Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Ski Facts
- LOCAL AREA: Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
- SEASON START & END: Early December – Mid April
- SKI ALTITUDE IN METRES: 1200-2828m
- PISTES: 22 Blue / 52 Red / 12 Black / 13 Freeride (18% Beginner / 16% Intermediate / 61% Expert / 5% Freeride)
- 101 Pistes for a total of 214km (47km Blue / 112km Red / 27km Black / 28km Freeride Routes)
- LIFTS: Total 68: (Underground 1 / Gondolas 11 / Chair lifts 16 / Drag lifts 10 / 30 belt conveyors and tow lifts)
- SNOW: 1440 snowmaking systems covering 80% of pistes.
- LIFT TICKET PRICES: See Online
- CROSS COUNTRY SKIING: 31 kilometres of cross-country ski trails (of which 8.4 kilometres are high-altitude trails) and a 22-kilometre cross-country ski route
- LANGUAGE: German
- AIRPORT: Innsbruck (90 km) / Munich (220 km) / Zurich (242 km)
- TRAIN: Landeck-Zams station (24 km)
- SKI FACTS:
- A total capacity of 92,000 persons per hour
- 8 Fun Areas and 12 freeride routes
- 2 permanent racetracks, 1 carving track, 1 speed track and several mogul slopes
- 8 kilometres of natural toboggan runs
- 100 km of cleared winter hiking trails
- 5 viewing platforms and numerous “Feel-good Stops ” in the skiing area
- 2 TOP ski schools: Ski School Serfaus and Ski School Fiss-Ladis
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, The Villages
Serfaus, along with Fiss and Ladis, stretches across the Samnaun mountain range, spread out on a high plateau at 1,200 metres above the Oberinntal valley and the river Inn, which winds its way from Innsbruck. Skiing rises to a rather impressive 2,828 metres, so one can always find some good snow, particularly on the north-facing and high pistes. We are also told that this corner of Tyrol is allegedly the sunniest in the region and possibly why the area has been particularly popular with Dutch and German visitors for many years.
Ladis is the oldest of the three towns, Serfaus grew the fastest, and Fiss is now making a determined bid for social supremacy, largely thanks to its lively après ski scene centred around the Hexenalm. Picture cowbells, schnapps and the kind of dancing that looks better the longer you stay.
Cars are only allowed on specific roads when arriving and leaving. Every day car use has been banned since the 1970s, which makes the streets quieter, cleaner and far safer for everyone, from small children and those attempting to find their way home after a bout of Apres Ski. Serfaus itself is a long spread-out town, so the solution was delightfully Austrian. An underground air-cushioned railway with four stops runs beneath the village, making travel efficient and faintly futuristic.
We stayed at the four-star Alfa Hotel in Serfaus, and it set the tone beautifully. The food was outstanding, driven by local chefs with a clear love for regional flavours. The spa area impressed with a large pool, outdoor hot tub and a dedicated adult wellness zone featuring various saunas, salt steam rooms and infrared cabins. Rooms were spacious, practical and refreshingly generous on storage. A small detail that matters greatly once we turn up with our tonnes of ski equipment.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, The Skiing
This is a vast and impressively varied ski area. My first day began in a whiteout with a guide, which made orientation entertaining. Even so, it was immediately clear that the skiing goes on and on. Covering everything in a week would be ambitious, which is precisely the point. Choice here is abundant, and boredom is certainly something you will find here.
The layout is excellent. At the top of almost every lift, there is a generous spread of pistes, usually reds, often supported by blues and blacks. With 214 kilometres of piste, the area caters effortlessly to families, confident cruisers and skiers who enjoy a little adventure.
Modern fast lifts dominate the network, and the blend of high alpine terrain with tree-lined runs keeps things interesting in all conditions. While traditionally known as a family resort, there is a surprising amount of challenging terrain. Ski touring and freeskiing are also gaining popularity, quietly proving that Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has something for everyone.
Ski hire at Check-In is something to behold. It is the largest rental operation I have ever seen and runs with military efficiency. You arrive in shoes and step straight onto the Komperdellbahn gondola with your ski gear. This is ski rental on an industrial scale, executed brilliantly. There is even a shop at the top of the gondola, allowing mid-mountain ski swaps without descending back to base.
Kinderschneealm, the nursery ski area for Serfaus, sits at 2,000 metres and is vast. It is one of the most extensive children’s learning zones I have seen and sets the benchmark for family-friendly skiing.
At the top station of the Komperdellbahn sits the Ski Lounge, a plush venue serving the best coffee on the mountain. On Wednesday evenings, the local ski school performs a show on the piste below while guests sip drinks or enjoy dinner. It is all very civilised and reassuringly Austrian.
We also experienced the Luxury Lunch in the Crystal Cube on Zwölferkopf at 2,600 metres. A mirrored cube with jaw-dropping views, seating up to eight guests and requiring advance booking. Selina cooked and served a seven-course meal that would not have looked out of place in a Michelin guide. The soup and main courses were exceptional, and the setting made it quietly unforgettable.
Beginners
There are over 125,000 square metres of dedicated learning zones across the area. Kinderschneealm above Serfaus and Berta’s Kinderland above Fiss and Ladis operate on an impressively large scale. The majority of blue pistes sit above Serfaus and Fiss, making progression easy and confidence building. The Planseggbahn chairlift leads to some excellent terrain, with blue piste #105 being a particular highlight.
Intermediate
Intermediates are truly spoilt here. Of the total piste map, 112km are red runs, making this an ideal resort for confident skiers who enjoy variety. The far northern section above Ladis offers wide open pistes that encourage speed and big turns. Standout runs include black pistes #27 and #29 alongside red pistes #26 and #18. Red piste #7 from above Ladis back towards Fiss is long, wide and wonderfully playful.
Experts
With 27 km of black pistes, expert skiers will find plenty to keep them entertained. The terrain served by the Almbahn above Ladis and the Lazidbahn delivers steep, challenging skiing with genuine character. We even managed to find fresh powder on black piste #126.
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is many things. Efficient, family-friendly, impressively organised and quietly ambitious. It feels purpose-built for skiing in the best possible way, as if someone sat down and asked what would make this easier, better and more enjoyable.
Ecology & Sustainability
- Electric and Low-Emission Bus Fleet:
The region has electrified its buses and uses HVO100 biofuel for additional buses to cut emissions from guest transport. Also, a redesigned bus timetable improves connectivity and encourages use of public transport instead of private cars. - E-Carsharing and E-Mobility Expansion:
The introduction of e-carsharing services and ongoing plans to expand electric charging infrastructure support sustainable mobility options. - Renewable Energy Rollout:
Significant investment in photovoltaic (solar) installations on lifts, restaurants, and buildings generates substantial renewable electricity locally. - Sustainable Energy Use in Mountain Restaurants:
Mountain restaurants like Leithe Wirt, Masner Hütte, and Seealm Hög use innovative heating and waste-heat systems, cutting fossil fuel use and improving energy efficiency. - Green Events Certification:
Events such as “S’Fest im Dorf“ in Ladis are run as certified Green Events, reducing resource use and environmental impact. - Regional Culinary Initiative :
Local gastronomy businesses adopt regional sourcing and reduced transport food chains to support local agriculture and lessen environmental impact.
For more information, visit Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
