04Experiences

The other season

Snow, not a closed city

Winter in Austria is not waiting for summer. The official tourism site calls it the season of snow, skiing and winter walking, and says snow often begins from late November, especially in the Tyrol and Salzburger Land mountains. Lift ticket prices change every season; each resort lists its own. Innsbruck Airport itself grows busy in this season because of skiers — enough to know that the mountain in winter is a travel destination, not a backdrop to the city. If your plan is only Vienna and the Wachau, winter is cold and possible. If your plan is altitude, winter is the reason. Combine a day on snow with a day in a city, and do not assume the High Alpine Road is open just because the city streets are clear. Mountain roads open seasonally; the operator publishes the exact dates.