Silvretta Montafon, Austria: Family Ski Guide
140km of pistes, 5-day kids package includes everything.
Last updated: February 2026
Silvretta Montafon
Austria
Silvretta Montafon
Book Silvretta Montafon if your kids are past beginner stage, your family enjoys skiing terrain with character rather than groomed motorways, and you value authenticity over polish. This is the resort for families who don't need hand-holding, the skiing is excellent, the value is real, and the absence of international tourism infrastructure means quieter slopes and shorter lift queues than comparably sized Austrian resorts.Stay in St. Gallenkirch (Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon for comfort and pool, or a village apartment for budget) or Gaschurn for best Silvretta access. Put beginners in the Nova kids' area, buy the Montafon valley pass for unlimited terrain flexibility, and plan a Gargellen day trip for variety. Book by November when valley apartments start filling with returning families from Vorarlberg and Switzerland.
Is Silvretta Montafon Good for Families?
Silvretta Montafon is 140km of terrain that almost nobody outside Austria has heard of. That's the advantage. North-facing slopes hold snow well, the kids' area in Nova handles young beginners, and you'll ski without the lift queues that plague the famous Tyrolean resorts.
It's the Montafon valley's biggest ski area and the one I point families toward when they want real skiing without the crowds.
You want a compact, walkable village where ski school, lifts, and your hotel are all steps apart
Biggest tradeoff
What's the Skiing Like for Families?
The Kids on Ski program bundles five half-day lessons, rental gear, a 6-day lift pass, and your child's accommodation into one free package for ages 3 to 5 (when two adults book a participating hotel).
The Terrain
Silvretta Montafon spreads 140 km of pistes across two linked ski areas, Hochjoch (above Schruns) and Silvretta Nova (above Gaschurn and St. Gallenkirch), with 35 lifts connecting them. 60 km of those runs are blue, creating a staggering amount of gentle, confidence-building terrain alongside legitimate steep skiing and 20 marked freeride routes up top.The valley's longest descent stretches from summit to valley floor.
Beginner Areas
On the Hochjoch side, Monti Lux Kinderland sits at the base with magic carpets and a gently graded circuit. Over in Silvretta Nova, Bella Bambini offers its own magic carpet area with indoor warming space and all-day childminding from age 4.
Pick your starting village based on which ski school you have booked.
Ski School
Skischule Schruns pulls a 4.9 rating across nearly 200 reviews on CheckYeti, taking kids from age 4 in groups capped at 6 to 8 (smaller than many Austrian resorts). Group lessons start at EUR 60 per day for 3 hours, private lessons EUR 111 per hour. The SiMo Gagla Club in Schruns provides non-ski childcare from age 3.
Trail Map
Full Coverage© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
📊The Numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Family Score | 7.9Very good |
Best Age Range | 3–12 years |
Kid-Friendly Terrain | 70%Very beginner-friendly |
Childcare Available | Yes † |
Ski School Min Age | 3 years † |
Kids Ski Free | Under 6 † |
Magic Carpet | Yes |
Kids Terrain Park | Yes |
Score Breakdown
Value for Money
Convenience
Things to Do
Parent Experience
Childcare & Learning
How Much Are Lift Tickets?
Half-day tickets drop to EUR 55.50 for adults and EUR 32 for kids, perfect when little legs give out by lunch.
Kids Ski Free
Children under 6 ski free when you have a valid lift pass. Just bring your child to the ticket office in person.
The Kids on Ski program bundles seven nights of accommodation, five half-day lessons, six days of rental equipment, and a 6-day lift pass into one free package for ages 3 to 5 at participating hotels during select weeks. Plan around Sunday-to-Sunday rotations.
Epic Pass Access
Silvretta Montafon joined the Epic Pass network for 2026/27. An Epic Pass ($1,051 adult, $537 child) includes five consecutive days here. If you already ski Whistler, Vail, or Verbier on Epic, these five days come as a bonus. The local season pass at EUR 959 is cheaper if this is your only destination.
Regional Options
The Montafon Brandnertal WildPass covers 218km across six resorts including Silvretta Montafon, Golm, and Gargellen. The clever 20 Points Ticket costs EUR 20 and covers beginner lifts (Vallüla and Lifinar). It is shareable between family members: two points per adult ride, one for kids. That means 20 beginner laps for a child at EUR 1 each.
Available Passes
Planning Your Trip
🏠Where Should Your Family Stay?
Book Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon if you want your kids to disappear into supervised fun (waterslides, science lab, ranger program) while you remember what relaxation feels like. This 5-star family hotel sits at 1,000m on the Golm adventure mountain. EUR 250 to 400 per night, children stay free, rooms from 43m². Free shuttle to Golm midstation in 5 minutes.
The tradeoff: Golm is smaller than the main Silvretta Montafon slopes. Drive 15 to 20 minutes for all 140km of terrain.
Where to Base
- Schruns: Main town with most restaurants and shops, access to Hochjoch sector. Best for families wanting village life
- St. Gallenkirch: Mid-valley with direct gondola to the larger Silvretta Nova terrain. Quieter evenings
- Gaschurn: Quietest option at valley's end with its own gondola. Home to Explorer Hotel's Kids on Ski deals
Other Options
- Löwen Hotel Montafon (Schruns): Walking distance to Hochjoch gondola. EUR 160 to 220 per night with half-board options
- Explorer Hotel Montafon (Gaschurn): EUR 108 per night for two adults, kids under 17 free. Kids on Ski program: children 3 to 5 get free week of lessons, gear, pass, and accommodation from EUR 424 per adult for seven nights
- Self-catering apartments: EUR 90 to 180 per night for two-bedroom units. Adler Alpen Apartments participate in Kids on Ski. Book through montafon.at for 10 to 15% lower prices
✈️How Do You Get to Silvretta Montafon?
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is your best bet for international families. The 2 hour 15 minute drive via the A13 through Liechtenstein is motorway almost the entire way, which means minimal chance of car sickness curves and your kids can actually watch their tablets.
You'll cross into Austria quickly and dodge the worst of Swiss fuel prices.
Innsbruck Airport (INN) takes 2 hours 30 minutes west on the A12 and over the Arlberg Pass (or through the tunnel for €11.50), but flight options are limited. Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH) on Lake Constance is the sleeper pick at just 90 minutes, with Ryanair and Eurowings connections that can be ridiculously cheap. The catch? Fewer routes and smaller planes.
Most families drive from Zurich, and it's manageable. You'll need a Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40, valid for 14 months) and winter tires, legally required in Austria November through April when conditions demand them. Most ZRH rental companies fit winter tires as standard from October, but confirm at booking.The final stretch from Bludenz into the Montafon Valley is a gentle 15-minute cruise along the valley floor. No hairpins, no white-knuckle moments, and your kids will still be conscious when you arrive. Skip the car entirely? Rail is surprisingly viable.
ÖBB runs direct trains from Zurich HB to Bludenz in under 2 hours, then a 20-minute regional train covers the final 12 km to Schruns. That station sits at the base of the Hochjoch gondola, so you can be on snow the same afternoon.
The Montafon valley bus network connects all resort villages and is free with most guest cards.
☕What's There to Do Off the Slopes?
By 6pm, you're looking at tired kids who need dinner and entertainment that doesn't involve another screen. Silvretta Montafon delivers something better than manufactured resort plazas: real Austrian village life where your children will remember playing in the Kirchplatz after dinner and racing down floodlit toboggan runs.
The valley spreads across three genuine towns (Schruns, St. Gallenkirch, and Gaschurn) where locals actually live year-round. You'll find proper bakeries, butchers, and a high street in Schruns, not just overpriced edelweiss magnets. The tradeoff: no single pedestrian village center with everything clustered together. You'll want a car or bus schedule to hop between towns.
Where to Eat
Schruns holds the dining crown. Montafoner Stube at the Montafoner Hof hotel earned three Gault Millau toques, serving Montafoner Sura Kees (local sour cheese) and venison for €22 to €35 per main.
For families wanting relaxed dining, Gasthaus Löwen in Schruns delivers Austrian classics: Käsknöpfle (Vorarlberg's mac and cheese), plate-sized Wiener Schnitzel, and shareable Kaiserschmarrn. Budget €15 to €20 per adult main, and your kids will actually finish their food.
Night Tobogganing Is the Move
The moment your child will brag about at school happens after dark on the Garfrescha run in St. Gallenkirch. Floodlights illuminate a groomed sled track where you hurtle down with nothing but cold air and your kid's shrieking laughter. Evening tickets cost €32 for adults and €18 for kids, with sled rental a few euros extra.
The Kapell-Kropfen natural Rodelbahn near Silbertal offers longer runs for €40 adults, €23 children. A new tubing run works perfectly for younger kids intimidated by full toboggan tracks.
Evening Vibes
This isn't Ischgl's table-dancing scene. Your evenings mean wood-paneled Stubes, kids playing cards by fires, and adults nursing local beer or Glühwein. Schruns has bars along Silvrettastraße staying open past 10pm, but "nightlife" means conversation over wine, not DJ sets.
Self-Catering and Groceries
Schruns' central SPAR supermarket stocks fresh Vorarlberg dairy, decent wine, and pre-made Schnitzel until 7pm weekdays. Weekly family grocery runs cost €120 to €150, covering breakfasts, packed lunches, and several proper dinners.
When to Go
Season at a glance — color-coded by family score
💬What Do Other Parents Think?
When your kids can actually learn to ski without dodging crowds, even during Austrian school holidays, you've found something special.
The Kids on Ski program creates those "pinch me" moments for parents of 3 to 5 year olds. Free ski lessons, free rental gear, free lift pass, free accommodation for the child. Parents who've done the math point out this saves €400 to €500 per child per week compared to booking everything separately at comparable Austrian resorts. The reality check?
Available dates are limited to specific weeks in January, March, and early April. Miss those windows and you're paying full price like everyone else.
- Small group sizes (6 to 8 kids maximum)
- The Monti Lux Kinderland practice area with magic carpets
- €60 per day lessons (less than half the cost of nearby Lech)
- Instructors who make kids actually want to stay longer
Families on the Slopes
(8 photos)Photos from Google Places. Posted by visitors.
Common Questions
Everything families ask about this resort
Have a question we didn't cover? We'd love to add it to our guide.
The Bottom Line
Would we recommend Silvretta Montafon?
What It Actually Costs
You're getting 140km of piste and 35 lifts at roughly two-thirds the total weekly cost of Austria's premium family destinations.Your weekly breakdown for a family of four: accommodation EUR 770-1,120 (apartment or Gasthof in St. Gallenkirch or Gaschurn, the valley hasn't been discovered by the international package-holiday market), six-day Montafon pass EUR 340 adults + EUR 170 kids, ski school EUR 220-280 per child for five half-days, mountain lunches EUR 160-210, groceries and village dinners EUR 200-280.
Total realistic week: EUR 1,700-2,100. That's Vorarlberg quality at Styrian prices.Your smartest money move: the Montafon multi-day pass, which includes all valley bus transport and access to every ski area (Silvretta, Golm, Gargellen, Kristberg). You're paying once for unlimited valley-wide terrain.
Compare to Lech-Zürs, 45 minutes away in the same province, where a similar week runs EUR 3,500-5,000, the value equation is stark.
Book accommodation directly through valley hotels; the tourism board site often has bundled packages.
The Honest Tradeoffs
If you want a fully packaged, hand-holding family resort experience with kids' clubs, structured evening programmes, and English as the default language, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis or Ellmau do that better.The Silvretta Montafon terrain leans intermediate to advanced, the "Black Scorpions" runs and freeride areas are steep.
Families with first-time skiers should start at the Nova kids' area (gentler gradients, magic carpets), but the mountain's personality is more challenging than family-focused.
If your youngest is still in snowplough stage, they'll be fine in the kids' zone, but the mountain as a whole doesn't cater to them the way a dedicated family resort does.
Consider Gargellen for a quieter, gentler Montafon village with more beginner terrain.
Consider Montafon (the wider valley pass) if you want to combine Silvretta's challenge with Golm's family friendliness on different days.
Would we recommend Silvretta Montafon?
This is the resort for families who don't need hand-holding, the skiing is excellent, the value is real, and the absence of international tourism infrastructure means quieter slopes and shorter lift queues than comparably sized Austrian resorts.Stay in St. Gallenkirch (Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon for comfort and pool, or a village apartment for budget) or Gaschurn for best Silvretta access.
Put beginners in the Nova kids' area, buy the Montafon valley pass for unlimited terrain flexibility, and plan a Gargellen day trip for variety.
Book by November when valley apartments start filling with returning families from Vorarlberg and Switzerland.
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Transparency note: This content was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Tom Meredith, our editor. Prices, dates, and availability may change. We recommend confirming details directly with the resort before booking.