St Johann in Salzburg: perfect for skiers and snowboarders of all levels

You get the best of both worlds in St Johann in Salzburg. Here in the heart of Austria’s SalzburgerLand, you have 120km of beautifully groomed pistes served by state-of-the art lifts, yet you’re surrounded by all the old-fashioned charm and warmth of a small mountain town. And with Salzburg less than an hour away – and easily reached by train – you can enjoy all the culture and shopping on offer in Mozart’s birthplace during your winter holiday.

Skiers and snowboarders of all levels, from novices to experts, will enjoy the slopes of the Snow Space Salzburg ski area. Beginners can practise their turns in the tranquil family area of Hahnbaum, where there’s also a fun children’s area with their own minicross course. They’ll soon be rushing down the entertaining Devil’s Route ski trail that snakes through the forest.

Freestylers can practise their tricks on the jumps and rails in the snowpark in Alpendorf, and if you’re into ski touring, you can start exploring trails right from the village centre. Early birds can make fresh tracks when the lift opens at 7.15am and watch the sun come up over the mountains. Afterwards, a hearty Austrian breakfast will be waiting to set you up for the rest of the day. Late risers can look forward to cruising down the slopes looking for a wide range of cosy ski restaurants and après-ski possibilities, where you can stop for a scenic lunch under blue skies on a mountain terrace.

Skiers keen to clock up the kilometres can take advantage of the single lift pass for the Ski amadé ski area. Here you can discover some of the 760km of slopes that spread across 25 resorts, including Schladming and Bad Gastein.

If you fancy a break from the slopes, join an afternoon yoga class or take a relaxed horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets and along the snow-covered trails around the village. Browse St Johann in Salzburg’s excellent selection of shops, and look out for the village’s own craft beer at Brew Town in the high street. Indulge your sweet tooth at Café Schiebel and enjoy wonderfully decadent cakes and pastries. Afterwards, have a well-deserved soak in the hot tub of your hotel’s spa.

Later you could step up the pace a bit by exploring some of the cross-country ski trails around St Johann in Salzburg. Or for sheer family fun, you can’t beat a hair-raising fling down the mountain on a toboggan.

To find out more about St Johann, visit josalzburg.com