Kappl Ski Resort Austria
Kappl is one of several wonderful ski areas of the Paznaun valley in the Austrian Tirol. Best known for party central Ischgl, the Paznauntal is also home to Galtuer & See ski resorts. Typical of ‘small’ skiing areas in Europe, Kappl's amazing terrain & nearly 1,500m of skiable vertical would make most Japanese, US & Canadian resorts blush!
Pros & Cons for Kappl Ski Resort
Pros
- Snow-sure location with high elevation summit & alpine sector.
- Super-long skiable vertical.
- No lift lines.
- Unlimited fresh turns on a powder day.
- Fun, long piste trails for all levels (but less for true beginners on piste).
- Superb off-piste terrain.
- Some very good après ski particularly at mid-mountain and just above the valley station on the edge of the village (where the sun shines a tad longer!).
- Gobsmacking scenery.
- Great value local lift pass price.
- Easy public transport access by bus from the train station at Landeck-Zams & ample free car parking for day trippers right near the gondola valley station just off the main road.
Cons
- Aging lift infrastructure.
- Limited beginner ski terrain.
- For day-trippers, carparks are in the shade with limited facilities so getting changed is bloody freezing in mid-winter (particularly the older one gets!)
- Limited ski-in ski-out accommodation
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Sunny, mostly southern aspect terrain, means snow can get baked, but we all know that the skiing is the sun is nice too, particularly when the temperatures are super-cold!
- Accommodation can be difficult to get in the village, but easier up and down the valley.
- Nearly all mountain restaurants (bar one!) are ‘self-serves’.
- Close to some excellent, diverse ski resort in the Paznaun valley.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
The Kappl skiing & snowboarding terrain is of typically fat proportions. The 1,500m skiable vert brings with it runs that are over 8km long on the 'Latten' top to bottom valley trail. As with its Paznaun neighbours at See & Galtür, Kappl only has limited terrain for beginners & is better suited to intermediates & above. On a powder day, groomed trails wrap around the bottom of the high alpine zone, allowing for easy returns to the lifts after epic freeride off-piste turns from the 2,720m Alblittköpfe summit. The ski lifts at Kappl are starting to show their age, but still do the job. The access gondola, Diasbahn, is slated to be replaced soon, improving travel times & comfort to mid-mountain from the valley.
Before we add to this overview, view the Kappl ski trail map to get a sense of what a big 'small' ski resort looks like!
Ski Passes
The ski resorts of the Paznaun valley, including Kappl, each have a cost-effective 'local' area ski pass that is way better value than the broader Silvretta Pass. The Silvretta Pass is more expensive and includes unfettered access to all the ski lifts & trails of Kappl, Galtuer, Ischgl-Samnaun & See resorts. Free local ski buses link the resorts together.
View the validity area on the Silvretta Pass resort map.
Where is Kappl Austria?
Kappl is in the Paznaun valley of southwest Tirol, Austria, around 96km by road from Innsbruck. The nearest major centre is Landeck-Zams, 21km north of Kappl.
Closest major gateway airports are Innsbruck (INN), Munich (MUC) & Zurich (ZRH). For safe post COVID-19 travel, search & book a private airport transfers to Kappl.
The resort is well serviced from all airports by train & bus via the train station at Landeck-Zams. The Landeck-Zams bahnhof (train station) is on the main line between Switzerland & Innsbruck. The route 260 bus is free for skiers from Landeck all the way up the Paznaun valley to See. Other free ski-buses run up & down the valley linking all the villages & smaller ski resorts. It is easy to do day trips to Kappl from Landeck by free ski bus. Search & book train tickets to Landeck-Zams. Buy bus tickets from the driver, or if in ski attire, travel for free.
If driving, the gondola base has free car parking directly next to it and across road on the opposite side of the river accessed by a cute covered bridge. Come early to get the best position.
Kappl Accommodation
The village of Kappl is centrally located in the Paznaun valley between See & Ischgl. Unlike other valley towns, its centre is off the main road, a short distance up the side of the mountain. The mountainside position makes the most of the morning sun. Kappl can be a convenient base for visiting all the Silvretta Ski Pass resorts, but morning buses to Ischgl can be crowded with skiers that have already boarded in Landeck-Zams & See-im-Paznaun. The village at See makes an affordable alternative to Kappl.
Search & book all Kappl ski accommodation.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Our local partners have several convenient equipment rental location in the centre of Kappl village & in the valley. Receive a discount when you search & book via this Kappl Ski & Snowboard Rental link.
A mind-boggling array of ski instructors, ski schools & mountain guides ply their trade in the Paznaun valley & its numerous resorts, including Kappl. Click on the listing below to search for local lessons & guiding.
[AdListings Filter="Galtuer Guiding"]
Nearby Ski Resorts
Aside from the 3 other Paznaun valley ski resorts of Ischgl, See & Galtür, another sneaky little resort is on the way. The secret stash of Venet above Landeck-Zams is a beauty on a powder day or for a quick leg stretch. If coming via Innsbruck, the local resorts are sensational and diverse. And of course, Ischgl is interlinked with Samnaun in Switzerland ensuring a little cross-border international fun.
Review
The Powderhounds visited Kappl in early February 2022 & had a fantastic time skiing deep powder all day until our legs turned to mush. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Kappl compares to other European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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