte Karlstiff (€28.60; however, there will be no operation in the 2023/24 season, and the resort will be back for the 2024/25 season) and St Corona am Wechsel (€29,50).

People in Vienna often go nearby to Semmering for a short ski outing, with day tickets for adults costing €49. However, being the “Viennese Alps” comes with another price: the area is usually very full on weekends or whenever there’s fresh snow.

Smaller towns, especially in the Alps region, also have their own ski lifts that are less touristy, bringing people up to the top of the slopes. Those hidden gems can be cheaper than the better-known resorts. In Breitenfurt bei Wien, near the capital, a family-friendly ski slope where each ride up the ski lifts costs €1.40.

Some people will also hike up the slopes and then ski down off-piste, but a high level of knowledge and experience is recommended for this.

Salzburg, Tyrol and surrounding areas have plenty to offer the ski, or general outdoor enthusiast. Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON / AFP

It’s not all about the pistes

Skiing trips are expensive because of the whole package – though the daily rates certainly can make them very expensive. The first tip is to consider different tickets other than the day-tickets for adults we mentioned. Most places will have discounts for families or groups.

There are also discounts for season tickets if you plan on skiing for many days or lower prices for fewer hours of skiing, which is especially good if you are just starting, as an entire day of skiing can be exhausting if you are not used to it.

READ ALSO: Eight things to know before moving to Tyrol in Austria

Most resorts also practice different prices for high season (more expensive) or shoulder seasons, and you can save hundreds of euros just by planning your trip a week ahead or later.

Another significant cost for ski trips is the equipment. You can’t just go somewhere and ski. You’ll need proper outfits and, well, the skis. Buying all of it can be extremely costly, so renting it out for the day is the better option. Or, better yet, if you have a local friend who will lend you their gear, that can be great. 

If you plan on skiing for many days, buying second-hand can save you a lot of money.

Finally, ski resorts tend to take advantage of the fact that people are basically stranded on mountains and valleys during their ski adventures, meaning that food and beverage prices can add up to a lot. Even one of the cheapest drinks, the “ski water”, has a hefty price tag just because of its name and popularity when, in reality, it is nothing but sparkling water and raspberry syrup.

READ ALSO: Life in Austria: Must-do activities to add to your bucket list

Your local friends will always advise you to take your drinks with you if you want to save money. You can make your own ski water juice, bring hot tea in a proper bottle and make yourself a sandwich with ingredients from the closest supermarket. That will get you going for the day and save you dozens of euros in the meantime.

Do you have more tips on how to save money while skiing in Austria? Do you have a favourite affordable resort or a hidden ski lift you love? Let us know in the comments below, or send us an email to news@thelocal.at.

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ECONOMY

Why is Austria’s economy fairing so badly compared to the rest of the EU?

Of the 15 countries that joined the EU before 2004, Austria had the lowest growth and highest inflation between 2019 and 2023.

Published: 3 July 2024 14:30 CEST
Why is Austria's economy fairing so badly compared to the rest of the EU?

According to calculations by the liberal think tank Agenda Austria, Austria’s economy has not been performing well compared with other EU countries.

Of the 15 countries that joined the EU before 2004, Austria had the lowest growth and highest inflation between 2019 and 2023. While life became around 22 percentage points more expensive, real gross domestic product per capita (GDP) shrank by 1.6 percentage points in the same period.

Some of Austria’s neighbours, such as Germany, also saw high inflation, but prices rose 19.3 percent with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita decreasing by 0.9 percent from 2019 to 2023. Italy, on the other hand, saw a 17.2 percent price increase but its GDP rose by 4.8 percent over the same period.

So why are things so much worse for people in Austria than elsewhere?

‘Partly home-made’

According to Jan Kluge an economist with Agenda Austria the answer is multifactorial. 

Luge says that Austria’s inflation has skyrocketed compared to its neighbours, particularly as the federal government spent money with aid programs during the coronavirus and inflation crisis. 

“The high inflation is therefore partly homemade”, he told Kurier.

This aid was also afforded to companies that were not financially sound.

“We have created zombie companies. In other countries, companies were allowed to go bust during the pandemic. We dragged ailing companies along with us and are still doing so today,” Kluge said.

READ ALSO: Can my landlord in Austria increase the rent whenever they want?

Following a sharp decline in insolvencies during the pandemic, Austria is now experiencing massive bankruptcies. Creditforum estimates that 7,500 companies will go bankrupt this year. 

Kluge attributes this – in addition to the rise in interest rates, high energy costs and strict regulations – to inadequate aid money. “Insolvencies are now slowly catching up because many have finally run out of steam”, he said.

According to Kluge, Austria’s weak performance is even more worrying when compared globally.

This is because the performance European economic area had already deteriorated compared to the USA during the 2008 financial crisis. In other words, Austria is weakening within an EU that is also under performing.

What can be done?

Liberal think tank Agenda Austria, which says its focus is on “market-based solutions”, has a list of “recommendations” for the Austrian economy, although they might not all go down well with workers or unions.

They start by calling for an end to “election sweets”, as they call them.

This means politicians should “stop handing out election gifts”, as any populist measure and handout contributes to rising prices.

“Popular interventions in prices are also strongly discouraged. Prices have an important function. Switching them off does not combat inflation; it only hides it. And only in the best-case scenario”, the think tank said.

They also recommend that the government “get a grip on the spending spree,” suggesting the adoption of a spending brake model based on Swedish or Swiss tools. 

READ ALSO: What is the ‘friendship economy’ in Austria and how does it work?

Additionally, Agenda Austria advocates for reducing labour costs which would continue to boost prices in Austria. They pointed out that tough wage negotiations led to increases in salaries in 2024.

They suggested: “To counteract this, the government can lower taxes on labour, thus reducing the increase in labour costs and counteracting a wage-price spiral.”

Finally, the liberal think tank also recommends that the government promote lively competition, increase supply, and ” let the market work.” They also mention that consumers can benefit from a range of products “from abroad,” even if domestic ones “naturally give us the best quality in every situation.”

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