When talking about ski areas in Tyrol, names like Ischgl, Kitzbühel or Sölden immediately come to mind. There is snow there almost all winter, there are modern lifts, well-groomed slopes and a lot to experience. However, similar things are offered elsewhere: in places that are still considered insider tips.
Especially the area in Alps has everything a winter fan loves. It’s far from the hotspots, smaller, quieter, honest, and more importantly, very cheap.
Little known ski area in Tyrol
Surrounded by three thousand mighty people in the Hohe Tauern National Park, in eastern Tyrol, not far from the border with South Tyrol. From Lienz or Kitzbühel you can get there in just one hour, from Munich in about four hours. The main town has 1000 residents and is attractive with nice hotels, good restaurants and all kinds of offers Winter sports and lots of comfort.
Stunning panoramas, wide slopes and not too expensive: this ski area offers it all
In St. Jakob at Defereggental the clock is also ticking Ski season a little slower.
Affordable slopeside paradise
The ski area has been awarded the Tyrolean piste quality seal, offering 25 kilometers of pistes from easy to difficult, seven lifts (chair lift, drag lift, gondola lift) and very wide slopes to a height of over 2,500 meters. There wasn’t one there Crowd in elevatorthere are no traffic jams on the valley roads and the snow is still perfect from December to April.
Families especially appreciate the clarity of the area: anyone taking the kids to ski school can watch them learn from the valley station’s sun terrace. And while elsewhere in the Alps a ski pass in high season often costs 80 to 90 euros per day costadults in St. Jakob only paid 70 euros and the kids paid half.
St Jakob is very beautifully located in Defereggental
Hotels also often bargain
Family-run hotels and guesthouses are also much cheaper than in winter-hotspot. If you book on time, you will get a double room located in the city center for 80 euros. Even for a short time Holiday Comfortable accommodation can now be booked over Christmas, sometimes for under 200 euros per night. The cuisine is also simple: there are cheese dumplings, Gröstl, donuts and Kaiserschmarrn at affordable prices.
Lots of snow and open space, plus sunshine: this is what an ideal ski area around St. Louis looks like. Jacob
More nature and sunshine, less hustle and bustle
What makes St. What makes Jakob special is his calmness. No après-ski escalation, no mass tourism. On the contrary: snow-covered forests, sparkling peaks and the feeling of being in the middle of the real Tyrol. And if you need a break from skiing, you can go winter hiking or snowshoeing.
Because the valley faces south, it receives hours of sunlight and is still considered certain to snow. The microclimate on the main Alpine ridge ensures dry snowflakes, while the sun warms the terraces.
