Bischofshofen

Town · Salzburg, 🇦🇹 Austria

Bischofshofen is a small town in the Pongau region of Salzburg, in the Salzach valley south of Salzburg. It is best known for its ski jump, where the final event of the Four Hills Ski Jumping Tournament takes place every January.

The town is a rail and road junction and a practical base for the ski areas and spa towns around it. It is not a typical resort, but it has a friendly local feel and good mountain access.

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When to visit

January is the time for the ski jumping event. December to March is ski season in the nearby resorts. June to September is best for hiking and cycling. Spring and autumn are quiet.

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Typical weather in January

Poor

4° (feels like 1°) · extremes -13°–10°
-4° at night
14 rainy days
6 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

5° (feels like 2°) · extremes -13°–13°
-3° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

10° (feels like 7°) · extremes -8°–18°
1° at night
16 rainy days
9 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Fair

15° (feels like 13°) · extremes -2°–23°
4° at night
15 rainy days
8 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

20° (feels like 19°) · extremes 4°–27°
9° at night
20 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Good

24° · extremes 7°–31°
13° at night
20 rainy days
8 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

25° (feels like 26°) · extremes 10°–32°
15° at night
22 rainy days
9 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

25° (feels like 26°) · extremes 10°–32°
15° at night
19 rainy days
10 sunny days
7 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in September

Good

21° (feels like 20°) · extremes 5°–28°
11° at night
15 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Good

17° (feels like 15°) · extremes 0°–24°
7° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in November

Poor

10° (feels like 8°) · extremes -6°–18°
2° at night
13 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

5° (feels like 2°) · extremes -12°–11°
-2° at night
14 rainy days
4 sunny days
3 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Calm winds
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Top sights

Pfarrkirche St. Maximillian

The Paul-Ausserleitner ski jump, known for the Four Hills Tournament, can be seen from the town, and its events draw large crowds.
Burgruine Bachsfall is a ruined castle above the town.
Gainfeldwasserfall is a waterfall reached on a short walk.
Götschenberg is a hill with prehistoric copper-mining remains.
Pfarrkirche St. Maximilian is the parish church.
Georgikirchlein and Frauenkirche are smaller churches in the centre.
Mitterfeldalm is a mountain hut.
Wetterkreuz is a hilltop cross with views.

Featured Lists

luckyprof / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bischofshofen Essentials

Bischofshofen is defined by its role as the final venue of the international Four Hills Ski Jumping Tournament at the Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze. Beyond the stadium, the landscape features the Gainfeld Waterfall and the medieval ruins of Bachsfall. High-altitude destinations include the Hochgründeck peak, home to the Heinrich-Kiener-Haus and the St. Vinzenz Peace Church. The town’s history spans from the prehistoric archaeological site at Götschenberg to the Romanesque and Gothic architecture of the St. Maximilian Parish Church.

9 places

Churches & Chapels

This collection highlights the ecclesiastical landmarks of Bischofshofen, centered around the historic trio of churches in the town core: the Romanesque Pfarrkirche St. Maximillian, the Gothic Frauenkirche, and the small Georgikirchlein. The list also features high-altitude sites like the wooden St. Vinzenz Friedenskirche on the Hochgründeck mountain, standing at 1,827 meters, alongside traditional alpine shrines and the town's Protestant Christuskirche, reflecting the region's diverse religious architecture.

7 places

What to experience

Watch the Four Hills ski jumping in January.
Walk to the waterfall.
Cycle the Salzach path.
Ski in a nearby resort.
Visit Hohenwerfen Castle and the ice caves nearby.

Tours & Activities

Bischofshofen — Map

Day trips

St Johann im Pongau is about 10 minutes away by car or train.
Wagrain is about 20 minutes away by car.
Radstadt is about 25 minutes away by car.
Bad Hofgastein is about 35 minutes away by car.
Bad Gastein is about 45 minutes away by car.
Zell am See is about 1 hour away by car.
Hohenwerfen Castle and the Eisriesenwelt ice caves at Werfen are about 15 minutes away by car.

Where to explore

St Johann im Pongau, Wagrain and Radstadt are the nearest preferred destinations.

Getting there

By air: Salzburg Airport is about 50 minutes away by car.
By train: Bischofshofen is a major junction on the Salzburg–Innsbruck and Tauern lines. Salzburg takes about 50 minutes. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: The A10 Tauern motorway passes the town.

Getting around

The town is small, and a bus covers the surroundings. The ski jump is a short ride from the centre. Cycling is easy along the Salzach.

Driving

The A10 motorway runs past the town, and a car helps for nearby resorts. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette. The A10 tunnels have tolls.

Food & drink

Salzburg-region food includes Kasnocken, cheese dumplings, and Kaiserschmarrn. Local inns offer hearty meals and fresh dairy. Mountain huts serve warm soups and cakes.

Dinner

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Snacks & street food

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Sweets & desserts

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drinks

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Safety & health

Bischofshofen is very safe. Mountain routes need care in changing weather. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

History

Bischofshofen has been settled since the Bronze Age, when copper was mined nearby. A monastery was founded here in the 8th century by Saint Rupert, a bishop of Salzburg, which gave the town its name. The railway junction made it a modern hub, and its ski jump grew famous after the Four Hills Tournament began in 1953.