The two mountain villages of Saalbach and Hinterglemm have long been considered a single resort: they lie just 4 kilometers from each other, are united by a common system of trails and lifts, and quite a few inexpensive guesthouses have been built between them.

These resorts are located in the Glemm Valley, on the border of the lands of Salzburg and Tyrol. They lie at an altitude of 1003 m on picturesque slopes. Ski tours in Saalbach and Hinterglemm are quite popular among European skiers mainly due to the large skiing area, good snow and relatively low prices for recreation.

The slopes here are designed in such a way that wherever you stop, in whatever part of the resort you settle, you can easily reach the lifts from any point and easily return after skiing directly to the hotel door. The local slopes are suitable for skiers of any level. They regularly host stages of the Alpine Skiing World Cup.

In total, Saalbach and Hinterglemm have 124 slopes with a total length of about 200 kilometers. They are located at a low altitude of 1003 to 2098 meters, thanks to which it is almost never too cold here in winter. In the upper part of the resort area, snow is guaranteed from December to April, and in the lower part, almost every slope has snow cannons for extra protection.

The easiest, widest and best groomed slopes, ideal for beginner skiers, are located directly near the villages. In Saalbach, they are located mainly on the southern slope, which is constantly illuminated by the sun, and in Hinterglemm – on the northern slope, where the sun is almost absent, but excellent snow cover is guaranteed. There are 8 ski schools in the two resorts, whose instructors will quickly put both adults and children on skis. The longest slope in the Glemm Valley, Schattberg-Ost-Jausen, which is marked in blue, is also popular.

The challenging “black” track Schattberg-Nordabfarth is designed for true professionals, impressing with its complex landscape and sharp turns. About 100 km² is occupied by the region reserved for skiing on virgin snow. Only it is better to go here only accompanied by an experienced instructor.

Ski tours in Saalbach and Hinterglemm will definitely appeal to snowboarding fans – the local fun park constantly receives the highest marks. There is a halfpipe, high jumps, long mogul tracks, some of them are even illuminated in the evenings.

You definitely won’t have to get bored at these resorts! There are constantly held various festivals, carnivals, snow shows, sports competitions among guests, even open-air discos right on the slopes! If you wish, you can go curling, paragliding, horse riding, go sledding at night along a lighted track, take a walk around the surroundings. Many people will like the local restaurants (some are located high in the mountains), discos, and bars.

In short, the resort towns of Saalbach and Hinterglemm will definitely appeal to everyone who loves good skiing during the day and fun entertainment in the evenings!

Infrastructure of the Saalbach/Hinterglemm resort

The Saalbach ski resort is one of the most prestigious resorts in Austria, so the infrastructure here is excellent. About 700 chalet hotels and more than 200 cozy cafes and restaurants have been built near the mountain slopes.

People come to Hinterglemm to relax from the daily hustle and bustle of big cities, so the resort has a lot of traditional Austrian winter entertainment: sledding and ice skating, archery, horseback riding. There is also the opportunity to fly in a paraglider and helicopter, and ride an ATV. No one will be bored in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. The resort offers a wide range of activities: a sports center with an indoor pool, nine discos, nightclubs, fine restaurants, cafes, ski restaurants, beauty salons, indoor courts, bowling alley, outdoor illuminated ice rink, squash (indoor courts), and even horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Free time can be used to visit the museums located on the farm from 1567: the Saalbach history museum Heimatmuseum, the ski museum Schimuseum. The museums are open on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In numerous fitness and SPA centers you can get massages and wellness treatments, visit a sauna or swimming pool. Among the most interesting options are cactus massage, fish pedicure or relaxation in a snow cave.

In almost all hotels of the Saalbach resort you can buy an excursion to Lake Zell, during which tourists will not only visit the picturesque lake, but also climb to the observation deck of the Kaprun Glacier, and also visit the National Park Gallery. There is also the opportunity to go on a trip to the major cities of Austria (Salzburg, Innsbruck).

The resort often hosts parties and costume shows.

Where to stay?

Ski hotels are famous for their hospitality and comfort. Every year, Saalbach and Hinterglemm hotels become more beautiful. New ones are opened, and old ones are renovated. There are different categories of accommodation and level of service in hotels. Everyone can choose them to their taste.

There are many hotels in Saalbach, but this is a very popular resort, so it is worth booking accommodation in advance.

In January-February, the cheapest room will cost €1,510 for two for 6 days – these are large apartments with all the necessary appliances and a large bathroom. The room has free Wi-Fi, kitchen utensils and the room is suitable for people with disabilities.

The average price for accommodation for 6 days is about €1,800. Rooms with this price are designed for two people and are equipped with the latest technology. This price most often includes breakfast (buffet), barbecue parties, free cable car travel and various bonuses.

Saalbach/Hinterglemm in summer

Despite the fact that Saalbach/Hinterglemm is a classic winter resort, there is also something to do here in summer. The most popular entertainment is hiking. The resort has many hiking trails, the total length of which is 400 km. You can travel through the mountains both as part of a group and independently. During the walk, tourists can see mountain lakes, fairy-tale forests and meet the dawn on one of the peaks.

Another popular activity is mountain biking (extreme mountain biking). Saalbach Hinterglemm is considered the best place in the country for this activity. For extreme sports enthusiasts, there are 5 routes with a total length of 300 km. There are many bicycle rental / repair shops in Saalbach.

A number of cable cars also operate in the summer: Reiterkogel, Schattberg X-press, Westgipfel and Kohlmais. With their help, you can easily climb the famous mountain peaks.

One of the favorite activities of vacationers is geocaching (treasure hunting). Tourists hide small gifts under trees, in bushes or on stones, and subsequent travelers find them. Thus, pleasant trinkets are exchanged. The length of the route is just under 15 km.

In addition, the Hinterglemm resort has a family park with attractions, a horse farm, children’s playgrounds in the mountains, obstacle courses, a rope park. Saalbach also often hosts mountain races and other sports competitions. Families with children should pay attention to educational tourist routes. An experienced guide will show you the flowers and trees that grow in the mountains, tell you about how people used to live in this area, and also provide a lot of useful information about the resort.

In general, Saalbach is beautiful in both winter and summer. You definitely won’t be bored here.

How to get there?

The nearest airports are in Munich (Germany), Salzburg and Vienna (Austria), so it is best to get to the Hinterglemm resort from these cities.

From Munich

The distance from Saalbach to Munich is 193 km. Buses run regularly from Munich Airport. One-way fares start at €91, round-trip fares start at €173. You can also take a shuttle bus to the Austrian resort (they run 7 times a day). The price of a one-way ticket is €98.

If you arrive in the country by car, you can get to the resort via the Munich-Salzburg A8 motorway to the Siegsdorf exit. A taxi ride will cost ≈ 190 euros.

From Salzburg

The second option to get to the Austrian resort is to fly to Salzburg airport (the distance between the cities is 95 km). The price of a bus ticket is 39 euros one way, 74 for a return trip. The cost of a shuttle from Salzburg is 44 € one way (88 round trip). A taxi ride will cost ≈ 150 €.

You can also get to Saalbach by train. In Munich, at the train station, you need to take a train going towards Heiligenburg or St. Johann im Pongau (southeast direction) and get off at the station Zell am See. If you are traveling from Salzburg, you need to take a train going in a southwest direction (Innsbruck) at the city’s train station and also get off at the station Zell am See.

Saalbach Hinterglemm is one of the best resorts in Austria for active recreation with the whole family.