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Hidden gemBest amenitiesStunning viewsHidden gemBest amenitiesStunning viewsHidden gemBest amenitiesStunning viewsHidden gemAxamer Lizum and Muttereralm are two neighbouring ski areas in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria, just 20 minutes from Innsbruck. Together they offer one of the most appealing combinations in the region: Olympic heritage and serious freeride terrain at Axamer Lizum, paired with a certified family-friendly ski area at Muttereralm, all with a beautiful Tyrolean capital as your base. Axamer Lizum hosted alpine skiing events at both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics and is known as Innsbruck's \"White Roof\" for its reliable snow at altitude. Muttereralm, just next door, holds the official \"Tyrolean Family Ski Region\" certification. Between them, around 55km of combined terrain means mixed-ability groups can split across two mountains and meet up for lunch on the Hoadl-Haus terrace, the largest covered sun terrace in Austria.
Axamer Lizum is the bigger and more varied of the two, with 40km of pistes between 1,560m and 2,340m served by 9 lifts including the 10-seater Hoadlbahn gondola, which reaches the summit in six minutes. Over 75% of the groomed runs suit beginners and intermediates, with wide, flowing descents through open alpine terrain beneath the jagged Kalkkögel peaks. But it's the off-piste that sets Axamer Lizum apart: 300 hectares of marked freeride area, couloirs, bowls, and five ski routes draw Innsbruck's most committed powder skiers. Muttereralm adds a gentler 16.5km of runs weaving through dense forest, with 100% snowmaking, a fairytale-themed children's area, and views across the Inn Valley to the Karwendel range. Axamer Lizum's season runs from late November to mid-April, Muttereralm from mid-December to mid-March.
Innsbruck is what ties it all together. Baroque architecture, the famous Golden Roof, excellent restaurants, and the energy of a university city give your evenings a cultural depth that mountain villages can't match. A shuttle bus runs to Axamer Lizum, Muttereralm is reachable by tram and bus in around 15 minutes, and the Ski Plus City Pass covers both areas alongside 10 other resorts and city attractions. Ski a different mountain each day, explore the old town between runs, and end the evening in a Tyrolean Gasthof with a proper Wiener schnitzel: it's a combination that makes Innsbruck one of the most rewarding ski bases in Austria.
Axamer Lizum and Muttereralm are two neighbouring ski areas in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria, just 20 minutes from Innsbruck. Together they offer one of the most appealing combinations in the region: Olympic heritage and serious freeride terrain at Axamer Lizum, paired with a certified family-friendly ski area at Muttereralm, all with a beautiful Tyrolean capital as your base. Axamer Lizum hosted alpine skiing events at both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics and is known as Innsbruck's \"White Roof\" for its reliable snow at altitude. Muttereralm, just next door, holds the official \"Tyrolean Family Ski Region\" certification. Between them, around 55km of combined terrain means mixed-ability groups can split across two mountains and meet up for lunch on the Hoadl-Haus terrace, the largest covered sun terrace in Austria.
Axamer Lizum is the bigger and more varied of the two, with 40km of pistes between 1,560m and 2,340m served by 9 lifts including the 10-seater Hoadlbahn gondola, which reaches the summit in six minutes. Over 75% of the groomed runs suit beginners and intermediates, with wide, flowing descents through open alpine terrain beneath the jagged Kalkkögel peaks. But it's the off-piste that sets Axamer Lizum apart: 300 hectares of marked freeride area, couloirs, bowls, and five ski routes draw Innsbruck's most committed powder skiers. Muttereralm adds a gentler 16.5km of runs weaving through dense forest, with 100% snowmaking, a fairytale-themed children's area, and views across the Inn Valley to the Karwendel range. Axamer Lizum's season runs from late November to mid-April, Muttereralm from mid-December to mid-March.
Innsbruck is what ties it all together. Baroque architecture, the famous Golden Roof, excellent restaurants, and the energy of a university city give your evenings a cultural depth that mountain villages can't match. A shuttle bus runs to Axamer Lizum, Muttereralm is reachable by tram and bus in around 15 minutes, and the Ski Plus City Pass covers both areas alongside 10 other resorts and city attractions. Ski a different mountain each day, explore the old town between runs, and end the evening in a Tyrolean Gasthof with a proper Wiener schnitzel: it's a combination that makes Innsbruck one of the most rewarding ski bases in Austria.
Axamer Lizum and Muttereralm sit close together but aren't connected by lifts, so most people pick one area for the day rather than try to combine them. With just a few minutes between them by road, it's an easy call to make each morning.
Axamer Lizum is the bigger of the two, set in a high alpine bowl ringed by jagged limestone peaks. Its lift system is modern, built around the Hoadlbahn, a ten-person gondola that replaced a string of older lifts and runs from the car park to the 2,340m summit in about six minutes. From the top, wide, flowing pistes drop through open terrain and into scattered larch forest, most of them intermediate cruising. Beginners have a foothold too, with a practice area at the base and a long, gentle blue that runs all the way down from the summit. Beyond the marked runs lies the freeride: 300 hectares of it, with couloirs, open bowls, and ski routes for experienced off-piste skiers.
Muttereralm, reached by cable car from Mutters and an eight-seater gondola from Götzens, has a softer character. Its runs wind through dense forest with long views across the Inn Valley, mostly blues and gentle reds that reward relaxed cruising and steady progress over steep thrills. One descent stands out: the Götzner, a long, tree-lined run rated among the most beautiful in Austria, and originally cut as a reserve course for the Innsbruck Olympics.
For beginners, Muttereralm is the place to start. A dedicated nursery area sits at the top of the gondola, with a magic carpet to ease first-timers in, and the blue runs spreading out from there are wide, gently graded, and well groomed, just what you want while you're learning. Having the nursery slopes up at the top station also means you're on open mountain slopes from your very first turns.
Axamer Lizum is more of an intermediate mountain, but beginners aren't shut out. Practice lifts and a small nursery area sit at the valley station, and once you've found your feet, the long blue running down from the Hoadl summit is an excellent goal. This is a broad, mostly gentle cruiser that was once the Olympic women's downhill, and takes you all the way from the top to the valley floor.
Lessons are easy to arrange at both areas, and the Muttereralm ski school in particular has English-speaking instructors and an unhurried, low-pressure style that suits first-timers.
WeSki insider tip: That long blue from Hoadl is your goal run, but pace yourself, it runs around 6.5km from top to valley, which is a serious distance on new legs. Take the flatter stretches as breathers, and you'll roll into the bottom still grinning.
Between the two areas there's enough for intermediates to fill a week, but Axamer Lizum holds most of it. This is where the mountain opens up with eleven blue and twelve red runs and long, fast descents from the 2,340m summit back to the base. For a confident skier, the Olympic legacy is the highlight. The slalom and giant-slalom courses are marked and skiable, so you can test yourself on lines that are steeper and more demanding than the runs around them, but well within range if you're solid on reds. Over on the other flank, a cluster of red runs towards Pleisen adds extra length and pitch.
Muttereralm rounds things out for confident intermediates. Its reds wind through the forest, the pick of them being the Götzner, a long, flowing descent that threads the whole way down through the trees. For something with more bite, the FIS Muttereralm downhill course steepens into a proper test.
WeSki insider tip: Drop off the Hoadl summit onto the red runs over towards Pleisen, where the gradient stays steeper for longer than anywhere else on the hill, then link back onto the long valley run to ride it out to the bottom. Strung together, it's about as much unbroken vertical as Axamer Lizum gives you in one go.
Axamer Lizum is the place to be if you ski hard. On the marked pistes, the challenge is concentrated rather than spread out. You have a single black run off the Birgitzköpfl lift, which bumps up into moguls as the season wears on, and five marked ski routes, with ungroomed, unpatrolled lines that sit somewhere between piste and backcountry. They're worth seeking out: you ski natural snow on a line that's still marked, which makes this a good way to find your feet off the groomers before dropping into the open mountain.
Freeride here is the bigger prize for experts, and Axamer Lizum takes it seriously enough to have hosted the Open Faces Freeride Contest more than once. For anyone who'd rather climb than ride the lifts, two marked ski-touring routes head up to the Hoadl summit.
WeSki insider tip: On Wednesday evenings, the Olympic runs stay open for ski touring until 10pm. Strap on a headlamp, skin up the old ladies' or men's downhill course to the Hoadl, stop in at the Sunnalm hut near the top, then ski the whole way back down in the dark, with the lights of Innsbruck spread out below. It's about as memorable as a ski evening gets.
Innsbruck is one of the Alps' real hubs for freeride and freestyle riding, with a scene fuelled by a constant flow of riders after powder and park laps. For natural riding, the ski routes and freeride terrain at Axamer Lizum are full of gullies, natural pipes, and banks to play off. Wide blue runs at both areas give you room to carve and find your flow. One thing to keep in mind: a few of the longer valley run-outs flatten off, so carry your speed through them rather than getting stuck pushing.
For park riding, Axamer Lizum's Golden Roofpark sits up by the Karleiten lift, a proper setup of kickers, rails, boxes, and a funslope that works whether you're sessioning your first box or stomping bigger jumps. Over at Muttereralm, the Götzens Snow Park keeps things more hands-on, with a DIY section where riders shape and build their own features.
Off-piste is the main event at Axamer Lizum, and it's some of the best near Innsbruck. More than 300 hectares of freeride spread off the back of the Hoadl and across the Birgitzköpfl side opposite the main slopes, steep couloirs, open powder bowls, and long descents that run out through scattered larch, much of it north-facing so the snow holds its quality well between falls. The standout single line is the Götzner Grube, a long descent that drops off the Birgitzköpfl side all the way down to the village of Götzens, with the ski bus to bring you back.
Terrain like this rewards respect, and Axamer Lizum is set up for it. Avalanche transceiver checkpoints at the Hoadl mountain station and the valley car park let you test your beacon before heading out, a local outfit called Freeride Division runs guided days with certified mountain guides, and avalanche-awareness workshops run through the season.
Both ski areas run their own ski schools, with group and private lessons in skiing, snowboarding, and freeride. Axamer Lizum brings some serious teaching pedigree: it's home to the training centre of the Tyrolean Ski Instructors' Association, which represents more than 7,000 instructors across Tyrol. This is where the region's instructors come to qualify.
Muttereralm is the gentler place to take a lesson, especially if you're starting out or building your confidence, since the terrain itself does a lot of the work. Instructors teach in English and Dutch alongside German across both areas.
Between the two areas, there's freestyle terrain for every level. At Axamer Lizum, the Golden Roofpark sits at the Karleiten lift, with kickers, rails, and boxes, and lines graded from beginner to advanced. Next to it, a funslope strings together waves, banked curves, and around 27 obstacles for a more playful way down. Over at Muttereralm, the Götzens Snow Park does something different: built with pro snowboarder Ethan Morgan, its DIY section lets riders design and shape their own features.
Muttereralm and Axamer Lizum make a natural pair for families, and what stands out first is how relaxed and manageable it all feels. A lot of that comes down to Muttereralm, which holds the "Tyrolean Family Ski Region" certification, a regional standard awarded for the things that make a parent's day easier: gentle terrain, a proper learning setup, and facilities built around children. It's a small, sheltered area, so it's easy to keep everyone together and within sight. Having Axamer Lizum next door with larger and more varied terrain means no one outgrows the place. Whatever level each skier in the family has reached, there's a run to suit them. And with long views over the Inn Valley to the Karwendel range, it's a lovely place to spend time on the snow at an easy pace.
For the youngest skiers in your family, Muttereralm is the perfect starting point. The Kinderland at the top of Muttereralm cable car eases first-timers in on a magic carpet, and there's a fairytale forest run and ski school for teaching small children. From there, the area's easy runs let them find their feet. As confidence grows, older children, experienced young riders, and teenagers can move across to Axamer Lizum for more varied terrain. Wide intermediate runs drop from the 2,340-metre summit, giving stronger skiers long, open descents to stretch out on, and the Golden Roofpark has jumps, rails, and features for aspiring freestylers. It’s a great set up where beginners can stay on Muttereralm's gentle blues, stronger skiers can explore Axamer Lizum, and everyone can meet up for lunch.
There's plenty for families to do together off the snow, helped by Innsbruck sitting right on the doorstep. Alpenzoo, home to alpine animals, is reached by a short funicular ride and is an easy win with children, while the Swarovski Crystal Worlds at Wattens pairs crystal art with a big outdoor playground, a maze, and a four-level play tower. In Innsbruck itself there's ice skating, swimming, and a range of museums. When everyone's hungry, the villages of Axams and Mutters are welcoming places to eat: traditional Gasthöfe, the local inns, serve schnitzel, strudel, and Käsespätzle, (Austria's answer to mac and cheese) in portions sized for a full day on the slopes.
Skiing is only part of the picture here. Beyond the two ski areas there's a good range of winter activities, and with Innsbruck right on the doorstep, a whole city of culture, shopping, and food comes with it.
Dining here runs on classic Tyrolean lines, on the mountain and down in the villages alike. The mountain huts are characterful, with the Hoadl-Haus at Axamer Lizum the standout. In the villages and Innsbruck, the choice widens from traditional Gasthöfe (the local inns) to modern international cooking.
WeSki insider tip: Order a Tiroler Gröstl at least once, pan-fried potatoes and beef topped with a fried egg, served sizzling in an iron skillet. It's the classic Tyrolean mountain lunch, and you'll find it on hut and Gasthof menus across both areas.
Après here splits between the mountain and the city. Axamer Lizum's base has a lively after-ski scene with a strong beer and wine list, and the summit terrace catches the last of the sun for a drink up high. Muttereralm is calmer once the lifts stop, with a gentler, family feel.
The real bonus for evenings out is Innsbruck, a 20-to-30-minute bus ride away. Its old town has bars, Irish pubs, cocktail spots, and live music that runs late. You can have a Glühwein (mulled wine) on a sun terrace at 2,340m and be on Maria-Theresien-Straße two hours later.
Après-ski spots to know:
Accommodation spans three areas. The villages of Axams and Mutters, both traditional Tyrolean, have Gasthöfe, guesthouses, and small hotels in a calm mountain setting. At the Axamer Lizum base, a hotel or two give you ski-in, ski-out convenience, though choice there is limited. In Innsbruck (20-30 minutes by shuttle or bus), the range is widest, from boutique hotels and old-town apartments to larger modern hotels, with the city's culture and dining on your doorstep.
Innsbruck gives you the most flexibility and the most variety in the evenings, with a shuttle to Axamer Lizum and a tram or bus to Muttereralm keeping the daily commute simple. The villages are more low-key and traditional, with a shorter hop to the slopes each morning. Public transport comes included on the Ski Plus City Pass, which keeps the logistics simple.
Day passes are available for both Axamer Lizum and Muttereralm if you're sticking to one mountain. For most trips, though, the pass to focus on is the Ski Plus City Pass: it covers both areas and around ten more ski resorts across the Stubai Valley and the Innsbruck region, plus 20-plus city attractions, an indoor pool, and public transport. It's built for a holiday that mixes skiing with time in the city.
Check for multi-day pass options when booking your Axamer Lizum - Muttereralm ski holiday package through WeSki to find the best fit for your trip.
Equipment hire is available at Sport 2000, right at the Axamer Lizum valley station, and at the rental shops down at Muttereralm. Between them they cover skis, snowboards, boots, helmets, and touring gear.
WeSki partners with SkiSet shops across Axamer Lizum - Muttereralm, so you can add equipment to your package and collect it on arrival. Browse Axamer Lizum - Muttereralm ski deals to build your perfect trip.
A shuttle bus runs from Innsbruck to Axamer Lizum through the ski season. Muttereralm is reachable from Innsbruck by tram to Mutters, and by ski bus from Mutters and Götzens. With public transport included on the Ski Plus City Pass, the commute from Innsbruck is straightforward. Within Axamer Lizum, the ski area is compact and easy to get around. A car adds flexibility for moving between the two areas and the villages, but it isn't essential if you're based in Innsbruck and using public transport.
Innsbruck airport is the closest, around 15-20 minutes by car to Muttereralm and roughly 30 minutes to Axamer Lizum. Regular flights serve Innsbruck through the winter, and Munich and Salzburg airports add more connections, each about two hours away by car. By train, Innsbruck is a major junction on the Austrian network, with direct services from Munich, Zurich, and Vienna.
WeSki can arrange car rentals from the airport, as well as private transfers to Axamer Lizum - Muttereralm. Add them to your Axamer Lizum - Muttereralm ski holiday package for smooth, door-to-door travel.
Axamer Lizum and Muttereralm are two separate ski areas on neighbouring peaks above Innsbruck. They aren't lift-linked, but they sit in the same mountains and are only a short drive apart. Axamer Lizum is the larger, higher area (40km of terrain, up to 2,340m), with Olympic pedigree and serious freeride. Muttereralm is smaller and family-focused (16.5km, up to 1,804m), with certified children's facilities. Between them, they make a complementary pair that suits mixed-ability groups and families.
The Ski Plus City Pass is a multi-resort lift pass covering 12 ski areas between the Stubai Valley and Innsbruck, including both Axamer Lizum and Muttereralm. It also includes city attractions, the Alpenzoo, Bergisel Ski Jump, and museums among them, plus public transport. For anyone wanting to combine skiing across several resorts with time in Innsbruck, it's the obvious choice, and day, multi-day, and family versions are available.
Axamer Lizum hosted five of the six alpine skiing events at the 1964 Winter Olympics, and the same five again in 1976 (only the men's downhill was held elsewhere, on the Patscherkofel above Igls). The ski area itself was purpose-built for the 1964 Games, its roads, lifts, and infrastructure all created for the occasion. Several of the Olympic courses are still marked and skiable, including the women's downhill, which now doubles as the long blue run down from the Hoadl. The Olympiabahn funicular, added for the 1976 Games, remains the resort's landmark, though the modern Hoadlbahn gondola is now the main way to the summit.
Axamer Lizum has over 300 hectares of marked freeride terrain, which makes it one of the bigger off-piste draws near Innsbruck. The ground off the Hoadl and the peaks around it gives you couloirs, open bowls, and long powder descents, with several marked ski routes alongside the groomed pistes. Avalanche transceiver checkpoints and local guiding make it approachable even if the terrain is new to you.
Yes. Muttereralm holds the official "Tyrolean Family Ski Region" certification. The children's area at the top of the Muttereralm cable car has a magic carpet and a fairytale forest run, the blue runs are gentle and well-groomed, and the ski school is used to teaching young children. With 100% snowmaking the snow stays reliable, and three toboggan runs add to the day. All of which makes it a relaxed, reassuring place to bring children.
Very easy. A shuttle bus runs from Innsbruck to Axamer Lizum in around 30 minutes. Muttereralm is reachable by tram to Mutters (around 15 minutes) and then the ski bus up to the lifts. Public transport is included on the Ski Plus City Pass. By car, Axamer Lizum is around 25 minutes from the city centre and Muttereralm around 15.
Axamer Lizum is known as Innsbruck's "White Roof" for its reliable snow. It reaches 2,340m, much of the terrain faces north and holds snow well, and the season runs late, usually from late November into late April. Snowmaking covers around 85% of the pistes. Muttereralm has full snowmaking but sits lower (up to 1,804m), so its season is shorter, roughly mid-December to mid-March.
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