For ski enthusiasts, Ischgl is THE mythical Tyrolean resort. «Relax if you can»... its slogan already sets the tone: here, people come to ski in the best conditions, but also to party, and party some more.
What do Katy Perry, Rihanna, James Blunt, Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner and Robbie Williams have in common in their careers? They all performed on a snow-covered plateau, at an altitude of over 2,300 meters, in front of thousands of fans. In Ischgl, in the Austrian Tyrol, it's now a well-established ritual: every winter season opener gives rise to extraordinary festivities and one of the most popular shows in the Alps. International stars and DJs perform on the Idalp plateau. On November 29, to open the 2025-2026 winter season, Rita Ora will set fire to what is undoubtedly the highest stage in Europe.
From this high-altitude platform, a network of lifts leads to 239 kilometers of pistes, the Silvretta Arena. A vast ski area that extends beyond our borders, even into Switzerland! Once over the Palinkopf Pass, the slopes descend to a totally isolated part of the Engadine valley: Samnaun, a picture-postcard village right on the border. As the area is tax-free, many skiers return with their backpacks full of bottles, chocolates and other Swiss delicacies.
Ischgl, the story
Ischgl, a community of 1,600 souls, started out as a family affair. Families from a poor village who, in the 1960s, went into debt to finance the construction of the first ski lifts. Then, year after year, they reinvested their profits to constantly improve the comfort of skiers and increase the range of leisure activities on offer. Today, Ischgl has transformed itself into a five-star resort, where skiers climb the slopes on heated seats, where the slopes are perfectly groomed every night, where après-ski is an institution, where top brands are shopped for, and where palaces, hotels and restaurants all boast star ratings.
Chef Martin Sieberer, who works at the Paznauner Stube in the Hotel Trofana Royal (www.trofana-royal.at), is crowned with a Michelin star, while Benjamin Parth, head chef at Stüva, the YSCLA hotel restaurant (https://yscla.at/restaurant-ischgl/), boasts two stars. The latter is particularly renowned for its prowess in serving dishes of extreme finesse but based on very few ingredients.
Ischgl has also quickly earned a reputation for its après-ski entertainment, which starts at midday and continues well into the night. From traditional Tyrolean bars to more international venues in the village and on the slopes, discos, pubs and mountain inns, the choice is eclectic. Not to mention the numerous events that take place throughout the season. Since the Elton John show in November 1995, the «Top of the Mountain» mega-concerts have been opening the ski season, not forgetting the big musical event held at Easter. Each time, they bring together some 20,000 people in the middle of nature, in this mineral and snow-covered setting!
Night sledging
While the village itself lies at an altitude of less than 1,400 meters, the slopes climb to almost 3,000 meters. This is another undeniable advantage of this resort: the winter season starts at the end of November and lasts until the beginning of May, when almost 80% of the slopes can be covered with artificial snow. The Silvretta Arena is also a hot spot for snow acrobats, with two parks stretching across the Austrian and Swiss parts of the resort. The Ischgl park is divided into three sectors: the «Kingsize» park, the public park and the beginners' park, offering a variety of kickers, rails and quarterpipes. And if you're still in the mood for speed under the stars, don't worry: after dark, a toboggan run lights up on seven kilometers of white powder!
More info on www.ischgl.com.
Photos Paznaun-Ischgl Tourist Board
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