Ischgl Travel

High in the beautiful Paznaun valley lies the stunning village of Ischgl. Believed to offer the best in Austrian skiing, it has grown from a once-quiet farming village into a bustling, fashionable resort, which makes it a first-class choice for sampling Austria's finest. Throughout the season, skiers are tempted across the border by Swiss cuisine and tax-free bargains as the resort is linked by lift to duty-free Samnaun. By night, Ischgl enjoys the reputation of "après-ski capital of the Alps," as its bars and nightspots positively buzz with North Europeans. Non-skiers have daytime choices of ice-skating, sleigh rides and museums.

On the snow, Ischgl offers sublime intermediate skiing and boarding in the seemingly limitless Silvretta Ski Arena, which takes in a wide choice of challenging runs and unusually varied terrain. Quality is ensured by the resorts' high altitude and previously excellent snow record. In all, there are 200km of runs, with a bus link to nearby Galtür for a further 65km. Aside of an uncharacteristic warm welcome, boarders love the resort's half-pipe and specialist park.