Photographing sights, enjoying culinary specialities, shopping to your heart’s content and immersing yourself in nightlife in the evenings – city breaks in winter are popular. After all, they are varied and can be combined with many experiences, such as skiing. In the Alps, this is possible thanks to the ideal location of some cities, such as Innsbruck, in close proximity to the ski resorts. SnowTrex shows how two types of holiday can be combined to create a first-class travel experience.
Innsbruck region (Austria)
Innsbruck not only offers a remarkable cultural programme and numerous ski resorts in the surrounding area, but also convenient transport connections. The Ski plus City Pass ski region, with a total of 13 ski resorts and 291 kilometres of slopes, is even accessible by a free ski bus. The ski resorts around Innsbruck offer everything a winter sports enthusiast could desire: how about an evening run on the floodlit slope in the Rangger Köpfl ski resort (18 km away) or an exciting deep snow run in the Glungezer ski resort (15 km)?
Winter sports enthusiasts can also quickly and easily reach the Axamer Lizum (18 km), Muttereralmpark (10 km), Kühtai (40 km), Schlick 2000 (20 km) and Stubai Glacier (30 km) ski resorts from the Tyrolean capital. But that’s not all, because other well-known destinations are also within easy reach by car. The Arlberg is only around 100 km away, Ischgl and Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis are also 100 km away, and the Pitztal valley is only 85 km away. Another advantage for winter holidaymakers is the main railway station in the city centre, which is also easy and convenient to reach by express train from other European countries.
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As a metropolis, Innsbruck itself has more to offer than just the unique mountain panorama. Worth seeing are the Golden Roof – a bay window decorated with more than 2,600 fire-gilded copper shingles. There are also Gothic and Baroque façades on many houses, the Hofburg Palace and the Bergisel ski jump, which reminds us that Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympics (1964 and 1976) and the Four Hills Tournament. Other highlights for a successful city break include the Anna Column on Innsbruck’s magnificent boulevard, Maria-Theresien-Straße, the Hofburg Palace and the Hofkirche. This allows you to combine a tour with a top destination for romantic city breaks in winter.
Salzburg region (Austria)
Salzburg, on the other hand, is of course primarily known for a very musical son of the city: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is not only Mozartkugeln that attract tourists, but also his birthplace and residence, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the cathedral, Hellabrunn Palace, the Salzburg Museum and much more. This also applies to the surrounding area, where there are several top ski resorts to discover on a short break! The Salzburg Sports World not only includes popular ski resorts such as Flachau (80 km away) and Filzmoos (80 km), but is also part of Ski amadé, the huge ski association with a total of 760 kilometres of slopes. For city breakers who want to combine their tour with a skiing experience, the Gastein Valley with its four ski resorts (110 km away), the Großarl Valley (85 km) and the Hochkönig region (70 km to Mühlbach) are all within easy reach of Salzburg.
Vienna region (Austria)
Skiers who also enjoy smaller ski resorts can even combine a trip to the Austrian capital Vienna, one of the most popular winter city break destinations, with a tour of the slopes. And from here, after sightseeing tours around St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg, Schönbrunn Palace, the Sissi Museum and Belvedere Palace, among others, you can head towards Unterberg (70 km away), Ötscher (150 km), Annaberg (115 km) or Semmering (100 km).
Munich region (Germany)
There are many cities worth seeing from which it is easy to combine a city tour with a day on the slopes, and not only in Austria, the number one winter sports country. In Germany, Munich immediately springs to mind. After all, the Bavarian capital is not only worth a visit during Oktoberfest, as the metropolis is also one of the most popular destinations for city breaks in Europe in winter. Particularly attractive is a stroll along the exclusive Maximilianstraße or a visit to the city centre with the Viktualienmarkt, the Frauenkirche and the “Alter Peter” church tower, which offers a spectacular view of the Alps.
Museums ranging from BMW Welt to the famous Deutsches Museum and the Pinakotheken attract culture lovers, while sports fans are best off visiting the Olympic Park or the Allianz Arena. And thanks to its proximity to the mountain peaks of Bavaria and Tyrol, there is a long list of ski resorts that are easily accessible from Munich. It starts with smaller German ski resorts such as Spitzingsee (60 km away), Brauneck (60 km) or the Steinplatte (90 km) and extends to the large Austrian regions such as the Wilder Kaiser (100 km), the Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (120 km) or the Zillertal (150 km).
Bolzano region (Italy)
For most visitors, the gateway to the Dolomites opens in the South Tyrolean metropolis of Bolzano, a place with Italian, Austrian and German influences. And thanks to its location, it is one of the best cities to visit in winter, not far from some of Italy’s most famous ski resorts. Starting with Bolzano’s local ski resort, the Rittner Horn (15 km away), to Cortina d’Ampezzo (100 km), Kronplatz (70 to 85 km depending on location), Alta Badia (65 km) and the Seiser Alm (27 km).
In Bolzano itself, visitors can of course meet a man who explored the mountains thousands of years ago. After all, Ötzi, the man from the ice, can be seen in the local archaeology museum. And at Sigmundskron Castle, the Messner Mountain Museum is also dedicated to the mountain world. The historic old town, where the popular Christmas market is traditionally held at the end of the year, and the Bolzano arcades also invite you to take a leisurely stroll during city breaks in December.
Grenoble region (France)
The number one destination in the French Alps for city lovers is Grenoble, whose view against the backdrop of the Belledonne Mountains makes the heart of every winter sports enthusiast beat faster. In addition to museums, a cable car ride to the Bastille, from where visitors can enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding mountain ranges, makes the city a magnet for tourists. And, of course, some of the best French slopes are not far from Grenoble. The Chamrousse slopes are only 32 km away. The same applies to Les 7 Laux (37 km), SuperDévoluy & La Joue du Loup (90 km) and Alpe d’Huez (65 km). Even the superb ski resort of Les 2 Alpes is only 68 km away. These are paradise conditions for skiing enthusiasts!
Zurich region (Switzerland)
What large cities close to the mountains in Austria, Germany, Italy and France can offer is, of course, also available in Switzerland! Here in Switzerland, in addition to city breaks and the corresponding tips, the excellent ski resorts are also very popular with winter sports enthusiasts in winter. However, city travellers should not miss the metropolis of Zurich with Lake Zurich, the Bahnhofstrasse shopping mile, the zoo and the narrow streets of the Niederdorf district. With a view of the slopes, smaller ski resorts such as Flumserberg (90 km away) are at the top of the list. But larger ski areas such as the freestyle paradise of Flims-Laax-Falera (140 km), Grindelwald/First & Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen (135 km) and Meiringen-Hasliberg (100 km) are also not far from Zurich.
Bern region (Switzerland)
The capital of Switzerland and its surroundings are also always worth a visit for city lovers among skiers. While Bern itself offers cultural highlights such as numerous museums and the historic arcades of the old town, winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy almost 1,000 kilometres of slopes and nearly 300 state-of-the-art lifts in the canton of Bern. These include the popular Adelboden-Lenk ski area (85 km away), the extensive Grindelwald/First & Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen ski area (75 km away) with 151 kilometres of slopes, and the family-friendly Meiringen-Hasliberg ski area (90 km away).
Geneva region (Switzerland)
The Swiss city of Geneva (French: Genève) is mainly known as the European headquarters of the UN and for watch manufacturers such as Rolex. It is therefore often referred to as the “capital of peace” or “city of watches”. The multicultural metropolis, half of whose inhabitants come from other countries, is located on the shores of Lake Geneva and is the second largest city in Switzerland.
A stay in Geneva is an unforgettable experience, which is always comfortable and easy thanks to bus and train connections via the “Genève-Cornavin” railway station. And if you arrive by car, you can leave it in the “smallest metropolis in the world” with confidence, because visitors who stay here in a verified hotel, youth hostel or campsite receive the “Geneva Transport Card” free of charge. In addition to public transport in Geneva, this card also allows you to use the water taxis (Mouettes) on Lake Geneva, making it a unique opportunity to explore this diverse city for little money.
Geneva’s landmark, on the other hand, is not located in the city, but directly on Lake Geneva. There, the “Jet d’eau” water fountain bubbles up to an impressive height of 140 metres! It’s a sight that definitely needs to be admired from a different perspective. The best way to do this is to climb the “Cathédrale St. Pierre”. From here, the historic old town lies at your feet and, in good weather, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the nearby French Alps, including the highest mountain in Europe: Mont Blanc (4,810 metres).
From Geneva, winter sports enthusiasts are not far from enjoying the powder snow in the surrounding ski resorts. The first port of call is the Evasion Mont-Blanc ski resort , just under 80 km away, with 479 km of slopes with guaranteed snow. The Grand Massif ski resort (55 km away) with a total of 265 km of downhill runs, the Espace Diamant ski area (80 km) with 192 km of varied slopes for all skill levels, and the La Clusaz-Manigod ski area (50 km) with 132 km of slopes are also waiting to be discovered by skiers and snowboarders.
Chur region (Switzerland)
Chur proves that it doesn’t always have to be a big city to delight city-loving skiers. With just under 37,000 inhabitants, the capital of the canton of Graubünden scores points not only with sights such as the old town with the bishop’s castle, the Graubünden Nature Museum and the bar designed by Oscar winner H.R. Giger, but above all with its proximity to the mountains. Snow enthusiasts and fans of city breaks can reach the Arosa-Lenzerheide ski area from Chur in just under 30 km, or Davos Klosters (25 km away) and the Corviglia ski area in St. Moritz (86 km) during the winter, for example over Christmas.
FAQs about city breaks in winter
Can winter sports enthusiasts ski in Innsbruck and enjoy a city break at the same time?
Yes, Innsbruck offers the perfect combination of city break and skiing. The Tyrolean capital has numerous sights such as the Golden Roof, the Hofburg Palace and the Bergisel ski jump. At the same time, there are 13 ski resorts nearby, including Axamer Lizum, Muttereralmpark and the Stubai Glacier, which can be reached by free ski bus. This makes it easy to combine skiing and sightseeing.
Which ski resorts are within easy reach of Salzburg?
Several first-class ski resorts can be reached quickly from Salzburg. The ski resorts of the Salzburger Sportwelt, such as Flachau and Filzmoos, are only 80 km away. The Gastein Valley (110 km) and the ski resorts of Großarltal (85 km) and Hochkönig (70 km) are also within easy reach and offer ideal conditions for winter sports enthusiasts.
Are there any ski resorts that can be reached from Munich in a day?
Yes, because Munich is ideally located for combining a city break with skiing. Winter sports enthusiasts can quickly reach ski resorts such as Spitzingsee and Brauneck (both 60 km away) from here. The Austrian ski jewel Alpbachtal Wildschönau (120 km) and the Zillertal (150 km) are also easily accessible from Munich. After a day on the slopes, why not take a stroll through Munich?
What sights and ski resorts are there around Bolzano in South Tyrol?
Bolzano, the gateway to the Dolomites, offers a unique blend of Alpine and Mediterranean culture. Worth seeing are the old town, the Archaeological Museum with the famous glacier mummy Ötzi and the Messner Mountain Museum. For skiers, the Rittner Horn is only 15 km away and well-known ski resorts such as Kronplatz and Alta Badia are also within easy reach.
Is it possible for winter sports enthusiasts in Grenoble to combine skiing with a visit to the city?
Yes. Grenoble is ideal for a city break combined with skiing. The city is located at the foot of the French Alps and ski resorts such as Chamrousse (32 km away) and Alpe d’Huez (65 km away) are within easy reach. In addition to the ski slopes, Grenoble offers attractions such as the Bastille cable car, from which you can enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
