Saalbach
Ski Resort

“Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn” is a ridiculously long name but its length reflects the enormity of the ski area, which stretches from the adjacent villages of Saalbach and Hinterglemm across several valleys to reach Leogang and Fieberbrunn, via 270 km of ski slopes and 70 lifts. This should be more than big enough for most skiers, but their ALPIN CARD lift pass also includes nearby Zell am See and Kaprun.

The Skicircus pistes are predominantly intermediate-friendly blue and red runs, but there are nursery slopes in all the villages for beginners too. Advanced skiers have a few scattered black runs, some of which have staged FIS World Championship ski races, plus avalanche-secured freeride routes and guided off-piste, especially in Fieberbrunn which is a regular venue on the Freeride World Tour.

Saalbach appeals to non-skiers as well as skiers. It’s an attractive resort with an onion dome church. Lining the pistes are 60 mountain huts serving food and drink. There are several winter-hiking trails, an ice rink and some excellent toboggan runs. And Saalbach and Hinterglemm have some of the most boisterous apres-ski bars in the Alps, as well as proper night clubs and restaurants for almost every taste and budget. Those who want somewhere quieter might prefer upmarket Leogang or family-friendly Fieberbrunn.

Although Saalbach’s ski area is large, it’s not high: all the slopes in the Skicircus are below 2100m. In the middle of winter, it’s usually cold enough for snow cannons to make up any natural shortfall, but in a warm spring the snow turns to slush. If you’ve come to Saalbach primarily to relax and have fun, this is unlikely to ruin your holiday, because the sunny terraces of its mountain huts will be even more inviting. But keen skiers might have to resort to long daytrips by bus to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier on the far side of Kaprun.