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Westendorf Ski Resort
Known as one of the most beautiful villages in Europe, sunny Westendorf has glorious views of the Windau valley and is fit to bursting with old school Austrian charm. A pastel yellow, onion-domed church is surrounded by wooden chalets and trees, the wild and rugged Wilder Kaiser massif towering in the distance. Traffic jams, flashing lights and concrete tower blocks are worlds away.
It doesn‘t take long to make the break from busy town life. A short transfer time (around an hour) from Innsbruck Airport means that with early flights it’s possible to get an extra half-day of exploring in when you arrive. Getting around the resort’s a breeze, with ski lifts, shops and hotels all a short walk from each other – it’s big enough to give you enough choice for the week but small enough to be still cosy.
With the remote feel of the place, it’s easy to forget that you are part of one of the biggest ski areas in Austria. Westendorf has smooth and speedy access from the Alpenrosenbahn to the Ski Welt Kaiser-Brixental area, which spans nine villages with 284km of pistes. It doesn‘t end there - those looking to put even more ski miles under their belt can make use of the Ki-West gondola and ski shuttle to explore Kirchberg and the legendary ski town of Kitzbühel.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Austria Alps.
Established: 1948
Open: December to April
Downhill: 284 km in the whole SkiWelt area
View our detailed Westendorf snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Westendorf snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck | 80 km, 1 hour |
| Salzburg | 80 km, 1.5 hours |
| Munich | 150 km, 2 hours |
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| Top Altitude: | 1957m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1155m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1155m |
| Longest run: | 8km |
| Slope Orientation: | NSEW |
| Vertical Drop: | 1027m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1027m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 284 km in the whole SkiWelt area |
| Beginner slopes: | 43% |
| Intermediate: | 45% |
| Advanced slopes: | 12% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €235 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Ellmau, Scheffau, Söll, Hopfgarten, Kirchberg, Going | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Westendorf
A great advantage of Westendorf’s position is the fact that slopes there are generally quieter than on the main SkiWelt circuit due to most of the skiing being on the other side of the valley between Brixen and Scheffau.
Gentle nursery slopes are conveniently located near the village, and there are some gentle blues like Piste 11, a long and scenic run through the trees.
Intermediates are spoilt for choice with around 128km of red runs to conquer in the SkiWelt massif. Some highlights include the red 3 top to bottom pistes where you can get some speed up! Worth checking out is the “Kandler” (red 11 on piste map) which descents an impressive 1026 vertical metres. You can also cut across to the other side of Brixen from the bottom of Red 11, although it’s worth noting this does require the use of a rather old rope tow lift.
Advanced skiers should tackle piste 112 a challenging black run where it’s possible to venture off-piste following trails through the trees for those who are more adventurous.
Whilst off-piste skiing is limited due to the thick forest surrounding the piste when fresh snowfalls advanced skiers will come into their own when the areas beneath the lifts and between the slopes become a paradise for powder chasers.
Those looking for some freestyling should head over the Choralpe to the ‘Big Playground’. With three lines (easy, medium and pro) you can perfect your technique whatever your ability and try out the many kickers, rails and boxes.
There are also two other Snowparks in the SkiWelt area - Snowpark Intersport Kaiserpark in Ellmau and the Snowpark in Söll which is floodlit during night skiing hours.
Night skiing is usually available on the nursery slope once a week, or if you have use of a car, it’s a 20-minute drive to Soll by road, where you can make use of the 10km of floodlit pistes 6 nights a week. If you fancy trying something a bit different, the cross country here is terrific with over 30km of groomed forest trails.
Westendorf Apres Ski
The après is lively but compared with nearby Kitzbühel; it’s more contained and family-oriented. That being said, there are some great places to have a drink after a day on the slopes. The après ski starts on the slope-side sun terraces when the lifts begin to close. Favourites are the Bruchstall and Gerry’s Inn based on nursery slopes 83 and 84. Later in the evening popular bars include the Village Pub and Kibo both of which have regular live music evenings. For a classy evening out with friends, try Moskito bar for some fabulous cocktails. Night owls looking to dance the night away will love the bustling Wunderbar with its daily après ski parties complete with DJ’s and live music.
Westendorf also has a great range of non-skiing activities including the 6.6km tobogganing run which children and “big kids” will love. Other activities include ice skating on a natural rink, bowling, horse-drawn sleigh rides and snowshoeing through 30km of groomed forest trails.
Foodies won’t be disappointed in Westendorf with a great variety of mountain restaurants to sample the local cuisine - a particular favourite is Sonnalm situated just above the village gondola mid-station on piste 110 offering a cosy refuge on a snowy day. With most establishments providing great value for money compared to pricier French resorts. Dining out won’t break the bank. Restaurants in the village have retained a traditional atmosphere with high quality and good value food. A family favourite is FeinSinn for their lovely pizzas and Die Muhle do a terrific steak.
If you fancy some fine dining, take a taxi to nearby Kirchberg for the Rosengarten restaurant. Winning 2 Michelin stars back in 2009 it became the first Tyrolian restaurant to do so. Rosengarten offers an exceptional seasonal menu to be enjoyed in a beautiful alpine setting. It’s worth taking a recommendation from the sommelier from the fantastic wine menu.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Westendorf
Best time to visit & ski Westendorf
The ski season usually runs from December through to April and in light of the resorts modest altitude, the best conditions tend to be mid-season from January to March. The north facing slopes have better snow conditions later on in the season. With a new snow cannon system and over 1700 cannons in the SkiWelt area, 229km of pistes can be prepared with artificial snow if a top up’s ever needed. Thanks to many of the pistes being lined by trees, is it still possible to have good visibility in flat light and snowy conditions here - many of big resorts don’t have that luxury.
Peak Dates
Those spending Christmas in Westendorf will experience a traditional Austrian village at its best. Take a magical horse drawn sleigh ride through snow covered forest for an unforgettable experience. Special festive menus are available in most restaurants and a traditional midnight mass can also be attended. Westendorf Christmas ski holidays ‣
With celebrations in the village centre from 6pm with torchlight descents and a firework display celebrating New Year’s Eve in Westendorf is fun for all the family. Westendorf New Year ski holidays ‣
Westendorf is a very family friendly resort that’s great during February Half Term with excellent ski schools for the children and plenty of activities to keep you entertained including ice skating, bowling and tobogganing down an impressive 6.6km run! Westendorf Half Term ski holidays ‣
Easter in Westendorf brilliant for a late season family ski holiday. Although the resort has a modest altitude with some north facing slopes and excellent snow making technology you should still experience some great skiing here. Westendorf Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Westendorf
Westendorf really comes into its own with regards to family ski holidays. With crèche facilities, a huge ski area and fantastic off slope activities it’s a great choice for families with children of all ages. Excellent local ski schools including the Reds and Schischule Top run lessons for skiers aged 3 and above. There are plenty of activities to keep everyone happy off the slopes like ice skating on Westendorf’s natural rink, bowling and sledding down an exhilarating 6.6km run!
A perfect choice for families is Hotel Schermer – it has a really central location, only a couple of minutes from the nursery slopes and ski school meeting point for hassle free mornings!
Some of our hotels and chalets come with childcare options, so if you’re travelling with little ones not yet old enough to give skiing a go, speak to our ski specialists for more information on the best properties.
The beauty of this resort is its incredibly short transfer time of an hour from Innsbruck Airport, ensuring you won’t all be cooped up on the road too long after your flight. This makes our holidays with flights and transfers a great fuss-free option. Holidays are also available with channel crossings for people driving to resort or accommodation only, if you’d prefer to arrange your own transport.
GroupsGroup Holidays Westendorf
Groups who like the sound of enjoying the huge SkiWelt area from one of Austria’s prettiest villages will find a great selection of hotels with options to suit all budgets. If you’re unsure of numbers, the large Hotel Schermer is the perfect choice as with a number of rooms, there may well be availabilities that can be booked up by stragglers later. With less than a minute’s walk into the village centre it is a great base from which to explore all of what Westendorf has to offer including quaint shops and lively bars such as Moskito which does some delicious, expertly shaken cocktails. Hotels are also a great choice for large groups due to their roomier communal spaces like bars, restaurants and swimming pools.
In terms of the skiing, you have access to the SkiWelt massif, Austria’s largest interconnecting ski circuit comprising of 8 villages and 279km of pistes. For those looking to put even more ski miles under their belt the Ki-West gondola and the establishment of a link on piste to Kirchberg now makes the famous resort of Kitzbühel accessible.
This isn’t St Anton or Ishgl but there are still some good places to have a drink and unwind at the end of the day. The après ski starts on the sun terraces situated on the slopes when the lifts begin to close. Particular favourites are the Bruchstall and Gerry’s Inn based on nursery slopes 83 and 84. Later in the evening popular bars include the Village Pub and Kibo Bar both of which have regular live music evenings.
You’ll find a great range of non-skiing activities if any of your party don’t fancy taking to the piste. These include the 6.6km tobogganing run in the centre of the village (you can hire toboggans from the local ski shops), ice skating on the natural rink, bowling, horse drawn sleigh rides and snow-shoeing along 30km of groomed forest trails.
Make your group getaway as stress free as possible by booking everyone onto a holiday with flights and transfers, or opt for accommodation and channel crossings if you’d prefer to drive. Alternatively, if things are proving complicated to organise, book one of our accommodation only holidays and let everyone arrange their own travel independently.
Which are the best ski holidays in Westendorf?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Vitalhotel Schermer | 7 | £ 1119 |
| Hotel Jakobwirt | 7 | £ 1029 |
| Hotel Post | 7 | £ 719 |
| Hotel Briem | 7 | £ 799 |
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