Ischgl the Austrian ski resort is perhaps most famous for its apres ski party scene, however it’s well worth taking it easy in the evenings so you can enjoy the fabulous on and off piste skiing the resort has to offer. The queues tend to be minimal and you can have vast areas of the mountain almost to yourself; perhaps because everyone else is sleeping off the excesses of the night before!
Whether you want to explore the nightlife or the mountains, Ischgl has a lot of attractions and is particularly popular with snowboarders. The skiing is fairly high in Austrian terms and is a little more like some of the big French domains such as Paradiski. It has a good snow record and sometimes there is skiing right through until May. This is helped by excellent snow making facilities across the area – much of which already sits at over 2,000m.
Another plus point for Ischgl skiing is the variety; over the course of a week you can explore lots of different areas most of which offer spectacular scenery. You’ll also be able to enjoy some seriously long runs, including an 11 km piste all the way down from the Austrian / Swiss border. Although great for experienced skiers and snowboarders the resort attracts a good number of beginners and intermediates. Whilst a solid all rounder, Ischgl perhaps wouldn’t be our first choice for complete novices. The Ischgl lift system itself is excellent, very fast and efficient.
Ischgl Famous Apres Ski
As well as the well publicised apres ski, there are also some top quality restaurants in Ischgl, including the Michelin-starred Paznaunerstube. If it is that nightlife which is attracting you to what some have dubbed “Ibiza on Ice” some of the most famous (or infamous) locations in Ischgl are Niki’s Stadl, The Kuhstall and the Alpine branch of Pacha. The Ibiza label may be a little misleading though, some of the night spots can at times feel a little more “impending mid life crisis” than “bright young things”.
Ischgl accommodation is strongest if you are looking for high quality four and five star hotels. There are plenty of choices whether your taste is traditional Tyrolean or designer contemporary, however prices do tend to be higher than in other resorts in the region. You will find self-catering accommodation in Ischgl but choice is limited and locations aren’t always great. As is the case in a lot of Austrain resorts (with a few notable exceptions such as St Anton) catered chalets are few and far between.
Despite the fact that Ischgl’s famous start and end of season “Top of the Mountain” concerts have attracted A-list international stars and huge crowds the resort does seem to be facing a bit of a change of direction. Last summer (2019), work began on a vast spa development which will be finished for the 2022-23 ski season and the mayor has publicly stated that he wants to move the resort away from “party tourism” to a slightly different and higher quality offering. There will still be plenty of good times to be had when the lifts close, but perhaps you’ll have a bit more energy the next day to hit the slopes again.
