As for getting to Innsbruck, it’s super easy as you can get a direct flight from London with EasyJet or British Airways for as little as £100 (roundtrip) if you’re lucky. You’ll avoid all the hassle of booking a transfer to a resort, which might end up costing you as much as the actual flight, and can simply take the F bus from Innsbruck Airport straight into town. Alternatively, you can fly to Munich and take the Flixbus (for only £34 return) from Munich Airport to Innsbruck. Ideally, you’d like to avoid the train if you’re travelling on a budget – it’s more expensive and the scenery is way nicer from the bus anyhow. The bus takes around 3-3.5h but the views will keep you busy daydreaming.

In case you feel like your budget allows, you can get a rental car to drive to the resorts with, though we highly recommend using the local buses, both for economical and ecological reasons. However, if you are keen to find a car share, check out the go-shred Facebook group for shared rides to the resorts. Usually you end up paying between €3-8 return, depending on the resort and the amount of people you’ll be sharing the car with. Most of the posts are in German but don’t let that scare you, just write a post in English asking if anyone from Innsbruck is going to a specific resort and if they could fit X amount of people in the car. Don’t count on people planning their days weeks ahead, it’s more of a “looks like the weather will be nice tomorrow, let’s go and shred” kind of a mentality in this city. We know our parents told us to never get into a stranger’s car but it’s all safe.

Innsbruck is surrounded by plenty of resorts, and you’ll find everything from family friendly fun, to hardcore free-riding, to casual park chilling – here’s our top five picks to help you find the right resort for you.

Nordkette | Patscherkofel | Axamer Lizum | Muttereralm | Kühtai

Patscherkofel

The J bus is the one you’ll want to be riding in Innsbruck. It takes you up to both Nordkette and Patscherkofel, which is on the south side of town. The drive up to Patscherkofel takes about 25min, depending on traffic (same goes for the bus ticket as with Nordkette – it’s for FREE). Patscherkofel isn’t as steep as Nordkette, which makes it more beginner friendly. However, it is more likely for Patscherkofel to be icy than for Nordkette, especially if the infamous Fhön wind has been blowing about and taking all the snow with it.

Patscherkofel is not massive, but there are definitely more routes to choose from then on Nordkette. At the very bottom of the resort you’ll find a children’s slope and some more mellow pistes for the absolute beginners. It tends to be sunny down there, so shredding up and down that beginner slope will give you a nice tan while you practice those turns. If you’re on a family holiday, or a beginner, Patscherkofel might be more to your liking than Nordkette.

If your group of shredders consists of different levels, Patscherkofel is a good option. The snow park begins at the top of the resort, and if you’re into rails you’ll definitely enjoy the Patscherkofel snow park. The kicker line isn’t as impressive as on Nordkette but there are some smaller ones for you to get creative on. The park is divided into three different sections, so making your way down the piste turns into a bit of an adventure. Patscherkofel snow park is not as busy as the Skyline Park at Nordkette but the smell of weed and sight of fisherman hats cannot be avoided here either.

Patscherkofel is perfect if you’re in the mood for just fooling around the piste, and there are some steep parts that allows you to get your speed up. Parts of the pistes are also quite wide so getting those elbows down and practising your Slice ‘n’ Dice carves is also an option.

If you’re looking to ride powder, Patscherkofel might not be your best option. This side of the valley can be quite windy and often the snow has “gone with the wind” before you can get to it. For a good powder day at Patscherkofel you’ll need to get some hiking in, and preferably have someone show you to the good spots.

Patscherkofel offers a day ticket for the price €38 and the half-day one for €31,90.

Axamer Lizum

There’s no J bus to take you to Axamer Lizum but luckily the City of Innsbruck has invested in other free ski busses. L1 is the one you want to grab for Axamer Lizum but unlike the J bus, you should check the timetable for it since L1 only runs once an hour. It leaves from the main train station (HBF) but stops along the way so you can check if there’s a closer stop to where you are staying. The ride takes about 50min, and the buses tend to be quite crowded, so you usually have to sit holding on to your board. Axamer Lizum is a very bare resort, so don’t forget to put sun cream on. You know how well your skin tolerates alpine sun after sitting inside the office for the past 6 months.

Like the rest of the resorts near to Innsbruck Axamer Lizum isn’t massive, but you can easily spend a day exploring it. It’s also great for powder, if you know where to go (which is probably the case for any resort). In case you’re up for an adventure, take the Pleisen lift up, and once you get off there is only one piste down. Keep on the very left side of the piste and it takes you further out from the resort (don’t turn to the right, that will only bring you back to the resort). You’ll reach a ski route called Axamer Abfahrt, follow that and you’ll find yourself some epic treelines. Once you’re down you’ll have to take the bus back up to the resort, and if you’re lost just ask the locals for help, they’re very friendly even though they might not speak any English.

As in nearly every resort around, you’ll find a snowpark in Axamer Lizum too, the Golden Roof Park. A couple of years back the park was placed at the very bottom of the resort and wasn’t really worth a 50min bus drive. But once it was moved up amongst the rest of the resort, they really improved their game. The golden roof park is easily the most versatile park around Innsbruck. There are boxes and a beginner friendly kicker line, a more advanced rail set up and two medium kicker lines, one being slightly bigger than the other.

The pistes are steeper than in Patscherkofel but if you take the train up to the top and then turn to the right, you’ll find a long quite mellow piste ideal for beginners. Be aware though, by the end of it there’s quite a long flat bit, so be prepared to keep your speed if you want to get all the way back to the lift without needing to unstrap a foot.

At the very bottom of the station there are a couple more mellow pistes ideal for kids and beginners. Also, if you take the Birgitzkopfl lift up to the other side of Axamer Lizum, you can shred all the way to Muttereralm, another ski resort. However, you won’t make it back, which may be quite unfortunate. In case you are planning to head back to Innsbruck you can explore this fun forest run and then take the bus back to town from Muttereralm, otherwise we suggest you stay put.

What might please people who prefer to have a warm meal for lunch but don’t want to spend heaps on expensive resort lunches is that Axamer Lizum has a public microwave. The outer part of the Hoadl Haus restaurant allows you to enjoy your own lunch and use the microwave there to heat it up.

On a final note, if you’re one for dressing up and getting absolutely smashed during the day, you should make sure you book your trip according to Ugly Skiing Day, which is usually the first Saturday of April. It is epic, though slope safety regulations may be mildly violated (for any family holiday – stay away during this time, please).

For a day pass at Axamer Lizum you’ll pay €39,50.

Kühtai

The bus ride to Kühtai makes it pretty high up the list of the most scenic bus rides ever, so that 1h 10min ride doesn’t feel too bad in the end. Just remember to use the toilets before you leave since there aren’t any on the bus (or just skip the morning coffee). Bus 4166 also leaves from the main train station (HBF), and like most of the other ski busses, it is also for free. As said, it is a nice ride, so make sure you have a window seat and your earphones in.

Out of all the five resorts listed above Kühtai is the biggest one, so you’ll easily enjoy a day or two exploring it. It’s no Mayrhofen but compared to the other resorts mentioned there is more to see. Kühtai is divided into two sides. On one side you can find the KPark and the SuperPipe. This is the only halfpipe you’ll find close to Innsbruck and one of the only two SuperPipes in Austria, Germany and Italy, so if you’re one to ride pipe, Kühtai might be to your liking. Next to the pipe, you’ll also find a SnowCross course, which can keep you busy for hours (it’s ridiculously addictive to try and get those turns right). The “halfpipe” side of the resort tends to get quite icy at times. When taking the HoheMutBahn up, the first bit of the slope is quite steep, and once it’s icy, there’s a lot of bum sliding around, so be careful.

The KPark is for advanced riders, so the ones who aren’t comfortable with hitting kickers of that size may be better off exploring the KidsPark on the other side of the resort. The KidsPark is fun, with a lot of boxes and good-sized kickers to practice your 180s. Occasionally the slightly red-faced lift man (not sure if this is from the sun or the schnapps, probably both) offers you anything from mints to schnapps – a truly winning combination.

This side of the resort has some really fun slopes to offer, however as the other side gets icy, this side tends to get slushy and the snow can get quite heavy and bumpy, especially around spring. If you feel like you need a little rest in between laps, the KaiserBahn gondola is a good way to rest your feet. It takes you up to the top, from where you have loads of options to choose what way to go next.

Kühtai is another place where you want to make sure that you’ll bring your sunscreen unless you want to rock the red-faced panda look. For a day ticket you’ll spend €40 and for half-a-day one €36.

Where to stay? If you don’t have any mates, or mates of mates whose sofa you could crash on, there are other options for making this trip cheap. Innsbruck isn’t however the most versatile when it comes to its hostel selection, so in case you’re in the middle of a “I don’t know what to do with my life” phase, opening up a nice cheap hostel in Innsbruck might be worth a try.

People are pretty chilled with renting out their rooms, so if you know anyone at all with connections to Innsbruck, it’s worth asking if they know anyone who’d be up for renting their room. A lot of the locals are away for occasional snowboard trips, so the chances are quite high for you to find somewhere to stay. If not, check Airbnb in Innsbruck or some of the following hostels: Marmota Hostel, Youth Hostel Innsbruck or Hotel Nala Innsbruck.

Where to eat? Austria, the promised land of beer, schnapps and schnitzel. Luckily, Innsbruck has developed quite a bit more than the alpine resorts surrounding it, and the food options are more diverse. So, the ones who tend to fuel themselves with chips and ketchup throughout the week due to their dietary restrictions, are in for a treat when staying in Innsbruck.

First things first, what to eat on the slopes? Do as the locals – bring your own snacks instead of having an overpriced portion of schnitzel mit pommes at the resort restaurant. There are plenty of grocery stores around the city, so simply buy yourself a pack of bread and ready sliced cheese and you’re good to go. And don’t forget the sweets, who wouldn’t love some biscuits in between laps. Just bear in mind that the shops close at 7pm and aren’t open on Sunday’s (except for maybe three, but you can’t count on that either – updating opening hours online is an unknown concept for the Tirolians).

When it comes to eating out, you’ll find everything from the traditional food options to insanely good pizzerias (Italy is only 30 mins away) and vegan food. If you’re keen for some traditional food and Weißbier, then Stiftskeller is definitely the place to go. It’s located in the middle of old town, with a beer garden that is open when the weather allows for it. You’ll have some vegetarian options here too, but be aware, your stomach might need a few days to process them.

One of the best Italian restaurants in Innsbruck is located on Höttinger Gasse and is called Due Sicilie. You’ll get one of the best pizzas Innsbruck has to offer, with some good pasta options too. It might be worth booking a table though as the place is tiny. Another slightly less glamorous option for pizza is Magic Pizza, located in old town, which serves greasy slices of kebab pizza until midnight. If you don’t want to wait around for your food in a fancy restaurant, and you don’t mind stinking heavily of garlic afterwards, this might be more to your liking. For the ones with a slightly more demanding stomach, we recommend My Indigo. You can get everything from beef to vegan curry, salad or sushi here. Café Moustache is another great place for vegetarian and vegan options, with their massively popular Falafel plate. The drinks here are cheap too, so you won’t go bankrupt if you decide to keep on going with those afternoon spritzers.

What to do in the evenings? If you want to have a look at what the fisherman hat wearing snowboarders do when they’re not snowboarding, you should head toMachete. They make the most delicious burritos (massive ones too) and it’s also a great place to start your Friday night out, with quality beer and delicious Moscow Mules. If you feel like continuing your evening further into the night Kater Noster is the natural next step for any considerable hipster. It’s not a club, but they make delicious drinks and it tends to get pretty crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’re aiming for a proper night out, you should definitely check out Jimmy’s. We still find it quite fascinating how many rolled up beanies jumping up and down to hip hop tunes you can fit inside one room.

A snowboard trip to Innsbruck can be whatever you decide it to be but making it cheap is easy. Innsbruck is as ideal for a family holiday as it is for the ones who are looking for some serious shredding. If it’s enjoying cheap prosecco (bottle for 3€ from the grocery store) on a sunny day up at Nordkette or going all in on a Wednesday night in Jimmy’s, either way Innsbruck’s got you sorted.