12 fun things to do in Austria in winter if you don’t ski

When I say “Austria in winter” you automatically think of skiing or snowboarding, right? It's true that there are tons of great slopes and ski resorts in Austria, but even if you don't like going up and down a hill the entire day, there's still plenty for you to do in the country of “The Sound of Music”.

When I was In Austria in January for 3 days with 14 other bloggers, we were divided into 3 groups every day and each group would go try out other winter activities. Here's what I did and what you can do too on your vacation to Austria in the winter.

 

 

Fun things to do in Austria in winter for your next trip

1. Play in the snow

We were super lucky because when we arrived, there was finally some proper snow in Austria. As in many European countries this year, winter came late in Austria, but now we fully got to enjoy the white powder.

I swear, it turned all of us into little kids again. We were pushing each other and instead of taking the cleared paths, we'd take shortcuts through thick packs of snow. And then, of course, fall down and giggle.

So when does it snow in Austria? When is winter in Austria? It depends on where you go. In the valleys, it usually snows from late December until March, but once you go above about 5,905 ft or 1,800 m, there's snow as early as November until May. Some years, the snow doesn't even melt once you get above 8,202 ft or 2,500 m.

If you want to make sure you'll experience a real Austrian winter, January is probably the best month to go.
Just make sure you wear the right things so you don't get cold or wet and you can properly enjoy the experience.
 

2. Visit a husky ranch

I'm not much of an animal person, but the Huskies we saw at Husky Ranch Angerberg simply stole my heart. They were so calm and peaceful… until they noticed they were going sledding. Then they became like little energy bombs!

It was truly inspiring to hear how owner Martin Eigentler only left his huskies once a year, to travel to Canada and Alaska in search for new husky pups for his ranch.
 

3. Go hiking

In summer, lots of people travel to Austria to go hiking in the mountains. I've done it in regions like Vorarlberg and beyond. But why wouldn't you do the same thing during your winter vacation in Austria?

Not all paths are cleared of snow, of course, but there are plenty of hiking opportunities in and around the small villages. We made a nice walk from Hotel Kraftquelle Schlossblick, where we had lunch after visiting the husky ranch, to the pilgrimage church of Mariastein.
 

4. Visit the pilgrimage church of Mariastein

When you're hiking, you might as well do some sightseeing, right? This 14th-century church was declared a pilgrimage church in the 18th century after a “Maria miracle” had taken place there.

People still climb the 150 steps to the chapel to go to mass but can rest in one of the several rooms along the way up, of which one is a small museum.

It's one of the places to visit in Austria in winter in this region, as the pilgrims usually visit when the weather's warmer. January is low season for this little church and so it won't be too crowded.
 

5. Go (off-track) cross-country skiing

I'd gone cross-country skiing once in Quebec in Canada, but I'd never gone off-track cross-country skiing before. At the Nordic Academy in Hochfilzen, I got to do both. But first our guide explained the difference between regular cross-country skies (they're slicker) and off-track cross-country skis (not so slick) and he also showed us how cross-country ski sizing works.

Basically, it's all about how much you weigh and not about how tall you are.

Now, while cross-country skiing is one of those typical things to do during an Austria winter vacation, it's actually much harder than it looks – especially when you're trying to get up a hill! We all did pretty okay on the flat parts and also had no trouble sliding down that one hill, but climbing it with cross-country skis on, that was something else.

Let's just say there were a lot of giggles and not all of us managed to stay upright :-)
 

6. Taste the food of Austria

Traditional Austrian food is rich, buttery, meaty and filling food. It's meant for people who are active outdoors all day long and burn a lot of calories. My favorite dish was probably the Austrian version of pancakes that I tried.

Yes, a dessert. What did you expect?

You can read more about the food of Austria in another post.
 

7. Try your hand (leg/arm) at biathlon

Biathlon is one of those other typical winter activities in Austria. I'd really looked forward to trying it and it didn't disappoint.

Biathlon is a sport that combines cross-country skiing and shooting, but biathlon targets aren't like the regular round targets you may have in mind. The ones we practiced on, consisted out of a box with six holes and if you hit one of the holes, a little “flap” would close it so you could tell you'd hit it.

We practiced on children's targets which are only about 10 meters away. The pros shoot 50 meters far. This was probably one of my favorite things to do in Austria in winter.
 

8. Wander through the mountain villages

Sankt Johann in Tirol, the village we stayed during this trip, was a rather “large” mountain village with plenty of shops and a couple of bars. You could easily spend an afternoon walking around here and even go for a walk in between the white fields. Especially if you're in the mood for a more relaxing day, hanging around town is a good option.
 

9. Take a horse carriage ride in Sankt Johann

Even more relaxing than simply going for a walk, is catching a ride. A horse carriage ride, that is! We all cuddled up under blankets in the carriage to admire the white landscape around us. As this was my first winter activity in Austria, it was a fun way to get to know the others on the trip.

Just one thing to know if you plan on doing a carriage ride in Austria in winter: if you get out to take photos, you'll be so much colder afterward!
 

10. Attend a schnapps tasting

Indulging in food and drinks is a big part of Austrian winter tourism. Just think of all the après-skiing done by people who, well, go skiing. A typical drink to try, is Schnapps.

I very rarely drink alcohol, and when I do it's usually something that tastes like orange juice or lemonade: the sweeter, the better. Schnapps isn't anything like that, but when you're in Austria, there's no escaping it. Schnapps is like the national 40% alcohol drink.

Edelbrandsommelier Leo Trixl made sure everybody enjoyed the tasting, though. He first let us guess all kinds of different scents before we started the actual Schnapps tasting (and smelling).
 

11. Do a toboggan run in Kirchberg

You might remember I have a fear of heights. On our last night in Austria, we went to the Gaisberg in Kirchberg to do a sled or toboggan run down. I wasn't that worried about the toboggan run, but I was about taking the ski lift all the way up the mountain. Weirdly enough, I was much less afraid than I usually am at such heights.

Was it because I was dark? I don't know.

For the sled ride, I partnered up with the wonderful Lisa from TVB Hohe Salve and we giggled our way smoothly down the mountain. I do have to admit I was happy I could sled down with her. The combination of heights and speed will never be for me.

On another note, if you're looking for great snowy views, the Gaisberg is one of the best places to visit in Austria in winter because it has a restaurant and hotel, the Gasthof Obergaisberg, right alongside the toboggan track. That means you can toboggan down for a bit, then take a break at the restaurant and then sled further down. It's even a good place to visit in summer when you can mountain bike and hike on the Gaisberg.

Make sure to reserve a table by the window for amazing views of the mountain!
 

12. Snuggle up with a book in your hotel room

If the cold does get to you at one point, just snuggle up with a book in your hotel room or at the bar, with a nice cup of tea and – let's go crazy – some cake. There are so many lovely hotels in Austria to choose from, from small bed and breakfasts to luxury half or even full-board places.

And if you want to keep in theme while reading, these books about Austria will both entertain you and teach you something new.
 

And that's not all you can do in Austria in winter. Other people went snowshoeing, fat biking or did a Segway ride through the snow. And if you're visiting a city, you can get your culture on. Learning the Viennese Waltz or visiting museums in Vienna, for example, is something you can do all-year-long.

Already know when you're going to visit Austria in winter? Here's a list of events per month.
 

What to do in Austria in winter per month

1. What to do in Austria in November

Here are some fun things to do in Austria in November:

At the end of November, the award-winning Fantastic Gondolas festival takes place at the mountain station of Rüfikopf in Lech Zürs, where international DJs and light installations create a festive vibe.

For another musical event, head to Ischgl where a “top of the mountain concert” is organized at the end of November.

Be aware: the weather in Austria in November is definitely winter weather already so do pack accordingly.

If you want to get into the Christmas mood early, one of the best places to visit in Austria in November is Vienna. There, the Christmas markets already start in the middle of the month. Popular ones take place at the Rathausplatz, Karlsplatz, Schönbrunn, and Belvedere.
 

2. What to do in Austria in December

Visiting a Christmas market is also one of the things to do in Austria in December. While a lot of bigger markets already start in the second half of November, they're in full swing in December. Visit the market between the mountains in Innsbruck, the famous Christmas markets of Vienna, or the cozy market in Salzburg.

Looking for more places to visit in Austria in December? For family snow fun, you can head to the Family Ski Festival in Styria and for something more intense, there's the Nordic Ski World Cup in Ramsau am Dachstein.

In Montafon, the FIS Snowboard Cross World Cup and the Audi FSI Ski Cross World Cup take place while wine lovers van visit the Alberg Vineyard in Lech Zürs for a week-long wine festival.

The Rave on Snow in Saalbach-Hinterglemm is an annual electronic music winter festival that takes place in the middle of December.

Also taking place the middle of December is the Rise&Fall sporting event in Mayerhofen. During Rise&Fall, teams compete in 4 different sport activities: ski mountain climbing, paragliding, mountain biking, and skiing.

If you're spending New Year's in Vienna, consider joining the Silversterpfad. This “New Year's Eve Path” is basically a big street party with several open air concerts.

Now, do you still don't know where to go in Austria in December? :-)
 

3. What to do in Austria in January

Yes, there's New Year's and the end of the holiday season but there are plenty more cool things to do in Austria in January. You could attend, for example, not one but two hot air balloon weeks. One in Gosau near the end of the month and one in Mauterndorf around the middle of the month.

Rather stay inside when it's cold? Then there's always the music festival 3 Days Jazz in Saalfelden. Ski lovers attend the internationally known White Ring ski race in Lech Zürs.

In Kitzbühel they organize the Hahnenkammrennen and in Schladming the Slalom Night Race. For fans of classical music, there's the Mozart Week in Salzburg.
 

4. What to do in Austria in February

In the beginning of February, the Tiroler Kaslauf takes place in St. Johann in Tirol. It's a race for cross country skiirs.

You can also visit the Ötscher Erlebniswochen winter festival in Lackenhof for a wide range of winter activities or go see the snowmen during The Snowman Weekend at the Hochkar ski resort.
 

4. What to do in Austria in March

At the end of the ski and snow season in Austria, there's a “Nostalgia Ski Race” that takes place on the Feuerkogel mountain in Ebsensee. The Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival announces spring at the end of the month with music performances outdoors, in ski huts and at hotel bars.
 

Still not sold on winter? Check out these places to visit in Austria in summer instead.
 

How to get to Austria

Depending on where in Austria you're going, the easiest way to get there will be by plane, train or car. If you're traveling to a big city like Vienna or Salzburg, you can fly there directly or take a train from a nearby city, but if you're traveling to the mountains, you'll need to take a shuttle or rent a car.

Check Skyscanner for a good overview of flight options and prices.

If you're traveling by train, you can find timetables and prices here.

For a rental car, check RentalCars.com as they compare more than 900 rental car companies and have a best-price-guarantee.
 

Don't forget travel insurance

Plan for the best, prepare for the worst. Travel insurance has you covered in case (part of) your trip gets canceled, you get sick or hurt abroad, and sometimes even when your electronics break or get stolen. I always make sure I'm covered on every trip I go on.

Don't have travel insurance yet? Check out SafetyWing. They offer super flexible plans that you can even sign up for while you're already on your trip. On top of that, they were the first travel insurance to cover COVID, and when I got COVID, they reimbursed all of my expenses without making a fuss. Their customer support team is great and I can personally recommend them.
 

PIN FOR LATER

 

I was invited on the #inAustria trip by iambassador in partnership with the Austrian National Tourist Office. As always, anything I write about this trip will be my opinion only.