Serfaus-Fiss Ladis
Seven Reasons to Choose Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for your Next Family Skiing Holiday
Families love the award-winning Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis! Among the best ski resorts in Tyrol, these three historic mountain villages offer high standards of family hospitality and are also a popular destination for freeriders, freestylers and après ski fans.
Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis: three historic mountain villages built high on a sunny plateau of the Tyrolean Alps. The ski slopes, sitting 1,200-1,400m above sea-level, are framed by the mighty 3,000m summits of the Samnaun mountain range and the dramatic, sweeping vistas of the Ötztal Alps. After dark, the lights of the villages twinkling in the valleys give visitors a sense of being transported to another world.
The residents of this cluster of sweetly-small villages have taken hospitality right to their hearts, offering an exceptional welcome for families. Having enjoyed an investment of over 200 million Euros over the last ten years alone, the region now boasts an array of attractions and facilities that’s hard to beat. Best of all, it’s designed with families in mind.
These are seven of the very best reasons to take your family skiing at Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.
Skiing Tuition that’s Second-to-None
Highly qualified instructors are on hand to cater to skiers of all levels and abilities, ensuring no one is left on the sidelines. Complete beginners have access to all the support they need to grow their confidence on the slopes whilst the budding ski stars of tomorrow are encouraged to extend their ability, learning new tricks and skills in a playful and challenging environment.
The ski schools here employ internationally acclaimed, cutting edge training methods, such as the innovative “Snow-V”. Their programme for young people is big on fun whilst delivering noticeable results.
Even little ones can learn the ropes. Berta’s Kindervilla (to be found at the Fiss-Ladis ski school) offers an extraordinary learning experience where children as young as two are guided in taking their first exciting excursions in skiing on gently sloping pasture. The venue has developed a unique approach combining traditional kindergarten care with introductory skiing lessons, delivered by specialist instructors who provide plenty of encouragement to nurture your child’s enthusiasm for skiing.
All kids are invited to go wild in the Snow Adventure Room (“Schneeabenteuerraum”) before heading into Berta’s Kinderplanet to recover their energy with a yummy snack in this super kid-friendly venue.
An Impressive Array of Winter Sports and Activities
There’s something to appeal to every taste. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis boasts an excellent offer for teenagers too, so families of all ages will find their itinerary filling up fast. Strike out on the immaculately kept cross-country skiing trails; try out snowboarding or hit the freeride slopes.
Winter active highlights include: snowshoe walking; ice skating; media-rich pistes; winter hiking; The Dino Forest; The Animal Park; The Fiss Cave World; a climbing tower; motor sledging course; The Bear’s Slope; and the interactive Murmli trail. You can even take a ride in a horse-drawn sleigh.
The KinderSchneealm is a snowy playground dedicated to uninhibited snowy fun for children. The kids will find life-size sheep, ibex, eagles and other characters to ski around and climb. Supervising adults can watch the fun from cosy hammocks and beach chairs.
For days when the weather’s not ideal, you’ll find the new indoor PLAYIN venue at Serfaus is packed with things for children to see and do. There’s an expansive soft play area covering the whole of six floors; a laser game room; a climbing hall; complete with eleven different climbing walls, plus a play wall for younger children; and a special bouldering room with a chemistry lab theme.
Family-friendly ski area and excellent hospitality
Perhaps one of the most decisive reasons to choose Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for a family destination is sheer convenience.
The resort is served by a system of 68 lifts, cable-cars and a free-of-charge underground service (Dorfbahn) at Serfaus to make getting around as easy as possible. Each of the valley terminals is equipped with ample storage space for skiing and snowboarding equipment.
Also, Serfaus itself is mostly pedestrianised, providing a safe and relaxing place for families to explore the picturesque shops and old-fashioned streets away from noisy traffic.
The Ski Dimension at Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis offers a spacious 214 km of skiable snow, 125,000 square metres of which is reserved just for kids – so there’s plenty of room for everyone. The two ski schools stagger their opening times during the peak season to minimise any queues. This also allows late-sleepers to get a luxurious lie-in without missing out on any of the fun.
For families with babies and toddlers, there’s even a special stroller rental service. These electric buggies are much easier to push along mountain roads and snowy terrain. When it comes to creating ease and convenience for families, this resort has thought of everything.
Plenty of Fun for Daredevils
Thrill-seekers of all ages will be in their element when they see the Serfauser Sauser, The Fisser Flieger and the Skyswing Fiss. The Serfauser Sauser is a zipline, giving a high-speed aerial view of the steep valleys below. Resembling a supersize kite, the Fisser Flieger whooshes four passengers over the scenic Möseralm at 80 km/hr and 47m above the ground.
Also to be found at Fiss, the giant Skyswing seats up to eight people and has a choice of three intensities, ranging from a gentle back-and-forth to a full three-hundred-and-sixty degree loop.
A whirling, soaring adventure awaits on the Family Coaster Schiesenfeger as it zooms its passengers around roundabouts, into banked curves and over jumps at speeds of up to 40 km/hr and up to 8m in the air, eventually drawing to a halt at the Seealm Hög adventure playground.
It’s not just about the rides. The Ski Dimension has a number of seriously steep slopes for more advanced skiers who want to extend the adrenaline rush.
Excellent Family Dining
The region abounds with mountain-view restaurants and cosy picture-book chalets. Mouthwatering local delicacies include smoked meats and sausages, mountain honey, lots of fresh produce from nearby farms, traditional Tyrolean cuisine and homemade Austrian strudels, pastries and a locally made ice cream you won’t want to miss. The area is also famous for its fondues, known locally as a “Tyrolean Hat”. You’ll find that many of the local restaurants have fondue on the menu and it makes a great fun family meal.
Families will definitely want to try out The Murmlirest and Starrest, which have been designed by kids, for kids – and it shows. Think cable-car booths, furry seating and foosball tables. It’s easy to see why these restaurants have been dubbed the coolest children’s eateries in the Alps.
Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis have a huge choice of places to eat, from pizzerias to a cowboy-themed steakhouse, even the fussiest eaters are taken care of. Most restaurants are more than happy to cater for special dietary requirements, but it’s always a good idea to call the venue ahead of time to make sure they’re prepared for your visit.
Non-Skiers are Welcome Too
When planning a family holiday, you’ll want to be sure that everyone in your group has a great time. This can feel like a challenge if you’re bringing along non-skiers. At Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, you won’t have this problem.
Outdoors enthusiasts can explore the tranquil beauty of the mountain trails. There are nineteen specially designed “feel-good stops” where hikers can rest and enjoy the exquisite views from snuggly beach chairs or suspended swings.
Indulge in some holiday retail therapy among the village shops: look out for artisan bakeries; fine jewellers; curiosity shops; an old-fashioned sweet shop; galleries and museums; and a well-stocked designer fashion outlet (labels include Hugo Boss, Armani and Prada to name just a few).
Ladis will be of particular interest to history buffs. The smallest of the three villages was first settled as far back as 1,000 years BC and has a heritage derived from the Roman conquests when it found itself used as a resting spot for travellers along the ‘Via Claudia Augusta’ route.
As you wander around the village, you’ll see century-old farmhouses with unusual external staircases and authentic hand-painted frescoes on the outer walls. There’s also the imposing Laudeck Castle on a rocky outcrop overlooking the village and a romantic lake. The castle dates back to the Early Middle Ages, infusing the village with an ethereal fairytale feel. Whilst there, it’s highly recommended to try the mineral water drawn from the Sauerbrunn Spring, renowned for its crisp purity and its vitalising properties.
If you’re exploring Ladis with young ones in tow, try the interactive geocaching village trail. Use your smartphone to follow a historical trail around the village, find Knight Albrecht’s treasure and reveal the hidden secret. It’s easy and free, you’ll just need to download it (available for both Android and IOS) at serfaus-fiss-ladis.at. Don’t forget to wrap up warm.
Dazzling Evening Entertainment
Serfaus’ Adventure Nights offer, night-skiing and tobogganing after dark, and a large-scale ‘open air spectacle’ featuring pyrotechnics, a laser show and much more besides.
The Fiss Nightflow Show transforms the slopes into a stage, featuring an incredible ski performance that has to be seen to be believed: glowing skis, acrobatics, flashing costumes and technical skill.
The Grand Magic Event at Laudeck Castle lights up the night sky with fireworks and special effects. The local ski instructors put in an appearance too, showing off their considerable tricks and skills as part of the entertainment.
As you might expect from a region that’s put so much effort into its family welcome, there’s a comprehensive website – serfaus-fiss-ladis.at – which is a fantastic resource for planning every aspect of your holiday. There’s so much to see and do, you’ll want to get your itinerary organised.
Garnering awards for its family friendly provision, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has been commended time and again by popular websites, such as skigebiete-test.de and Best Ski Resort. It’s easy to see why this resort has been called a “theatre of winter dreams”.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has so much to offer, but perhaps its most unique feature is this region’s ability to combine relaxation with adventure in a setting of otherworldly natural beauty. It offers an unparalleled sense of freedom and memories that you and your family will treasure for years to come.
Whether it’s your first family skiing holiday or your fiftieth, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis deserves a place high up on your destination shortlist.
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