Ischgl hosts its legendary Top of the Mountain concert three times a year now (at the season opening, Easter and at the end of the season), leaving little doubt where the top destination for après-ski and party in the Alps is. These events bring rock and pop legends to the ski area, with names like Robbie Williams (2014), Alicia Keys (2010) and Elton John (2008) all playing live gigs at over 2000 metres above sea level here. In the valley, there are some 17 après-ski bars (as of February 2017) to enjoy after the lifts close.
The Paznauner Taja is the place to be for party
During the day, the Paznauner Taja at the base station of the Paznauner Thayabahn (E1) lift is the ultimate lodge experience at 2,000m. The lodge doesn’t just serve up hearty fare for guests – no matter the weather, the Paznauner Taja always has great music on hand for skiers to have a boogie and a good time. The lodge even has its own webcam, allowing you to check if the party is yet underway: Webcam Paznauner Taja. It’s no unusual sight to see partygoers dancing on the benches and tables here in the afternoon.
After the last run, “Schatzi” or “Kitzloch” are the first port of call
Kitzloch is located in Galfeisweg 3 in the direct vicinity of the end of valley run no. 1a down to the valley station of the Pardatschgratbahn. This is where DJ Boris plays all the well-known après-ski hits after the lifts close every day. The classic dish in Kitzloch is undoubtedly the spare ribs, fuelling night owls here until the early hours.
Directly across from the Pardatschgratbahn base station is the Schatzi Bar, another favourite with Ischgl fans. Between 4 pm and 7 pm the “Tiroler Mädels” in short skirts keep the male clientele particularly happy with their table dance routines.
The top 3 après-ski locations in Ischgl
As mentioned above, there are more than 17 après-ski locations in Ischgl to choose from. If you are staying in town for an extended period you can even do a proper pub crawl before deciding on your favourite. According to common consensus, the top three in town are as follows:
- Kuhstall (directly by the base station of the Silvrettabahn A1)
- Trofana Alm (Dorfstraße 95, a little west of the Silvrettabahn)
- Nikis Stadl (below the base station of the Pardatschgratbahn)
In our test, the Kuhstall clearly lead the field in terms of atmosphere. The party gets started from 3 pm every day here, and the dancefloor is packed by 6 pm at the very latest.
A brief word about Samnaun
Given all the party in Ischgl, we shouldn’t forget Samnaun on the Swiss side. It goes without saying that the mood is considerably mellower here after the lifts close. Nevertheless, there is still some typical après-ski to be had in Samnaun. Our tip is the Schmuggler-Alm, which offers a restaurant, après-snow bar and duty-free shopping all rolled into one. Expect DJs and hot beats from 3 pm onwards.