AustriaTyrolSkiChecked Oct 2026

Birmingham to Innsbruck for Skiing

Innsbruck has one of the shortest airport transfers in the Alps, with a dozen ski areas within an hour, and you can fly there direct from Birmingham. This guide covers the winter flights, transfer times to the main Tyrol resorts, the SKI plus CITY Pass, and routes via Munich and Salzburg.

~2h 10mDirect flight from Birmingham
30–70 minAirport to most nearby resorts
12 ski areasOn one SKI plus CITY Pass

The short answer

Fly direct from Birmingham to Innsbruck. Jet2 flies from 12 Dec 2026 to 10 Apr 2027, easyJet from 20 Dec 2026 to 24 Mar 2027, and TUI also flies the route for its ski packages. From the airport, a shared or private transfer gets you to Axamer Lizum or the Stubai Valley in about 30–40 minutes. Mayrhofen, the SkiWelt and St Anton are about an hour away. If you're staying in Innsbruck, bus F gets you to the main station in about 20 minutes.

Ski essentials

What to know about the season, the passes and the resorts around Innsbruck.

SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck

One pass covers 12 ski areas, including Stubai Glacier, Axamer Lizum, Kühtai, Schlick 2000, Nordkette and Patscherkofel. Together they have about 265 km of pistes and 108 lifts. The pass also covers ski buses and entry to city sights such as the Bergisel ski jump, the Alpine Zoo and Swarovski Crystal Worlds. For 2026/27 an adult 2-day pass costs €162 and a 6-day pass €386. The minimum is 2 days.

Season and snow

The Stubai Glacier opens in October and stays open well into spring, so it's the safe bet for early or late trips. The lower areas around Innsbruck usually run from December to early April, and Christmas, New Year and February half-term are the busiest weeks.

Resorts and transfer times

Typical transfer times from Innsbruck Airport are about 30 minutes to Neustift in the Stubai Valley, 35 minutes to Axamer Lizum and 45 minutes to Kühtai. Mayrhofen is about 1 hour away, Söll and Ellmau in the SkiWelt about 1 hour, and St Anton about 1h 10m. Snow and weekend traffic can add a lot of time.

Good to know

Skis and boards cost extra on Jet2, easyJet and TUI, so add sports equipment when you book. Saturday is the main changeover day, so the roads into the valleys can be slow.

Every way to get there

From Birmingham to Innsbruck, best options first. Times are typical door to door; check live schedules for your dates.

1

Fly direct from Birmingham to Innsbruck

Best for most
Door to door4–5h
£ Cost££
Best forMost ski trips
  1. Birmingham (BHX) to Innsbruck (INN)About 2h 10m. Jet2 flies from 12 Dec 2026 to 10 Apr 2027, mainly on Saturdays. easyJet flies from 20 Dec 2026 to 24 Mar 2027. TUI flies from 12 Dec 2026 to 27 Mar 2027, mostly for its package holidays. Return fares on quieter dates are typically about £100–£250, plus ski carriage. Half-term and Christmas cost more. Check current schedules.
  2. Transfer to your resortShared or private transfers take about 30–45 minutes to the Stubai Valley, Axamer Lizum and Kühtai, and about 1–1h 10m to Mayrhofen, the SkiWelt or St Anton. If you're staying in Innsbruck, bus F runs from the airport to the main station in about 20 minutes.
Compare BHX–INN flightsTransfer options: Innsbruck Airport → Mayrhofen

Innsbruck's mountain approach means flights occasionally divert to Munich or Salzburg in bad weather, so travel insurance that covers missed transfers is worth having.

2

Fly from Manchester to Innsbruck

Door to door5–6h
£ Cost££
Best forMore dates and airlines to choose from
  1. Birmingham to Manchester AirportAbout 1h 30m to 2h by car or train.
  2. Manchester (MAN) to Innsbruck (INN)About 2h. easyJet flies from November to late March. Jet2 flies from 12 Dec 2026 to 11 Apr 2027, and TUI from 12 Dec 2026 to 3 Apr 2027. Check current schedules.
Train times: Birmingham New Street → Manchester AirportCompare MAN–INN flights

This is worth checking for midweek departures or when the Birmingham flights are full.

3

Fly to Munich, then the train to Innsbruck

Door to door6–7h
£ Cost££
Best forDaily flights and flexible dates
  1. Birmingham (BHX) to Munich (MUC)About 1h 55m. Lufthansa flies daily. Check current schedules.
  2. Munich to Innsbruck by trainTake the S-Bahn from the airport to München Hbf. From there, direct trains reach Innsbruck in about 1h 45m, running roughly every two hours. Advance Sparpreis fares start at about €20. Alternatively, resort shuttles such as Four Seasons Travel run from Munich Airport to the Tyrol resorts.
Compare BHX–MUC flightsTrain times: Munich Airport → Innsbruck Hbf

This is useful when the Saturday Innsbruck flights are sold out or cost a lot.

4

Fly to Salzburg, then the train to Innsbruck

Door to door6–7h
£ Cost££
Best forCheap fares and SkiWelt or Kitzbühel trips
  1. Birmingham (BHX) to Salzburg (SZG)Around 2h. Ryanair flies from 5 Dec 2026 to 27 Mar 2027, Jet2 from 19 Dec 2026 to 10 Apr 2027 and TUI from 19 Dec 2026 to 13 Mar 2027. Check current schedules.
  2. Salzburg to Innsbruck by trainÖBB runs fast direct trains every hour, and the trip takes about 1h 50m to 2h. Advance fares are often under £20. From Salzburg Airport, take the bus or a taxi to Salzburg Hbf first.
Compare BHX–SZG flightsTrain times: Salzburg Hbf → Innsbruck Hbf

If you're heading to the SkiWelt or Kitzbühel, a transfer from Salzburg Airport is often about as quick as one from Innsbruck.

5

Drive via the Channel Tunnel

Door to door14–16h driving
£ Cost££
Best forGroups with lots of kit
  1. Birmingham to Folkestone, then Le Shuttle to CalaisIt's about 3h by road to Folkestone, then 35 minutes through the Channel Tunnel.
  2. Calais to InnsbruckThis is roughly 1,000–1,100 km and 11–13 hours of driving through Belgium and Germany, so most people stop overnight. You'll need an Austrian motorway vignette, and the Brenner (A13) has an extra toll. Between 1 Nov and 15 Apr, winter tyres or chains are required by law in wintry conditions.
Le Shuttle crossingsPlan the drive

Austria's vignette goes digital-only from 1 Feb 2027. Buy it from the official ASFINAG site, not from resellers.

Where to stay in Innsbruck

Compare hotels and apartments, many with free cancellation. Book early for December weekends.

See hotels in Innsbruck

All options compared

Typical times and relative costs. £ is cheapest, £££ is priciest.

OptionDoor to doorCostBest for
Fly direct from Birmingham to Innsbruck4–5h££Most ski trips
Fly from Manchester to Innsbruck5–6h££More dates and airlines to choose from
Fly to Munich, then the train to Innsbruck6–7h££Daily flights and flexible dates
Fly to Salzburg, then the train to Innsbruck6–7h££Cheap fares and SkiWelt or Kitzbühel trips
Drive via the Channel Tunnel14–16h driving££Groups with lots of kit

Where to ski and stay

Choose between city life with day trips to the slopes, or a resort base with ski-in convenience.

Your base

Innsbruck

Stay in the city and use the SKI plus CITY Pass and its ski buses to reach a different area each day. The Nordkette cable cars run straight up from the city centre to the slopes.

Hotels in Innsbruck
About 30–45 min

Stubai Valley and Axamer Lizum

The Stubai Glacier gives you high, snow-sure skiing from October, and Axamer Lizum is a favourite with locals and freeriders. Both are on the SKI plus CITY Pass.

Hotels in Neustift im Stubaital
About 1h

Mayrhofen and the SkiWelt

Mayrhofen in the Zillertal is lively with a big après scene. The SkiWelt (Söll, Ellmau and neighbours) is one of Austria's largest linked areas and is good for mixed-ability groups. Neither is on the city pass.

Hotels in Mayrhofen
About 1h 10m

St Anton

St Anton is a big, steep area on the Arlberg with famous après-ski, suited to confident skiers.

Hotels in St Anton am Arlberg

Local tip: If you arrive early on a Saturday, ski at Patscherkofel or the Nordkette above Innsbruck before your transfer, and leave your bags at the hotel or station.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people ask most about this trip.

Are there direct flights from Birmingham to Innsbruck?

Yes, in winter 2026/27. Jet2 flies from 12 Dec 2026 to 10 Apr 2027, easyJet from 20 Dec 2026 to 24 Mar 2027, and TUI from 12 Dec 2026 to 27 Mar 2027, mostly for its ski packages. The flight takes about 2h 10m.

How long is the transfer from Innsbruck Airport to the ski resorts?

Allow about 30 minutes to Neustift in the Stubai Valley, 35 minutes to Axamer Lizum and 45 minutes to Kühtai. Mayrhofen and the SkiWelt take about an hour, and St Anton about 1h 10m. Snow and Saturday traffic can make it longer.

What is the SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck?

It's a single ski pass for 12 ski areas around Innsbruck and the Stubai Valley, including Stubai Glacier, Axamer Lizum and Kühtai. It also includes ski buses and entry to many city attractions. For 2026/27 adult prices start at €162 for 2 days.

Is it cheaper to fly to Munich or Salzburg instead?

Sometimes. Munich has daily Lufthansa flights from Birmingham, and Salzburg has Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI flights, but you'll then need about 2 hours on the train or a transfer. Compare the total cost, including ski carriage and the onward journey.

When is the best time to ski near Innsbruck?

January and March usually give the best mix of snow, prices and quieter slopes. For a very early or late trip, stay near the Stubai Glacier, which is open from October to late spring.

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Times and prices are typical estimates, checked Oct 2026. Always confirm with the operator before booking. Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.