Blue slopes in Austria: the best ski resorts for beginners and families
Are you a novice skier, or a parent with young children, looking for a ski resort in Austria where you can ski down the mountain with confidence? Does the idea of steep slopes and crowded ski resorts make you feel insecure? You are not alone. Many beginner skiers and families wonder where they can find plenty of blue runs — the easy descents — so that everyone can have fun without fear.
We understand your concerns. After all, you want to learn to ski safely, relax, and enjoy your winter sports holiday. In this blog, we will help you get started. It was written by René Schwarte, the initiator and co-owner of Ferienhaus-Tirol.eu. We provide honest, experience-based advice on the most suitable Austrian ski resorts with plenty of blue runs. This will enable you to make an informed choice and hit the slopes with confidence.
What exactly are blue runs?
Blue slopes are the easiest in the Alps. They have a gentle slope and are usually wide and well maintained. They offer the ideal environment for beginners and children to master skiing without having to tackle steep slopes straight away.
If you are just starting out or skiing with children, it is useful to have plenty of blue runs for practising and having fun. Austria has numerous ski resorts, but they differ in terms of how many kilometres of blue runs they offer. If you choose a resort with lots of blue runs, you'll have new, fun slopes to try every day. Moreover, you will be less likely to accidentally end up on a piste that is too difficult. The result? More confidence and enjoyment for you and your family.
Also check out our tips for child-friendly ski resorts in Austria.
What makes an Austrian ski area ideal for beginners?
Not all ski areas are equally suitable for those who are just starting out or for those who are bringing young children with them. Pay attention to the following characteristics that make a ski area beginner-friendly:
A quiet, friendly atmosphere:
In a family-friendly ski area, the atmosphere is relaxed. You will see many other beginners and families, so you won't feel out of place. A destination like Almenwelt Lofer, for example, is small, beautiful and, above all, quiet; there is no exuberant après-ski here, just a convivial winter sports atmosphere. In such villages, you can practise and enjoy yourself without feeling under pressure.
Clear terrain:
For beginners, a clearly laid out ski area is ideal. This means the slopes are laid out logically, so it's difficult to get lost. Smaller areas like Lofer or Sankt Johann in Tirol offer this naturally, as you will have explored the limited number of pistes in no time. However, even larger areas can have designated zones, such as a children's area or a family route. Look for 'family runs' on the piste map — these are usually long, blue sections back to the valley and are clearly signposted.
Good ski schools (preferably with English-speaking teachers):
A quality ski school is invaluable for beginners. In Austria, many ski schools have English-speaking teachers, particularly in popular destinations. This means that you won't struggle with the language, and your children can learn to ski in their own language through play. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, for example, is renowned for having many English-speaking ski instructors. At Skischule Serfaus and Fiss-Ladis, you can often take English lessons during the high season. The result? No miscommunication and down the slopes with confidence! However, we recommend booking ski lessons well in advance, especially during school holidays, to secure a spot.
Practice meadows and kinderlands:
Look for a ski area with a practice meadow or kinderland near the valley or mountain station. These are flat, safe areas with a running belt or short drag lift where beginners can take their first steps on the slopes.
Wide, well-prepared slopes:
Wide slopes give beginners the space they need to make wide turns without hindering others. Moreover, wide runs feel less steep. Many Austrian ski resorts have such 'autobahn' pistes. SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental is renowned for this; its wide slopes and rolling hills make it a great place for beginners and children. In Flachau/Wagrain (Salzburger Sportwelt), there are lovely rolling slopes alongside the forest that are ideal for inexperienced skiers. Wide blue runs boost confidence — there's nothing like practising your technique on a wide blue run.
Good connections and modern lifts:
As a beginner, you don't want to suddenly find yourself somewhere you can't go any further, with only red or black runs going back. Good lift connections mean that all parts of the ski area are accessible via lifts or blue runs. In the Salzburg Sports World, for instance, modern chairlifts, gondolas and ski buses guarantee easy access to all slopes.
If you are travelling with small children, pay attention to the presence of gondolas or chairlifts with child safety devices (safety bars). Many family-friendly destinations in Austria have adapted their lifts accordingly. In summary, an ideal ski area for beginners and families is quiet and orderly, has good ski schools (preferably with English-speaking teachers), practice areas for beginners, wide blue slopes and a modern lift system. Now let's look at some specific questions that many people have when searching for such an area.
Which Austrian ski resorts have the highest proportion of blue runs?
Some resorts stand out with a particularly high percentage of blue runs. Almenwelt Lofer in Salzburgerland is one such resort: this charming area has 46 km of slopes, 32 km of which are blue (around 70% of the total). This makes almost all of the runs here easy and accessible, which is ideal for practising. St Johann in Tirol (near Kitzbühel) also has a high proportion of blue slopes: over 21.5 km of its 40 km of slopes are blue (more than half). Another option is the larger Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn, where 140 km of the 270 km of slopes are blue (around 52%). In Obertauern, most of the 100+ km of pistes are blue, offering beginners plenty of choice.
Are these areas suitable for intermediate skiers?
Yes, absolutely! A common concern is that an 'easy' ski area would be boring for those who are slightly more experienced. In practice, however, our recommended areas offer plenty of challenge and variety. Large ski areas such as SkiWelt, Zillertal Arena and Salzburger Sportwelt are extremely versatile. As well as blue runs, you will also find dozens of red runs and the occasional black run. This means that slightly more advanced skiers, or parents with some years of experience, can continue to improve while beginners enjoy the easier slopes
Prices:
In general, the larger and more well-known the ski area, the higher the price. A day ski pass for large areas such as SkiWelt, Zillertal or Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis costs around €55–60 per adult, whereas smaller areas such as Lofer or St Johann are often slightly cheaper (around €45–50 per day). Accommodation prices are also higher in very popular villages.
However, outside the holiday season, prices drop significantly. Many areas offer family discounts (e.g. a free ski pass for young children or discounts for children up to the age of 15) and special deals. In terms of price/quality, the aforementioned areas are well positioned: the facilities are excellent and the slopes are well maintained. If budget is a big factor for you, consider staying in a nearby village (which is slightly cheaper) and getting to the ski area by car or ski bus. However, staying close to the slopes is more convenient, especially with children.
Also read our blog "A practical guide to an amazing holiday in Austria for beginners"
Ski area comparison
Now that you know the details, we would like to compare the ski areas we recommend. Each area has its own character and advantages.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis (Tyrol):
Large and high-altitude (130 km of slopes up to 2,820 m), with a state-of-the-art lift network, and extremely family-friendly. It excels in children's facilities, with two children's countries, Dutch-speaking ski instructors, and childcare for children from one year old. Approximately 22% of the slopes are blue (35 km), so beginners have plenty of options for their first few days.
Advanced skiers will find a challenge on the high peaks (Obere Scheid and Masner). The atmosphere in Serfaus and Fiss is lively yet relaxed; the après-ski scene is less exuberant than in places like Gerlos or Ischgl. It's therefore perfect for families who prefer an evening game or an early night.
SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental (Tyrol):
One of the largest connected ski areas in Austria, offering 209 km of slopes. Around 100 km of these are blue, and thanks to the wide, gentle slopes, many of the red slopes here also feel accessible. SkiWelt is popular with both beginners and advanced skiers; groups of different levels can ski together here because almost every red slope has a parallel blue variant.
Villages such as Ellmau, Going and Scheffau are ideal for families, offering a cosy atmosphere, good ski schools and minimal nightlife. Westendorf and Söll attract slightly more young people (and thus slightly more après-ski), but are also suitable for children.
WINTER SPORTS IN BRIXENTAL
A selection...
Almenwelt Lofer (Salzburgerland):
Small but nice! With 22 km of slopes, Lofer is entirely geared towards families. As mentioned, 70% of these are blue runs. Almost every piste is easy; even the valley run is manageable for beginners. The village of Lofer is accessible, affordable and, above all, very peaceful. There are no exuberant après-ski scenes or noisy crowds; you can enjoy a relaxed winter sports atmosphere here instead.
Because Lofer is compact, inexperienced skiers quickly feel at home here. You always end up at the same middle or valley station, so it's difficult to get lost. This makes it ideal for families on their first ski holiday. Advanced skiers may find the variety is slightly limited, as you will have covered most of the runs after a few days.
Zillertal Arena (Tirol/Salzburg):
This versatile, snow-sure ski area boasts 116 km of slopes spread across the villages of Zell am Ziller, Gerlos, Königsleiten and Hochkrimml. The area is renowned for being family-friendly and offering a variety of activities.
Beginners can enjoy 41 km of blue runs and large practice areas, such as those at Hochkrimml (Gerlosplatte) and Zell am Ziller. Zell boasts a spacious children's practice area with several practice lifts, which is ideal for learning to ski.
Meanwhile, slightly more experienced skiers can enjoy the many red slopes (63 km). Gerlos is the central village and is particularly popular with Dutch visitors (you can hear Dutch spoken everywhere in high season). This popularity brings lively après-ski and Gerlos has a reputation as a party village, although it remains convivial and manageable for families. Want peace and quiet? Then the slightly higher, quieter villages of Königsleiten and Hochkrimml are good choices within the Arena, where children can play in the snow in the afternoon.
Salzburger Sportwelt (Salzburg, Ski amadé):
This actually refers to a collection of several interconnected ski areas, including Flachau, Wagrain, St. Johann im Pongau and Zauchensee. Together, these areas offer more than 200 km of slopes, over 100 km of which are classified as blue. In practice, you will be limited to one or two sub-regions during your holiday. The largest contiguous section is Flachau-Wagrain-Alpendorf.
This area is great for both beginners and advanced skiers as the slopes are evenly divided between blue and red. Flachau, for example, has wide, easy valley runs and fast lifts with no waiting time. It's no coincidence that lots of Dutch winter sports enthusiasts come here — the atmosphere is international, and the facilities reflect this.
Sankt Johann in Tirol (Tyrol):
Another cosy Tyrolean ski resort, perfect for families who prefer smaller ski areas. St Johann has around 30 km of slopes on the Harschbichl mountain. This area is very relaxed and family-friendly. Beginners can enjoy plenty of blue runs, especially lower down the mountain, while more confident skiers can tackle a few nice red runs.
With over 50% of the runs being blue, it's clear that leisurely skiing is the focus here. The village itself is an authentic market town with plenty of amenities, such as restaurants and shops, but it is quiet at night compared to larger resorts. As you can see, each area has its own advantages. Would you prefer somewhere small and cosy or big and versatile? Both have their charms.
Won't we get bored skiing only blue runs?
This is a common concern among novice skiers and their slightly more experienced travel companions. Fortunately, it's rare to get bored of winter sports, even if you take it easy. For one thing, blue slopes are not all the same – some wind through forests, some are open mountain slopes with views and some are fun connecting routes.
In a large area, you can try a new blue trail every day, so it never gets boring. Remember that as a beginner, your main focus should be on technique and building confidence. Every time you repeat a blue run, you will improve. Do you really think it's getting too easy? Then you can always try an easy red run; in many areas, red and blue runs are located right next to each other, allowing for a gradual transition.
Wouldn't a small ski area like Lofer or St Johann be too limited for a whole week?
While small areas do indeed have fewer kilometres of piste, this need not be a problem, especially for beginners or young children. In a smaller area, beginners like to repeat their favourite runs to build confidence. Children often love doing the same run 'one more time' as it gets easier each time.
If you're looking for something different, you can sometimes take a side trip. From Lofer, for example, you can easily reach the Steinplatte in Waidring (which also has many blue runs) or even Saalbach by car. From St. Johann in Tirol, you can take a day trip to Kirchdorf, which has a small ski area that is nice for an afternoon, or you can explore the Kitzbühel Alps.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: In short, Austria is a true paradise for beginner skiers and families, provided you choose the right ski area. There are many destinations offering plenty of blue runs, ranging from small, quiet villages such as Lofer and Sankt Johann in Tirol, to large, versatile ski areas such as SkiWelt, Zillertal Arena and Salzburg Sportwelt. Each area in our selection offers a safe and friendly environment in which to learn to ski, with wide slopes, good ski schools (often with English-speaking instructors) and plenty of activities for all ages. While the choice can be overwhelming, hopefully this blog has provided some clarity.
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My name is René Schwarte, founder and co-owner of Ferienhaus-Tirol.eu. With many years of experience in holiday home rentals and deep familiarity with international guest expectations, I understand what makes a vacation truly enjoyable.
Ferienhaus-Tirol.eu offers a wide selection of carefully curated holiday homes, chalets and group accommodations throughout Austria. Whether you're travelling as a couple or with a group of up to 50 people – we help you find the right place with ease.
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