Ischgl: Silvretta Arena, mountain trails and Rococo

In Ischgl, winter sports extend into the Silvretta Arena: the Ischgl/Samnaun ski area has 239 kilometres of pistes and is served by 46 modern lifts and cable cars. The Ischgl snow park has two park areas, a funline, a bagjump and its own speedline. Check seasonal operating conditions when planning your winter days.

Winter on the slopes and along the Trisanna

There are winter activities away from the slopes, too: in Ischgl, you can enjoy winter walks through snow-covered landscapes and guided snowshoe hikes. An easy, five-kilometre cross-country ski trail also runs along the Trisanna. Conditions and seasonal operation may vary.

Summer trails through panoramic scenery and alpine heights

The hiking area around Ischgl in the Paznaun lies between the Silvretta and Verwall mountain ranges. More than 1,000 kilometres of marked trails range from panoramic walks and hikes to mountain pastures to challenging summit tours and multi-day hut-to-hut hikes. The Ischgl–Idalp adventure trail is around 7.5 kilometres long and combines interactive stations with views and little surprises. The route reaches an altitude of 2,320 metres, includes two suspension bridges, the Walk of Lyrics and the Adventure Stage, and crosses three alpine vegetation zones.

For a longer hike, the route to the Heidelberger Hütte leads through the Fimba Valley towards the Silvretta: it covers around 17 kilometres and nearly 700 metres of elevation gain. This offers a choice between a shorter themed route and a hike with considerably more distance and elevation gain. The Vider Truja adventure park is also located on the Idalp at 2,320 metres. Its two landscape ponds include a raft and pedal boats for children.

Cycling routes also reach great heights: the Silvretta Bike Arena in Ischgl and Samnaun offers 100 kilometres of natural trails at elevations of up to around 2,800 metres. This is a distinct focus alongside the marked hiking network, which ranges from panoramic trails to multi-day hut-to-hut hikes.

Rococo, chapels and cable car history

Ischgl also tells its story through sacred buildings and art. A chapel dedicated to St Nicholas is first mentioned in 1443; the church was consecrated on 27 July 1483 in honour of Saints Nicholas and Achatius cum Sociis. The present parish church was built in the Rococo style from 1755 to 1757, after the previous building was demolished, and was consecrated in 1757.

Inside the parish church, Rococo altars with altarpieces by Kirchebner define the space. The ceiling painting is also by Kirchebner; the elaborate Rococo stucco work dates from around 1756. Another work of art recorded in Ischgl is a preserved Holy Sepulchre dating from the late 18th or early 19th century.

South of Ischgl, on a hill above the Fimba Gorge, a Calvary group features almost life-size wooden statues by Johann Ladner, created between 1763 and 1769. Seven roadside chapels were built along the way there in 1827. The Chapel of the Dead, dedicated to St Lucius, is a yellow Baroque building dating from 1773 and is opened only on special occasions. The cable car museum offers a different perspective on the region’s past, tracing the history of cable cars through the region’s pioneering era of tourism.

For summer travel, bus route 260 connects Landeck-Zams railway station with the Bielerhöhe in Galtür, serving See, Kappl and Ischgl along the way. Check the seasonal timetable for your travel date.

Discover more destinations: Lienz, Brixental, Schwaz, Alpbachtal, Lechtal, Landeck, Arlberg, Kufstein.

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