Schladming Ski Holidays
Ski Holidays in Schladming, Austria
Based in the picturesque mountain range of Styria, Schladming is one of Austria’s most idyllic winter destinations and has deservedly developed a reputation as a world class ski resort.
Whether you’re jetting off solely to improve your skills, or hoping for a relaxing break in the snow with some skiing in between, there is plenty to look forward to in this cosy paradise.
Unlike some of the country’s other resorts, Schladming benefits from small crowds and short queues, making it easy for visitors to quickly settle into the resort and feel at home.
Thanks to the efficient lift system across the area, it is easy for travellers to explore the wider region and put together daily itineraries that are ideal for their abilities. The biggest interconnected part of Schladming is the “4-Mountain Ski Area”, which has 123km of pistes, combining Schladming with the smaller resorts of Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm.
Resort Statistics
| Level | Rating | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners | 22 | |
| Intermediates | 44 | |
| Advanced | 8 | |
| Snowboarders | ||
| Total Runs | 74 |
| Resort Altitude | 745m |
| Highest Lift | 2700m |
| Total Piste | 175km |
| Longest Run | 8km |
| Directions of Slopes | N, N/W |
| Uphill Capacity | 103500 |
| Total Lifts | 93 |
| Gondolas/Cable cars | 8 |
| Chairlifts | 23 |
| Drag Lifts | 62 |
Schladming ski resort
Officially “Schladming-Dachstein”, this large, bustling village dates back to Medieval times and has tremendous character. The resort is attractive and lively at night, with historic buildings and impressive après-ski that help generate a great atmosphere.
Several important ski competitions (including the 2013 World Championships) have been hosted in Schladming, thanks to its excellent skiing and top resort facilities. It’s also home to the legendary “Nightrace” - one of the most anticipated and spectacular events on the annual Alpine Ski World Cup schedule.
Most of the buildings in the area look charmingly old-fashioned, while the traffic-free central square is full of shops, restaurants, bars and hotels, making it the perfect spot for a peaceful night-time stroll.
Despite all this, it’s a really relaxed location - with breathtaking views over the Ennstal Valley and the majestic Dachstein glacier as a backdrop, the atmosphere across the resort is truly idyllic and makes for some wonderful photo opportunities.
Snow conditions in Schladming
The runs across the resort suit many different abilities and the season runs from November to April, with all of the routes being immaculately preserved to ensure the best possible surface for skiers.
Even if you are looking for a rest from the slopes, there are plenty of excellent walking routes to explore, and lots of charming mountain huts for a bite to eat.
Skiing in Schladming
There are 8 winter sports areas across the Schladming area, with 230km of wonderfully groomed slopes - although not entirely connected by ski slope. You can find everything from family-friendly hills to more advanced routes, making it a great destination for skiers of all abilities.
The heart of the Schladming skiing region is the “4-Mountain Ski Area”, which spans 4 huge mountains (Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm) and offers 123km of interconnected ski pistes, brought together by 54 ski lifts.
Smaller ski mountains like Fageralm, Galsterbergalm, Planneralm, Riesneralm and the Rittisberg also offer a great variety of winter sport activities and are perfect for families or beginners because of their smaller size and rather flat terrain.
A lot of the terrain at Schladming is tree-lined, meaning great visibility for riders no matter what their skill level is. Experts will be drawn to the downhill run on the Planai, a legendary slope which has been used in World Cups.
The ski area also has a variety of fun and cross parks for all skill levels. Highlights include the Superpark Planai with its creative lines, jumps and rails for freestyle enthusiasts, and the Crosspark Reiteralm, featuring a family-friendly course as well as a World Cup-level skicross track.
Cross-country skiing in Schladming
Après-ski, restaurants and other activities in Schladming
Schladming has a fantastic après-ski scene with plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. The Troadkast’n Pruggern serves up some delightful beer, and the Siglu Bar features live music on Mondays and Thursdays, with a host of classics spun by the DJ on Tuesdays.
The fantastic Knappenkellar night club is in the same building as the Dorf Stockl restaurant, and is a great place to dance away your aches and pains until the early hours.
As for restaurants, the Szenario must be visited for its delicious food and charming atmosphere. The Dorf Stockl is an excellent option for food, including a delicious a la carte menu, while the Talbachschenke offers delightful Austrian Grill cuisine.
The mountain dining options are great, too. There are over 90 mountain huts that serve food. Check out “Almkulinarik by Richard Rauch”, which pairs classic Styrian (the region of Austria) cuisine with rustic alpine huts.
Throughout Schladming, you’ll find plenty of places to sample delights like savoury Ennstaler Kasnocken (cheese dumplings) or sweet Kaiserschmarrn (fluffy shredded pancakes). It’s a very local way of life - you can celebrate the region’s traditions with seasonal events like farmer’s markets, lively music festivals, or ceremonial cattle drives.
There are plenty of other activities to look forward to across Schladming, including a floodlit 7km toboggan run, which is perfect for those looking to keep active even after a day on the slopes. There’s also ice-skating on a natural lake and snow-biking to do.
Slow down the pace with 282 km of beautifully maintained hiking paths, and snowshoeing and ski-touring routes - all of which take you through a stunning snowy paradise.
If you’d rather see it all from the comfort of a seat, then there are horse-drawn sleighs ready to take you round, all while you stay wrapped up warm under a blanket.
If you want to explore more of Austria’s medieval history and architecture, Salzburg is around 70 miles away and makes for an excellent day trip.
Transfer time to Schladming
The closest airport to Schladming-Dachstein is Salzburg, with a driving time of about1 hour and 10 minutes.
Graz and Linz airports are around 2 hours away on the road, while Munich and Vienna are more like 3 hours.
Thanks to its excellent location, Schladming is also easily accessible by public transport, including trains and buses. There are lots of smooth train connections from Salzburg, Graz, Linz, Vienna and Munich - as well as each of their airports.
Schladming SKI PASS PRICES
The prices for the Schladming Ski Amade lift pass, for the Winter 24/25 ski season can be found below.
| Number of days | Adult price | Child price | Senior price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | €397.00 | €201.00 | |
| 4 | €304.00 | €152.00 | |
| 3 | €229.00 | €114.50 |
Prices are normally based on a full area lift pass and child ages vary by resort. The above are guides, so please call one of the Iglu team for prices for your holiday.
Schladming Reviews
Had a wonderful week, helped by good snow and weather. Hotel and staff were lovely. Although located outside main resort the ski bus stopped outside and took you to the main gondola and links to other ski bus routes. Also night bus available at extra cost for those wishing to go out in the evening. Ideal for familes who have children who can ski/ board and need to be challenged. Lots to find out on the slopes with fun parks dotted around
Apres-Ski
5/5
Juliet Vowell
Wow I love this resort, there’s loads of skiing on superbly pisted slopes. This really is a well kept secret; I loved the vast red runs that you can simply blast down due to the un-crowded slopes. The mountain restaurants are great too. And if you go on downhill week it is awesome. There is night skiing all week and lots of bars. I’m going again in 5 weeks and can’t wait. I have already booked for next year too.
paul Derbyshire