Winter is here and whether you ski, snowboard, skate or explore, Austria’s super snowy SalzburgerLand is an Alpine holiday charmer not to be missed.
Seventy resorts, from vibrant towns to picturesque Alpine hamlets, spread across 21 ski areas with more than 2,000km of groomed pistes, 30 snowparks and 130 ski schools while state-of-the-art infrastructure makes for swift, safe access to well-connected slopes.
For unlimited access this season, the Super Ski Card is discounted until December 6. Ski areas are easily accessible by road, rail or air with more than half less than an hour’s transfer from Salzburg airport.
And if you don’t ski there’s no shortage of other activities. Zip wires, climbing walls or toboggan runs, including one of the longest in the world – 14km under floodlights in the Wildkogel Arena, are among the many opportunities for an adrenaline rush.
Don’t miss… Hearty Austrian food and spectacular views make learning to ski extra special
Well-equipped spas feature pampering or medical retreats for relaxation and a health boost. Great value and a warm family welcome are there for guests no matter what the size of the hotel.
For foodies there are eclectic and organic options in rustic mountain huts and gourmet restaurants and as one of the best countries in the world for après-ski the young and young-at-heart have plenty of parties to choose from.
Respect for the environment can be found everywhere and SalzburgerLand, which has the highest concentration of organic producers, is a European leader in green technology and sustainability.
Pioneering energy-efficient snowmaking and slope-management initiatives, they were the first areas granted Austria’s national ecolabel for tourism.
This winter pleasure in the new can be found with SalzburgerLand unveiling three new hotels, five new dining venues, three new lifts, and five major refurbishments to luxury resorts.
Among the latest adventures are:
Alpendorf (Snow Space Salzburg)
Snowpark Alpendorf in St Johann has new rails, kickers and a 1km funcross course with steep turns, waves, and a parallel slalom course with video
Altenmarkt (Salzburger Sportwelt)
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Opening in December, Family Hotel Kesselgrub unveils new kids’ facilities including a water play area with pools and slides, Kesselinos Kids’ Club, bowling alley, pony farm and petting zoo. The nine-month programme also presents the Mountain Adults Spa and Skyroom and an extensive garden with a new swimming lake
Gastein Valley
After a 30-year closure, an impressive refurbishment programme reopens two historic properties this December.
Grand Hotel Straubinger’s beautifully restored 19th-century façade hides stylish 21st-century interior décor and facilities. Situated next to Bad Gastein’s magnificent 341m waterfall, there are 46 rooms and suites and a spa with a heated outdoor pool. Under executive chef Norman Beitz the celebrated Straubinger Room is back to its best
In the centre of Bad Gastein on Straubingerplatz, sister property Badeschloss Hotel Est. 1791 has been meticulously restored to its former 18th-century glory with a sophisticated interior of 102 rooms and suites, a gourmet restaurant and show kitchen, and roof-top spa with outdoor infinity pool.
Grossarl Valley
A new 10-person gondola, Kieserlbahn II, arrives at a new summit restaurant, Wolke (Cloud) 7, opening in December. Diners can enjoy authentic local dishes and a few exotic surprises; skiers will enjoy the improved access to the Roslehenbahn ski area and Dorfgastein. Two new pistes and a new valley station service centre are scheduled to launch in 2024/25
Villa-Alpin is open from December onwards. Just 100m from the Panorama gondola, the B&B hotel offers a wellness area with saunas, a relaxation room and bar.
Das Edelweiss Salzburg Mountain Resort has invested more than €10m in expanding the Edelweiss Mountain Spa, redesigning the family area, creating 17 spacious luxury suites and renovating the public areas
Ski-in/ski-out Nesslerhof has launched a new-look reception, bar and restaurant, and refurbished the suites, garden area and 25m pool
Saalfelden-Leogang (Skicircus)
Krallerhof in Leogang, less than 2km from the Asitzbahn lift, has opened Atmosphere by Krallerhof, an impressive spa with separate adults-only and family areas. Opulent facilities include spacious wellness and water zones, saunas, whirlpools, and a yoga studio. Outside, the hotel’s alpine Zen garden and water staircase complement the heated 50m infinity pool incorporated into a vast natural swimming lake
Ski-in/Ski-out Naturhotel Forsthofgut in Leogang, 200m from the Asitzbahn lift, has created a new parlour-style dining room for à la carte Restaurant 1617 which has launched a new Mediterranean-Alpine menu. The lobby has been redesigned, 28 bedrooms refurbished, and three new Stuben extend the choice of child-free and family dining rooms for half-board guests
Puradies Naturresort, a peaceful resort tucked away in meadowland overlooking Leogang, has opened Heaven SPA offering extensive family facilities including age-specific pools, a yoga and fitness studio, natural swimming pond and sauna house reserved for adults
Next to Saalfelden’s congress centre, Stadthotel Saalfelden is set to open in 2024. Facilities will include 72 rooms, extensive parking, and a breakfast sky bar with sweeping views of the Steinerne Meer mountains.
Saalbach Hinterglemm (Skicircus)
A modern eight-seater chairlift replaces the old four-seater for a more comfortable ride up Saalbach’s Schattberg
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn events include 3 Days of Jazz (January 26-28); music and fun during White Pearl Mountain Days (March 22-31); the Ski World Cup final on the Zwölferkogel (March 16-24, 2024). The resort will host the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships 2025
Werfenweng
The Salzburger FIS Landes Skimuseum has a major exhibition dedicated to the life of legendary Austrian ski champion, Annemarie Moser-Pröll
Wolfgangsee
Wolfgangsee Advent, in its 20th year (November 17 to December 23), includes lakeside Christmas markets at St Gilgen, Strobl and St Wolfgangsee. Operating from Thursday to Sunday, the spectacular boat tour passes the illuminated 16m floating Peace Lantern, the Ox Cross and Wedding Cross
Zell am See-Kaprun
The Schmittenhöhe has replaced its three-seater Sonnkogelbahn with a new six-seater chairlift (interchangeable with an eight-seat gondola in the summer).
SalzburgerLand: travel and the regional picture:
SalzburgerLand’s 21 ski areas are easily accessible by road, rail or air. More than half are less than an hour’s transfer from Salzburg. Major British airlines offer direct, regular flights to Salzburg Airport from across the UK.
The major ski areas in the region include Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn; Zell am See-Kaprun; Salzburger Sportwelt uniting Eben, St Johann, Wagrain-Kleinarl, Flachau, Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Filzmoos and Radstadt; Obertauern; the Gastein valley ski-linked to Grossarl; and Hochkönig incorporating Mühlbach, Dienten and Maria Alm. There is also a choice of boutique ski resorts.
For the full picture, download the SalzburgerLand Ski Atlas.
Source: Read Full Article