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Alpbach is a village located in the western Alps in Tyrol, Austria. This small village sits at just under 1,000m at the bottom of a long valley of the same name, overlooked by the 1,899m Gratlspitz mountain.
Alpbach ski area - Ski Juwel
Since the arrival in 2012 of an eight-person gondola linking the Alpbach side of the resort with the Wildschönau valley, Alpbach ski resort has become part of the Ski Juwel area, which incorporates the resorts of Reith, Oberau and Niederau, whose 145km of runs make it one of the largest areas in the Tyrol. Here are three gondolas: the Pöglbahn and Wiedersbergerhornbahn for the Alpbachtal side, and the gondola up to the Schatzberg, the highest peak on the Wildschönau side at 1,898m. Lifts are fast with short queues, and pistes are well-marked and generally quiet.
And once you get up the mountain, there’s a diversity of options: there are steeper slopes on the Alpbachtal side and the more cruisey Wildshönau side is good for leisurely afternoons, with nursery slopes, jump parks and cross-country routes. The pistes at Reith are floodlit three times a week.
The area is best suited to intermediate skiers. Some of the 54km of reds are fantastic, offering descents of almost 1km from peak to valley floor. But skiers should bear in mind that what’s classed as a red on the Alpbachtal side is considered a black across the valley. There’s a handful of black runs (18km in total) under the Wiedersbergerhorn.
For advanced skiers, the area doesn’t have many options on piste but you can choose to hire a guide and explore off-piste areas like the descents at the back of the Widersberger Horn.
Alpbach village
Alpbach is small, compact, intimate and gorgeous. The village lies in the inner Alpbachtal on a sunny plateau with a heavenly view and direct access to the ski area at the Wiedersberger Horn.
There is a uniformity to it – in that all buildings are chalet-style, timbered and balconied and centred on the attractive village church. The cosy main resort of Alpbach, was declared the "loveliest village in Austria" in the 1980s and was voted "best small skiing village in Europe" in 2004.
The village has approx.3.300 guest beds in a variety of accommodations ranging from farms to 4-star-superior hotels.
The majority of accommodation in Alpbach ski resort is made up of traditional chalets, which can suit all budgets. But a good selection of guest houses and hotels are also available, from smart 4-star rated hotels to family-run inns; while a few hostels can suit larger groups and those looking to save their Euros for the slopes, bars or après-ski activities.
The majority of shops are independently run and it's a pleasant experience strolling around the local butchers, grocers and bakery. Among the other options are a photographers' gallery, sweet shop, chemist and several ski shops.
