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Skiing Holidays to Saalbach

Saalbach-Hinterglemm is one of the biggest and most efficient ski resorts in Austria. The villages of Saalbach, Hinterglemm and Leogang are linked to form a giant ski area in the Saalbach valley, boasting a giant 200 km of pistes. The ski area mixes traditional Austrian charm with the modern efficiency, fast lifts and good facilities of the French Alps. The three villages in all have their own attractions - Saalbach, the largest, has a legendary nightlife, Leogang is loved by families and Hinterglemm has a quieter, more chilled out atmosphere. Beginners will enjoy the strong ski schools, dedicated nursery slopes at Hinterglemm and wide easy blue runs to progress to.

Intermediates will be itching to start ripping up the pistes the area is best known for - its long sunny cruises, both wide open above the tree line and through wooded glades. The north-facing slopes of Hinterglemm are home to some exhilarating moguls and steep blacks. Apart from this the terrain can be a little limited for experts, and the off-piste is not too extensive. Some of the slopes receive a lot of sun, especially those lower down, which means that the snow can deteriorate quickly. The slick lift system means that you will be able to ski the maximum pistes every day.

Floodlighting has been introduced on all of the slopes below the Unterschwarzach lift, so you can keep swooshing into the night. The nightlife is fantastic in the resort, drawing young crowds from across Europe. The bars, pubs and clubs offer something for everyone - and the sunny climate means you'll find many visitors sneaking a little tanning time in the day after a large night, instead of hitting the slopes. Relaxing for a post-ski tipple on a sun-drenched terrace also feels pretty good in Saalbach. The villages themselves are pretty, traditional and the main streets are traffic free, making them ideal for families. A varied, charming, lively resort - Saalbach is a great choice for those looking for fun at night, families, mile-hungry intermediates and anyone frustrated with slow lifts!

Saalbach Ratings:

Beginner

Intermediate

Expert

Après Ski

Family Skiing

Snowboarding

Ski Schools 

Terrain Parks 

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Saalbach for Different Ski Abilities

Beginner skiers

You'll find it easy to get to and from the nursery slopes at Saalbach, which is always a plus when you are just starting out, as the two beginner slopes are situated right next to the village. There's also many nursery slopes above both Saalbach and Hinterglemm that beginners will enjoy. When you pick up a little confidence, you can move on to the easy, cruisy blue run from the top of the Zwolfer down to Hinterglemm. There's lots more easy blues for you to take your pick of as well!

Intermediate skiers

This resort will suit any intermediate skier or boarder, but particularly those who love to fit as much in as possible. Intermediates can ski the entire ski area in a great big circle, up, down and across the valley. There's sunny cruising, if that's what you enjoy as well as medium red pistes and harder testing slopes. Long blue and red runs snake across the area, just waiting for you to cover them. The peaks and ridges of Kohlmaiskopf, Bernkogel, Reiterkogel, Reichkendikopf and Spieleckkogel are worth checking out.

Expert skiers

The most challenging runs are found on the north-facing side of the valley. You'll be able to rip through the entire circuit, and try the 3km black descent at Zwölferkogel. There is some seriously long high speed cruising to find, and guides will be able to help you find some steep off piste powder. The long black run from Schattberg Ost back to Saalbach is a real ripper. Some experts hungry for more might get a little bored if spending a long time here, but there are many resorts in the area.

Saalbach Ski Schools

There are many ski schools to choose from in the ski area, so you should definitely be able to find on that suits your needs. Saalbach has seven: the Snowboardschule Saalbach, the Aamadall Snowacademy, Easy Ski, the Fürstauer ski school, the Heugenhauser ski school, the Hinterholzer ski school, and one called Zink.

Après-Ski and Off the Mountain Activities

Après-Ski

Après-ski is taken seriously at Saalbach. The celebrations start early, while many skiers are still on the slopes. Head to the Hinterhag Alm to start things off, then on to Bauer's Skialm, a super popular venue at the foot of the nursery slopes which has a great atmosphere inside and outside and lively music. Castello's, at the bottom of the main street below the Saalbacherhof Hotel, gets busy when the live music starts, and morphs into a night club later on. There's dancing on tables, gallons of glühwein consumed, and a pulsating atmosphere everywhere you look. There are smaller, quieter classy bars dotted around the village as well, if you prefer to unwind in a more relaxed venue. There are numerous delicious restaurants - get fancy at Heurigenstube restaurant or go relaxed at the casual Bobby's Pub.

Off the mountain 

You'll find much to do here when you want to hang up your skis or board for the day. The main pastimes are eating and drinking, but you can also enjoy tennis, bowling, sleigh rides, floodlit skiing or taking a dip in the Hinterglemm swimming pool or saunas. A trip to visit the nearby thermal baths is always relaxing, or for music lovers, Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Lamprechtshöhle Weißbach is the world's largest underground cave passage with a total length of around 35 km, and well worth a visit, as are the Hallein-Bad Dürnberg & Hallstatt salt mines. There's a local museum and ski museum in Saalbach, as well as a modern art gallery, cross country skiing, tobogganing, winter hiking, snowshoeing, ice skating, curling, archery, paragliding, snowmobiling, piste basher driving, quad biking and ice karting.

How to get to Saalbach

By air

Salzburg (95 km) is the nearest international airport and is serviced by scheduled and charter services worldwide. However, you'll have more choice if you choose to fly in to Munich (190km) Airport.

You can book a transfer from Salzburg or Munich Airport to your hotel and back. The shuttle runs 365 days a year and there are six shuttles a day both ways. 

Zell am See can be reached by direct train from both Munich and Salzburg (shuttles and buses go to Salzburg train station from its airport); and from there you can wait for a regular bus to Saalbach or grab a taxi for the remaining 18kms. A train will take you all the way to Leogang.

If renting a car, the drive from the Munich airport to Saalbach takes about two and a half hours. From the Salzburg autobahn take the Siegsdorf exit, and then follow signs to Lofer-Maishofen, then signs to Saalbach-Hinterglemm.

By train

The Eurostar service leaves London daily for Paris (Nord). From Paris gare de l'Est, jump on the overnight train to Munich. A Eurocity train leaves Munich and arrives in Salzburg and there are hourly buses to Saalbach and Hinterglemm.

By car

By car, you'll first need to get a car ferry from Dover to Calais. The trip from Calais to Saalbachis 1,150kms, travelling via Reims, Metz, Strasbourg and Munich.