Skiing in Alpbachtal in Austria – our best tips

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | We went to Alpbachtal for a week of skiing with friends and stayed in the small village of Reith im Alpbachtal — a quiet and cozy base close to the lifts. Alpbachtal may not be as well known as many of Austria's larger ski resorts, but it turned out to be an area that pleasantly surprised us.

Our experiences of Alpbachtal

There is varied skiing, charming alpine villages and a pace that feels a little more relaxed than in the biggest destinations. During our trip we had time to test the slopes of Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau, explore the villages and get a good feel for what the area actually has to offer.

In this post, we share our experiences from the trip, our best tips on accommodation, skiing and practical things to consider — hopefully as inspiration if you are thinking about a ski trip to Alpbachtal yourself.

How to get to Alpbachtal

There are several ways to get to Alpbachtal. We flew from Stockholm via Berlin to Innsbruck, a trip that worked smoothly. From Innsbruck it is about a 45 minute transfer to Reith im Alpbachtal.

Reith im Alpbachtal – a cozy alpine village

We stayed in a cozy little ski resort called Reith im Alpbachtal. Here you can stroll among cozy Austrian wooden houses, while looking up at the mighty Alps.

This is not a busy resort, but rather a cozy place for those who want to enjoy the peace and quiet during their ski holiday. At the same time, there are of course several hotels and restaurants.

We stayed at Hotel Pirchner Hof in Reith im Alpbachtal, a very nice hotel that feels down to earth, relaxed and yet luxurious. We had a fantastic view of the mountains and the snowy landscape from our room, and we were very happy with the food. Please read more about Hotel Pirchner Hof here..

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau – a wonderful ski area

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau is one of Tyrol's larger ski areas and offers varied skiing for both beginners and more experienced skiers. The area stretches across the valleys around Alpbachtal and Wildschönau and has a well-developed lift system that makes it easy to get between different parts of the ski area.

There is a good mix of wide family-friendly slopes, longer red runs and some more challenging sections, making the area popular with both families with children and groups of friends.

One of the advantages of Ski Juwel is that it often feels quieter and less crowded than many of Austria's most famous ski resorts, while the range is large enough for several days of varied skiing.

We took the cable car up with our friends and started by enjoying the view of the alpine peaks. Standing up there, almost 2,000 meters above sea level, with snow-capped mountains in all directions is a special feeling.

The slopes are blue, red or black and there are also specific slopes for those who want to snowboard or "play" among the moguls and special courses.

We made sure to choose blue and red descents and took it pretty slow. It was really nice to just glide down at a leisurely pace and enjoy the view. We also made a stop at one of the many bars/restaurants on the slope to rest our legs and enjoy a beer.

It's clear that we're a little rusty when it comes to skiing, but it still went well, even if there are a few bumps and bruises when you haven't been on skis for a long time.

I had my worst fall in the lift queue the first day, and then once yesterday when I was about to start and accidentally ran over my own pole. Peter has also had a few falls, and I actually managed to capture one on film…

Food, après-ski and local delicacies

When your legs get tired (and I promise you will!) you can stop at one of the many restaurants on the slope. Here you can warm up with some gluhwein, or why not a beer and a Tyrolean soup with dumplings?

In the village where we stayed, Reith im Alpbachtal, you can also pop into shops to try and buy local delicacies, such as cheese, marmalade, "fruit syrup" and brandy.

We stopped by the local cheese producer in the village, Alpbachtal hay-milk dairy. Most of the cheeses are made from cow's milk and some from goat's milk. There is also locally produced spirits available for purchase in the shop.

Lift passes and ski hire

If you want to ski, you will of course need a lift pass. The price varies depending on the number of days and whether you are an adult or a child. When it comes to ski equipment, you can choose to bring your own or rent it. It is possible to rent ski boots, skis, poles and helmets.

For children (and in many cases also for adults) there is the option of attending ski school, or booking a private ski instructor.

Some thoughts about skiing in Alpbachtal

Alpbachtal turned out to be a really nice ski destination for us — just the right size, varied skiing and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It's especially good for those who want to combine good skiing with charming villages and less crowds than in Austria's most famous resorts.

More ski areas in Austria

There are of course many more great ski areas to discover and explore in Austria. You can read about more here:

• Vorarlberg
• Bad Gastein
• Skiwelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental