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St Wolfgang Ski Resort
This Austrian lake town lies at the foot of the Schafberg Mountain on the northern shore of the Wolfgangsee Lake. If you’re more focused on an interesting and attractive base and less on the convenience of skiing, it’s spot on. The local area has its own 52km of cross country skiing but, when it comes to downhill, you’ll need to commute. The nearest ski area, Postalm, is a 45 minute bus ride away and getting to Dachstein West (a bigger area with more challenging skiing) takes around 90 minutes.
This kind of resort works well if you don’t plan to be on the slopes all week long, as you can mix trips to the ski areas with days spent exploring the lake and its towns (regular ferries connect St. Wolfgang with St. Gilgen, Abersee and Strobl). The nearest resorts are very beginner-intermediate focused, so wary learners can get a taste of skiing without feeling they have to commit to a whole week on the piste. It’s also good if you want to ski different places each day as the Dachstein West pass covers Postalm, Krippenstein, St. Martin, Lungötz, Feuerkogel and Karkogel - a total skiing area of 142km.
Legend has it that Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg founded the town after he threw an axe and built a church on its landing spot. It doesn’t take long to find the site of Wolfgang’s pilgrimage - Sat-Nav has come a long way since but this rustic town has definitely retained its olde-worlde charm.
As well as its axe-wielding namesake, the town became world famous as the location for the 1930 play ‘Im weißen Rössl am Wolfgangsee’, which ran in London, Paris and New York.
The town’s only an hour’s drive from Salzburg, or two and a half from Munich. While the lake and mountain activities mean it’s buzzing here at summertime, winter is a lot quieter (some venues only open in the summer) and the colder months are more about peace and quiet.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Austria Alps.
Established: 976
Open: December-March
Downhill: 17.9km
View our detailed St Wolfgang 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 Wolfgang snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Salzburg | 61km, 1h |
| Munich | 235km, 2.5h |
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| Top Altitude: | 1620m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 548m |
| Resort Altitude: | 548m |
| Longest run: | 4.2km (Dachstein West) |
| Slope Orientation: | N,S,E,W |
| Vertical Drop: | |
| Skiable Vertical: | |
| Night Skiing: | Dachstein West |
| Glacier: | Dachstein West |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 17.9km |
| Beginner slopes: | 55% |
| Intermediate: | 39% |
| Advanced slopes: | 6% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 145€ |
| Nearby resorts: Gosau, Filzmoos, Schladming | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in St Wolfgang
In the immediate area around St. Wolfgang you’ll find 8 beautiful cross country trails, adding up to about 25 miles in total. If there’s good snow on the Zwölferhorn, it’s possible to head round to nearby St. Gilgen (a 20 minute drive), catch the gondola up to the peak and pick a downhill run from the 5km total back to the base station.
Postalm is the next nearest ski resort. Apart from a couple of reds and a black, most of the runs here are blues – Familienabfahrt Gschlösslbahn is the longest and has plenty of opportunity to get those turns in.
Pick up the pace on the Abfahrtsstrecke, a red that doubles as Postalm’s downhill course. There’s some off-piste through the trees underneath the chairlift and, if it’s a powder day, exploring the side of the reds is always fun. If pulling 180’s is more your thing, head to the ‘Funpark’ which has several jumps and boxes.
It’s worth the extra time getting to the Daschstein West area if you want more of a challenge. It’s more boarder friendly and snow tends to be better too - 91 % of the runs have snow-making. The area’s split between Gosau, Russbach and Annaberg–Lungöt and each section has its own slopes, activities and ski schools.
There’s a great spot for the kids by the Ötscher lift in Gosau: a junior’s park and race track with time recording for instant entertainment. In Russbach, the blues and reds from the Edtalmbahn have great views of the valley and the pros in the adjacent park.
Skiers with iron knees should head to the Törleckbahn lift in Gosau where the ungroomed Donnergroll piste and Schwarzreiter mogul slope present a more than bouncy ride. In Russbach, the Höhbühel mogul park serves up a series of challenges: the Dachfirst practice moguls, Bockleitn steep slope, Rocky mogul slope or Rock’n Roll ski route. In Annaberg –Lungötz you’ll find a permanent race track named after local hero Marcel Hirscher.
If you’re more Shaun White then Alexandre Bilodeau, head to the Snowpark Dachstein West in Russbach – it’s packed full of kickers, jumps and rails.
St Wolfgang Apres Ski
It’s always good to squeeze in a quick pint in Postalm’s Blonde Hütte or Landhaus Koller in Gosau, but the last bus is usually pretty prompt – don’t miss it! Instead get back to town where the relaxed vibe is perfect if you’re looking to unwind.
Head to the Fireplace Lounge at the Furian Hotel for afternoon tea or to Kaffeewerkstatt for good coffee and pastries. For later in the evening, there’s excellent local cuisine at the Gasthof Franz Josef – rumour has it the schnitzels are seriously good. We love the pizzas at Rudolfshohe or, for something basic but filling, try the American-themed Krastoff’s. If it’s a special occasion, Joseph’s is the place to book; the menu’s usually excellent and includes locally sourced fish.
After dark, head to Kap Horn to burn the midnight oil - the dodgy décor is outweighed by the fact the bar is open until 3.30am! There are often live music nights at Bar Grabovski too.
For non skiers, the ferry stops at seven places around the lake and you can jump on and off, giving you ample opportunity to check out nearby towns. There’s also snowshoeing around the lake and at Postalm. If you’re on a family trip to Postalm, the ‘kinder’ too small to ski can ride dinghies at the Tubing Park.
To get the best aerial view of the lake, take the Schafberg Mountain Cog Railway - a historic steam train which takes you to the top of the overhanging Schafberg Mountain. Hop in the Zwolferhorn Cable Car from St. Gilgen for panoramic mountain views of the Salzkammergut. You can take the car back down but the walk back is amazing - worth it for the views alone!
Best time to go
Best time to ski St Wolfgang
Best time to visit & ski St Wolfgang
There’s loads to do here all year round but skiing tends to be best during early-mid season. 91% of Dachstein West’s runs have snow-cannon coverage, which means the slopes should be skiable even if Mother Nature isn’t being too generous. Postalm isn’t the highest resort at 1500m but it does have north facing slopes that keep the white stuff preserved for longer.
You’re all but guaranteed a white Christmas in the town and the Wolfgangsee area comes into its own this time of year with the traditional Advent markets. It’s brighter by March so catch early spring on the lake and get a ski in as well. Further round the valley, ski tours operate from Ramsau onto the Dachstein glacier so there’s guaranteed skiing or touring throughout the season if you don’t mind the commute.
Peak Dates
Get that authentic advent feeling with Christmas in St. Wolfgang. Lake Wolfgangsee usually comes alive at Christmas with each quaint town hosting its own celebration. St Wolfgang Christmas ski holidays ‣
If you prefer a peaceful passage into the start of the year then New Year in St. Wolfgang might be for you. Let the New Year unfold with sleigh rides, ice-skating and great Austrian cusine. St Wolfgang New Year ski holidays ‣
February Half Term in St. Wolfgang is off the beaten track and the perfect spot for a relaxed trip. Skiers can exploit the season’s best snow at the local resorts and you’ll find heaps to do for non-skiers in the villages around Lake Wolfgangsee. St Wolfgang Half Term ski holidays ‣
Escape and de-stress with a traditional Austrian Easter in St. Wolfgang. Visit the glacier at Dachstein, take the steam train to the top of the Schafberg, a gondola from St. Gilgen or a cruise across the Wolfgangsee Lake. St Wolfgang Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in St Wolfgang
St. Wolfgang is sleepy and peaceful for most of the winter months, which means a relaxing escape for families. If you’re planning a trip over the school holidays, it does wake up for Christmas - with fantastic traditional markets and advent festivities - and at the end of the season, when the warmer weather opens up a whole host of activities.
For skiers, the runs at Postalm converge into one spot so families can conveniently meet up even if they’ve been exploring in different directions. The majority of runs here are greens and blues - perfect for beginners and intermediates rediscovering their snow legs. There’s a ‘Funpark’ for the kids (or ambitious Dads) to practice their tricks and a kids park in Gosau and more serious jumps for the teenagers in Russbach.
Non-skiers have plenty to do back in St. Wolfgang, which makes this a good choice if you’re not sure whether the kids will take to skiing. The towns around the lake can be explored via the ferry, you can get great views on the Zwolferhorn Cable Car and kids will love the Schafberg steam train.
If it’s a bad weather day, try the indoor bowling alley at the Ferienparadies Leopoldhof. Then there’s the Abarena Theme Park, an all-weather leisure park with model exhibitions, which opens at Easter.
Further afield (about 1 hour, 40 mins in the car) is the Dachstein glacier, where you can traverse the suspension bridge hanging between the mountain peaks and delve into the mountain for the fantastical ice sculptures.
GroupsGroup Holidays St Wolfgang
This historical town is great for groups looking for an attractive base to explore the towns and ski regions surrounding Lake Wolfgangsee.
The two nearby ski resorts present different options: Postalm in Wolfgangsee (45 mins drive away) is well-suited for beginners and intermediates while Dachstein West (1.5 hours drive) gives advanced skiers more challenging terrain and a better range of thrills.
Non-skiers can take the Schafberg Mountain Cog Railway for the best aerial sights of the Wolfgangsee or head further round the lake to St. Gilgen and catch the Zwolferhorn Cable Car up the mountain for show-stopping views of the whole Salzkammergut region. The ferries are usually still running in the afternoons so once the skiers have returned, groups can reunite and travel back together. If you’re really knackered after a day’s skiing, check out one of the many spas in town. There’s also a few good bars for whatever kind of après takes your fancy. Die Kap Horn is a top spot for a quiet beer, while Haus 13 is good for a game of pool or two. Try one of our favourites, Grabovski - popular for cocktails lovers. We’ve found that different venues chop and change whether they’ll be open in the winter months (a few places only open in the summer, when the resort is a lot livelier) so check the latest before you set off.
For large groups wanting a bit of privacy and space to themselves we recommend booking a chalet with sole occupancy. If you think others might join your group (we know some are hard to pin down) stick to a hotel, giving you the flexibility to book additional rooms if need be.
Which are the best ski holidays in St Wolfgang?
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