Yes, skiing in the Alps at Easter works very well, as long as you choose the right resort. The most snow-sure are Obergurgl (a village at 1,930 m), Obertauern (1,740 m), Ischgl (skiing up to 2,872 m) and Zell am See with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. A week's stay with hotel and lift pass included during Easter week is usually 10 to 25 per cent cheaper than during half term.
Accommodation with the lift pass included at 108 ski resorts in the Alps. You arrange your own travel there by car, train or plane.
The best resorts for Easter skiing
High-altitude ski resorts with snow well into April. Click through for guides, piste maps and booking.
Snow-sure ski resorts in April
Easter 2027 falls on 26 to 29 March, and it is important to choose a resort with reliable snow conditions late in the season. Altitude is decisive. Resorts below 1,500 metres may be closed or have limited skiing in April, whilst high-altitude resorts offer excellent conditions.
Obergurgl is the obvious first choice for skiing at Easter. Situated at 1,930 metres with peaks up to 3,080 metres, this is Austria's most snow-sure ski resort. The season typically runs until the end of April, and the snow cover is reliable throughout. The resort is quiet and family-friendly with 110 km of pistes.
Obertauern sits at 1,740 metres and is known as "Austria's snow bowl" thanks to a favourable microclimate that catches snowfall from all directions. The season normally lasts until late April, and the resort offers 100 km of pistes in a compact and easy-to-navigate ski area.
Ischgl normally stays open until the beginning of May and is an excellent choice if you want to combine late-season skiing with a lively apres-ski scene. Its high altitude (up to 2,872 metres) has reliable snow, and the pistes are well groomed in April too.
Zell am See has a unique advantage at Easter: the Kitzsteinhorn glacier at Kaprun, which sits at an altitude of 3,029 metres. The glacier has reliable snow all year round and offers skiing even when lower pistes have closed. The combination of glacier skiing and the beautiful lake at Zell am See makes this a particularly appealing destination at Easter.
Glacier skiing. Why altitude matters at Easter
Towards the end of the ski season, it is altitude that determines whether you get good or poor conditions. The rule is simple: the higher the resort and its pistes, the more reliable the snow.
At altitudes above 2,500 metres, the temperature is cold enough to preserve the snow even when the sun is warming the valley below. Glacier areas such as Kitzsteinhorn near Zell am See lie above the permanent snowline and have ice and snow all year round. This means you can ski on the glacier even when the village below is bare.
Resorts such as Obergurgl and Ischgl have both valley pistes and high-altitude pistes. At Easter, it is the upper parts of the ski area that offer the best conditions. The piste machines groom carefully, and snow cannons supplement as needed. The result is that you can often ski on well-groomed pistes even in mid-April.
Avoid low-altitude ski resorts at Easter. Lofer and Maria Alm, which lie lower down, are normally closed or have heavily reduced offerings in April. Choose instead a resort with a top station above 2,500 metres for the best experience.
Sunshine and skiing. The benefits of spring skiing
Skiing at Easter is not just about snow. It is about a completely different experience compared with skiing in midwinter. Here is what makes spring skiing special.
- Longer days. In April you have 12 to 13 hours of daylight compared with 8 hours in December. This means you can ski for longer and enjoy the sun on a terrace chair during your lunch break.
- Warmer temperatures. The temperature in the valley is often around 10 to 15 degrees, perfect for sitting outside on a restaurant terrace. High up it is still winter, with sub-zero temperatures in the morning.
- Soft snow. Spring snow (corn snow) is soft and forgiving, particularly in the morning. It is a great feeling to carve turns in soft snow under sunshine. In the afternoon the snow can become wet and heavy, so plan to ski the best hours before lunch.
- Fewer visitors. Compared with half term and New Year, it is generally quieter at Easter. Lift queues are shorter and you get more space on the pistes.
- Unique atmosphere. The combination of snow on the mountain and spring in the valley creates a truly special atmosphere. Many consider spring in the Alps to be the best time of the whole season.
The best resorts for Easter skiing
Here we summarise the best options if you want to ski at Easter 2027. All the resorts below have reliable snow in April and offer good conditions for spring skiing.
- Obergurgl. The highest snow reliability in the Alps. Quiet, family-friendly and spectacularly beautiful. Season until the end of April.
- Obertauern. "Austria's snow bowl" with reliable snow and a compact ski area. A good mix of pistes for all levels.
- Ischgl. A large ski area with pistes up to 2,872 metres. Stays open until May. Great apres-ski in spring too.
- Zell am See. Glacier skiing at Kitzsteinhorn. A perfect combination of lake, mountain and reliable snow.
- St. Anton. The Arlberg area is open until late April. Excellent for experienced skiers wanting challenging pistes and off-piste.
- Saalbach. 270 km of pistes in one large connected area. Usually has good conditions at Easter on the upper lifts.
Price levels: Easter compared with peak season
One of the great advantages of skiing at Easter is that prices are usually lower than in peak season's most sought-after weeks. Here is an approximate comparison for a week with hotel and lift pass included, per person.
- Half term: highest price level along with New Year
- New Year: highest price level of the whole season
- Easter week: somewhere in between, noticeably lower than New Year and half term
- A regular March week: the lowest price level of these periods
So prices at Easter fall somewhere between peak and low season. You get better prices than at half term and New Year, but it is not as cheap as in March. Even so, many consider Easter to offer the best value for money thanks to the combination of good snow, sunshine, lower prices and fewer visitors.
Lift pass prices also vary. In the spring season, many ski areas offer discounted multi-day passes. Children under 15 often ski at heavily reduced prices, and sometimes completely free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Want to compare stays at Easter? See available trips and prices here.
Book your Easter holiday in the Alps
Spring skiing in the Alps is a fantastic experience. Compare prices and book your place today.
Frequently asked questions about Easter ski holidays
Yes, high-altitude ski resorts have reliable snow at Easter. Obergurgl (1,930 m), Obertauern (1,740 m) and Ischgl (1,400 to 2,872 m) normally have good conditions throughout April. Glacier areas such as Kaprun near Zell am See have reliable snow all year round.
Obergurgl in Ötztal is the Alps' most snow-sure ski resort thanks to its high altitude of 1,930 metres. Obertauern and the glacier area at Kaprun are also very reliable late in the season.
Usually, yes. Easter most often falls after the peak season, and prices for accommodation and stays with lift pass included are typically 10 to 25 per cent lower than during half term. The exception is if Easter coincides with Austrian peak season.
Easter usually brings milder temperatures, longer days and more sunshine. The temperature in the valley can be around 5 to 15 degrees, whilst it is colder at altitude. The snow is softer in the morning and can become wet later in the afternoon. Skiing early in the day gives the best piste conditions.
Yes, at several ski resorts. Bad Gastein has thermal baths, Zell am See has a lakeside beach that opens early, and many hotels have outdoor pools. The combination of spring sunshine, morning skiing and an afternoon swim is one of the great joys of an Easter ski holiday.