Austria

Schladming

Big ski area and traditional Austrian hotel style ski resort

View Hotels

Schladming resort guide - a general overview

We think Schladming is a hidden gem of a resort. With four linked mountains providing skiing for all levels and an impressive 167km of piste. A bus ride away opens up the wider Schladming Dachstein region which also encompasses a number of smaller areas, including the Dachstein Glacier.

In 2013 Schladming hosted the World Ski Championships investing heavily in new ski lifts. This investment has been well worth it - queues are kept short and speedy lifts give you more time on the slopes.

With a high proportion of runs rated red, Schladming is an intermediates heaven. Much of the skiing is also tree-lined and offers good opportunities for some great off-piste powder to play in.

The large, bustling town of Schladming dates back to medieval times. It's got a nice mix of the old and new throughout. The pretty church, the old town gate and Hotel Kirchenwirt dating back well over 300 years are charming. In contrast, stylish buildings have popped up in recent years across town - such as the congress centre, lift stations and many hotels. The pedestrianised centre of town is a great place to do a bit of shopping and grab a coffee or hot chocolate from one of many cafés, or maybe something a bit stronger from a number of the après ski bars.

Schladming's après ski is impressive and on a par with the likes of St Anton. Hohenhaus Tenne, next to the Planai base station, is possibly the largest après ski bar in the Alps and later in the evening transforms into a bustling nightclub. There's a lot more choice in town too, ranging from a relaxed drink in your hotel bar, to the underground Cult Club.

Photos courtesy of Schladming-Dachstein Tourist Office, Christine Hoeflehner, Harald Steiner, Hauser Kaibling, Lorenz Masser, Marlene Eggmayr, Martin Huber, Mathäus Gartner, Michael Simonlehner, Mirja Geh,Peter Burgstaller.

Resort stats

167km

745m - 2,015m

Level of skiing

Beginners
Intermediates
Experts
Snow sure
Off-piste
Ski area

Qualities

Charm factor
Non-skiers
Nightlife
Resort layout
Fine dining
Short transfer
Resort value

Airports

Salzburg
1hr 15mins
Munich
2hrs 15mins

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Great for intermediate skiers with the four interlinked ski areas
  • Tree-lined runs, grooming and extensive snowmaking mean great piste conditions
  • Great choice of mountain restaurants
  • A traditional town with more to offer than just skiing
  • Fun après ski scene

Cons

  • Nursery slopes are not very convenient to get to from the main town centre
  • The pistes leading down to the valley level are not easy

Restaurants

Schladming Resort Restaurants

Schladming has plenty of choice packed into its pedestrianised town centre.

For steaks try Steakhouse Friesacher and for more modern cooking head to Tischlerei.

For traditional Austrian cuisine, Kirchenwirt is consistently reliable, while Johann's at the Posthotel offers a more contemporary take on regional dishes. If you fancy something different, Maria's Mexican is always lively and popular, while L'Osteria da Giorgio and Va Bene are both dependable Italian options.

For coffee and cake, Lasser Café remains a local favourite and is well worth a visit during an afternoon stroll through town.

Schladming Mountain Restaurants

One of Schladming's great strengths is the quality and variety of its mountain huts.

Onkel Willy's Hütte is one of the best-known mountain restaurants, combining a large sun terrace, hearty Austrian dishes and a lively atmosphere. Nearby, Märchenwiese Hütte is also worth trying.

On Planai, Schafalm is a reliable choice, while on Hochwurzen both Hochwurzenalm and Tauernalm are popular for lunch and afternoon drinks. Seiterhütte is another long-standing favourite, serving traditional Styrian specialities and homemade cakes.

Elsewhere across the ski area, Schoarlhütte on Hauser Kaibling is renowned for its ribs, while Schnepf'n Alm and Jaga Stüberl on Reiteralm are both well worth trying out.

Schladming Apres Ski

Schladming offers one of Austria's livelier après ski scenes. Onkel Willy's Hütte, Tauernalm and Seiterhütte are all popular afternoon stops, often featuring live music.

Back in resort Hohenhaus Tenne beside the Planai gondola station is one of the largest après ski venues in Europe, it fills quickly from mid-afternoon and remains the centre of Schladming's après scene. Platzhirschalm opposite is another popular option, while Cabalou at the Posthotel offers a slightly smarter atmosphere.

Schladming Nightlife

Hohenhaus Tenne is the main nightlife venue in resort. Papa Joe's, Charly's Treff and Cabalou are also all popular choices.

Those looking to carry on into the early hours usually end up at Cult or Angels Club.

Schladming Resort Map

Key

  • Funicular
  • Cable Car
  • Gondola
  • Chair lift
  • Drag lift
  • Property