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5 of the best ski resorts for New Year's in Austria
From dazzling firework displays high above the starry skies to dancing the locomotion on Europop party trains, Austria sure knows how to crank up the volume when it comes to spectacular NYE ski celebrations.
Home to some of Europe's tallest snowy peaks and biggest après-ski appetites, Austria has long been a favourite for exceptional New Year's Eve soirées. Here, you truly can ski all day and party all night, whether that means glugging mugs of glühwein at piste parties in Obergurgl or doing the worm on the glowing rainbow-tiled dancefloors of Ischgl.
However, with so many of the hottest parties in Europe, just where should you choose to spend your New Year’s? Don’t you worry - here at Heidi, we've sipped the schnapps and spun the mirror balls to give you all the best intel on where, when, and how to snag your entry to the hottest NYE parties in the Austrian Alps.
So, prepare your best dance moves, pack your neon shutter shades, and get ready to party Österreich-style. Here it is: our list of the best New Year's Eve ski holidays in Austria worth checking out this year.
1. St. Anton
If you’re seeking unforgettable alpine celebrations in a genuine winter wonderland, a New Year’s Eve trip to St Anton is just the ticket. Combining world-class skiing and snowboarding with some of Austria’s liveliest après-ski, NYE in St. Anton offers the ideal ski-party atmosphere. Carve fresh tracks on legendary slopes by day, then hit the clubs and dance the night away. Sign. Us. Up!
Ideal for groups of intermediate and experienced skiers and snowboarders, a January ski trip to St Anton gives you access to Austria’s largest linked ski area, the Arlberg, with an impressive 305km of slopes. Zoom down oodles of reds and blues from the top of the Schindlergratbahn chairlift, go for gold on the infamous 85km Run of Fame, or tackle the snow-filled bowls below Valluga peak - it’s a certified powder-hound playground!
The night of the 31st in St. Anton is party time cranked up to the max. As skiers and snowboarders from around the globe gather to celebrate, the resort buzzes with an infectious energy. Live music floats through the crisp mountain air, champagne glasses clink on high-altitude bar balconies, and dazzling fireworks sparkle above glittering glaciers. Once the countdown finishes, the night is still young, with partygoers flooding the streets, clubs, and bars along the main thoroughfare. Just try not to go too crazy, because if you can stomach it, an early start on New Year’s Day can unlock some of the season’s emptiest slopes.
Heidi’s top tip: For anyone seeking a wild night, we recommend a visit to the Krazy Kanguruh or the infamous Mooserwirt, where light shows, smoke machines, and towers of flowing drinks await (just don’t blame us for the morning after!)
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in St Anton
2. Ischgl
Another lively après hotspot, Ischgl is always popular when it comes to a stellar New Year's Eve bash. Affectionately dubbed "the Ibiza of the Alps," locals know that if you're looking to party, you head to Ischgl. The nightlife here is as diverse as the skiing, offering everything from rustic mountain bars serving frothy, frosty steins to vibrant Europop dance clubs spinning disco balls above light-up dance floors.
Whether you're a newcomer eager to nail your first ski lessons or an advanced thrill-seeker in search of a serious challenge, Ischgl offers something for everyone. The high-altitude beginner zone is perfect for first-timers to master their snowploughs, featuring some of the highest and fluffiest nursery slopes on the mountain. Intermediates can enjoy a wealth of long, leisurely blue and red runs sprawling in every direction. And for the true champs and daredevils, the steep black runs on the Greitspitze peak and the peachy off-piste action off the Piz Val Gronda cable car await. There’s even one of the best and largest freestyle parks in the Alps—the Ischgl Snowpark—boasting kickers, ramps, rails, and even a massive public airbag jump for the boarders.
As the sun sets, Ischgl transforms into a vibrant party hub. The NYE celebrations kick off in the slopeside bars in the early afternoon and continue into the wee hours. Live music stations and DJ performances echo from every street corner, creating an electric atmosphere that's hard to resist. Whether you're at the famous Kuhstall bar enjoying some crazy club tunes or dancing the night away at Trofana Alm right on the piste, the energy here is electric. Just don't forget to step outside in time for the midnight countdown to witness one of Austria's finest fireworks displays, with hundreds of rockets soaring into the starry night sky to erupt above the snow-capped peaks all at once - it’s pure magic!
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Ischgl
3. Obergurgl
Known to Austrians as 'The Diamond of the Alps', Obergurgl is one of the country's most snow-sure locales, offering age-old alpine charm, endless fantastic tracks and trails, and some truly fabulous slopeside accommodation. Kids will have a blast on the nursery areas close to the resort before venturing onto the oodles of quiet, wide-open blue runs dotted across the mountain. If any young boarders are in your crew, then a visit to the Funpark and Fun Cross courses is essential. Featuring mini jumps, sliders, berms, runnels, and even some mini kickers to help them get that first taste of air. Sick!
When it comes to New Year fun, Obergurgl gets the party started with table dancing and stein-sipping right on the pistes. Warm up with shots of schnapps in the slopeside bars and mountain huts, or keep the action going with some night skiing and night tobogganing under the stars - the choice is all yours!
Heidi’s top tip: For an unforgettable NYE ski trip, we recommend booking a seat at the Nederhütte ski hut for their legendary fondue and champers party. At 2,104m high, this charming peak retreat offers the best view for watching the fireworks whoosh and whistle.
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Obergurgl
4. Kitzbühel
We promise you: this is a New Year's celebration you'll remember for years to come.
One of Austria's best-known and most-loved resorts, 'Glitzy Kitz' Kitzbühel offers a cultural New Year's bonanza that will enrapture the whole family from dawn till dusk.
Out on the slopes, Kitzbühel is a playground for those with a bit of experience behind their skis and snowboards. With 230km of intermediate and advanced runs, there's plenty here to keep you entertained before the midnight festivities. The tree-lined valley trails of Ehrenbachhöhe provide cruisy morning fun, while the exhilarating descents on the Kitzbüheler Horn will get anyone’s heart racing. Freestyle fans will be thrilled with not one but two freestyle parks, and any non-skiers in the group can savour breathtaking glacier views from the glass-floored peak-to-peak gondola.
On New Year’s Eve night, the entire town of Kitzbühel comes alive with moving light installations, street artists, jugglers, stilt walkers, and a symphony of brass band musicians that fill the streets with sound and splendour. Kids can revel in the excitement with warm mugs of hot chocolate and buttery hazelnut crepes before the whole group regathers on the slopes for the torchlit piste procession. As the clock strikes midnight, the sky above the snow-capped peaks comes alive with glittering fireworks, and the whole resort resonates with live music, DJ sets, and LED shows that illuminate the town well into the early hours. Trust us, this is a show no one will want to miss!
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Kitzbühel
5. Mayrhofen
Feeling in the mood for something a little different? A crowd favourite and an Austrian alpine gem, Mayrhofen is a treasure trove of wacky and wonderful NYE experiences, whether you’re a family with little'uns or a group of friends eager to party the night away.
On the slopes, Mayrhofen's 159km ski area - which spans the Hintertux Glacier and the Penken and Ahorn mountains - provides plenty of snowy fun for everyone, from beginners and powder hounds to freestylers and elite boarders. The Ahorn peak is filled with easy blues and stunning summit views for those just getting started, while Austria's steepest black run, "Harakiri," challenges even the most accomplished snow-goers with its astounding 78% incline and 375km downhill descent.
When you’re not busy on skis and boards, there’s ice skating, snowshoe hikes, sleigh rides, and toboggan runs to enjoy. If you fancy it, you can even opt to float between the peaks themselves on a tandem paragliding flight - talk about an adrenaline rush!
Lovers of cheesy pop hits and tabletop dancing will find their calling in the clubs and bars of Mayrhofen, with parties spilling into the early hours of January 1st. However, if you're seeking something a bit different, we recommend choo-choo-choosing to book a ticket on the 'New Year's Eve Train' with Zillertal Railways. Travelling from Jenbach to Mayrhofen, this train makes a brief stop at each station along the way, allowing commuters to enjoy live music and entertainment alongside a variety of local wines and spirits - talk about a platform to party!
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Mayrhofen
Want to learn more about the best New Year ski holidays in Austria? Check out our non-skier holiday page! It is filled with all the very best recommendations.
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