SalzburgerLand Launches New Hotels, Restaurants And Lifts This Winter
For the complete Alpine winter holiday experience, Austria’s SalzburgerLand is simply unbeatable for quality, quantity and variety: 70 resorts (vibrant town to charming hamlet) across 21 distinct ski areas boast more than 2000km of groomed piste; 30 snowparks; 130 ski schools and state-of-the-art infrastructure for swift, safe access to well-connected slopes. For unlimited access this season, the Super Ski Card is discounted until 6 Dec www.salzburgerLand.com
Non-skiers are also well looked after. Zip-wires, climbing walls or toboggan runs including one of the longest in the world (14km under floodlights in the Wildkogel Arena), are a few options for an adrenalin fix. Well-equipped Spas offer a pampering or medical retreat for relaxation and a health boost. Hotels great and small confirm Austria’s reputation for outstanding value and a warm family welcome. Foodies will be satisfied by eclectic and organic options in rustic mountain huts and gourmet restaurants. Austria’s celebrated après-ski completes the offer of a winter holiday to delight young and young-at-heart.
Respect for the environment is paramount. SalzburgerLand leads Europe in green technology and sustainability, boasting the highest concentration of organic producers in Europe. Its resorts are pioneers of energy-efficient snowmaking and slope-management initiatives and were the first areas granted Austria’s national ecolabel for tourism
This winter season, SalzburgerLand boasts three new hotels, five new dining venues, three new lifts, and five major refurbishments to luxury resorts. Detailed information follows about these and other innovations and enhancements (alphabetical resort order):
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 https://www.snow-space.com/de/winter/skigebiet-salzburg/highlights/snowpark-alpendorf
Altenmarkt (Salzburger Sportwelt)
Opening 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 9-month programme also presents the Mountain Adults Spa and Skyroom and an extensive garden with a new swimming lake https://www.kesselgrub.at/
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 heated outdoor pool. Under executive chef Norman Beitz the celebrated Straubinger Room is back to its best www.travelcharme.com/hotels/straubinger
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, gourmet restaurant and show kitchen, and roof-top spa with outdoor infinity pool www.travelcharme.com/hotels/badeschloss
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 www.grossarltal.info
Villa-Alpin opens December. Just 100m from the Panorama gondola, the B&B hotel offers a wellness area with saunas, relaxation room and bar www.holiday-grossarl.at
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 www.edelweiss-grossarl.com
Ski-in/ski-out Nesslerhof has launched a new-look reception, bar and restaurant, and refurbished the suites, garden area and 25m pool www.nesslerhof.at/en
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 www.krallerhof.com/en
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 www.forsthofgut.at/en
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 www.puradies.com
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 8-seater chairlift replaces the old 4-seater for a more comfortable ride up Saalbach’s Schattberg
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn events include 3 Days of Jazz (26-28 January); music and fun during White Pearl Mountain Days (22-31 March); the Ski World Cup final on the Zwölferkogel (16-24 March 2024). The resort will host the FIS Alpine Ski World championships 2025 www.skicircus.saalbach.com/en
Werfenweng
The Salzburger FIS Landes Skimuseum has a major exhibition dedicated to the life of legendary Austrian ski champion, Annemarie Moser-Pröll www.skimuseum.at
Wolfgangsee
Wolfgangsee Advent, in its 20th year (17 November to 23 December), 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 www.wolfgangseer-advent.at
Zell am See-Kaprun
The Schmittenhöhe has replaced its 3-seater Sonnkogelbahn with a new 6-seater chairlift (interchangeable with an 8-seat gondola in the summer).
SalzburgerLand overview:
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 a complete overview, download the SalzburgerLand Ski Atlas: https://skiatlas.salzburgerland.com/
