Veganism has (fortunately) arrived in ski resorts like those in South Tyrol, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. But there are still big differences. Some lodges and hotels cannot imagine a hearty mountain cuisine without meat. Others are true pioneers, offering you plant-based power during your ski vacation and cross-country tours. We have compiled a list of our favorite vegan ski hotels and huts with cruelty-free options.

Vegan delights on the Seiser Alm, right on the slopes

A pioneer among vegan ski hotels is Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel. What started as a vegetarian/vegan hotel has now evolved its cuisine to be completely free of animal products, making it the first vegan hotel in the Dolomites. Celebrity Greek chef Aggeliki Charami, who is also very active on Instagram promoting vegan cuisine, was co-responsible for revising the culinary concept.

The sustainable hotel, at 2,020 meters above sea level, is ideally located for a ski vacation – a run in the Dolomiti Superski area ends right outside the door. The ski lift is also right next to the hotel. From here you are directly connected to 32 slopes of the Alpe di Siusi ski area. With the same ski pass you can also explore the even larger Dolomiti Superski. The Alpe di Siusi is only one of twelve ski areas with about 1,200 kilometers of slopes.

Cross-country skiing on the Alpe di Siusi

If you prefer cross-country skiing, the Seiser Alm’s 80 km of trails start just a few hundred meters from the hotel.

100% vegan restaurant on the slopes

Since Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is the only completely vegan hospitality business in the area, we suggest you take your meals here. You can ski right up to the terrace (as in the lodges), leave your equipment in the designated area and enjoy vegan food! On the terrace or in the winter garden of the restaurant you can enjoy the view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites.

The menu is specially adapted for the ski season. The vegan pizza is an affordable and delicious highlight!

👉 Read more about a vegan ski vacation at Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel.

EXCURSION: Is skiing sustainable?

IIn some ways, skiing is at odds with leaving nature in its pristine beauty. However, there have already been a number of sustainable improvements in the problem areas of snow cannons, ski lifts, energy, water consumption, pollution and mass tourism. Dolomiti Superski, for example, is one of the resorts that has been committed to sustainability for several years. Read more in our articles:

👉 Sustainable winter vacation 

👉 Tips for a sustainable skiing holiday 

Individual ski vacation on the Plose in South Tyrol

The Green PearlsⓇ Hotel My Arbor near Brixen is located just a few meters from the valley station of the Plose cable car. Ski-in/ski-out is not a foreign concept here. You can safely store your equipment in the hotel’s own ski room. The Plose ski area has 7 ski lifts and 19 slopes of varying difficulty, with a total of 42 kilometers of slopes and fantastic views of the Dolomites. If you are not an avid skier, you can also enjoy 12 km of toboggan runs and 12 km of winter hiking trails.

Vegan on request

The concept of the hotel includes the idea of “mine”. This means that individual service is very important and “special requests” are not only allowed, but explicitly part of the hotel’s philosophy. The kitchen creates a different vegan menu every day on request, and there are many vegan options for breakfast.

“Vegan options are currently rather limited in the ski lodges in the nearest ski area. We can help you plan to meet your needs. We are also happy to pack a vegan lunch for you. – My Arbor

👉 Not a skier yet? My Arbor is a partner of the Plose Ski School.

Vegan skiing vacation in Switzerland

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend a 100% vegan hotel in Switzerland like we did for South Tyrol. However, there are two sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotels where you will feel comfortable as a vegan.

CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt with vegan/vegetarian restaurant

The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt is connected to the Matterhorn Ski Paradise with about 360 kilometers of prepared slopes. The resort has a ski room with lockers for your equipment and is spread over several buildings. There is a spa area, a climbing wall, a gym and three restaurants. One of them is the vegetarian BAZAAR, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vegan dishes are marked on the menu so you can enjoy a vegan ski vacation and be surrounded by like-minded people.

👉 Check here to find the best places to ski around CERVO Mountain Resort.

Intimate boutique hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – for skiing and yoga

If you are looking for a small, cozy ski hotel with an individual flair and personal service, then look no further than the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. It has only 21 rooms and offers a fantastic view of the Matterhorn. There is also a small spa area and a yoga room with regular yoga classes. Of course, there is also a ski room and the ski slope ends right at the hotel. If you want, you can even take a trip to Italy on your skis!

Vegan alternatives are an integral part of the sustainable program. There is cappuccino with oatmeal, vegan pastries from the hotel’s own bakery, and vegan meals. The Anthamatten family, who owns the hotel, is very familiar with vegan requirements and will take professional care of you according to your wishes.

„We kindly ask guests to inform us before arrival if they are vegan so that we can prepare vegan dishes for the breakfast buffet (preparation is on request to avoid food waste).“ – Fabienne Anthamatten

Learn more about winter vacations at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt.

Vegan offer for skiers in Tyrol and East Tyrol

If you want to spend a vegan ski vacation with the whole family, the Kellerjoch ski area near the Biohotel Grafenast is ideal. The hotel also has a mountain hut (Cafè Rodel Toni) right next to the children’s ski school – so you can enjoy coffee with oatdrink while keeping an eye on your kids. The Unterlechner family’s family hotel also has special hotel rooms with separate children’s rooms.

“We offer a wide variety of great vegan meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some huts, such as the Kellerjochhütte, also offer vegan food. – Peter Unterlechner, Biohotel Grafenast

At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, you can spend your vegan winter vacation surrounded by nature in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The national park includes several 3,000-meter peaks, and the Grossglockner Kals-Matrei ski area has 16 lifts and about 47 kilometers of slopes.

“With us you can enjoy a vegan menu every day and the huts also serve vegan food.” – Naturehotel Outside

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for vegans in Germany

If you prefer gentler winter sports, the Allgäu is the perfect place for you – even if you are vegan.

Hotel Das Rübezahl with two mountain huts and vegan options

IFüssen has a huge network of cross-country ski trails, with a total of 300 kilometers of connected trails. Of course, the romantic backdrop of Neuschwanstein Castle and other royal castles is a highlight. You also have a number of options for downhill skiing, such as Tegelberg.

The Rohrkopfhütte, part of the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Das Rübezahl, is also located on the Tegelberg. As of 2024, the Edelsberg Lodge is also part of the Rübezahl family and can be reached in winter by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or winter hiking.

In the romantic hotel a vegan menu is served daily, and in the two huts (Rohrkopfhütte and Edelsberghütte) a selection of vegan dishes is available. “Of course, a vegan packed lunch or picnic is no problem if ordered accordingly,” adds the Thurm family, who own the hotel.

Gentle winter sports at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refuge Allgäu

Also in the Allgäu, in Balderschwang at 1,044 meters and near the Austrian border, the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu is located in the middle of nature. In winter, snowshoeing is a must. You can rent snowshoes at the hotel and be accompanied by guides (sometimes by the host Mark Traubel himself). In addition, the Balderschwang cross-country skiing area offers over 100 kilometers of trails.

The vegetarian and vegan options at the HUBERTUS have increased in recent years and there is a vegetarian menu every day. 100% vegan meals are available on request. You can pack a “Jausensackerl” for the mountain. The snack bags are ready for you at the breakfast or lunch buffet.

Vegan self-catering ski vacation

Do you prefer to cook for yourself on vacation? Maybe vegan is not enough for you, or you have very specific dietary requirements that only you can or want to prepare? Then you should spend your winter vacation in a chalet, aparthotel or vacation home with its own kitchen. The Hygna Chalets in Austria’s Alpbachtal, for example, offer a luxurious and sustainable option. Some of the chalets have their own outdoor hot tub. Because it is heated, you can take in the snowy landscape while relaxing in the warm water.

👉 Information about the 100 kilometers of cross-country ski trails in the Alpbachtal.

In the Austrian town of Pfunds, in the Tyrolean Oberland, you’ll find the Summit Lodges, vacation homes made of polar spruce with their own sauna powered by green electricity. The 120-square-meter log cabins also have their own fireplaces for cozy evenings. Don’t worry: firewood is provided 😉

„Most huts and restaurants now offer vegan meals.“ – Summit Lodges Pfunds

👉 Summit Lodges Pfunds is surrounded by approximately 135 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, and a ski bus stops nearby to take you to six ski areas.

👉 Find out more here: Winter vacation at the Summit Lodges

Skiing and vegan self-catering in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol

In South Tyrol, the OLM Nature Escape will open in December 2023. The circular aparthotel is energy self-sufficient and a pioneer in sustainable alpine tourism. Part of the aparthotel’s culinary concept is that you can book all meals according to a modular system.

“Vegan options are no problem at all – our two qualified dietary chefs are very competent” – OLM Nature Escape

You can also use your own kitchen in the fully equipped apartments. Here you can prepare your (vegan) meals exactly as you like.

Just behind Sand in Taufers, where the OLM Nature Escape is located, lies the Skiworld Ahrntal ski area, which consists of the Speikboden and Klausberg ski areas. It is a smaller ski area with 87 kilometers of slopes, which is especially popular with families. Cross-country skiing is also available.

Finally, if you are vegan, we recommend checking in advance which huts offer vegan options (e.g. Bergwelten or Vegan-News). The HappyCow app is also very helpful when you’re on the go.

Save this article for your next winter holidays!