Ischgl
Mountain stats
Lift count :
2 x Cable-cars
3 x Gondolas
23 x Chairlifts
12 x Drag-lifts
230km pistes of pistes
Pass (Low/High Season) : £34.75 Day, £156.57-173.74 Week
Ischgl has lot going for it; one of the quickest and most advanced lift systems in the world, a huge area, a great terrain park, long season and awesome nightlife. However it is expensive, can be full of Russian gangsters, and having more strip clubs than any other resort in the Alps, doesn’t really help to balance the gender of its visitors.
Situated in Western Tyrol, not too far from its après compatriot St.Anton, is the Paznaun Valley, along which lie the resorts of See, Kappl and Ischgl & Gaültur. They are all within a 20 minute drive/bus of each other, offer something different to Ischgl, and all share the same lift pass.
From Alpenhaus towards Hollkarbahn Lift
Photo: James Woodward
Silveretta Ski area on its own includes 215km of pistes spread over a huge area, and links the towns of Ischgl in Austria with the smaller Samnaun in Switzerland. Pretty much all the lifts are express chairs, apart from the 2 gondolas and a cable-car that take you from Ischgl and the double monster cable-car from Samnaun. Almost all of the pistes are between 2000-2800m and piste-bashing is almost an art form here. It is very much suited for intermediate riders, beginners will find some areas easy to navigate, but there are few genuinely steep runs for more advanced riders. There is plenty of easily accessible off-piste, some of which doesn’t get tracked out too quickly.
Ischgl has made plenty of headlines over the last few years with the beginning and end of season concerts they hold. Kylie, Stereophonics, Rihanna to name a few, have all shivered their way through a set up at 2300m.
Kuhstall Apres Ski Bar
Photo: Steve Dowle, WSG
The village is pretty compact and the centre of it car-free. Most of the accommodation is at least 4*, so if you are after a bargain you must book early or cram people into one of the many apartments. Night-life is mostly après style, and its tag of Ibiza on ice is almost deserved.