February half term and krokusvakantie: a ski holiday with children in the Oberpinzgau

When families ask me where to go skiing with their children in February, my answer is the Oberpinzgau. There are good runs here for every age and every ability — from the first magic carpet to the long valley run — and even in the busiest week it is still pleasantly relaxed compared with the big-name resorts.

Here is what I would tell you before you book: which week is quiet and which isn't, which ski area suits your family, how ski school and ski hire work, and what to do on a day when the weather turns.

February 2027: which week is busy?

This matters more than most guests realise. In 2027, Salzburg and Tyrol have moved their school half-term to the third week of February — and that puts it right on top of the English half term and the southern Dutch krokusvakantie.

What that means for you:

• In the week of 15–20 February, several holidays overlap: England, the south of the Netherlands and the western Austrian provinces. Book accommodation and ski school early. But it is less crowded than it sounds — Vienna and Lower Austria have their week at the start of February, not now. And even in this week it stays pleasantly relaxed here compared with the big resorts.
• 20–28 February is quieter still. The Austrian children are back at school — good news if your region is North or Middle.
• The Dutch dates are advisory. Some schools in the south move their holiday a week earlier to match carnival, so check with your school.

Wildkogel or Zillertal Arena?

You have two ski areas on your doorstep, and one ski pass can cover both.

• The Wildkogel-Arena above Neukirchen and Bramberg: 75 km of piste, about 85 per cent blue or red, compact and easy to find your way around. Practice lifts at both top stations and two practice slopes down in the valley. This is where I would start with young children. More on my Wildkogel page.
• The Zillertal Arena from Krimml and Wald-Königsleiten: around 150 km of piste, for families with older children who want to ski a whole day without repeating a lift.

If you can't decide, you don't have to: from two days onwards, the Zillertal Arena pass is also valid at the Wildkogel, and the ski bus between Neukirchen, Wald, Krimml and Königsleiten is free with a valid ski pass. My comparison of the ski areas goes into more detail.

What the ski pass costs (winter 2026/27)

Children born in 2021 or later ski free (proof of age required). Neither ski area has a separate family discount. Prices are the same in high and low season.

My tip for a week: the six-day pass that covers the Zillertal and the Wildkogel costs €41 more per adult than the Wildkogel-only pass, and just €5 more per child. For a family that wants a bit of variety, that is money well spent.

Ski school: book early — but don't panic

Both ski areas have several ski schools, four at each. All of them are qualified and only employ trained instructors, so I don't recommend one over another. Children's group lessons usually start at four or five years old.

• Book online in advance. That is the only way to be sure of a place in the school you want. The ski schools treat February as main holiday season: courses and lunch supervision can fill up, and some schools only take a limited number of children for lunch and allocate places first come, first served.
• If you do book late, you will usually still find a place — just perhaps not at the school you had in mind.
• Lunch supervision — a meal, a drink and an instructor looking after your child — costs around €15–19 per child per day, depending on the school.

Ski hire

You'll find ski hire in the village, at the valley stations and up on the mountain. Most shops let you reserve online — Intersport and Sport 2000, to name just two, have shops in Neukirchen, Bramberg and Krimml. For the holiday weeks it's worth reserving, especially children's boots in the right size.

When the weather turns

Not every February day is a bluebird day. What families here do instead:

• Kristallbad Wald Königsleiten — indoor pool, open daily from 9 am to 8 pm, sauna from 2 pm.
• Nationalparkwelten in Mittersill — the Hohe Tauern National Park exhibition, open daily 10 am to 5 pm in winter.
• The Krimml Waterfalls — the path to the lowest fall is usually open in winter, so you can count on getting there. Only the path up to the upper falls may be closed.
• Tobogganing — when it snows, not when it rains. The toboggan run from the Smaragdbahn is 14 km long and floodlit until 10 pm (Mondays until 6 pm).

Snow in February

February is the most reliable month. Everything works — skiing down to the valley, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, winter walks — and the snow is usually better than in December. At around 900 metres, the valley floor has on average 17 days in February with at least 10 cm of natural snow. For cross-country skiers there are around 30 km of trails at the Wildkogel alone, and the Pinzgau cross-country trail runs for about 200 km through the valley.

Getting here

• By car from the Netherlands or the UK, you'll come either through the Zillertal (via the Gerlos pass) or via Kitzbühel. Both are hotspots on Saturday changeover days, so plan for traffic. From 1 February 2027 the Austrian motorway vignette is digital only.
• Tip for the Gerlos route: during the Zillertal Arena ski season, the Gerlos Alpine Road is free for guests with a booking confirmation from an accommodation in Krimml or Wald, or with their guest card.
• By air: Salzburg airport is about 150 km away — allow at least two hours by car. Innsbruck and Munich are also possible. A transfer can be booked, and we're happy to help.

Where to stay

• Neukirchen or Bramberg if the Wildkogel is your main area — short ways, practice slopes in the valley, and the toboggan run ends in Bramberg.
• Krimml or Wald-Königsleiten if you want the Zillertal Arena on your doorstep.

For a family, a holiday apartment is often the relaxed choice: space to dry ski boots, your own kitchen when the children are tired early, and no fixed breakfast time before ski school starts.

We're happy to help you put your February week together — accommodation, ski school, transfer. Just send us your dates and the ages of your children.