Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The villages are sleepy in summer, a lull that is broken in winter when skiers descend on
party-hearty resorts like Ischgl.
The valley is undoubtedly one of Austria's best ski areas, despite (or because of) its re-
lative isolation. The
Silvretta Ski Pass
(2-day pass adult/child €95/53.50)
covers Ischgl, Galtür, Kappl
and Samnaun, a duty-free area in Switzerland. Its summer equivalent is the
Silvretta Card
(3-day pass adult/child €41/24.50),
comprising cable cars, lifts, public transport over the Bieler-
höhe Pass into Vorarlberg, and numerous swimming pools in Ischgl and Galtür.
Around 10km from Ischgl is the uncrowded resort of
Galtür
. This unspoilt village
suffered in February 1999 when an avalanche all but swept it away. A museum docu-
menting the event has been built on the spot, the
Alpinarium Galtür
(
www.alpinarium.at
;
Hauptstrasse 29c, Galtür; adult/child €8/4; 10am-6pm Tue-Sun)
. Inside you'll find many poignant re-
minders of the devastation in the shape of photos, newspaper reports and some incredible
video footage.
Getting There & Away
Only a secondary road (B188) runs along the valley, crossing into Vorarlberg at the Biel-
erhöhe Pass (toll cars/motorcycles €14/11), where the views are sensational. This pass,
closed in winter, rejoins the main highway near Bludenz. Regular buses travel as far as
Galtür (€8, one hour) from Landeck.
Ischgl
05444 / POP 1596 / ELEV 1377M
Ischgl becomes a quintessential powdersville in winter, with snow-sure slopes and a bois-
terous après-ski scene. The resort is a bizarre combination of rural meets raunchy; a place
where lap-dancing bars, folk music and techno happily coexist. That said, summer here
can be
tote Hose
(totally dead) and you may prefer to base yourself in one of the more
authentic neighbouring villages.
Activities
Silvretta Arena
(
www.silvretta.at
;
full-region 6-day pass €257)
Ischgl is the centrepiece of the vast Silvretta Arena,
offering fabulous skiing on 238km of groomed slopes, ultramodern lifts (heated seats and
SKIING
