Bregenzerwald Ski Resort Guide
Bregenzerwald ski region in Vorarlberg is well-known to skiers from Switzerland, Germany, France and Benelux. Less well known to British skiers, the Bregenzerwald region is snowsure, easily reached from the three nearest airports and offers a great selection of affordable accommodation.
Good skiers can easily ski the groomed runs at Bregenzerwald’s three main ski areas in a few days or less. An efficient free ski bus service linking each ski area makes Bregenzerwald a good destination for a full-week ski safari and short breaks. The 3-Tal Bregenzerwald lift pass is valid for all Bregenzerwald ski areas and includes free travel on local buses.
Besides 200 km of piste skiing, 50 km of ski routes and 56 ski lifts covering three main ski areas – Damuls-Mellau, Warth-Schrocken and Au-Schoppernau – Bregenzerwald has 300 km of cross-country skiing (45 km skating runs and 66 km mountain cross-country ski runs above 1,000m) and 200 km of winter walking trails plus toboggan runs and ice skating.
There’s skiing to suit all ability levels. 38% of runs are blue, 36% red and 14% black, but when you take account of the off-piste possibilities there’s much more for advanced skiers than it may seem from any analysis of the on-piste skiing, especially at Damuls-Mellau and Warth-Schröcken.
Bregenzerwald ski villages
Unlike many ski resorts – crowded in winter, empty in summer – Bregenzerwald’s pretty villages are thriving rural communities. Tourism, farming and local handicrafts each account for approximately 1/3rd of economic activity. It’s a pleasant change to see farm animals occasionally in winter and so many charming buildings, not just ski rental shops!
Because Bregenzerwald villages are unspoiled and not dependent on tourism, they offer more peaceful family-friendly skiing among real communities and an excellent choice of accommodation to suit all budgets. Accommodation, typically in excellent family-owned hotels, includes plenty of 3-star and 4-star hotels, private guesthouses and apartments. Moreover, accommodation in Bregenzerwald is often cheaper than in better-known ski resorts in Austria.
When it comes to après ski Bregenzerwald is fine for families and most couples, but will not appeal to those seeking a vibrant party atmosphere and late-night entertainment. None of Bregenzerwald’s villages has much in the way of après ski outside the main hotels and even the bars nearest the ski lift base stations will mostly be found wanting.
Where to ski and stay in Bregenzerwald?
Damuls-Mellau, the biggest ski area between the villages of Damuls and Mellau, has plenty of ski-in and ski-out accommodations and is good for skiers and boarders from beginners to advanced including off-piste.
Warth-Schrocken is best for beginners and advanced skiers including some good ski touring opportunities and challenging ‘off the back’ excursions for strong off-piste skiers. Warth is now connected to Lech and the Arlberg ski area, which makes Warth an increasingly popular ski destination.
Au-Schoppernau (Diedamskopf) the smallest of the three main ski areas, has some of the steepest pistes including some red and blue runs which are surprisingly steep in parts. The Diedamskopf ski area is worth skiing for one day in six during a week-long stay. In addition to offering some of the best hotels in the region
Au Schoppernau is conveniently located halfway between Warth-Schrocken and Damuls-Mellau, making it an ideal place to stay if you plan to ski all three ski areas. Damuls and Warth are better for ski-in and ski-out convenience and Warth will be your choice for back-door access to the huge Arlberg ski area.
Recommended hotels in Bregenzerwald
Most Bregenzerwald hotels are family-owned with under 50 rooms so not big enough to interest most tour operators. Standards are high and the choice of hotels includes some excellent and affordable 4-star hotels. Check location carefully before booking accommodation away from the main ski areas.
Hotel Adler, Au 4-star
Hotel Krone, Au 4-star
Gasthof Adler, Schoppernau 4-star
Erlebnisreich Natter Hotel, Schoppernau 4-star
Hotel Gasthof Adler, Damuls 4-star
Damulser Hof Wellness Hotel, Damuls 4-star
Alpenhotel Mittagspitze, Damuls 4-star
Hotel Walisgaden, Damuls 3-star
Sonne Lifestyle Resort Hotel, Mellau 4-star deluxe
Family Hotel Jageralpe, Warth 4-star
Sporthotel Steffisalp, Warth 4-star
Hotel Walserburg, Warth 4-star
Boutique Hotel Lechtalerhof, Warth 4-star
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Getting to Bregenzerwald
The nearest airports are Friederichshafen, Memmingen and Zurich which are approximately 100km, 125km and 175km from Bregenzerwald ski resorts.
Transfer times from Friedrichshafen to Bregenzerwald take about 1½ hours by car and from Zurich to Bregenzerwald it takes around 2 hours by car or 2½ hours by train and taxi. Flying into Innsbruck or Munich is also possible, but transfer distances and journey times are longer.
If you book an early morning flight to Zurich (and a return flight in the evening) via Swiss.com, you can arrive at your hotel in time for lunch and ski that afternoon and in the morning on the day of departure.
MyTransfer Service Shuttle offer efficient and comfortable transfer services from all of the above airports to Bregenzerwald ski resorts, with a user-friendly online booking engine at www.mytransfer.at
Bregenzerwald Tourist Information
1135 Impulszentrum, 6863 Egg
Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg, Austria
Tel: +43 (0) 5512 2365
Web: www.bregenzerwald.at/en
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