Category: Skiing & winter

Planica near Kranjska Gora is the cradle of ski flying; world records fell at the giant flying hill over decades, and it is regularly the finale venue of the ski-jumping World Cup. The year-round Nordic Centre with wind-tunnel and zip-line experiences and cross-country trails makes the valley a destination off-season too.HighlightsCradle of ski flying, world-record hillSki-jumping World Cup finaleNordic Centre with experience activitiesCross-country trails…

Bad Hindelang is a climatic spa town in the Allgäu High Alps, above which the famous Jochstraße with its 106 hairpin bends climbs to the pass village of Oberjoch, one of the highest villages in Germany. The region combines hiking, family skiing and an intact mountain-farming landscape with the Hintersteiner Tal nature reserve.HighlightsJochstraße with 106 hairpin bendsOberjoch, one of Germany’s highest villagesClimatic…

Sölden in the rear Ötztal is one of Austria’s best-known glacier ski resorts, with pistes above 3,000 m. The futuristic Gaislachkogl summit station houses the 007 Elements experience on the James Bond film Spectre, which was filmed here. In summer the Ötztal Glacier Road, Austria’s highest panoramic road, leads up.HighlightsGlacier ski area above 3,000 m007 Elements at the GaislachkoglÖtztal…

Seefeld lies on a sunny high plateau above the Inn valley and is one of the best-known cross-country skiing centres in the Alps, a repeated host of Nordic World Ski Championships and Olympic events. The mild plateau climate also makes the resort a popular hiking and golfing destination in summer.HighlightsTop cross-country area, repeated World Championship hostSunny high plateau above the Inn valleyFamily-friendly ski and hiking areaWellness and golfGood…

Mayrhofen is the best-known holiday resort in the rear Zillertal, with the Penken and Ahorn mountains. With a gradient of up to 78 percent, the Harakiri piste is considered the steepest groomed run in Austria. In summer the resort is a starting point for tours into the Zillertal Alps Nature Park and to the Schlegeis reservoir.HighlightsLocal peaks Penken and AhornHarakiri, the steepest piste…

Bad Gastein is a Belle Époque spa town whose grand hotels cling to the slope in terraces, while the Gastein Waterfall thunders right through the middle. Famous are the radon-rich thermal springs and the Gastein Healing Gallery. All around stretches the ski and hiking area of the Hohe Tauern.HighlightsBelle Époque architecture on the slopeGastein Waterfall in the middle of townRadon thermal springs and healing gallerySki and hiking area…