Situated high above the regional capital Innsbruck, the Nordkette ski resort is especially popular with advanced and expert skiers. The journey from the city centre up onto the slopes takes just 20 minutes.
There are few, if any, cities in the world where you can be walk out of the office, step onto the cable car and be out skiing on the slopes just 20 minutes later. This combination of urban living and outdoor recreation makes Innsbruck, the regional capital of Tirol, truly unique.
Two cable cars take skiers and snowboarders from the city centre all the way up to the Hafelekar ridge at 2,260 metres above sea level. After a few deep breaths, it is time to plunge down the famous "Karrinne" couloir with gradients of up to 70% – one of the steepest ski routes in Europe. Most of the terrain in and around the Nordkette resort is steep and challenging, so it is little wonder that it has established a reputation as a hotspot for experts and freeriders. However, there are also plenty of red (intermediate) runs. At the Seegrube station, next to the top of the first cable car, there is also a children's area with a conveyor-belt lift, gentle slopes and childcare facilities.
While freeriders can often be seen shredding fresh tracks early in the morning, freestylers head for the Skylinepark – the world's only Incity Snowpark. In the evening the party continues in the legendary Cloud 9 Iglu Bar. During the daytime the restaurant at the Seegrube serves excellent local food served out on the sunny terrace with fabulous views of the Inn Valley below.
There are few, if any, cities in the world where you can be walk out of the office, step onto the cable car and be out skiing on the slopes just 20…
