شلادمینغ

December to March is ski season, and the January night race draws crowds. June to September is best for hiking, mountain biking and glacier trips. April–May and October–November are quiet. Winters are cold and snowy.

• Großer Riesachfall is the highest waterfall in Styria, in a valley south of town.
• Kleiner Riesachfall is a smaller fall beside the main one.
• Stadtpfarrkirche St. Achaz is the parish church of the old town.
• Stadtmuseum covers local history and mining.
• Rittisberg Coaster is a summer toboggan coaster on the Rittisberg.
• Hochgolling is the highest peak of the Low Tauern range, a mountain for experienced hikers.
• The Planai is the town mountain and venue of the night race, reached by gondola.
• The Dachstein glacier is reached by cable car from Ramsau, with the Dachstein Skywalk and ice palace.

• Ski the Four Mountain Skiing region.
• Watch the night race on the Planai in January.
• Hike to the Riesachfall.
• Ride the Dachstein cable car.
• Cycle the Enns valley path.

• Ramsau am Dachstein is a high plateau village and the base for the Dachstein glacier cable car, about 15 minutes by car.
• Bad Aussee is a lake town, about 45 minutes by car.
• Hallstatt is about 1 hour by car.
• Salzburg is about 1 hour 15 minutes by car or train.
• Graz is about 2 hours by car.

• Ramsau am Dachstein is the closest preferred village and the base for the Dachstein.

• By air: Salzburg Airport is about 1 hour 15 minutes away. Graz and Munich are alternatives.
• By train: Schladming is on the Ennstal line. Salzburg takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and Graz about 2 hours 30 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
• By car: Take the A10 and the B320 road via Radstadt.

The town is small and walkable. Ski buses and local buses run in the valley. Gondolas leave from the town centre. Guest cards often include cable cars and public transport in summer.

A car is helpful for the side valleys and Dachstein. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Styrian and Salzburg food is hearty. Try Ennstaler Steirerkas, a local cheese, and Kaspressknödel, cheese dumplings. Mountain huts serve simple dishes, and local inns brew beer.

Schladming is safe. Check avalanche and weather reports before going up. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

Schladming was a silver and copper mining town from the Middle Ages. It was hit hard during the Reformation. Skiing came in the 20th century, and the town hosted the Alpine Ski World Championships in 1982 and 2013.

Quick practical facts for Austria at a glance: