AUSTRIA – WHERE SKIING MEETS LIFESTYLE

Here, the day often starts early on the slopes, when the snow is still untouched and the mountainside shimmers bright pink in the sunrise. The slopes are perfect – visitors would not have expected anything else – but it is above all between the runs that the country really shows its soul: in the alpine valleys, in the hot baths and in the encounter with
people who know how to live a good life here, without rushing.

AUSTRIA IS winter is not just a season, but at least as much a feeling. It is in the sound of
the bell of an alpine church between snowy fir trees while the cold pinches your cheeks, in the first sip of hot chocolate after a couple of intense hours on the slopes and in the warmth of a fire in an expectantly atmospheric restaurant. Because in Austria, skiing namely about more than sports. It is a rhythm of activity and recovery, a lifestyle, where nature, community and good food are intertwined into something they themselves call
Lebensgefühl. We would probably translate it to enjoyment of life. Let us therefore recommend a couple of real highlights – in several senses – where you can find your own version of Lebensgefühl:

BAD GASTEIN – A CLASSIC WITH NEW ENERGY
Few places capture the contrast between tradition and modernity like Bad Gastein. The former imperial spa town has been given a new lease of life in recent years, and behind the stately Art Nouveau facades lie spas, designer hotels and local cuisine where regional produce takes centre stage. Down in the valley lies what has attracted visitors from all over Europe for centuries – the healthy thermal waters, warm and alive beneath the surface. In Bad Gastein exists
slopes for all levels and often less crowded than on the larger ones the ski resorts. After a day on the slopes, it's lovely to sink into a steamy outdoor bath with the Alps as a backdrop. The upgraded Urban Nature spa hotel, which combines relaxed design with a sustainable mindset and social pulse, is an excellent place to put down your rods. If you prefer spa charm and turn-of-the-century glamour, then
for example, there is the elegant A-ROSA Collection Straubinger Grand Hotel. Both are centrally located in the village, where old meets new in its most charming way.

MATREI – QUIET, AUTHENTIC AND MAGNIFICENT IN In the alpine village of Matrei in East Tyrol, you are met with a different kind of luxury – the thoughtful one, the one usually called barefoot luxury when it comes to warm climates. Maybe woolen sock luxury? Here, the focus is not on après-ski and parties, but on relaxation, breathtaking panoramic views and the feeling of having nature to yourself. The region offers magnificent skiing in East Tyrolean largest ski area, with long red slopes, creaking snow and a family-like hospitality in the alpine huts. There are a number of cozy hotels here for couples, groups and families. High above the village is Hotel Goldried, a family-run hotel with sweeping views of the valley and mountains. It is a classic Alpine address that combines comfort, closeness to nature and genuine warmth. Many rooms have panoramic windows and their own sauna, and from the terrace you can watch the sun set behind the Grossglockner massif.

SPA, STEAM AND ALPINE AIR
Relaxation is as central to the Austrian winter as skiing. Many of Austria's ski resorts have built their identity around wellness and health, often with thermal water as a natural source. In addition to Gastein Valley There are fine spa facilities in, for example, the Aqua Dome in Längenfeld in Tyrol, where futuristic pools float like spaceships in the Alpine landscape, and in St. Anton, where you can alternate between sauna, cold bath and soft loungers with a mountain view. Here, relaxation is part of the daily rhythm: morning skiing, long lunch in the sun, afternoon in the warm water. It's never about going the furthest or making the most time, but about enjoying yourself the most.

THE TASTE OF THE ALPS
It is in the small alpine huts that the soul of Austria becomes most evident. Many of them have been family-run for generations, and the kitchens still smell of browned butter, alpine herbs and gratinated cheese. Try a Käsespätzle – gnocchi-like buttons of flour and cheese – or a Tyrolean gröstl, a local delicacy
wise, served with fried egg and sauerkraut. And don't miss the lunch classic Kaiserschmarrn. Crispy on the edges, soft on the inside, with a scent of vanilla, butter and caramelized sugar – it's soul-warming on a plate.
Several alpine huts now also have real gourmet ambitions. The mountains of the Silvretta massif in the Montafon Valley are dotted with inviting, family-run huts and modern establishments, such as the one at the high-altitude wine bar Vinnova with outdoor seating at an altitude of 2000 meters. Here you can enjoy luxurious
charcuterie boards and book a wine tasting, while enjoying the view of the mountain peaks while tucked into warm sheepskin coats. In Kitzbühel and Lech Zürs you can eat your way through menus that would fit in any fine dining restaurant – but with two metres of sparkling snow outside the window.

TRAVEL THE AUSTRIAN WAY
Winter in Austria is not just about skiing – it is a way of life, in small breaks and big experiences. And as a common thread through nature experiences, hearty food, community and taking the day as it comes, runs the Lebensgefühl – perhaps the main reason why so many return here year after year.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Discover more winter experiences at
austria.info/sv or join the Facebook group Feel Austria SE:
facebook.com/groups/feelaustriaSE

MORE WINTER GEMS
In addition to Bad Gastein and Matrei, there are plenty of other places where the same feeling prevails: Zell am See-Kaprun with glacier skiing and lake views. Alpbach, often called Austria's most beautiful village, with authentic architecture
and friendly atmosphere. St. Anton am Arlberg, for those who want both challenging skiing and sophisticated spa culture.