The scenic medieval lakeside town of Zell am See is situated in SalzburgerLand and can be easily reached an hour’s drive from Salzburg Airport. The town shares the same lift pass as the equally picturesque village of Kaprun a few miles down the road.

Beginners and advanced skiers alike are well catered for here. Take a combination of gondola and chairlifts from Zell am See town centre: for intermediate skiing, head to the 2,000m Schmittenhöhe mountain, while snow-sure skiing is guaranteed on the 3,000m slopes of Kaprun’s Kitzsteinhorn Glacier. Beginners or those returning to the sport can hit the wide range of nursery slopes or polish up their skills at any one of the area’s 12 different ski schools.

New this season is a piste going 3/4 of the way down towards Viehhofen (Glemm valley), and served by the brand new zellamseeXpress gondola. Come winter a 3.3km red piste lined with snow machines will lead you to the gondola station, allowing guests on the Schmitten to explore the other side.

Skiers who want a more lively experience should try the impressively named Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, one of Austria’s largest interconnected ski resort [pictured bottom right]. The resort is comprised of four ski areas and stretches from Tirol to SalzburgerLand.

Each area has its own merits. Fieberbrunn transforms into a free-rider’s paradise every winter when the Swatch freeride world tour graces its slopes. Saalbach is home to ‘Rave on Snow’, the world’s biggest winter festival of electronic music, and Saalfelden Leogang’s annual ski marathon attracts professionals and cross-country skiers alike. Luckily, there’s room for everyone: 270km of immaculate pistes, 70 modern lifts and an enjoyable circuit which can be skied from either direction explain the resort’s appeal to skiers, snowboarders and tobogganers alike.

Foodies will find culinary heaven with first-class gourmet delights in a range of mountain eateries. Meanwhile, party lovers will relish the lively après ski scene, when 60 huts throw open their doors and offer a warm Austrian welcome. Just be careful you don’t indulge too heavily if you want to make the morning run.

For more information visit: austria.info/ski