The Tyrolean municipality of Ischgl is a hotspot for winter sports enthusiasts. The former mountain farming village in Austria is a place of longing for many, because fun, action and speed paired with pure luxury beckon here. Ischgl is often referred to as the party metropolis of Tyrolean winter tourism, because especially in winter, the resort shines not only with its location in the Silvretta ski area, but also with memorable events and top-level gastronomy.
The mountain is calling – the Silvretta ski area
Ischgl is a magical attraction for winter sports enthusiasts, as the Silvretta Arena attracts visitors with 238 kilometres of slopes. The ski area stretches between Ischgl in Tyrol and Samnaun in Swiss Graubünden. In total, there are no less than 45 lifts in the ski area. Winter sports enthusiasts can be comfortably brought up to an altitude of up to 2,870 m to enjoy the wintry alpine idyll and the fast-paced descents. As the third largest ski area, the Silvretta Arena inspires visitors, because the ski area is equipped with 1,100 snow cannons, so that a good 80 percent of the 515 ha area can be artificially snowed. This guarantees snow for Ischgl’s guests throughout the season. 14 mountain restaurants and ski huts ensure that the culinary well-being is not neglected on the mountain and so the next refreshment is always only a few kilometres away from the slopes.
If you don’t want to indulge in the rush of speed, you can fall back on 74 km of cross-country ski trails, which allow you to enjoy the wintry landscape at a slower pace. In addition, the popular ski area also has three toboggan runs with a total length of 12 km. At 11 km, the “Eleven” is the longest slope in the ski area and leads from the Greitspitze into the valley to Ischgl. Those who descend the “Eleven” overcome a total of 1,501 metres in altitude. A highlight for the brave is the steepest slope in the ski area, which has a gradient of up to 70 percent. The black slope leads from the Greitspitze to the valley station of the long forest railways and has a length of 1.8 km. Experienced skiers can look forward to a total of 45 km of black runs. But it’s not just passionate winter sports enthusiasts who get their money’s worth, because the slopes around Ischgl also offer beautiful slopes for children and adults who are rediscovering skiing for themselves. The slopes near the Idalp are particularly suitable for practicing your first turns and familiarizing yourself with the skis. Of course, there are also ski schools with experienced instructors in Ischgl, so it’s easy to get started.
Ischgl – Nightlife in the mountains
Many a guest of Ischgl affectionately refers to the place as the “Ibiza of the Alps”, because Ischgl attracts not only with excellent slopes, but also with a first-class selection of bars and clubs. These are centred in and around the town centre. From noble American-style clubs and typical discotheques to cosy bars and rustic pubs that offer après-ski, Ischgl has it all. A special highlight of the nightlife is the Showarena Ischgl, which enriches Ischgl’s nightlife with live shows, international World League, an upscale ambience and much more. In Ischgl, a winter holiday is combined with a party holiday and it is easy to feel at home here.
Event highlights in Ischgl during the winter season
The “Top of the Mountain” concerts in Ischgl have long been legendary. In front of the impressive Alpine backdrop, several concerts are held every season. Of course, the winter season will be opened with an open-air concert. This will be followed by an Easter concert and the season will also end with a concert. Other highlights that many ski enthusiasts have marked as fixed dates are the annual Krampus run, the Ischgl Mountain Christmas, the Ischgl New Year’s Eve event, for a spectacular turn of the year, shapes in white (snow sculpture competition) and, of course, the official sporting events.
Top gastronomy in the Tyrolean mountains
Ischgl is considered a sports and event stronghold, but Ischgl also sets culinary standards that not many ski resorts can match. In addition to cosy inns and rustic mountain and alpine huts, Ischgl also attracts visitors to several award-winning restaurants (star restaurants) and chic alpine huts, as well as restaurants with a Mediterranean atmosphere and cuisine. As the “culinary Mecca of the Alps”, Ischgl is a place of enjoyment that offers everything your heart desires. The culinary variety ranges from the hearty snack at the hut to the multi-course menu in the award-winning restaurant. There are a total of eight award-winning restaurants in Ischgl, so that your skiing holiday will quickly become a pleasure holiday. Of course, the mountain restaurants in the region are also a special experience, because on the mountain it doesn’t always have to be a small, quick snack, but the mountain restaurants of the ski area prove that you can also enjoy an extended dinner here.
