Forget Aspen, Ischgl Should Be Top Of Your Ski Trip Destinations In 2026

Me on the slopes in Ischgl, Austria on my first day of skiing.Recently, I was invited by the Paznaun-Ischgl Tourism Association to experience a fabulous 4-day skiing package to Ischgl, one of four alpine towns in the Paznaun region of Western Austria.I’ll admit, I was apprehensive. I hadn’t skied in a good long while, but I was assured that Ischgl had everything I needed to rediscover the long lost skills I’d developed some 17 years ago, whilst also being a world-class resort for skiers of all abilities.The Paznaun region boasts over 350km of slopes and snow parks, 239km of which are found in Ischgl. The season opens in November every year, and there is guaranteed snow all the way until the beginning of May, when the season ends.What exactly is Ischgl?A view of the outside one of the mountain restaurants in Ischgl.As a leading winter destination in the Alps, Ischgl offers everything from skiing to snowshoeing to mountain biking to hiking. Plus, its season is marked by incredible opening and closing concerts, previously headlined by the likes of Rihanna, The Killers and Elton John.Once I knew I was going, I set about acquiring all the necessary clothing I would need – ski socks, a ski suit (or jacket and trousers), goggles and proper gloves.I hired all of my actual ski equipment from a local sports outlet (Bründl Sports) in the town, which was much easier than flying it over. I was also able to store my skis, poles, helmet and boots in a locker provided by the hotel, which is a standard feature for most hotels in Ischgl.Me with all my skiing equipment, and a shot of the lockers in my hotel where I stored my gear.What airport do you fly into for Ischgl?The season hadn’t quite started when I flew over from London, so I ended up flying into Munich and driving to Ischgl, which took three and a half hours.There are several nearby airports to Ischgl including Innsbruck, Munich and Zurich. The former is only open during the ski season, and the latter two will necessitate a few hours of driving to the resort.You don’t need a car to get to Ischgl, though. It’s easy to get around the entire Paznaun region using the local network of buses. From the nearby Landeck-Zams train station, you can grab a shuttle service to Ischgl or one of the other alpine towns – Galtür, Kappl and See – for free if you get yourself a guest card from the Tourism Association Paznaun. Find out more about that here.A shot of the town of Ischgl including the Hotel Solaria where I stayed.During my time there, I had a couple of great skiing sessions, with time left over to take advantage of the many wellness facilities available in Ischgl. The local Silvretta Therme spa is seriously impressive, and was a particularly welcome break from the exercise of the slopes.I spent several hours there taking in its various saunas and pools, many with gorgeous panoramic views of the valley. Definitely try their outdoor pools, where the warm water and the cool alpine air make for a unique bathing experience. Oh, and it also has an ice rink for anyone so inclined!I was also able to visit the adults-only 5-star Elizabeth Arthotel, which sits right at the bottom of a huge slope in the centre of town, and boasts a stunning art collection and fully integrated spa. The full body massage I had here might be the best one I’ve ever had.I particularly enjoyed the outside pool at the Silvretta Spa Ischgl, which also has a ton of saunas!What is the skiing like in Ischgl?Back to the main event, the actual skiing was fantastic. Being a novice, we warmed up on some baby slopes and then some green slopes, using a variety of magic carpets, button lifts and chair lifts to get up there (Ischgl has some of the best lift systems in the Alps).I did manage to spectacularly fall off of a button lift, which reminds me to advise newbies to not use their phones to take pictures during their very first go on a lift!The snow was soft, smooth and perfect to ski on, and I picked it up again pretty quickly. The mountains are genuinely gorgeous to behold, and though the slopes can get busy, it didn’t feel overcrowded.The mountain scenery is seriously stunning.The Tourism Board had lined up instructors and guides for our entire group from the Ischgl “Skischule”, and ours – Michael – was brilliant. If you’re skiing again for the first time or you’re new to the resort, I would recommend using a private ski instructor as they are not only able to teach you and give you tips to enhance your skiing, they can also show you around the slopes to find the best parts of the valley for what you’re looking for.The après ski, which I naively thought meant hot chocolates by a warm log fire, is another big part of Ischgl. There are several pubs and bars, which can get pretty lively, so if you’re looking to let loose after a day on the slopes, you’ll definitely be satisfied. We racked up quite a few glühweins (German mulled wine) at the Schatzi bar, which was a really fun vibe.After that, we set off to the opening “Top of The Mountain Concert”, which this year played host to Rita Ora.Rita Ora performs at the 2025 Ischgl Top of the Mountain opening concert.The staging was fantastic, and I loved watching Rita in the snowy setting with everyone gathered together. She played an hour and a half set, which included hits such as “Black Widow”, “Your Song” and “R.I.P.”, and it felt like a great way to start the season and bring everyone together.As a sometimes introvert, I do think Ischgl does a great job of feeling like a community, but not feeling too insistent on socialising. Tyrolean hospitality seems such that if you need help, you will absolutely be given it, but you are left to your own devices by default, which I must say, I enjoyed.Where can I stay in Ischgl?The Elizabeth Arthotel is one of four 5 star hotels in Ischgl.In terms of accommodation, Ischgl is by far the most equipped of Paznaun’s alpine towns with over 150 hotels to choose from (including four 5 star hotels) and a range of holiday apartments, private rentals and even a mountain lodge at your disposal.I stayed at the Solaria Hotel, which had a super charming and cosy aesthetic, and provided the perfect location for me to easily get to the cable cars for skiing. However, the town is quite compact, so any hotel you choose will probably provide you good access to the mountains.What are the restaurants like in Ischgl?A private dining room at the Genussrestaurant Sunna restaurant where I ate on my final day in Ischgl.Finally, if you’re looking for places to eat, my favourite place I dined during my stay was the Trattoria in the Silvretta Therme where anything on their menu with cheese is particularly divine – try their four cheese pizza or the lasagne.You’ll find a cross section of Austrian, German and Italian restaurants in town – some of which have Michelin stars – and provide a wide variety of dishes designed to warm you up on cold nights. There are also several mountain restaurants should you wish to have a nice meal while you’re up on the slopes.Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Ischgl. I think its highlights are certainly its excellent ski faci its traditional style village with abundant après ski venues and its exceptional wellness offering.So, whether you’re looking to go hard on the slopes AND in the evenings, or kick back, relax and take in the gorgeous mountain scenery, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for in Ischgl.Related...5 Must-See Things To Do In Seoul, South KoreaThis 2026 Bookish Travel Trend Could Improve Your Mental HealthI Was A Cruise Holiday Sceptic. Then I Went On This One

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