Ski holidays
Ischgl: skiing in the Silvretta Arena, and where to stay
Ischgl is Tyrol’s best-known après-ski town, but above all a high, snow-sure ski area. These are the hotels we would choose, and how to choose between the centre, Kappl and Samnaun.
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In short: Ischgl
The best hotel in Ischgl for most people is Hotel Madlein, around 100 metres from the gondolas in the centre. For quiet evenings, stay in Kappl at Hotel Zhero, with a free bus into Ischgl. Chalet Silvretta is in Samnaun on the Swiss side, where shopping is duty-free. The ski area has 239 kilometres of pistes.
Our first choice: Hotel Madlein. Check availability and prices
Ischgl at a glance
Altitude: 1,377 metres in the village, up to 2,872 metres on the Greitspitz
Pistes: 239 kilometres in the Silvretta Arena, together with Samnaun in Switzerland
Season: From late November to early May
Airport: Innsbruck, around 100 kilometres and an hour and a half away
Best for: Experienced skiers, groups of friends and anyone after après-ski
It is four o’clock, and the music from the bars along the home run carries all the way up the slope. Skiers stop for a drink before the last turns into the centre. Two hours earlier, the same people stood on top of the Greitspitz, almost 2,900 metres up.
Ischgl sits at the head of the Paznaun valley in Tyrol, and it is easy to see only the party. But it is the altitude and size that make it one of Austria’s best ski areas. Choosing a hotel is about how close you want to be to the slopes and the bars, and how quiet you want your nights.
Silvretta Arena
From Ischgl, three gondolas climb towards Idalp in the middle of the ski area.
The ski area
From the centre, three gondolas climb to Idalp, in the middle of the ski area at around 2,300 metres. From there you reach the rest of the Silvretta Arena, which links with Samnaun on the Swiss side. Most of the pistes lie above 2,000 metres, so snow is reliable from late November to early May.
One thing to know: Ischgl suits people who can already ski. The beginner slopes and ski school are up at Idalp, not in the village, so the first days involve a lot of time on lifts.
Après-ski in Ischgl
Après-ski starts in the mountain huts and carries on in the bars along the home run into the centre. At the start of the season and at Easter, the Top of the Mountain concert is held at Idalp, with well-known artists. Those weekends fill up early. If you like an early night, choose a hotel a little outside the centre or ask for a quiet room.
Compare the hotels
Hotel Madlein: Ischgl centre, around 100 metres to the gondolas. For friends and couples who want to stay central.
Hotel Zhero: Kappl, around eight kilometres away, free bus to Ischgl. For couples who want peace and a spa.
Chalet Silvretta: Samnaun in Switzerland, slopes right outside. For families and quiet days.
The hotels we would choose
Hotel Madlein
Madlein is a design hotel around 100 metres from two of the gondolas. You reach it via an underground escalator, so you can keep your skis on until you are inside. The spa has an indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub, and infrared sauna gondolas stand in the garden. In the evening guests gather in the fireside bar, and the hotel has its own nightclub.
Madlein suits friends and couples who want to be in the thick of it. One thing to know: with a nightclub in the building, light sleepers should ask for a room in a quiet part of the hotel.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Madlein
Hotel Zhero
Zhero is in Kappl, around eight kilometres down the valley, and is a member of Design Hotels. It has 79 rooms and a 750-square-metre spa with an indoor pool. A free bus takes you to the gondolas in Ischgl, and Kappl has its own, quieter ski area.
Zhero suits couples who want peace and a spa after skiing. If you go out in Ischgl in the evening, expect to take a taxi home.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Zhero
Chalet Silvretta Hotel & Spa
Chalet Silvretta is in Samnaun, on the Swiss side of the Silvretta Arena, with the slopes right outside and the ski bus included. Samnaun is a duty-free zone, so you can shop without VAT between runs. The hotel has a spa with an indoor pool.
Silvretta suits families and anyone who wants a calmer stay than in Ischgl. Remember that prices in Switzerland are in Swiss francs.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Chalet Silvretta Hotel & Spa
Hotel Madlein
The terrace looks straight out over Ischgl and the valley.
Hotel Zhero
The fireside lounge is where guests gather after skiing.
Chalet Silvretta
The spa pool in Samnaun.
When to book
The holidays and February are high season, and Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027. Top of the Mountain weekends fill up first. January and April give the most room on the slopes and often lower prices.
How we chose the hotels
We only include hotels with an average score of at least 8.8 from at least 50 guest reviews on Hotels.com. We look at location, distance to the lifts and what guests highlight, and we update the page before every season. The hotels on this page have not paid to be featured.
Our first choice in Ischgl
Hotel Madlein
Hotel Madlein is the hotel we would most like to stay at in Ischgl. The design hotel is around 100 metres from two of the gondolas, reached by an underground escalator, so you can keep your skis on until you are inside. The spa has an indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub, and infrared sauna gondolas stand in the garden. In the evening guests gather in the fireside bar. It suits friends and couples who want to stay in the middle of Ischgl with après-ski right outside.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ischgl good for beginners?
Ischgl suits people who can already ski. The beginner slopes and ski school are at Idalp, around 2,300 metres up, not in the village. It works, but the first days involve a lot of lift time. Families with small children who are learning will find it easier in Kappl or Samnaun.
Where should you stay in Ischgl?
Stay in the centre and you have the gondolas and bars right outside. Hotel Madlein is our first choice there. For peace and quiet, Kappl is a good alternative with a free bus to Ischgl. Samnaun, across the border in Switzerland, suits families and anyone who wants duty-free shopping.
How do you get to Ischgl?
The nearest airport is Innsbruck, around 100 kilometres away, and the drive takes about an hour and a half. Zurich and Munich are around three hours away. By train, get off at Landeck-Zams and take the bus up the Paznaun valley to Ischgl.
When is the ski season in Ischgl?
The season usually runs from late November to early May. The high ski area gives good snow throughout the winter. High season is the holidays and February, while January and April often bring more room on the slopes and lower hotel prices.
What is Top of the Mountain in Ischgl?
Top of the Mountain is a concert series at Idalp, in the middle of the ski area, at the start of the season and at Easter. Well-known artists play for skiers up on the mountain. Concert weekends book up fast, so reserve a hotel early if you want to be there, or pick another weekend for peace and quiet.