25/09/2024
Austria Hotel Collection: The Best Hotels for Skiing and Winter City Breaks
Skiing break, winter city trip or a mix of both – let us introduce you to the Austria Hotel Collection, a curated group of premier hotels perfect for any occasion.
Skiing holiday or Christmas hopping in the city – a nice hotel to stretch your legs after an adventure-filled outdoorsy day is an essential part of every holiday. Therefore, it comes with little surprise that choosing the right accommodation takes up a great part of many travellers’ pre-trip planning. To make things a little easier, have a look at the Austria Hotel Collection - Every hotel on this list is unique, but they all exemplify the best in Austrian hospitality.
HOTELS FOR SKIING BREAKS
Tirol
Five-star Das Central in Sölden is surrounded by more than 250 three-thousanders. The resort welcomes guests with 125 luxurious rooms and suites, award-winning dining, and their own wine cellar. There’s equipment rental for skiers, shuttles to the lifts, and sports massages. Wellness fans will love the hotel’s Summit Spa, overlooking the rooftops of Sölden, with a 17-metre-long outdoor infinity pool (17 m above the ground) and a terrace with a whirlpool. saunas, massages, beauty treatments, and a gym with personal trainer. Das Central is perfect for holidaymakers wanting to combine slopes and spas.
Tirol’s Ötztal is a popular skiing destination and Aqua Dome – Tirol Therme Längenfeld is the perfect fit for holidaymakers wanting to combine their snowy adventures with some spa time. The resort sports Tirol’s largest spa with a whooping 12 pools filled with thermal waters, 14 saunas, and tons of treatment options. Relax in a heated pool while marveling at the snow-covered mountains, then enjoy Austrian dishes with a modern twist! Aqua Dome has more than 200 state-of-the-art rooms and suites and is suitable for sporty winter breaks as well as relaxed family holidays.
Stanglwirt Green Spa Resort in Kitzbühel is an organic farm and luxury hotel both in one. Having welcomed guests for over 400 years, it was transformed from a rustic inn into a five-star complex but has kept its Tyrolean charm over time. Stanglwirt runs its very own ski school (for both children and adults) as well as free shuttles to the nearby lifts and slopes. Its signature spa features a saltwater, rock and sports pool, a waterfall grotto, a natural swimming lake, saunas, steam baths, and a kid’s area. The hotel also has its own Lipizzaner stud and a riding school.
At A-ROSA, also in Kitzbühel, guests enjoy Alpine tradition and modern amenities just a stone’s throw away from the pistes in a castle-like environment. Breathtaking views of the Streif, the Hahnenkamm, and the Wilder Kaise included. Holidaymakers can choose between the Sissi and Franz Suite (with a private terrace and a fireplace), the Spa Suite (private sauna and massage area included), or the Eagle Suite (all of the above, plus XXL living and dining areas), and enjoy the 3,000 m² / 32,000 sqft spa area, two top-notch restaurants, a sushi lounge, and a cocktail bar.
SalzburgerLand
Experience luxury and relaxation after a long day on the slopes at DAS EDELWEISS Salzburg Mountain Resort, a 5-star ski in/ski out haven right next to the lifts. Guests can rent their equipment and book a ski instructor at the reception. The 7000 m2 / 7.500 sq-ft Mountain Spa, featuring several saunas, indoor and outdoor pools, and treatment options, offers the ultimate wellness experience. Food lovers will be spoiled for choice, with diverse culinary adventures from around the world and a focus on local ingredients. DAS EDELWEISS is run by no less than 13 members of the same family.
Forsthofgut in Leogang, SalzburgerLand, a sustainable farm-turned luxury hotel, is another ski and spa resort not to be missed! It has direct access to the surrounding slopes and features Europe’s first forest spa, with an adults-only area (old-wood sauna, herbal and steam baths, 25-m-long sports pool with mountain views, onsen-style pool), as well as a separate kids water wonderland. Guests can rent skies and other equipment right on site, book a ski course, and end their day by carving right down to the hotel before indulging in an Austrian foodie fest at their in-house restaurant.
Vorarlberg
Nestled right amid the mountains, Burghotel Oberlech in L**h am Arlberg is a popular ski in/ski out hotel for winter sports fans of all ages. Guests start their sporty adventures right from their doorstep (there’s also a ski school a stone’s throw away) and cap the day in the hotel’s spa world and award-winning restaurants. The “Burg” also has one of the largest wine cellars in Western Austria! The owners, the Lucian family, started out with a small milk bar offering refreshments to skiers before transforming into an inn and eventually a luxury retreat. Three generations are working side by side.
Steeped in history and family traditions, four-star Hotel Gotthard, also in L**h, and just a few minutes from the mountain railway Rüfikopf, combines luxury with authenticity, and cosiness with modernity. Run in the third generation of the Walchs, every guest is treated like a member of the extended family. The hotel opened in 1931 and has since become a top-notch home away from home with comfy rooms, a restaurant serving Tyrolean and international cuisine, and a spacious wellness area, think indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, relaxation spaces with waterbeds and loungers, massages, and treatments.
Carinthia
Trattlerhof can be found in Bad Kleinkirchheim in the Nockberge mountains, in Austria’s Southern-most province Carinthia, and is a cosy and family winter hideaway currently run by the fifth generation. Guests have quick access to the slopes, with the closest lift only 150 m away, and Bad Kleinkirchheim’s traditional Christmas. In-house amenities include a forest spa, wine tasting weekends and horse-drawn carriage rides. The hotel also offers various deals, ranging from romantic winter getaways to ski and thermal spa packages, special family packages, and even pet-friendly holidays.
Mountain Resort Feuerberg is a four-star ski in/ski out hotel on Carinthia’s Gerlitzen Alpe perfect for solo travellers, couples, and everyone arriving with kids. The family-run retreat features spacious, rooms and chalets, and a spa area with eleven pools, saunas and yoga sessions. Mountain Resort Feuerberg has its own on-site ski rental, ski school, and professional guides taking guests on snowshoeing and winter hiking tours in the region. Families will love the kids club, babysitters and children’s buffet, while dogs are welcome to join their two-legged family in designated chalet suites.
HOTELS FOR CITY BREAKS
Vienna
Organic, fair-trade and sustainable: Family-run 4-star Henriette Stadthotel Vienna in the hip 2nd district, the former home of Johann Strauß, is a small luxury home away from home where holidaymakers can enjoy a well-deserved break with a good conscious – the hotel has earned both the Austrian and EU Ecolabel. Henriette Stadthotel heats its rooms with an in-house air-to-air heat pump system and most of the food ingredients at the restaurant – including for their famous breakfast – are seasonal and regional. The natural organic bedding ensures sweet dreams after a long day of sightseeing.
Hotel Harmonie in trendy Servitenviertel, surrounded by cafes and some of Vienna’s most popular restaurants, owes its name to the former Harmonie Theatre, just a stone’s throw away. Unsurprisingly, owner Sonja Wimmer chose an artistic concept for her hotel, taking inspiration from Vienna’s rich history as well as its dance tradition - members of the State Opera’s ballet were involved in the design process. Expect colourful rooms and pieces of art around the building. Hotel Harmonie holds certificates for sustainability, allergy-friendliness, and organic products, and was one of the first hotels to offer a fully vegan breakfast.
Charming Hollmann Beletage is a 4-star boutique hotel around the corner from St Stephen’s Cathedral. Founder Robert Hollman says he can’t stand hotels and therefore has created an alternative home away from home for guests treasuring both individuality and the special things in life. In other words, people exactly like himself. Surprises await at every corner at this unique and colourful place, like a hidden garden, a stylish private cinema, or a room solely dedicated to board games (they are even on the walls!). The 28 rooms boast unique design features such as (half) open bathrooms or a fireplace.
Opened in 1898, Hotel Ambassador is as elegant as both its name and its surroundings suggest – it is located right in the heart of Vienna’s historic centre, close to St Stephen’s Cathedral and the State Opera. The hotel combines traditional ambience with modern spirit, and 19th century elements with cutting-edge amenities. What’s more, it ranks among Vienna’s most tradition-filled buildings. Many well-known figures in music, art, and culture have popped in here over the years. Travelling for a special occasion? The spacious top floor apartments come with private terraces and picture-perfect city views.
Opened in 1892, Hotel Bristol is so iconic it almost counts as a landmark itself. The five-star-hotel sits next to the Viennese State Opera (and most major sights, too), making it the perfect base for fans of classical music. The rooms boast opulent décor and amazing views of the Opera and the Ringstraße’s grand buildings, plus there’s the Bristol Lounge which has been dubbed “the most elegant dining room in town”. Kings, presidents, artists, and celebrities have all stayed at this hotel. Guests can enjoy all-day dining and exquisite cocktails and cognacs at the in-house restaurant, bars, and salons.
Hotel Altstadt, a carefully restored 19th-century patrician house is a piece of art in itself: All 62 rooms and suites have been individually designed by the likes of Lena Hoschek, Matteo Thun, and Lilli Hollein, and over 350 pieces of art are displayed throughout the hotel. Altstadt’s concept is no coincidence: The hotel sits in the heart of Vienna’s artist district Spittelberg. It is Vienna’s first hotel certified with the Austrian Eco-label for environmental and social sustainability, running on 100% renewable energy sources and using organic ingredients in the restaurant (plus there are many vegan options).
Once home to Vienna’s nobility Almanac Palais Vienna presents itself as a boutique 5-star luxury hotel blending architectural heritage with contemporary design. It is in the heart of Vienna’s historic centre, on the Ring Boulevard, the perfect starting point to explore the 1st district. Established in 1990 by Herbert Hasselbacher, an Austrian entrepreneur and former basketball player, the Almanac brand is renowned for crafting iconic hotels in historically significant locations, with curated design and personal touches. The Vienna hotel features a spacious wellness area and à la carte breakfast with plant-based options.
Hotel Sans Souci is a luxury place around the corner from trendy MuseumsQuarter, offering a prime location for sightseeing and Christmas markets, top-notch amenities, and the longest hotel pool in town in the exclusive Sans Souci Spa (under a glittering chandelier!). Champagne lovers can look forward to a complimentary glass for breakfast, over 60 different types to choose from at the hotel bar, and tastings every first Thursday of the month. All rooms and suites were individually designed by Philippe Starck’s studio YOO with unique character, and maximum comfort in mind.
Need more space than in a classic hotel? Singerstrasse 21/25 provides exactly that! The hotel is located in the very centre of the city, just 300 metres from St Stephen’s Cathedral and features generous luxury double rooms as well as 66 fully equipped apartments with kitchen units, dining areas, and walk-in wardrobes. The highlight are the stylish exclusive penthouse units for up to six guests with large roof-top terraces overlooking the roofs of the historic centre. The rooms and apartments are available for short- and long-term stays. The hotel also provides a generous breakfast buffet.
Salzburg
Stylish Arthotel Blaue Gans is the place to be when on a city break in Salzburg. Located right in the heart of town across from Festspielhaus (Festive Hall), close to Mozart’s birthplace and the Christmas markets, it houses Salzburg’s oldest inn (dating back to 1350), where guests can enjoy Austrian cuisine with a Mediterranean touch amidst vaulted ceilings and dark wooden beams. Art lovers will be delighted by the more than 120 original works in the building. And then there’s Campari: Celebrating the centuries-old trade routes between Salzburg and Venice, it is served all day long at the hotel bars.
Innsbruck
Innsbruck has no shortage of accommodation options but trendy NALA Individuell Hotel stands out from the crowd. An enchanting hotel in den 1950s, it has been turned into a modern city escape with colourful rooms and apartments all individually designed in line with their names (from cinema to zen) and mountain views. Both the city centre and the nearest lifts – for guests wanting to combine skiing and sightseeing – are within walking distance. NALA is dedicated to sustainability, running on 90% green energy, and using eco-friendly cosmetics, mattresses, and pillows, as well as organic ingredients for the breakfast buffet.
Happy browsing and hopefully see you in Austria soon!
