Axamer Lizum

The largest of half a dozen ski areas close to Innsbruck, this resort was built for the 1964 Winter Olympics and achieved brief fame again during the 1976 games. Axamer Lizum's ski area, below the Hoadl and Pleisen mountains, is a good deal prettier than its lively base area. One moderately difficult run, the Axamer, takes you four miles all the way down to the village of Axams (874m). With ten lifts and some extensive, varied and quite tough skiing, it's a popular haunt with Innsbruck-based skiers (so beware of crowds at weekends), but might not satisfy a good intermediate for a full week. Combined with neighbouring Igls, Mutters and the extensive Neustift-Stubai areas, however – all available on the same lift pass – it is most definitely worth a visit.