Family friendly ski resorts close to Salzburg (Winter 2023-24)
- Graham Crewe
- Dec 11, 2022
- 7 min read
Updated: Dec 26, 2023
Abtenau (Karkogel) | Alpendorf | Altenmarkt im Pongau | Dürrnberg | Faistenau (Kesselmannlift) | Faistenau (Oberwaldlift) | Filzmoos | Flachau | Flachauwinkl | Gaißau | Gosau | Götschen | Hintersee | Hof bei Salzburg | Kleinarl | Koppl | Leogang | Lofer | Maria Alm | Monte Popolo | Obersalzberg | Obertauern | Postalm | Radstadt | Rossfeld | Russbach | Saalbach-Hinterglemm | Thalgauberg (Kolomansberg) | Werfenweng | Zauchensee
Introduction
We have updated our guide to family friendly ski resorts close to Salzburg.
I hope that this list might be useful for those who find themselves in a rut always going to the same resort, as well as those families who are new to Salzburg's wealth of ski opportunities. There are so many resorts within reach of Salzburg that it is hard to know where to try. In general for families try smaller resorts:
you pay a lot more for a lot more lifts in the bigger resorts that you just won’t get to use;
bigger resorts can have a lot of ski school groups clogging up the blue run lifts;
it's much harder to get separated and lose a child in a smaller resort
you should find it very quick and easy to park, do the admin and get skiing.
We surveyed our members in 2021-22. For the ratings, I have awarded the green tick if a number of respondents who rated the resort gave a tick. This is very unscientific!
To enable direct price comparison, we have found the prices of two standard lift pass tickets: a single full day at the weekend in February for an adult and the same for an 8-year old child. This will be a good indication of the relative prices for other tickets such as 4 hour tickets, family tickets or multi-day tickets which, due to the different offers available, would not be comparable across all resorts. Note that you can save money in many resorts by buying in advance online.
For piste maps I find the most useful to be those on Bergfex. They are not interactive, but I struggle with those.
The Google Maps links are to the main ski lift or the closest car park if I could identify it. There are a few resorts which I don’t personally know where I was really uncertain where I should link. If you have more knowledge than me please contact me and provide a Google Maps link.
Driving time from Salzburg is measured from Parsch.
If you have got very small kids or limited time, honestly save your money and head for a tiny resort where an adult ticket costs less than €25 (Faistenau, Hof bei Salzburg, Koppl, Obersalzberg). The kids will have a great time, it won’t be crowded and you will save a fortune.
All information is provided in good faith. Inevitably there will be errors and omissions. Do your own research rather than relying on the information here. Please contact us with any corrections and we will endeavour to keep this up to date.
Abtenau: Karkogel
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 45 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €40 | 1 day lift card price – child | €21 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
None
Alpendorf (St Johann im Pongau): Snow Space Salzburg
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 50 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €69* | 1 day lift card price – child | €24* |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Snow Space Salzburg uses "price flexing" to adjust the price depending on expected demand. €68.50 appears to be a typical adult weekend day ticket price.
Altenmarkt im Pongau
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 55 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €68 | 1 day lift card price – child | €34 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
There is also a Minis price (€7.50) for those aged 5 and under.
Dürrnberg (Hallein)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | | Variety for older skiers | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 30 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €35 | 1 day lift card price – child | €21 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
None
Faistenau: Kesselmannlift
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | | |
Several wide blue runs | | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 25 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €15 | 1 day lift card price – child | €13 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
One small baby lift and one bigger lift. It's cheap, it's close - it's perfect for beginners. (No need to spend 70 euros with small children.). The smaller lift is just a rope to hold on to which some people find really difficult - adults will need to have their little kids in front of them and hold on for two!
Faistenau: Oberwaldlift
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | | |
Several wide blue runs | | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 25 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €14 | 1 day lift card price – child | €12 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Two lifts: one is a Schlepplift (Button lift or T-bar, I’m not sure); the other is a rope you need to hang on to (“Babylift (120 m) und Schlepplift (300 m)”).
Filzmoos
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 55 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €65 | 1 day lift card price – child | €33 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
“Filzmoos is great for ski-in-ski-out which is rare here. Useful if you have family visiting. Includes Langlauf and snow tobogganing for anyone not downhill skiing.”
Several different options for getting up the mountain from the valley, all with their own car park. We parked at P3 to go up the Grossbergbahn today but parking at the bottom of the “sixpack” would also have been great: we were able to ski the whole Schwaigalm side of the valley with kids aged 5-12 today. The only thing is that we were all very disappointed with the food at the Schwaigalm restaurant at the top of the sixpack: the kids even refused to eat the spaghetti bolognaise! (2021-22)
Flachau (Snow Space Salzburg)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 50 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €69* | 1 day lift card price – child | €24* |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Snow Space Salzburg uses "price flexing" to adjust the price depending on expected demand. €68.50 appears to be a typical adult weekend day ticket price.
Be careful: There are not a lot of blue runs at Flachau. Looking at the piste map it is hard to see how a small child could do much at all there. If anyone knows better please contact me!
Flachauwinkl (Flachauwinkl-Kleinarl) (Snow Space Salzburg, Ski amadé Salzburger Sportwelt)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 55 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €69 | 1 day lift card price – child | €24 |
Comment
See Kleinarl.
Gaißau (Gaißau-Hintersee) >>> CLOSED FOR 2023-24
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 30 | |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | | 1 day lift card price – child | |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
The Google Maps link above is to Gaißau which has blue ski pistes. Hintersee has red pistes. They connect at the top of the mountain. (See below for Hintersee information)
This resort has been closed since the 2022-23 season following bankruptcy. However, the city of Salzburg has promised to save the resort with financial aid so we will have to see what happens in the future.
Gosau
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 60 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €60 | 1 day lift card price – child | €31 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
“Gosau is just perfect for the whole family. It’s a small gem 💎”
Note: I’ve not been to Gosau but there is one short blue run and a magic carpet according to the piste map and apart from that it’s all red runs
Götschen (Bischofswiesen / Berchtesgaden)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | ✅ | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 40 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €29 | 1 day lift card price – child | €17 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
None
Hintersee (Gaißau-Hintersee) >>> CLOSED FOR 2022-23
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 30 | |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | | 1 day lift card price – child | |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
I’ve not skied at Gaißau-Hintersee but according to the piste map Gaißau has blue pistes while Hintersee has reds. They connect at the top of the mountain. (See above for Gaißau information)
This resort has been closed since the 2022-23 season following bankruptcy. However, the city of Salzburg has promised to save the resort with financial aid so we will have to see what happens in the future.
Hof bei Salzburg: Nussbaumerlifte >>> Closed for 2023-24
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | | |
Several wide blue runs | | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 20 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | ??? | 1 day lift card price – child | ??? |
Website – Prices – Facebook – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
This resort appears to be closed for 2023-24.
Kleinarl (Flachauwinkl-Kleinarl) (Ski Amadé, Salzburger Sportwelt)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 65 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €69 | 1 day lift card price – child | €24 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
“Family room at Kleinarl is really great as a base and somewhere to take a break with little ones.” See above for Flachauwinkl information.
Koppl (Nocksteinlift)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | ||
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 15 | |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €12 | 1 day lift card price – child | €11 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
This is a tiny, tiny place with 2 lifts. Ideal for families with tiny, tiny kids (ages 4-6?). No piste map. Button lifts (Tellerlift).
Leogang
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 85 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €55 | 1 day lift card price – child | €27.50 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
"Great kids ski area, excellent ski school - Skiszene - with indoor play area if needed on both Asitz and Steinberge lifts, instructors keep reintroducing Snowsports throughout the day. Learning through fun."
Lofer
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 55 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €56 | 1 day lift card price – child | €28 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
None
Maria Alm (Ski Amadé, Hochkönig)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 80 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €68 | 1 day lift card price – child | €24 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
I’ve not skied here and I’m a little confused by the parking. The ski school offers different meeting places: be clear where your child’s lessons are taking place.
Monte Popolo (Eben im Pongau)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 45 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €52 | 1 day lift card price – child | €26 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Because the car park is very close to the Autobahn you are very quickly on your skis and up the first chairlift to the mountain. There is one very wide and long blue run which will keep your family busy all day. Additionally there is a fun park and a relatively challenging red run down to the car at the end of the day. Probably the best low budget option for those in Salzburg with more than enough variety for a couple of days per year. Popular with local families.
Obersalzberg
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | ||
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 35 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €24 | 1 day lift card price – child | €14 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Only open from mid-December to mid-March. Four lifts.
Obersalzberg is in Germany. Third country citizens who are resident in Austria need their passports with them.
Obertauern
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 70 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €59 | 1 day lift card price – child | €30 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Note that there are 7 ski schools in Obertauern. The best parking for the kids’ area (Bibo Bär Familien-Schipark) is probably P6 here.
Postalm
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 60 | |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €45 | 1 day lift card price – child | €18 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
There is a toll to pay for the road up to the Postalm but if you buy a lift pass it’s free. You buy the lift passes directly at the toll booth (and need to return them at the ticket counter at the top before leaving to get your deposit back).
Radstadt
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | ✅ | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 55 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €68 | 1 day lift card price – child | €34 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
None
Rossfeld
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | Variety for older skiers | ✅ | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 40 | |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €27 | 1 day lift card price – child | €19 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Obersalzberg is in Germany. Third country citizens who are resident in Austria need their passports with them.
Russbach (Dachstein West)
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 55 | |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €60 | 1 day lift card price – child | €31 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
I’ve not been to Russbach but there are a couple of short blue runs and a magic carpet according to the piste map and apart from that it’s all red runs. If anyone has more information, please let me know!
Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 80 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €72 | 1 day lift card price – child | €36 |
Comment
The nursery slopes in Saalbach are next to the Kohlmaisbahn, although there is also an excellent, extensive learning area at the top of the Bernkogelbahn. Both areas are served by good, modern, 6-seater chair lifts with covers and heated seats. Free parking for lift ticket holders is available at the Kohlmaisbahn and also in the tunnel close by. Free unrestricted parking is also available at the Schönleitenbahn, a couple of miles before you reach Saalbach.
St. Johann Alpendorf
See Alpendorf
Thalgauberg: Kolomansberg
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | | Variety for older skiers | |
Several wide blue runs | | Accessible by public transport | |
Good ski school | | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 25 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €16 | 1 day lift card price – child | €14 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Phone before going here (+43 664 5120780). Cash only. There is no website. The only information I found (December 2023) was on Bergfex.
Werfenweng
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 45 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €54 | 1 day lift card price – child | €29 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
Werfenweng is a fantastic family resort. Reasonable prices and a wide range of pistes on top of the mountain. Beginners learn in the valley below where the ski shop and ski school are right next to the car park and lifts. Several good restaurants too. Werfenweng has everything. The only problem is that the valley (ski school area) lacks sun before February and loses it during the afternoon from February onwards.
Werfenweng is probably the best value-for-money resort for families with children of different ages: there is plenty for everyone for several days in a compact ski area. More advanced skiers can ski on the top of the mountain while beginners will find more than enough in the valley. You can ski down from top to bottom in 15 minutes, or take the gondola.
There are reduced prices for only using the lifts in the valley which is probably enough for families with smaller kids (information not found online).
Zauchensee
Car park close to lifts | ✅ | At least one good restaurant | ✅ |
Beginner area with "magic carpet" lift | ✅ | Variety for older skiers | ✅ |
Several wide blue runs | ✅ | Accessible by public transport | ✅ |
Good ski school | ✅ | Driving time from Salzburg (minutes) | 60 |
1 day lift card price (w/e) – adult | €69 | 1 day lift card price – child | €35 |
Website – Prices – Piste map – Google Maps
Comment
There are reduced prices for those aged 5 and under ("Minis", €7.50).
Comments