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Are you planning on skiing in Fugen? From the best ski runs to the best restaurants, this is my expert guide to help plan your trip to Zillertal!
Austria is one of my favourite countries in the world, but it’s a place that still flies completely under the radar. When people think of panoramic mountain views, they think of Switzerland. And when they think of skiing, they think of the French Alps.
The thing is, Austria has both of these things, just without all the crowds. That’s why it’s such a brilliant place to visit. Hopefully in this article you’re about to find out why!
I recently spent a few days skiing in Fugen and I absolutely loved it. This was actually my first time skiing in Austria and I can’t understand why more people don’t have their winter holidays here. It’s the perfect winter wonderland.
The pistes are really well groomed, there are loads of ski lifts and connections, and the food in fantastic too. Actually, the food really surprised me in Fügen, but more on that later.
If you’re planning on skiing in Fügen, then hopefully this will help plan your trip here. I’ll talk about where to eat, where to stay, and some of the best runs too. I’ll also talk about some of the best things to do in Fugen that’s not skiing. I really hope you enjoy your winter holiday here as much as I did!
If you’re planning another ski trip, then check out my other guides to skiing in Chatel, skiing in Meribel and skiing in Madonna di Campiglio in Italy.
Quick overview
Nearest airport: Innsbruck, 45 minutes by transfer or 70 to 90 minutes by public transport
Ski areas: Spieljoch, Hochfügen and Hochzillertal, all on one pass
Piste total: 112-114km across the three areas, served by 43 lifts
Season 2026/27: Hochzillertal and Hochfügen 5 December to 11 April. Spieljoch 11 December to 29 March
Day pass: €82 adult, €37 child
Best for: Families, intermediates and anyone who’d rather ski than queue for a bar
How much does a ski pass cost?
One ticket covers all three ski areas, so you can move between Spieljoch, Hochfügen and Hochzillertal on the same pass.
| Ticket | Adult | Teen (2008–2011) | Child (2012–2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day ticket (from 08:00) | €82 | €65.50 | €37 |
| Afternoon (from 12:00) | €63 | €50.50 | €28.50 |
| 1.5 days | €123 | €99 | €56 |
| 3 days | €241 | €193 | €108.50 |
| 6 days | €399 | €319 | €179.50 |
Anything over two days is automatically a Zillertal Superskipass. That’s a big upgrade for the money, because it opens up Mayrhofen, Hintertux Glacier and the Zillertal Arena as well. It also covers the ski buses and the Zillertal trains, so you can reach any of them without a car. Kids born in 2021 or later ski free. There’s a €2 deposit on the chip card, refunded when you hand it back.
Where to get your ski equipment
I hired my ski gear from Schischule & Schiverleih Kostenzer and I thought these guys were brilliant. They were so knowledgeable and they really wanted me to have a good experience on the slopes.
They have a couple of shops: one in Fugen itself, and one at the base of Hochfugen. I really liked the fact they had a shop at the ski resort – that means you can leave your ski gear here at the end of each day so you don’t have to lug it around with you. They also have a ski school too incase you’re looking for skiing or snowboarding lessons.
Prices for 2026/27 start at €37 a day for the Evolution set, which is plenty for most people. Performance is €41, Excellence is €48, and the Premium and freeride skis are €53. A kids’ set up to age nine is €16 a day, or €72 for six days.
Two things worth knowing. Rent for seven days and you only pay for six. Book online at least three days before you arrive and you get 10% off, which on a family of four adds up fast. They’ll also let you pick your gear up from 2pm the day before and drop it back by 10am the morning after, at no extra cost. On a Saturday-to-Saturday trip that’s basically two free half-days of skiing.
Ski school and childcare
Kostenzer have been running the ski school here since 1975, and the same family runs the hotel I stayed in. It’s that kind of place. Kids’ courses run at both Spieljoch and Hochfügen through the BOBO Kinder-Club, which uses a penguin mascot to get little ones moving. My son would have been all over it.
If your children are too young for lessons, all three ski areas have a Zwergerl Club guest kindergarten. They take babies from three months up to age seven, which is unusually young for an Austrian resort. Book ahead. February half term sells out, and the ski school is now taking bookings well in advance. Austria really is one of the top destinations for family skiing. I’ve also skied at Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, and they were really big on family skiing too.
Getting to Fügen
Fugen is located in the heart of the Zillertal Valley in Tirol, Austria. The closest airport to Fugen is Innsbruck Airport. By far the quickest and easiest way of getting to Fügen is by taxi or airport transfer. This only takes around 45 minutes from the airport.
Saying that, it’s also relatively easy travelling via public transport if you’re looking at keeping costs down. This is what I did, and was very straightforward.
Once you fly into Innsbruck, you catch the F bus from directly outside the airport to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof (the main train station in Innsbruck). This takes around 20 minutes. Once at the train station, you catch the CJX1 to Jenbach. Again, this takes about 20 minutes. Then from Jenbach, you catch the ZB1 to Fugen. That’s only a 15-minute journey.
In total, it will take you around 70 to 90 minutes travelling from Innsbruck Airport to Fugen, so it really isn’t very long at all.
If you’ve got a spare day at either end of your trip, these are my favourite things to do in Innsbruck in winter.
Hochzillertal-Hochfugen ski map
If you need to get your bearings, here is a map of the whole Zillertal region. This will show you some of the runs I’ve talked about above, and also where the mountains are. As you’ll see, Hochzillertal and Hochfugen are the ones in red. Even though it doesn’t look as large or as high at Hintertux Gletscher, it is much more accessible and a fantastic place to go skiing.
Skiing in Fügen
Right, now you’re in Fugen, it’s time to go skiing! Fugen is the name of the little town at the bottom of the Zillertal Valley. Fugen itself is a super cute alpine town. It’s not like the big ski resorts you’ll find in other parts of the Alps. It’s a much more authentic Austrian experience that caters for older demographics and families.
Because of that, it’s much more chilled here than other places I’ve been to. I felt that people really wanted to immerse themselves in the skiing and the beauty of the mountains as opposed to the apres ski. It made things a lot calmer I can tell you that!
When it comes to skiing in Fugen, there are actually a few ski resorts here to choose from. These are Hochfugen, Hochzillertal and Spieljoch.
Spieljoch is actually in the heart of Fugen itself. This resort is perfect for beginners with lots of baby slopes, and families with some lovely long runs.
Then there’s Hochfugen and Hochzillertal, both much bigger resorts further up the mountains and connected together via gondolas. This is where you’ll guarantee much better snow and conditions.
Spieljoch – 21km of slopes served by 10 lifts. Highest point is 2,054 metres. It’s mostly blues and reds, but there’s a black run here now too. The Heiße Kante, or Hot Edge, drops 800 metres over 2.7km and it’s a proper leg burner. There is also a top-to-bottom run that is 7km of groomed piste that just has to be skied. That’s the longest snow-covered valley run in the whole Zillertal.
Hochfügen-Hochzillertal – 90.7km of slopes (35% easy, 48% intermediate, 17% hard), plus another 5km of marked ski routes. Highest point 2,500 metres, with 38 lifts across the two areas. Every single piste has snowmaking, which is why the conditions are so reliable up here. There are so many different runs to choose from here and some fantastic restaurants too.
Getting from Fugen to Hochfugen is very easy. There is a free bus service included in your ski pass that will take you up the mountain. From the centre of town this takes about 25-30 minutes depending on traffic and conditions.
Depending on where you’re staying in Fugen, you can actually walk to Spieljoch. Alternatively, you can catch the same bus as above to drop you off at Spieljochbahn. This bus will take 5-10 minutes.
One thing that I was really impressed with about the skiing in Fugen was all the gondolas, lifts and connections were really well managed and taken care of. It made getting between the resorts and mountains really easy.
Beginner skiing
If you’re a real newbie, then the best place to start is Spieljoch. Here you’ll find a few baby slopes with magic carpet rides to the top, great for getting your ski legs under you. Once you’re ready, here some runs I’d recommend. These are all easy blue runs:
| Run | Area | Length | Why ski it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1a (Mösl) | Spieljoch | 800m | Short and fun. Towards the bottom you hit the tree line and ski through the trees |
| 11 (4SB 2000 Berg zu Tal) | Hochfügen | 2,400m | A long, easy cruiser with lovely views down over Fügen and the valley |
| 12 | Hochfügen | — | The third of Hochfügen’s main blues, handy for linking back to the lifts |
| 13 (8er Jet Berg zu Tal) | Hochfügen | 3,800m | The longest blue in Hochfügen and my favourite easy run. There’s a flat but fast section where you can really get your speed up |
Most of the pistes up here are wide, which makes a big difference when you’re still finding your feet.
Intermediate and expert skiing
I spent most of my time skiing in Hochzillertal and Hochfugen. This is where they have the most intermediate and expert ski runs.
| Run | Area | Length | Why ski it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (DSL Pfaffenbühel Berg zu Tal) | Hochfügen | 2,000m | A really nice run on the Hochfügen side, and not too difficult at all |
| 1 (Zillertal Shuttle Berg zu Tal) | Hochfügen | 3,000m | Good one to push yourself on. The last section gets tricky in the afternoon as the snow mounds build up |
| 3 (6 KSB Berg zu Tal) | Hochzillertal | 3,123m | The longest run in Hochzillertal and the one I enjoyed most all week |
| 13 (Wedelexpress Normal) | Hochzillertal | 1,600m | Shorter, but it starts with a view of the mountains that look like the Pyramids covered in snow |
| Mindbender Canyon | Hochzillertal | — | A small canyon between two cliffs that forms a natural half pipe. Looks tricky, and the mental side is harder than the skiing |
- 13 (Wedelexpress Normal) – Even though this is a lot shorter at 1,600 metres than some other runs in the area, this one is a beaut. It starts with an unbelievable view of the mountains – I think they look like the Pyramids covered in snow!
- Mindbender Canyon – I could resist skiing down Mindbender Canyon. This is a small canyon running between two rising cliffs, and it creates almost a half-pipe through the canyon. It looks quite tricky to ski, but it was great fun once I got over the mental side of it. It really did bend my mind to begin with though!
Other things to do in Fugen that aren’t skiing
Hochfügen Night – Fire Meets Snow show
If you’re skiing in Fugen, then you absolutely have to go and see the Fire and Ice show. I can’t tell you how much I loved this one. Every Thursday evening at 21:00, they put on this incredible fire and light display on the slopes of Hochfugen. This show had everything – skiers doing backflips, girls doing fire poi, an electric plane and helicopter doing stunts in the sky. There is A LOT going on here. It’s one of those shows you just have to see with your own eyes, because I can never do it justice writing about it.
However, my two favourite bits were the synchronised skiers with fireworks strapped to their back. Not too sure about the health and safety on that one but it looked damn cool as they skied down the mountain.
Then finally, the coup de grace was seven piste bashers doing a synchronised dance while completely destroying one of ski jumps. I don’t think I’ll ever see a synchronised piste basher dance again, so don’t miss this one!
The best bit is the Fire and Ice show is completely free (it’s included in your ski pass). I couldn’t believe that this was a free show – I would’ve paid a lot of money for this!
Tobogganing at Spieljoch
If you want a day off the skis without leaving the mountain, this is what I’d do. Spieljoch has a 5.5km toboggan run that drops from the mountain station down to the middle station. It’s the only snow-covered toboggan run in the Zillertal, which tells you something about how much effort goes into keeping it in shape.
You take the gondola up, grab a sledge, and go. The whole thing is served by the same lift you’d use for skiing, so there’s no long walk up in boots.
Prices for 2026/27 start at €31.50 for a single run, or €55.50 for a day ticket if you want to lap it. Kids born between 2012 and 2020 pay €25 for the day. There’s also a three-run ticket at €77.50 and a six-run at €130.50, which work out cheaper than the day pass only if you’re a very slow sledger.
Honestly, this is the bit I’d want to do with Cooper when he’s a little older. Five and a half kilometres is a proper run, not a novelty.
Eating at the Wedelhutte
One of the things Zillertal have really concentrated on compared to other resorts is top quality restaurants to eat at. They know people don’t just want burgers and raclette. When you’re on a holiday, you want the finer things.
Well, one place that was a cut about the rest was Wedelhutte at Hochzillertal. I actually thought this was just a restaurant, but it’s a luxury hotel too with 12 boutique rooms. They also have a spa and the highest wine cellar in the Alps. I told you people wanted the finer things in life!
The restaurant here is damn good too. I had the beef tartare and it was genuinely one of the best I’ve had in a very long time. It came with caperberries, flakes of strong parmesan, a hard boiled quails egg, and my favourite bit lots of truffle shavings. The restaurant was absolutely packed, so I would recommend booking in advanced so you don’t miss out.
Eating at Mountain Loft
Another place you just have to eat at is Mountain Loft at Spieljoch. Run by chef Paulo, this offers everything from traditional mountain food, to yummy pizzas, to more intricate plates of food. As you might be able to tell from the name, Paulo is Italian so the pizza and pasta is next level good here.
I had the beef tartare as it was their signature, followed by the ravioli. I really enjoyed the ravioli as each one was different. There was a deer ravioli, a tomato and mozzarella ravioli, a spinach ravioli, and my fave a beetroot ravioli. The plate was like a work of art it was so bright and colourful.
What’s new in Fügen for 2027?
If you’re planning a ski trip to Fügen in 2027, there are a few new developments and updates worth knowing about before you go. From improvements on the mountain to changes around the resort, this is where I’ll keep track of what’s new in Fügen for the 2026/27 ski season, so you can plan your trip with the latest information.
- The Epic Pass now works in the Zillertal. If you’ve got an Epic Pass, you get up to five consecutive days across all five Zillertal ski areas, including Spieljoch, Hochfügen and Hochzillertal. That’s 546km of piste and 180 lifts. Just show your pass at any ticket window and they’ll hand you a keycard. No booking needed, and no requirement to be staying locally. There’s a €2 deposit on the card.
- Spieljoch finally has a black run. It’s called the Heiße Kante, or Hot Edge, and it’s piste number 3. At 2.7km long with 800 metres of vertical, it gives Fügen’s home mountain some proper bite. Before this, Spieljoch was a blues-and-reds mountain and nothing more.
- There’s a winter via ferrata at Hochfügen. The Pfaffenbichl route is open through winter, which is a rare thing to find in a ski resort. If you want a day off the skis that isn’t a spa day, this is it.
Where to stay in Fügen
Hotel Kosis
For my ski trip to Fugen, I stayed at Hotel Kosis which was a lovely 4* hotel located in the heart of the town. Hotel Kosis was the first hotel in Fugen, but its recently undergone a refurb giving it a new lease of life. All the rooms are wood-panelled giving it those chic alpine mountain vibes.
One of my favourite areas at the hotel was the spa. Here they’ve got a bio sauna, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a fitness room. After a hard day’s skiing on the slopes, the sauna is the perfect recovery. The restaurant was great too. For dinner it’s either a 4-course meal or a buffet. I had both while I was here and all the food was delicious.
Another bonus about staying at the hotel is the ski shuttle bus to Spieljoch and Hochfugen picks your up directly outside which is handy.
If you’d rather be based in the city, here are my favourite boutique hotels in Innsbruck.
Austrian Lebensgefuhl
One thing I would like to add in is this Austrian Lebensgefuhl. I’ve already told you how beautiful the landscapes are, but it’s the people of Austria and their unique way of life that make it such an incredible place to visit. It’s that Austrian Lebensgefuhl, that Austria way of life, which is why I keep coming back here.
Everyone I met, from the chair lift operators to the ski instructors to the chefs to the shuttle bus drivers, everyone was so kind and helpful. It really does make a difference meeting so many people who genuinely love their jobs and the country they live in. Hopefully you get to experience that Austria way of life when you’re here too.
The same feeling runs through the whole region, and you’ll find it in Alpbach and Wildschönau too.
This post was in association with Visit Austria and Visit Tirol showcasing some of the best things to do in Austria in winter. As always, all views are entirely my own and without bias.
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