After a day of skiing in Austria, the action will in variably turn to a less physically demanding pass time. Here you may find yourself singing along to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline after a tipple of flavoured Schnapps or perhaps a jug of beer.  Others may play the game where you desperately try to hammer a nail into a block of wood with a thin h0llow hammer – guaranteeing endless frustration and laughter.  This is only some of the fantastic ski traditions of the local Austrian après-ski – it is always a night to remember.

Austria is known for its elite skiing experience – the beautiful, breath-taking slopes make for a picture-perfect setting for every skier. However, what completes this idyllic experience is the fact a ski holiday in Austria is truly the whole package, for the apres-ski and nightlife are notorious. From shots of schnapps and Jager, to ‘gluhwein’, to the deadly ‘Jagertree’ the traditional Austrian drinks will no doubt have you merrily dancing on tables along with the chaos of happy skiers. There is so much option of exciting places to start and end your night in every Austrian resort; you’ll never feel a dull moment on your holidays here. The top ten best places for après-ski experiences include, St Anton, Ischgl, Mayrhofen, Solden, Lech, Soll, Zell am See, Kitzbuhel, Saalbach and Kirchberg.

Top 10 Resorts for Austrian Après-Ski:

St Anton:

St Anton is a hotspot for some of the finest places for apres-ski in Austria. Mooserwirt, the ‘mother of all après-ski bars’, truly claims its name for it is notorious for selling around 5000 litres of beer a day to party-going skiers. Complete with a DJ stage and outdoor space enclosed in snowy trees for endless dancing, the vibrant atmosphere is limitless, and carries on through the night.

Ischgl:

Ischgl has been a host for headlining artists like Mariah Carey and Supertramp, which brings together up to 18,000 people from across the globe. Starting your nights in the Trofana Alm: a cacophony of loud music with merry dancing skiers and friendly waiters carrying trays of shots or paddles of 20 litres of beer, dodging between the happy travellers. As the night goes on, find yourself dancing in the Ibiza of Ischgl: Pacha nightclub. Its florescent, colourful lighting and DJ bring an exciting clubbing experience to the slopes, great for those who want one wilder step up from a traditional Austrian après-ski.

Mayrhofen:

With an apres-ski experience and live artist performances on par with some of those in the Glastonbury Festival, it is safe to say Mayrhofen is a trendy, vibrant place to be for party-loving skiers. Whether you experience the excitement of the Snowbombing week, or the traditional buzzing atmosphere of the bars, you can expect a boisterous, enjoyable night. The Bruck n Stadl bar is the epitome of Austrian après-ski; the setting is that of a cosy wooden chalet, but with an open dance floor and colourful laser light making your partying experience a brilliant compilation of tradition and nightlife. The international DJs liven up the mood just when you begin to feel lethargic after a long day of skiing to get you hyped up to dance into the night.

Solden:

This picturesque place with breath-taking mountains may seem a predominantly tranquil place, but fear not, these slopes are known for their elite, high-altitude drinking. As part of the exhilarating apres-ski in Solden, guests can also try the famous Spiegelei shots, which is an egg yolk liquer typically served in a cracked egg shell closure. Tasting like a thick custard with a kick of pepper in the fire of the alcohol, this shot both warms the belly and lures you into the enjoyable Austrian nightlife. Guests can enjoy this in the Fire and Ice bar, renown for the never-ending energy of the dancing partiers, that makes this cold bar feel as warm as a cosy fire.

Lech:

Just over the mountain from St Anon, Lech is another must-experience hotspot for apres-ski. It’s impressive repertoire of Gault Millau awards reflect the slightly more sophisticated nature of the après-ski experience, and Lech is an idyllic setting for guests to enjoy a menu of fruitier, light cocktails, rather than the traditional jugs of beer. These elite cocktails can even be enjoyed in a chic ambiance of jazz music in the Fux Bar; this is a place perfect for a calmer night of après-ski, where you can sit and relax and enjoy a drink, without needing the energy to dance into the late hours of the night.

Soll:

Another more peaceful atmosphere of nightlife is Soll, but its alleged tranquillity does not make it any less memorable than the raucous partying nights of other Austrian resorts: wild disco nights at the Whiskey Muhle bring back a nostalgic energy from the boisterous eighty’s nightlife Sol hosted, and guarantee a night of dancing to an Austrian equivalent of ABBA. The Moonlight bar is also another favourite, where even the live singers will be dancing on top of the tables in the sea of chanting skiers.

Zell am See:

A night out in Zell am See brings you, as the people claim, one step closer to the locals and lifestyle. From being introduced to the game Stocknagaln, where you hit a nail into a block of wood with a thin, hallowed out hammer with a drink in hand, to seeing the bartenders decked out in lederhosen: every aspect of nightlife in Zell am See echoes with tradition. To complete this authentic Austrian experience, guests should head to Greens to enjoy the famous Jagertree, which combines tea, spiced rum, red wine, plum brandy and delicious spices into a flavoursome, warming concoction.

Kitzbuhel:

Kitzbuhel is known for its traditions… but not of the authentic Austrian kind. Instead, guests can experience the fun of the Rik’s Revenge Challenge – where you can try the incredible JD shot recipe that mixes 3 different types of whiskey (Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniel’s and Jim Beam) with a dash of tequila. This definitely gets the night moving along, and it takes place in the iconic English-style pub the Londoner. The tartan décor, low red-tinted lighting and vibrant ambiance resonance the cosy atmosphere of a British pub, and is where many merry skiers go to begin their après-ski.

Saalbach:

It might seem that you are spoilt for choice when it comes to après-ski bars in Austria, but get ready: Saalbach alone has 35 bars to make this choice even more challenging. With so many exciting bars to visit there seems little time left to ski, for the nightlife begins in the afternoon in the Hinterhag Alm with skiers all singing out golden oldies with an on-flow of drinks to spur on the merriment. After this, the ‘Dance of the Small Hearts’ a 5pm dancing tradition since 1976 is a memorable addition to an energetic and lively night. All in all, the wide variety of bars and traditions in Saalbach accommodate for every possible type of après-ski, with these striking additions that’ll make its guests want to come back for another night of fun.

Kirchberg:

As Kitzbuhel’s more peaceful neighbour, it may seem that this sweet little town is not a lively après-ski zone, but this does not stop the blasting live music and dancing on tables. Different to Kitzbuhel’s Londoner, the pub the London in Kirchberg is known for its bustling young skiers going wild in the hanging union jacks where guests make merry through the night. The finale of the night in Vis and Vis will have you drinking pints until 3am in a contagious uproar of laughter and singing: so don’t be deceived by the calm solace of the town, guests certainly party until late here.

As you can see the Austrians know how to party – the skiers even more so. After enjoying the crème de la crème of skiing during the day, every skier finds a tireless exhilaration to bust out their best moves on a dance floor or on a table, with the merry Austrian live bands singing out anything from classic oompa tunes, to British classic like ‘Sweet Caroline’. The party never really ends.