The ski area
The SkiWelt links Söll, Ellmau, Scheffau, Going, Itter, Hopfgarten, Brixen, Westendorf and Kelchsau into one area with 275 km of slopes: 115 km blue, 121 km red and 39 km black, with 81 lifts. The terrain is rolling rather than dramatic, between 620 and 1,869 m, with long, wide runs through meadows and forest. Westendorf has the steepest pitches, Söll the liveliest village and 10 km of floodlit night skiing.
The season runs from 5 December 2026 to 29 March 2027, with Ellmau staying open until 4 April at low-season rates. Because the area is low, a dense snowmaking network does much of the work, and it does it well in most winters.
Who is the SkiWelt for?
The SkiWelt is built for families and intermediates. Children’s areas and ski schools are everywhere, the blues are wide and forgiving, and parents can cruise 100 km of red without ever feeling out of their depth. Beginners progress quickly here. Expert skiers get a few proper blacks around Westendorf and Hopfgarten but will not be stretched for a week. Après-ski is good in Söll and Ellmau, calmer in the smaller villages.
Practical
At about 880 km from Brussels, the SkiWelt is one of the closest big Austrian areas, roughly 8.75 hours’ drive, and Innsbruck airport is only 70 km away. Each village has its own character: Söll for nightlife, Ellmau and Scheffau for families, Westendorf for stronger skiers. Prices are fair for an area of this size, and accommodation ranges from farmhouse rooms to four-star spa hotels.