Schladming

Schladming is a name which instantly brings to mind images of World Cup downhill racing in many skiers’ minds. The region is one of the most popular ski destinations in Austria and, indeed, is one of the top five most visited resorts in the Alps, but it’s less well known to us Brits than it should be.

Located in southern Austria, the Schladming-Dachstein region has a good-sized ski area served by fast, comfortable lifts. The main resort base in the region is the busy town of Schladming, a year-round destination, parts of which date back to medieval times, and the heart of which is fully pedestrianised. And it’s all located a short, easy transfer from Salzburg airport.

Schladming’s local ski area is spread over four interlinked mountains, providing an intermediate’s paradise with most of the runs graded red and the slopes well linked by efficient, comfortable chairlifts and gondolas, including several with heated seats, so any concerns about the build-up of queues are quickly dissipated. Much of the skiing in the area is tree-lined, which provides excellent visibility in all conditions.

The resort also makes up part of the large Ski Amadé ski region, which spans five ski resorts and offers a staggering 230km of ski runs, 84 lifts, and 260 mountain ski huts for slopeside refuelling. A trip to Ski Amadé is the perfect choice for those who want a new ski adventure everyday and Schladming is definitely one of the area’s crowning jewels.

Schladming Resort History

Schladming was made a town in 1322 and its town square was pedestrianised 672 years later in 1997. A World Cup Downhill was first staged here in 1973 and the Alpine Skiing World Championships in 1982 and again in 2013. Today Schladming is a small lively town with a good selection of shops, bars, restaurants and hotels. It has many interesting and picturesque old buildings which add to the ambience of the place.