Thick flakes of snow, perfectly groomed pistes, rustic huts, quiet forests and world-famous Christmas markets. Winter in the SalzburgerLand is a picture-book idyll that can be enjoyed to the full.
Regarded as the cradle of alpine skiing, SalzburgerLand is a top destination for skiers and snowboarders with more than 2,000 km of pistes, spread across 70 resorts in 22 regions, plus snow and fun parks in 30 villages, all overseen by Austria’s largest ski association Ski amadé.
World Cup races and other sporting events bring the world’s elite to SalzburgerLand, while for the rest of us the season-opening parties and après-ski in the towns are also legendary. Here’s a quick guide to the best of SalzburgerLand...
Constant innovation
Every year, the mountain railways invest in new facilities. For example, in Zell am See-Kaprun, there is now a new connection to the Kitzsteinhorn with the 3K K-onnection, and with the zellamseeXpress a new connection to the Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn ski circus.
So much more than downhill skiing
Ice skating, zorbing or segway rides through the winter landscape can be enjoyed in many SalzburgerLand resorts. The area is also an Eldorado for ice climbing on natural ice: the Kolm Saigurn Ice Arena in the Rauris National Park Valley is one of the most rewarding ice climbing areas in SalzburgerLand.
An extensive network of cross-country trails covers more than 2,200 km across the SalzburgerLand, suitable for all facets of Nordic sports - from classic cross-country skiing and skating to laser biathlon – and includes floodlit trails as well as snowsure high-altitude trails, such as the Rossbrand in Filzmoos.
Going uphill as well as down!
Ski touring has grown dramatically in recent years. For the uninitiated, this involves a special binding and skins to help you to reach new heights off-piste, before speeding downhill on pistes or over untouched powder and deep snow slopes.
At the Kitzsteinhorn glacier there are marked ski tour ascent routes; in the Fuschl Lake region and in the Heutal in Salzburg’s Saalachtal there are ski tour educational trails, in Obertauern there is an educational ski tour to the Gnadenalm and in Zell am See-Kaprun a route to the Ronachkopf, which was the first ski tour mountain in the SalzburgerLand.
A gentler side of winter
Those seeking peace and quiet will love the guided torchlight hikes, snowshoe walks in the forests of the Hohe Tauern National Park or romantic horse-drawn carriage rides. A glide on one of the 110 toboggan runs is also a fun experience. Ice skating and curling are also fun leisure activities for the whole family.
Winter treat: Via Culinaria
The ‘Via Culinaria’ has been successfully exploring a delicious range of products for 10 years. Nine indulgence routes span right across the SalzburgerLand and include more than 300 gourmet participants from the various foodie sectors – coffee houses, alpine huts, farm cheese dairies, distilleries, fisheries, inns and restaurants
Unlimited fun with the Super Ski Card
The Super Ski Card covers more than 2,750 km of pistes in 22 ski regions in the SalzburgerLand and the adjoining large ski areas – it’s the most piste fun you can have with one card! A 6-day ticket costs €272 for adults (low season), €219 for teenagers and €146 for children.
Introducing your SalzburgerLand hosts...
With direct flights to Salzburg from many UK airports, SalzburgerLand is one of the easiest ski areas to get to.
Zell am See-Kaprun
From the eternal ice of the 3,000m high Kitzsteinhorn glacier to the shores of the frozen Zeller lake, the whole range of winter sports is here. In the three ski resorts of Kitzsteinhorn, Schmittenhöhe and Maiskogel, visitors can enjoy 62 pistes, covering 138km. And with the opening of the 3K Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn K-onnection visitors can now ride up to the glacier from the local centre.
Skicircus
One of the largest and most diverse ski areas in Austria – the Ski Circus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is also one of the most relaxed. Choose from 270 km of slopes served by 70 lifts. With more than 60 ski huts, various snow parks, freeride parks, floodlit runs, snowtubing and toboggan runs, the Ski Circus is the perfect winter sports area.
National Park Hohe Tauern
The eight ski resorts in this region are among the hottest insider tips in the Alps. They extend from the Zillertal Arena and the Wildkogel Arena in the west to the glacier skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn and the Gasteiner and Grossarltal valleys in the east. Skiing, ski touring, cross-country skiing, Nordic walking, tobogganing, paragliding – there is so much to enjoy here!
Hochkönig
You get more than 120 km of unlimited skiing fun on the slopes of Maria Alm, Dienten and Mühlbach. If you enjoy clocking up the miles, try the 32km King’s Tour circuit! Hungry skiers can choose from cosy mountain huts, or trendy or traditional locations. And if that’s not enough, Hochkönig is part of the beautiful Ski amadé, where you can enjoy a mighty 760 km of slopes on one ski pass.
Obertauern
Known in Austria as ‘the home of winter’, Obertauern is the country’s most snowsure resort, guaranteeing six months of snow. In a fantastic setting, at an altitude of between 1,630 and 2,313m, it has 100km of panoramic pistes waiting to be explored. From the village, each piste is within walking distance. Moreover, the unique après-ski atmosphere and nightlife in Obertauern are legendary.
Salzkammergut
The Salzkammergut is another beautiful region in the heart of Austria. From the bizarre limestone massifs to the idyllic Salzkammergut lakes, the winter landscape here is a playground for skiing, cross-country skiing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skating, tobogganing and ski tours. Guests can also enjoy relaxing oases of well-being, and traditional Advent markets.
Salzburger Sportwelt
Located at the heart of the vast Ski amadé, the Sportwelt consists of seven holiday resorts. Together they offer 760 km of pistes and 270 ski lifts, all on 1 lift pass. Plus, 200 rustic ski huts, 3,000 deckchairs in the sun and 0 reasons to look elsewhere. Every type of skiing is available, from gentle to demanding, from groomed to powder, from fun park and race piste to freestyle slope.
Salzburg
Don’t miss a winter visit to the city of Mozart. The smell of hot chestnuts, mulled wine and cookies waft through the lanes of the historical district at this time of the year. Stroll through the festively decorated city, visit a cosy coffee house visit, and browse the wonderful Christmas markets. The traditional Salzburger Christkindlmarkt is one of the most beautiful anywhere.
Ski Alpin Card
From winter 2019/20, the Ski Alpin Card is your ticket to the three premium ski regions: the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, the Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See as well as the glacier ski area Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun, offering you 408 km of pistes in just one ski pass.
Get to know this fantastic region in the heart of Austria and go to salzburgerland.com
