Alpine ski areas raise prices, with South Tyrol costliest

Lift-pass prices are rising across almost all Alpine ski areas this winter, with South Tyrol among the most expensive destinations, BR reports. Skiers can still save in some places by buying season passes, choosing discounted days or booking tickets online in advance.

In Bavaria, the Alpenplus group, which includes the Spitzingsee-Tegernsee, Sudelfeld and Brauneck ski areas, has published its prices for the 2026-27 season. An adult day pass bought at the lift counter will cost 53 euros at Spitzingsee and 55 euros at Sudelfeld and Brauneck. Children’s passes will cost 25 euros at Spitzingsee and 27 euros at the other two areas.

Compared with last winter, adult prices have risen by two euros and children’s prices by one euro. Discounts will be available on selected Wednesdays after the Christmas holidays. The Alpenplus season pass has not increased in price: it costs 465 euros if bought by November 21, and 520 euros thereafter.

At the Garmisch-Classic ski area, an adult day pass at the lift counter will cost 72 euros during peak season, three euros more than last winter. A child’s pass will cost 36 euros. Buying online in advance saves a few euros. The season pass covering Garmisch-Classic and Wank has risen from 497 to 507 euros.

At the Zugspitze ski area, an adult day pass will cost 78 euros and a child’s pass 39 euros, up from 69 euros and 34.50 euros last winter. Online advance bookings save about eight euros per adult and four euros per child.

Prices are also rising in the Allgäu. A day pass for the full Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal ski area will cost 72.90 euros for adults and 31.30 euros for children, increases of about four and two euros respectively. In Balderschwang, adult tickets will cost 49 euros, up four euros, while children’s tickets will rise by 2.50 euros to 24 euros.

In Austria, an adult day pass in Ischgl will cost 83 euros, four euros more than last year; a child’s pass will cost 51 euros. In Sölden, adult tickets will cost 84.50 euros and children’s tickets 46.50 euros. Prices can vary between the early and peak seasons, and advance online booking may be cheaper.

South Tyrol has some of the highest prices. In the Dolomiti Superski group of ski areas, the adult peak-season day pass will rise from 86 to 89 euros, while children’s prices vary by age. At Kronplatz, the adult peak-season pass will cost 83 euros, up from 80 euros. In Gröden, an adult day pass will cost 83 euros and a child’s pass 42 euros. Online discounts are available there as well.

Ski areas cite higher energy costs, including the cost of running lifts, as a reason for the increases. Personnel costs are also rising, and Germany’s minimum wage is due to increase next year.