18 Must do’s when in Serfaus | Austria
Do you love winter sports? Do you already know the ski area of Serfaus in Tyrol in Austria? With more than 2,000 hours of sunshine per year, Serfaus is one of the sunniest areas in Tyrol. Here are my must do’s when in Serfaus.
1) Ski or in my case: take a ski course
With some colleagues from PepsiCo, we decided to go on a short ski to Serfaus: PEPSKI. I skied once in 2007 so that wouldn’t have been a great idea to skip ski lessons. Together with 4 PEP colleagues, we took 8 hours of ski lessons with our ski instructor Franz of the Skischule Serfaus. We first learned the basics at the kid’s slopes, went on to some blue slopes, and also did a small part of a red slope at the end! I only fell 4 times in total what I’m calling a success.
Fact: If the boots don’t fit, go change! My boots were not a match and because of that, I couldn’t brake properly (hence my first fall off the slope: I was going triple speed, my V stance didn’t work, couldn’t brake, and in the end instinct took over and I just dropped myself on the ground. To quote Franz: Nein, Laure!). The next day with new boots I could finally feel the “Knieen machen” Franz was talking about and I could brake and ski properly!
SKIING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
If you’ve never skied before, here are a few tips:
- Relax. The more relaxed you are, the better you’ll be able to use and control your muscles and movements. Easier said than done after I had to go on a red slope. 😉
- Wear or rent proper ski gear. As I said, if the boots don’t match, go change! The Ski Depot at the entrance of the ski slopes was really helpful in finding my correct shoe size after the original shop just told me to “wing” it with my first pair.
- You will not learn to ski in just 3 days, you will need 7. Even after that, it is recommended to take ski lessons on the first day of your next ski trip to refresh your skills!
- Go to the ski depot or other places where you can rent a locker for your ski gear!
Want to give it a go as well? Skischule Serfaus offers both group and private classes for skiing and snowboarding.
2) Après-ski in Serfaus
The most famous (or notorious?) Après-ski in Serfaus are ‘Patschi and ‘George’. Patschi is located almost directly next to the gondola and is therefore an ideal place to go after skiing. The George is a bit further down the main street, near most accommodations. Personal opinion: Patschi > George. There are also a few small-scale bars next to the gondola. Enough après-ski entertainment in Serfaus!
3) Enjoy Austrian food and drinks
Enjoy some pasta, kaiserschmarrn, Schnitzel, or a delicious Beer. Try to sit on an outdoor terrace to enjoy some rays as well!
4) Don’t forget to enjoy the views!
OTHER ACTIVITIES IN SERFAUS-FISS-LADIS
As we only had 3 ski days in Serfaus, we didn’t do everything that you can do here! Here are some other activities that you can do in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis.
5) De Masnerkopf en de Pezid
The two highest peaks in Serfaus are the Masnerkopf at 2828 meters and the Pezid at 2770 meters. From the Masnerkopf, you can go back down with 4 different slopes. 3 red runs that are certainly not difficult to take and a black run. The Pezid top is located next to the Masnerkopf. From the Pezid you can ski back to the valley station of this part of the area with a blue run or a black run.
6) The panorama genussweg
The Panorama Genussweg or “Panorama Enjoyment Trail” is an easy trail. You can walk all the way from Serfaus to Fiss.
7) Rodelbahn Scheisenfeger
The Scheisenfeger is a summer and winter toboggan run that takes passengers on a 1.5 km ride.
8) Serfauser Sauser
The Serfauser Sauser is a 2000-meter-long zip line with a speed of 65 km/h.
9) Snowshoe hiking
Serfaus has three dedicated snowshoe hiking routes ranging from 1.6 km to 5.8 km.
10) Cross-country skiing
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis is in the top 15 highest elevated cross-country ski areas in Austria and one of the top 15 ski areas with the best snow conditions in the country. Don’t underestimate this sport!
11) Fissure Flieger
The Fisser Flieger is a hang glider attached to a rail for 4 people. It “flies” you over the area at a speed of more than 80 km per hour at a height of 47 meters above the ground.
12) Skywing Fiss
Get swung in the air with 7 others. The Skyswing can accommodate your liking (calmer ride or with rollovers included).
13) Go on a Snowcat ride
Snowcats are in charge of smoothing out the ski slopes for the next morning. Join a snowcat rider on his nine-ton snowcat to get a look behind the scenes! It’s best to reserve this 1.5-hour ride well in time, as a snowcat only has room for one adult.
14) Visit the Z1 viewing point at 2600 meters
Visit the Z1 Panorama Platform, an observation deck, located on the Zwölferkopf summit, with a 360° view across the Austrian Alpes.
15) Go on a horse sleigh ride
Trot along the snowy mountain trails on a horse carriage ride. The ride will bring you through the snow to a mountain hut to enjoy culinary treats. It is recommended to book this excursion ahead of time, as it’s quite popular.
16) Adventure Night in Serfaus
Every year, there is a weekly open-air spectacle including a fireworks show. Your ticket for the show can be paired with nighttime skiing or tobogganing.
17) The “First Track”
Once a week, skiers and snowboarders can join the “First Track” tour in Serfaus or Fiss. You can ski on freshly prepared slopes at 7.30 AM. The amount of people who can participate is limited, so make sure to book your spot in advance.
18) The Crystal Cube
The Crystal Cube is a small restaurant made out of mirrored glass at a height of 2,600 meters with a 360° view of the area. The Crystal Cube fits a maximum of 8 people and offers the choice between a breakfast with sparkling wine, a luxury lunch, or a high tea. The viewpoint right next to the Crystal Cube is also worth the visit!
Life of a Passion
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