Austria: Get to know Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
Perfect for families and adventurers alike, it's time to put this Austrian region top of your travel wish list
What do you get when you combine an eclectic mix of pretty villages, swathes of Alpine scenery, superb infrastructure and an irresistible culture of outdoorsy adventure? One of Austria's top mountain resorts: Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, which basks in year-round sunshine. Here, we reveal the five top experiences that should be on every traveller's radar right now.
Test its slopes
This Alpine enclave, where the vibe is chilled and the atmosphere hums with pleasure seekers, is blessed with great rambling slopes and vast blue skies, and has everything from gentle launch pads to extreme runs that'll leave you dumbfounded. It also has some excellent ski schools and round-the-clock childcare, so you can hone your moves while the little ones gad about with other tots.
Explore the pristine wilderness
When you're done skiing, there are still plenty of ways to continue the snow-based adventure, from wild toboggan runs to hiking along tracks that wind around the Tyrolean plateau. Climb aboard a horse-driven sleigh and ride through snow-frosted forests, ice-skate on frozen lakes and snowshoe high above the slopes for dazzling views of the Samnaun Alps and Otztaler Alps.
Play time
For an old-school kids' ski trip, it's hard to beat this region. It's not just its gentle slopes and proven training methods; Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis has three superb children's areas — Kinderschneealm, Berta's Kinderland and Murmlipark. These enchanting warrens combine playgrounds, adventure courses, experience tracks and more to keep little feet busy for hours. Serfaus is also unveiling a new indoor playground and climbing gym this winter, complete with a laser game room, soft play area and climbing walls.
Summer time
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis endlessly fascinates with its winter scene, but arrive here in summer to find its lush pastures and tranquil trails hosting hikers, bikers and climbers. Even in the height of summer, you could stumble across a lake that's empty, apart for a handful of wild swimmers cooling off in the crystal-clear waters. Kids, meanwhile, will relish a ride on the Fisser Flitzer, a thrilling summer toboggan run, from the Möserbahn mountain station down to the valley.
Tuck into its foodie scene
The resort packs a powerful punch when it comes to restaurants. Classic Austrian cuisine (think wiener schnitzel and Tyrolean dumplings) is rustled up in impossibly cosy kitchens, many of which have pretty terraces on which to watch the sun turn the snow-tipped mountains orange. No one will be going hungry.
