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Planning a family winter trip to Austria? Explore the top activities in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis with kids including ski schools, kids’ clubs and snowy adventures!
I am at the awkward stage of parenting where Cooper is old enough to get life, but definitely not old enough to get skiing. He’s not even three yet, so the chances of getting him on skis when we don’t live in the mountains is zero. However, I really want Cooper to love the mountains as much as I do, and I think that love for the mountains can start now.
That’s how I found myself in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, one of the best family ski resorts in Austria. My main aim for this trip was to play around in the snow and show Cooper how incredible the mountains are. I wanted to plant this little seed that winter holidays are just as much fun as summer holidays. I want Cooper to be a little adventurer growing up, and that starts right now, not when he’s five.
On the first morning in Fiss (the middle of the three alpine villages), we bundled up in our winter gear and left the hotel. Almost immediately Cooper stopped in the middle of the road and just stared at the mountains, completely transfixed and in awe. We hadn’t even got to snow yet and already I knew this was going to be a holiday to remember.
If you’re planning a family ski trip to Austria, I really can’t recommend Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. They really are trying to be the best family ski resort in Europe. In this article, I’ll tell you all about why I think that just might be the case. I’ll also give you the lowdown on the top things to do in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis with kids. I really hope this inspires you and helps plan your trip here!
Contents:
Where is Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis?
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is located to the west of Innsbruck in the Tyrolean Alps, and it is such a beautiful region in Austria. Made up of three alpine villages (Serfaus, Fiss and Ladis) at an altitude between 1,200m and 2,828m, it is a ski resort that can guarantee snow throughout winter.
The three historic mountain villages lie on a sunny plateau above the Upper Inntal valley in Tyrol, surrounded by the distinctive mountain peaks of the Samnuan mountain range and the Ötztal Alps. I say sunny because this is actually the sunniest place in Tyrol, so it’s an amazing place to visit in summer too.
One of the things I really recommend while here is you visit each village separately. They are all connected by cable cars, so getting to each one is easy. They are all slightly different though with their own character, so it’s worth checking each one out.
For example, one of my favourite spots was Laudeck Castle in Ladis, an old 12th century castle perched on a cliff with the mountains all around – it is in such a stunning location and it is the postcard for the region.
Getting to Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis?
Getting to Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is relatively easy. Coming from London, there are direct flights from Gatwick to Innsbruck. The flight only takes 1h:45m, so it is short enough that travelling with kids is relatively simple.
From Innsbruck, I caught an airport transfer to my hotel which took 1h:10m, so it really isn’t too far to travel. If you are hiring a car or driving yourself, leave the Inntal motorway A12 at the Oberinntal junction. Continue on through the Landecker Tunnel, which connects the motorway to the Reschenbundesstrasse. Then take the ‘Ried im Oberinntal’ exit and follow the road signs all the way to Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.
You can also catch the train to Landeck-Zams station where you can catch a bus to whichever village you’re staying at.
Things to do in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis with kids in winter
Skiing in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
I could easily write an entire article just about the skiing in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. I’m certainly not going to cover everything here because there’s a lot that can be said. However, I will say this is one of the best ski regions I’ve ever been to, especially for families. It genuinely feels like everything is designed with children in mind, and I absolutely loved that kids aren’t treated as an afterthought, but as a core part of the experience.
The ski area offers around 214 kilometres of groomed pistes catering to all abilities, with approximately 47 km of easy (blue), 112 km of intermediate (red) and 27 km of difficult (black) runs, plus around 28 km of freeride routes spread across the high plateau. Whether you’re learning to ski, cruising mellow reds, or looking for something more challenging, there’s plenty of variety to keep everyone happy.
In terms of individual marked runs, there are around 89 separate ski runs crisscrossing the terrain, giving skiers and snowboarders a huge choice of descents on any given day.
One of the standout features of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is the sheer scale of its family facilities. There are 125,000 square metres of specially reserved snow areas for children and teens, including Kinderschneealm and Murmli Park in Serfaus, as well as Berta’s Kinderland between Fiss and Ladis. These purpose-built zones are where kids can attend ski school, play in snow parks, ride magic carpets, or even stop for lunch at child-friendly mountain restaurants. You can even drop your kids off at kindergarten while you go off and ski – I feel like there aren’t many resorts where you can do that!
Go tobogganing
As Cooper was a little too young to ski, we went tobogganing instead. There are two main tobogganing runs here – one in Fiss, and one in Serfaus, both 4km long. Cooper and I took on the one in Fiss and it was awesome. Most hotels will supply toboggans, but if not you can hire them from all the ski rental shops beside the slopes.
We caught the cable car to Steinegg, then took on the Witches Run back down to Fiss. Cooper got pelted with snow as we zoomed down the slope, and he still loved it. We were going pretty fast too! This is one of those activities that all ages will love, so I would really recommend this one.
Enjoy the playgrounds dotted around the slopes
I can tell you this, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis know how to do a good playground; they beat anything we have here in the UK. Just add a sprinkling of snow, and its paradise for kids.
There are a number of playgrounds dotted all around the slopes across Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. One of the most accessible is Kinder-Bergwerk, an old gold mine-themed playground. To get here, we caught the red cable car (Schönjochbahn) to the top of Schönjoch. Just next to the cable car station and BergDiamant Panoramic Restaurant is the playground.
We played in the snow for a good hour, and Cooper absolutely loved going in and out of the old mine. We also tried to fill up an old mine cart with snow (which is why we were there for an hour!) It’s the simple things, isn’t it?
Hike through the forest
If you’re not skiing but you still want to explore the mountains, then there are 100kms of cleared winter hiking trails just for you. The one we took on was the Panorama-Genussweg (Panorama Enjoyment Trail). This is an essentially a trail that links Fiss to Serfaus across the mountains. The total trail covers 5km, but there is a shorter 1.5km section which is easier with kids in deep snow.
To get to the Panorama-Genussweg, we caught the blue cable car (Möseralmbahn) up to Möseralm. Aim for the Skyswing and the hiking trail is just across the other side of the piste. Just follow the pink markers and you can’t go wrong. I managed to do the section to Waldbahn with Cooper who’s not even three yet, so I would say this is an activity for all ages.
Enjoy the walking trails
If you’re looking for more of a walking trail, then I’d really recommend the walk from Fiss to Ladis. This is a relatively flat walk. In fact, most of it is downhill, so it’s very easy. Starting in Fiss, if you head east out of the village, you’ll make it to Wolfsee Lake. Even though it was -18 and covered in snow, the lake still wasn’t frozen and gleamed in the morning light.
In total, the walk from Fiss to Ladis takes around an hour in winter. We even managed it with a buggy which we got from our hotel. Most hotels like Hotel Laurentius cater for kids and will provide things like buggies and taboggans for free. I told you this was a very family friend ski resort!
Play around in the snow at Berta’s Indianerland
Along the walk from Fiss to Ladis, you’ll pass through Berta’s Indianerland. This is an American Indian themed play area complete with western saloon and bank that you can explore. It is in such a stunning location too which the mountains all around.
Cooper had a great time here. There was a little tunnel at the back linking the two rooms, and he kept going back and forth. One of the rooms has some fun carnival games too like knock the bottles off with snowballs. Again, if you’re looking for the top things to do in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis for kids, make sure you add this to the list.
Watch ‘Magic of Colors’ in Serfaus or ‘Spirit of Victory’ in Fiss
Another highlight for families in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is the evening mountain shows, which add a bit of magic beyond the skiing. In Serfaus, ‘Magic of Colors’ is a beautifully choreographed spectacle combining ski demonstrations, music, lights, laser show and fireworks, all set against the snowy mountain backdrop. This is every Wednesday night during the winter season.
Over in Fiss, ‘Spirit of Victory’ leans more into action and storytelling, with dramatic ski performances, fire effects and a high-energy soundtrack that keeps both kids and adults completely captivated. This is every Tuesday night during the winter season.
Both shows are easy to access from the villages, and they are included with the guest card or lift pass. They make for a brilliant après-ski activity, especially if you’re travelling with children who still have energy to burn once the lifts close.
Make use of the play areas attached to most restaurants
I know I keep going on about how family friendly it is here, but it is what the resort is famous for. Another example of this is the number of play areas at restaurants. There are three special children’s restaurants – Murmlirest and Starrest in Serfaus, and Berta’s Kinderplanet in Fiss-Ladis.
At these restaurants, you can grab a bite to each while your kid plays around in the play areas. Also, I think you’ll agree with me, the views are pretty special too.
Enjoy the views out of the cable cars
You should’ve seen Cooper’s face light up the first time he rode a cable car. It was like going on a rollercoaster ride, and he squealed with excitement when we left the cable car station. What I liked about riding all the different cable cars was it was contained fun. If you get a cable car all to yourself, you can just enjoy the views out the window. Also, if the weather is blowing a blizzard or it’s particular cold, then it is a little respite from the elements.
Another thing that I really liked about the cable cars is all the people working at the cable car stations will help you on and off the cable car if you’ve got a buggy with you. Most of the time they just stepped in and made sure Cooper got off safely.
One cable car we loved was the yellow cable car Sonnenbahn Ladis-Fiss connecting the two villages.
Burn off some energy at PlayIN soft play in Serfaus
So I know I’ve already mentioned playgrounds and playing in the snow, but if the weather is truly horrendous or you just want to be inside for a bit, then check out PlayIN in Serfaus. This is right next to the cable car station, so it is very easy to get to.
Now, I’ve been to a fair few soft plays in my time as a dad, and this one is right up there. Firstly, the soft play area is over five floors with loads of things to do for kids. They even had some air guns where you could fire foam balls at each other – I’ve never seen that at a soft play before.
Also at PlayIN, they have a Clip ’n Climb with a number of walls to choose from. One of the walls was a glow-in-the-dark wall in a chute which looked great fun. And if that wasn’t enough entertainment, they also have a laser room. This is where you have to navigate through a laser course without touching the lasers. All very James Bond.
Take in the views at Panorama Schönjoch
No matter where you go in the Austrian Alps, you know you’re going to be treated to some incredible views wherever you look. One panorama I really enjoyed as Schönjoch. To get here, we caught the red cable car (Schönjochbahn) to the top. Just in front of the cable car station is the panorama viewing platform. There’s even a map to explain what you’re looking at.
There are actually three new photo points for this winter season. Oversized triangles can be found at Obere Scheidbahn and Pezidbahn which make for a fun photo. There is also a new ‘I Love SFL’ sign at the Schönjoch Umbrella Bar for a family photo.
Warm up with a hot chocolate afterwards
Sometimes you’ve just got to get out the cold and have a hot chocolate. We hit that moment at the top of Schönjoch when we were playing around in the snow for a good hour. All of a sudden, Cooper got very cold, so we popped into BergDiamant Panoramic Restaurant (which has just the most beautiful views by the way) and shared a hot chocolate.
There are around 30 different mountain restaurants and huts, from big panoramic terrace restaurants to cosy traditional huts tucked above the pistes.
Snow ploughs. Because kids just love snow ploughs
When it starts snowing, what does that mean? Snow plough! And this isn’t snow ploughing on a ski slope, but real big bright yellow snow ploughs moving mounds of snow off the roads. Cooper is very much in his tractor/truck/fire engine era, so he was buzzing every time he saw a snow plough. Genuinely one of the highlights of his trip.
Where to stay in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
Whether you’re looking for 5* luxury to small chalets to rent, there is something for all budgets in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. In fact, there are over 16,000 guest beds in total between the three villages which goes to show you there is a lot of choice here.
As this was a family trip, I stayed at the Kinderhotel Hotel Laurentius. If you don’t know about them, a Kinderhotel is basically a dream hotel for families. It’s a place where kids are just as catered for as adults, if not more so. Think supervised kids’ clubs, playrooms, kids’ pools with slides, child-friendly buffets and family-sized rooms, so parents can actually relax while the little ones have the time of their lives.
I have to admit, I absolutely loved staying at Hotel Laurentius. From the moment you arrive, it feels as though the entire hotel has been designed with families in mind – there’s even a cool marble run to occupy the kids while you check in.
There are fantastic indoor and outdoor play areas, a brilliant kids’ club, and thoughtful touches everywhere that make life easier for parents. The family-friendly spa and swimming pools mean everyone can unwind after a day on the slopes, while the location makes getting to the ski lifts simple and stress-free.
Also, each night there was a 5-course dinner which was genuinely delicious, while Cooper helped himself to the kids’ buffet which made him very happy. Win-win there.
My final thoughts of visiting Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
If you’re looking for one of the best family-friendly ski resorts in Europe, you’ll find it here. I really loved exploring everything this region has to offer, from the expansive, beautifully groomed ski area to the incredible facilities designed specifically for children.
Nothing about Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis feels half-hearted — it’s obvious that families come first here. Whether it’s the thoughtful accommodation, fantastic ski schools, or the endless things to do beyond the slopes, everything feels genuinely well planned. You can see exactly why families return year after year, and it’s definitely a winter destination I’d love to experience again.
