| Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol region has a | | | | Innsbruck. |
| rich skiing pedigree, having twice hosted the | | | | |
| winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. Innsbruck | | | | Though they are not linked together via a |
| itself is not a ski resort; it's a city sat | | | | single lift system, taken collectively, the |
| in the mountains that is surrounded by eight | | | | Innsbruck area offers over 200 trials |
| smallish ski areas, most of which are less | | | | covering over 300 miles of terrain, most of |
| than an hour's drive away. | | | | which take less than an hour to reach from |
| | | | Innsbruck. It is possible to use public |
| The closest ski area to Innsbruck is Seegrube | | | | transport to reach the ski areas, but as car |
| Nordkette, the slopes and lifts of which can | | | | hire in Austria is reasonably priced, you're |
| be seen from the city centre. The area | | | | better off getting your own wheels, which |
| offers some steep terrain (it claims to have | | | | enables you to be much more flexible about |
| one of the steepest pisted runs in Europe) | | | | when and where you go. |
| and the large cable car will quickly whisk | | | | |
| you up from 575m to 2255m in just a few | | | | The small, local nature of the ski areas |
| minutes. | | | | means there is a real rustic charm and a |
| | | | friendly hospitable environment to the skiing |
| Axamer Lizum is one of the most renowned in | | | | here - something which has been lost in the |
| the area, approximately a 45 minute drive | | | | bigger and more famous mountain resorts of |
| from Innsbruck. Though small, the terrain is | | | | the world. Most of the ski areas are close to |
| steep and offers plenty of backcountry | | | | small alpine villages, dotted with timber |
| opportunities for the adventurous. Especially | | | | chalets, which represent the traditional |
| ideal for freestyle skiers and snowboarders | | | | Alpine lifestyle that has changed very little |
| there is a terrain park with rails and a half | | | | over centuries. |
| pipe. In terms of après ski, there's not a | | | | |
| lot going on in Axamer Lizum aside from a | | | | If you're looking for a ski-in, ski-out snow |
| couple of small on-slope restaurants where a | | | | holiday, don't bother with Innsbruck. But if |
| hearty platter of Wiener schnitzel can be | | | | you want a ski trip that offers the |
| devoured. There is also a small tepee at the | | | | excitement and services of a city, with the |
| base of the slope serving steaming mugs of | | | | variety and choice and authenticity of a |
| gluwein - an ideal way to round off a day on | | | | number of small, local ski areas, then a road |
| the slopes. Those looking for a night on the | | | | trip around the Innsbruck area is an ideal |
| tiles should either head to the nearby | | | | winter holiday. |
| village of Axams, or back to base in | | | | |