It’s never too early to start planning winter ski breaks, and right now we’re thinking about Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis – the award-winning, super-family-friendly resort with 2,000 hours of annual sunshine.
Family skiing fun, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis © Daniel Zangerl Eye5
A unique location for your family winter ski break
We all want the perfect location when heading into the Alps on winter ski breaks, and Serfaus, Fiss, and Ladis offer a pretty special vantage point: three historic mountain villages, nestled high on a sunny plateau above the Upper Tirolean Inntal Valley. Surrounded by the stunning peaks of the Samnaun Group and the Ötztal Alps, the plateau’s south-facing position means sunshine, and lots of it – an incredible 2,000 hours per year on average – to help you warm up nicely on the slopes.
Children are at the heart of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis © Andreas Kirschner
Why families love Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
When we say Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is family-friendly, we really do mean it. The region has won several awards for being the most family-friendly winter sports resort for ski breaks in the Alps, and is known for putting children at the heart of everything they do.
The ski area is designed specifically for families, offering easy slopes for little ones, more challenging trails for teenagers and adults, and an abundance of child-friendly courses and lifts, making getting around an easy task.
Beyond the slopes, there’s access to all the childcare facilities families might need on a winter ski break, alongside a range of off-piste entertainment, again, designed to make the resort heaps of fun for kids.
Bärenpiste, Fiss © Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Marketing GmbH_Roland Haschka
The resort is one big snowy playground
There are three main areas dedicated to children across the resort, and each is a one-stop-shop for snowy fun. This is literally a kids’ Alpine paradise, and they’ll live their best lives here – meaning you’ll get to live yours too. The Kinderschneealm and Murmlipark in Serfaus, and Berta’s Kinderland with Berta’s Kindervilla in Fiss, are all kids’ ski areas with tuition for all ages alongside other winter attractions such as snow tunnels, tubing, snowman-building, and igloos.
Then there are the childcare provisions, so you can get some adult ski time in while the kids learn the ropes at the two ski schools, again, winning awards for their teaching methods. And, aside from skiing and snowboarding, kids can enjoy the play areas whilst supervised by qualified professionals, so you’ll get to make your escape to the slopes whether you’ve got little skiers in your crew or not.
Sunrise Hexensee © Andreas Kirschner
What makes family winter ski breaks in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis unmissable
- Sunrise Hexensee is the lookout experience to beat, in a place full of great ones. Take the Masner Express snowcat to Hexenseehütte restaurant and its view of the Tirolean summits, watch the sunrise bathe all those peaks in magic light, enjoy breakfast with panoramic views, then head straight off to ski or take the snowcat back down. Perhaps not one for the littlest kids: but older ones, once out of bed, may well have a transcendental experience.
- The Serfaus Underground is the world’s smallest, highest underground train system and works by floating on air cushions. In short, it’s a hovertrain, an engineering concept we’re very on board with. You can use it to get to the cable car routes, and kids will love the novelty of taking their ski gear on the tube.
- Winter hiking and snowshoeing are also great family activities here. Try the Almpromenade trail, a circular hike around a reservoir pond, where different stations educate kids (and grown-ups!) on the history of skiing in Serfaus. Then kickback by the reservoir with its nostalgic hay sledges, ergonomic deckchairs, hammocks and cosy, roofed wicker chairs. The Panorama Enjoyment Trail has breathtaking views of the surrounding 3,000-metre summits, as well as rustic huts, more deckchairs and a Relaxation Pavilion.
Tobogganing, Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis © Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis Marketing GmbH_Andreas Kirschner
- Tobogganing is another fun winter ski break activity in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Think 8km of gorgeous mountain and forest landscape, where you’ll be breathing lungfuls fresh air at speed while racing through the snow like something from a Christmas card.
- It goes without saying that this region caters for hearty appetites. Head to the traditional mountain hut restaurants for warming Tirolean fare, served with a side of views, picturesque settings and cosy décor. Monte Mare, Ski Lounge, Leithe Wirt, Zirbenhütte, Sonnenburg, Seealmhög, and Schöngampalm are some of our favourite family restaurants, delivering the perfect fusion of cosy, delicious and great views – but don’t just take our word for it.
- After dark, the excitement doesn’t switch off, if anything it goes up a notch with thrilling evening shows featuring dazzling performances, daredevil ski jumps, incredible music and, of course, great food. Have phones charged and ready to capture the spectacle of Nightflow in Fiss. The enchantment of Adventure Night in Serfaus is endless and transports you to another world where the skies fill with fireworks, you’ll be astounded by acrobatic feats and snow stunts can take your breath away. Then there’s Magic Ladis, a stunning light show set on and around Ladis Castle Lake which could easily convince kids that fairy tales are real.
Fisser Flieger © Andreas Kirschner
- The Crystal Cube is the culinary experience no self-respecting foodie wants to miss whilst here. It’s a glass-walled cube sitting 2,600-metres above sea level, with a 360-degree panorama of the Tirolean Alps. They do group packages, so families can choose from breakfast with sparkling wine, luxury lunch or afternoon tea.
- The childcare facilities in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis exist so parents can enjoy a holiday too, meaning you can hand over the reins to trained professionals, and head on out to the slopes. If that sounds tempting, you want Murmli Crèche in Serfaus and Berta’s Kindergarten in Fiss.
- Young adventure junkies will find plenty of optional extras in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Start with the Fisser Flieger, a giant kite on a zipline, which takes four passengers on a 700-metre ride of up to 80km per hour (and 40km on the backward return). You will need a head for heights on this one, but it’s a seriously thrilling experience.
- Serfauser Sauser is about as close as you can get to taking flight, without sprouting wings. It’s one of the most daring flying fox experiences you’ll ever have tried, so steel yourself to fly for 2,000m at astonishing 65kmph speeds, high above the ground. It’s exhilarating, just don’t forget to keep your eyes open, the views are amazing too.
Find out more about winter ski breaks in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and book your family trip