My family and I are trying to plan a trip to Austria this December. I know we are late. But we want to go to Vienna, Salzberg, and then go to a town in the alps where we would like to ski. I know, good luck getting a place. But lets say I can find a place what is the easist? We are still figuring out where to fly in and out of. We are coming from Nashville, TN so will be connecting, thinking of Munich or Zurich or Vienna. To be honest I would have this trip planned months ago but the alps part has really tripped me up. I know nothing and it is the piece that is holding us up but we so want to do it. PLEASE HELP. Suggestions on where to start, alps (which town?) or do we end in the alps? Traveling with our 14 and 11 year old son. They like trains but some stuff i was looking at was two full train days. One longer train ride is doable.
Posted by
Green Bay
22092 posts
December is early for skiing, so I would suggest somewhere high, and do it toward the end. What exactly is your time frame? You should stay away from ski resorts at Christmas as it is the most popular and expensive time of the year.
I would suggest St Anton as it is high and right on a main rail line. So I would go Vienna, Salzburg, then St Anton, then fly home from Zurich. Do it in reverse if the skiing puts you ending in St Anton at Christmas. There is a direct rail line connecting Zurich, St Anton, Salzburg, and Vienna.
Posted by
Munich
239 posts
How long would you like to stay for skiing? The ski clothes alone will make your luggage bulky.
From December 21 to January 6 is high season in the ski resorts. It shouldn't be a problem to find accommodation the week before.
My suggestion would be to fly to Vienna, take the train to Salzburg, then to a ski resort and fly back from Munich.
St. Anton would be a good choice. Another nice place for skiing is Mayrhofen in Zillertal. This is the most central place in the Zillertal with a direct cable car to the ski area.
Salzburg to Mayrhofen is 2,5 to 3 hours per train, Mayrhofen to Munich is about 3 hours (plus another 40 min to the airport).
https://zillertal.intermaps.com/mayrhofen
This ski resort opens for the winter season on December 6. If the snow conditions are not so good, you could take the ski bus to the Hintertux Glacier, where winter conditions are guaranteed.
Other Options with good train connections from Salzburg would be Bad Gastein or Zell am See / Kitzsteinhorn.
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
835 posts
thinking of Munich or Zurich or Vienna.
Lets start with the travel. Fly to Vienna. Train to Salzburg. Train to skiing. Train to Munich. Fly home from Munich. This should avoid any backtracking, which is a serious time waster on short trips. Longest trip in Austria will be Vienna to Salzburg, which is only 3 hours; no full days needed.
Where to ski?
One option (I have not skied there) is Zell am See https://www.zellamsee-kaprun.com/en. A couple hours south of Salzburg and then 3-4 hours on to Munich. Skiing on the glacier located there is now open as are the gondolas to the top of the mountian to access the glacier.
Web cams show snow at 870 meters, just above town. Even more the higher you go up the mountian. https://www.ski-austria.com/kaprun/skiing.php