With its gorgeous Baroque village centred around the magnificent church, you might think you've mistakenly taken a step back in time when wandering around the streets of St. Johann. An understated resort, it's been overshadowed by better-advertised neighbours in recent years - notably Söll and Kitzbühel - so you can expect a relaxing and relatively crowd free holiday here.
An incredibly family friendly resort, there's a wide range of off slope activities catering to the most eclectic of tastes. Ski wise, St Johann has brilliant access to a wide variety of slopes from the middle of the Schneewinkel ski area. Most of the accommodation comes in the form of hotels, and staying in such a compact village you’ll never find yourself far from your room – with the village being at the base of the imposing Harschbichl Mountain, many of the slopes end up only moments away from the hotels.
The basic ski pass usually gets automatically upgraded to cover the Schneewinkel area after 3 days, which gives you access to 170km of pistes spread over resorts from Fieberbrunn to Waidring and Oberndorf. The region is known for its top notch skiing throughout the season thanks to over 85% of the 170km of pistes being covered by snowmaking machines.
A breezy 60 km from Salzburg airport, and only 160 from Munich, this is one of the most accessible resorts in the Alps. The transfer times from these airports are as short as you’d expect, and self drive holidays are also doable. The option to upgrade to the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard is a big bonus if you're thinking of driving to the resort - there’s over 1000km of pistes spread over 10 ski areas which contain every kind of resort, so having a car will cut down on inter resort transit times.
Location: Austria, Alps.
Established: 1910
Open: December - April
Downhill: 67km
View our detailed St. Johann snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our St. Johann snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Innsbruck | 100km, 1hr 15mins |
Salzburg | 60km, 1hr 10mins |
Munich | 160km,1hr 50mins |
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Top Altitude: | 1700m |
Bottom Altitude: | 670m |
Resort Altitude: | 670m |
Longest run: | 7km |
Slope Orientation: | N, W, NW, NE |
Vertical Drop: | 1030m |
Skiable Vertical: | 1030m |
Night Skiing: | yes |
Glacier: | no |
Downhill Runs: | 67km |
Beginner slopes: | 38% |
Intermediate: | 50% |
Advanced slopes: | 12% |
Lift Pass Price: | € 206 (adult 6 day) |
Nearby resorts: St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf, Erpfendorf, Fieberbrunn, Hochfilzen, St. Jakob, St. Ulrich, Waidring, Reit im Winkl |
Beginners will be heartened by the super short lifts right at the bottom of the resort, and with lifts right from the village accessing a good variety of gentle slopes it’s the perfect place to progress on the slopes. For those who’ve just moved off the beginner lifts, the first port of call should be the Hochfeld lifts - the Hochfeldabfahrt blue is a lovely long, wide cruiser. It also runs alongside the snow park, so you can watch the pros at play whilst riding the lift, which will definitely give you something to aim for!
Intermediates will love what's on offer from the top of the Harschbichl. There’s a network of red’s running in every direction - head left from the top and you can ride reds and a black all the way into Oberndorf. Go right and reds and blues will guide you all the way back down into St. Johann.
According to the locals, some of the best hidden freeriding in the Alps can be found just round the corner in Fieberbrunn - warm up on the long black Saureggabfahrt and make sure to get the necessary gear before you head off piste.
If it’s freestyling that gets you up in the morning, speed on over to the snowpark. The Funslope St. Johann is maintained by QParks - who are responsible for some of the best parks in Europe - and the features really do belie the resort’s relative size. Or if you're more into skinny skis, you have 270km of cross country trails.
It’s the ability to upgrade to the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard that really sets St Johann apart from its rivals. This gives you access to 10 ski regions and over 1000km of pistes - including those on the epic Kitzsteinhorn glacier and in the Skiwelt, one of Austria’s largest single linked ski areas. Night-skiing usually takes place weekly on the red Rueppenhang piste if you want to carry on skiing after the sun goes down.
St Johann’s might be small but it's home to a truly international selection of restaurants - you’ll find Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Italian takeaways, even a McDonalds if the mood takes you! For a more sophisticated meal, Gasthof zum Dampfl is one of the most awarded restaurants in the region, and serves a delicious range of local delicacies. Tuck into a truly multicultural experience at the Masianco St. Johann, where they serve a diverse range of dishes from Latin America to the Mediterranean (the Bouillabaisse is particularly scrummy) and everything in between. The chefs whip up a lot of specials, so you’re unlikely to see the same menu twice.
Max’s is THE après ski bar in the town. Head here straight from the slopes and sample one of their 80 cocktails, though be warned - if you’re here on a Wednesday you might find yourself roped into the weekly karaoke. The Tennerhof is a favourite for tourists and locals, and the perfect location if you fancy a bit of dancing.
Alongside over 100km of winter walking paths, you’ll find a wide array of off-slope activities. Take a ride on one of the QUANTYA electric motor cross bikes, and test your reactions over a twisting and turning course in the snow. The Flying Fox zip line adventure is a particular highlight - with over 500m of zip lines over the frozen lake (the longest being more than 200m) it’ll be sure to get your adrenaline flowing.
If the thought of spending the evening outside gives you the chills, head to the Panorama Leisure Centre. Relax in a sauna and book a massage after a particularly hard day on the pistes, though if you’ve still got plenty of energy left dust off your tennis skills on the court or skate a few laps of the indoor ice rink.
The snow making facilities in the region are being constantly improved, and with so many nearby resorts to visit you’ll always be able to find some snow when you stay in St Johann. The most basic week long pass will cover you for local resorts, and upgrading to the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard will allow you to ski over a thousand kilometres of pistes - if you can’t find some decent snow there, you’re not looking hard enough! The slopes closest to the village are mainly north facing, so snow tends to stay around for longer later on in the season, and with so many sunny terraces to discover you might find yourself tempted to cut your day a bit short if it’s sunny.
With ice skating, Christmas markets, and horse sleigh racing, you’ll be in line for a thrilling time when you spend Christmas in St Johann St. Johann Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Year in St Johann is a medley of fireworks, mulled wine, and joviality as locals and tourists alike gather to spend the evening under the stars. St. Johann New Year ski holidays ‣
All the family will love spending February Half Term in St Johann. With so much to do, it’ll be an adventure filled week both on and off the piste. St. Johann Half Term ski holidays ‣
Spend Easter in St Johann and you’ll have a week to remember, whether you spend it soaking up the sunshine or skiing the day away. St. Johann Easter ski holidays ‣
We’re sure that you’ll be able to find something in Finkenberg to entertain the whole family this year- if the kids insist on moaning then just pack them off to McDonalds for a happy meal! If you’re a tight knit family ski team and have skied together for years then you can head straight to the peak of the Harschbichl and try your luck on the reds and blacks from the top- we’re sure you’ll have got your ski legs back by the time you’ve stumbled to the bottom! For the less confident, there are some great ski schools based in the village- the Ski School St. Johann and the Skischool Wilder Kaiser – who both offer lessons in a variety of disciplines for those of all standards. The baby drag lifts in the village are great for utter beginners, and allow them to get to grips with the feel of their ski’s and boots before shelling out on expensive tuition. There’s a great range of child friendly restaurants in resort, serving all the ‘local’ favourites from home- Chinese, Italian and Indian takeaways are available in the resort, though the local Austrian fare is fairly kid friendly stuff too- lots of cheese and meat. The Gasthof Baerenl serves fantastic traditional cuisine, alongside a pizza menu for the less adventurous! The Panoramabad sports complex is a perfect location if anyone fancies a day off, or has a bit of left over energy after a day on the slopes. Mum and Dad can enjoy a massage or a trip to the steam room and sauna, whilst the kids will love the water slides in the indoor pool. If you can keep the kids entertained throughout the journey, then a self-drive holiday is perfect for your trip to St. Johann. Having a car with you in resort opens up the whole of the Kitzbüheler ski region, parking is available at most of the properties in resort and with the upgraded pass you can ski in all of the regions resorts. If you’re on a tight schedule over the holiday period, then book a package that includes flights and transfers which will maximise the time you spend on the slopes, and minimise travelling time!
The sheer variety of the region makes it a great destination for groups. Not only is St Johann a great destination in its own right, but it gives you unbelievable access to the surrounding area. With its central location, St Johann is right in the middle of the Schneewinkel ski region, and with the upgraded Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard you’ll gain access to a whole host of resorts and over 1000km of slopes - for groups of mixed abilities, this is a god send. With so much choice, it’s a perfectly feasible option to ski separately in the day and then meet up in the evenings to sample the regions nightlife- Max’s bar is a popular venue with locals and tourists alike year round. Even right next to the village, there’s skiing for everyone- the baby lifts from the village are suitable for the most inexperienced of beginners, whilst there are some challenging blacks and reds from the peak. The neighbouring Fieberbrunn is home to some great freeriding- it’s a local’s favourite and reckoned to be one of the best ‘hidden’ ski areas in the Alps. Off the slopes there’s plenty to do as well- the more active amongst you can indulge in a spot of tennis and ice skating at the Panoramabad leisure centre whilst the more sedate lounge in a hot tub or book a massage to prepare for the next day on the slopes. The Gasthof zum Dampfl is an award winning restaurant that can cater for groups of all sizes- the drinks menu is also agreeably comprehensive- and for a rousing après session everyone should head to Max’s pub. The good selection of hotels in the region makes finding accommodation for the whole group a dream.
Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
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Sporthotel Austria | 7 | £ 659 |
COOEE Alpin Hotel | 7 | £ 669 |
Sentido Alpenhotel Kaiserfels | 7 | £ 897 |
Hotel Park | 7 | £ 776 |
Hotel Post | 7 | £ 802 |
Hotel Fischer | 7 | £ 555 |
Pension Mair | 7 | £ 484 |