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Katschberg Ski Resort
This quaint, family favourite resort has bundles of character and is nestled between Obertauern, the Hohe Tauern and the Nockberge mountains in the heart of Austria.
The village is absolutely overflowing with traditional Austrian charm – the classic buildings are made of authentic wood and stone and you’ll notice waiters dressed in lederhosen and regular markets selling local delicacies such as apple strudel and the local après ski drink of choice, Jägertee (made with strong rum, hot black tea and various other spices).
While it’s Austrian through and through, Katschberg has many features that make it stand out from the other Austrian resorts. It has a lot of ski in/ski out accommodation, so there’s no having to squeeze into a ski bus before you reach the piste; Salzburg airport is only an hour away, perfect for those who want to avoid those lengthy coach transfers. The excellent facilities for children are also noteworthy - there are playgrounds dotted about the resort, lifts designed specifically for little ones and a very smiley blue heart-shaped resort mascot who can be spotted on the slopes for photo opportunities. To top it off, the ski area reaches the impressive height of 2219m, unusually high for an Austrian resort and the whole area is covered by snowmaking.
Katschberg is part of the Lungau ski area spanning the two Tschaneck and Aineck peaks. There’s an ultra-convenient moving walkway across the bridge that connects the two ski areas, so you won’t have to take your skis off in-between. The local ski area has 70km of varied terrain to explore with the Katschberg- Aineck ski area lift pass, and if you upgrade your pass to the Oberlungau ski region you can ski 190km over the nearby Lungau ski resorts of Fanningberg and Großeck Speiereck.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Austria Alps.
Established: 1957
Open: December - April
Downhill: 70km
View our detailed Katschberg 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 Katschberg snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Salzburg | 110km, 1 hour 20 minutes |
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| Top Altitude: | 2219m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1640m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1640m |
| Longest run: | 8km |
| Slope Orientation: | E, W, SE |
| Vertical Drop: | 579m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 579m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 70km |
| Beginner slopes: | 14% |
| Intermediate: | 71% |
| Advanced slopes: | 14% |
| Lift Pass Price: | €209 (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Mauterndorf, St Michael, Fanningberg, Thomatal-Schonfield and Innerkrems | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Katschberg
Katschberg’s family motto is “introduce your children to winter sports and start a lifelong love” and this is certainly a super place to do so. The resort prides itself on its family friendly nature and focuses a lot of attention on the youngsters. There’s a dedicated children’s area called Katschi’s Kids’ World with child-only lifts and runs so little ones can learn in a peaceful environment. Beginners have a number of gentle blues very near the village - we like piste 2 which is nice and wide and winds its way down to the village centre.
From the Aineck peak, The Aineckbahn chairlift then takes you to the resort's highest point at 2,220m. From here you’ll find lovely, wide open skiing above the tree-line.
The Tschaneck side of the resort is a paradise for intermediates with all the runs channelling back to the village centre. A popular piste is the long and wide red A1 nicknamed ‘autobahn’ (motorway) leading all the way from the Aineck peak to Lungau in a grand total of 6km.
Advanced skiers should give the black Direttisima on the Aineck side a go; it’s pretty steep and has a sheer drop on both sides, guaranteed to give even pro skiers an adrenaline kick. Powder lovers can explore 4 marked off-piste routes. All are very long; one descends from the top of Aineck, and three from Tschaneck. Freestylers have the half–pipe and pro jumps in the fun-park based in St. Margarthen just over the other side of the valley in Aineck. For anyone craving even more skiing, the Konigwiese slopes are floodlit for night skiing valid with your daytime lift pass a couple of times a week. Cross-country skiers, meanwhile, will love the 9km high altitude trail here characterised by challenging climbs and descents with fantastic panoramic views.
Katschberg Apres Ski
Things are relatively quiet and low-key here and après ski is reasonably relaxed. Wherever you are you won't be far from a mountain restaurant – fill those hungry stomachs in one of 14 ski huts - try the spare ribs at Pizzeria Stamperl, Carinthian specialities at the rustic Gamskogelhutte with its cosy fireplace or Salzburgerland dishes at the Schneeflockerl such as delicious Speckknödel (dumplings with pieces of bacon).
The most popular après ski destination is Wilderer Alm which you’ll find directly besides the mountain station of the Koenigswiesen lift. Daily parties kick off at 3:30pm with a DJ or live band and it’s known to be positively buzzing especially during peak weeks and weekends. Try their legendary homemade schnapps - guaranteed to perk you up after a long day’s skiing.
In terms of activities besides skiing, Katschberg has tons of things to do. If you’re a non-skier, or just tempted away from the slopes, you’ll be greeted with a range of activities, including ice-skating, horse sleigh riding and night-time tobogganing down the 1.5km floodlit slope. There are also a number of guided snow-shoe hikes to embark on for those still with enough energy to spare. For some post-ski relaxation and rejuvenation, book yourself in for some treatments at the Hotel Falkensteiner which is open to non-guests.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Katschberg
Best time to visit & ski Katschberg
The ski area has a peak altitude of 2219m, coupled with great snow making technology (over 700 snow cannons can cover the whole ski area when Mother Nature needs a helping hand), which means you’ll find quality snow conditions during the majority of the season. The peak snow conditions can usually be found between January-March, so this is the best time for powder lovers. There is plenty of free-riding terrain to be discovered and local guides can show you the hidden places to perfect your technique after the last snowfall.
For relaxed skiers, later in the season is the best time to ski Katschberg. There are fewer crowds and with warmer weather you’ll be able to take full advantage of the many sunny terraces scattered around the mountain and laze away the afternoons with a Glühwein in hand. We love the Gamskogelhutte where you can lounge outside on a deck chair to your heart’s content.
Peak Dates
Full of festive charm complete with a traditional advent market and a visit from St Nicholas himself, your Christmas in Katschberg will be one to remember! Katschberg Christmas ski holidays ‣
If you’re looking for a low-key, jolly time with quality eating and drinking Austrian style why not spend New Year in Katschberg. Katschberg New Year ski holidays ‣
Katschberg at Half-term is a popular choice for families because of its friendly slopes and child-orientated ski areas. Activities such as tobogganing and ice-skating will also keep the kids entertained. Katschberg Half Term ski holidays ‣
Children and groups alike will love Easter in Katschberg with excellent snow making technology and pistes peaking at 2219m, you’re sure to have a great late season break. Katschberg Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Katschberg
Katschberg is a great resort if you’re looking for a relaxed ski break with all the family. The local ski schools (like Schi & Snowboard Firn Sepp am Aineck and Schneesportschule Falkensteiner) will teach children the basics and also offer workshops for more experienced skiers.
Any non-skiers in the family will be kept entertained while the others are whizzing down the pistes. They can choose from a range of activities such as tobogganing, ice-skating and show-shoe treks before meeting the rest of the gang in the hotel lounge to recount their tales of adventure. The Falkensteiner Hotel Cristallo is a great choice for families as it’s just 50m from the slopes saving you from any long walks or waiting around for ski buses. It’s also right next to the ski school meeting point, so you won’t have to contend with the school run while on holiday - the children’s ski area is directly opposite too. Our best family hotels provide childcare services on site, which can be invaluable if you’re travelling with children who are too young for ski school.
Whatever accommodation you’re looking for, book it in a package including transfers and flights for the best value and least hassle. Alternatively, if you can keep the kids entertained on the long journey, we do self-drive holidays, or just the accommodation on its own if you’re travelling independently.
GroupsGroup Holidays Katschberg
Katschberg’s wide range of terrain and diverse choice of non-ski activities make it a perfect place for travelling in a group, with something here for everyone. People skiing for the first time can get up to speed on the nursery slopes by the village under the guidance of one of the expert ski schools. Meanwhile, experts can head off to the black runs on Aineck side, one must ski is the “direttisima” - a challenging black steep run with sheer drops. We love the Falkensteiner Hotel Cristallo for super convenient doorstep skiing – it’s also right by the ski school meeting point if any of your party are taking lessons.
If anyone fancies a day off the slopes, or there are any non-skiers tagging along, they can give curling a go or take a ride on the 1.5km tobogganing track. After a day exploring the area, groups can meet at the rustic ski hut Gamskogelhutte for a Jägertee on the sun terrace before you retreat back to your hotel for a hearty supper. If you opt for a hotel with its own bar, you can make après ski even more convenient!
Whichever accommodation you choose, you’ll find it as part of a package including flights and transfers, channel crossings for self-drive or simply on its own if you’re sorting out the travelling independently.
Which are the best ski holidays in Katschberg?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Das Alpenhaus Katschberg 1640 | 7 | £ 653 |
| Falkensteiner Hotel Cristallo | 7 | £ 1187 |
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