Ischgl Ski Resort other information

Ischgl / Other information

Ischgl is noted for its very serious toboggan run and its Shapes in White snow scuplture competition.

There is no shortage of non-skiing attractions. This is, after all, a can-do kind of town. Ischgl is noted for its toboggan run, a very serious matter of about five miles down a floodlit track from Idalp. You fortify yourself with a few schnaps at the Panorama restaurant beforehand. The ice-skating rink also has curling lanes, with all equipment for hire. The village also has horse-drawn sleigh rides (0043 5444 5365).

There are 15 miles of marked and cleared walks, plus an excellent sports centre, with an adventure swimming pool, sauna, solarium, massage and bowling. Many hotels also have wonderful 'wellness' centres, with all sorts of massage and beauty therapies. The best of these is at the Trofana Royal, one of the largest such centres in the Tirol.

The upmarket shopping is impressive, with Versace and Prada represented. There are restaurants that non-skiers can get to by gondola and a special 'pedestrians' pass is sold for non-skiers to use specially selected lifts and join up with skiing friends for lunch.

The resort specialises in big events, chiefly a series of concerts through the winter with big name stars. The biggest one is the closing concert held at the beginning of May at Idalp. Stars in the past have included Sir Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, Sting, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Enrique Iglesias, Rod Stewart, Peter Gabriel and Alanis Morissette.

A big opening concert in the village centre opens each season at the end of November – Lionel Richie kicking off the 2005-06 season, following the likes of The Corrs, Amici Forever and Ronan Keating in previous seasons.

Another big Ischgl tradition is the Shapes in White snow sculpture competition, which attracts ice sculptors from all over Europe. The stunning ice sculptures dot the slopes and have a different theme each winter – cartoon characters, rock stars or mythological figures. The contest is held in early season and the creations are a feature of the landscape through the winter until the spring sun does its work – and the works of art melt away along with Ischgl's season.