Travel to St Johann Im Pongau

St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf, located only 60kms south of Salzburg, is one of Austria’s most accessible ski resorts. The resort has the additional advantages of encompassing pistes suitable for all levels, and a link to the mammoth ski area of Amade, presenting over 860kms of slopes.

Situated on a sunny plateau next to the river Sazach, St Johann is a traditional, authentic Austrian town, with a lively atmosphere. It offers a full range of shops, restaurants and visitor facilities, and is known for its magnificent cathedral and the nearby natural wonder of the Liechtenstein Gorge.

St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf comprises almost 100kms of groomed pistes, with a longest run of five kilometres. Of these, 42 per cent is devoted to beginners, 46 per cent to intermediates, and 12 per cent to advanced/expert skiers. A system of 59 lifts serves the slopes, with the ability to shuttle up to 56,000 skiers per hour.

Other winter activities at St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf include tobogganing, curling, mountaineering, hiking, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating, mono-skiing paragliding, indoor tennis, squash, swimming and a fitness centre. The ski resort has a vibrant après-ski scene focused on the selection of restaurants, cafés, bars and discos in St Johann. Accommodation is provided by hotels, guesthouses, pensions and farmhouses, with 3,700 beds on offer in the resort.

The St Johann region is spiced with natural attractions and beguiling sightseeing opportunities. The Grossarilbach Valley, the mouth of Wagrainer Tal, and Liechtenstein Gorge are well worth visiting on a daytrip from the ski resort.

The winter season in St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf runs from December to April, with summer skiing on Kitzsteinhorn. Best rates are available before the Christmas holidays and in March. The resort is most easily accessed by flying into Salzburg Airport, then taking a bus to the train station and a train to the resort.

Skiing in St Johann im Pongau

With nearly 100kms of runs, and another 860kms of skiing in the Amade area to which it is linked, St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf offers one of the best value ski passes available. Its proximity to Salzburg and its ability to cater for all levels of skiers make this ski resort one of Austria’s prime winter holiday destinations.

St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf has a modest number of skiing options, but there are far more groomed slopes and off-piste routes 200m higher up, at Alpendorf. Together, the ski areas encompass 97kms of manicured slopes, with 42 per cent devoted to beginners, 46 per cent to intermediates, and 12 per cent to advanced/expert skiers. Snowboarders can use all pistes and have the additional facility of a snowboard park.

Additionally, there are 12kms of cross-country trails, with another 208kms in the surrounding region. The longest run is five kilometres, and there is an extensive system of 59 lifts to connect the slopes. St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf is linked to the colossal ski area of Amade, with over 860kms of slopes to choose from, linked by 270 lifts, so there is no shortage of terrain to try out.

Winter skiing in St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf is offered from December to April, and summer skiing is possible on Kitzsteinhorn Glacier. The resort can be accessed by road or rail, or a combination of air travel with the former options.

Apres-ski in St Johann im Pongau

The fun doesn’t stop at skiing in St Johann im Pongau / Alpendorf, with all kinds of exciting activities and facilities available to guests, including tobogganing, curling, mountaineering, hiking, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice-skating, mono-skiing, paragliding, indoor tennis, squash, swimming and a fitness centre.

St Johann has a range of good restaurants, and the town’s bars, cafés and discos set the stage for a lively nightlife. There are 3,700 guest beds available in the region, in hotels, pensions and farmhouses. The town is well-equipped with visitor amenities, including childcare facilities

Transportation to St Johann im Pongau

St Johann is located just 60kms from the well-known city of Salzburg, and is easily accessed by road or rail, or a combination of air transportation and the former options. The most convenient way to reach the resort is to fly to Salzburg and take a shuttle to the train station, from where trains to the resort take approximately one hour.

If you want a vehicle at your disposal, there are two main options: driving your car from the UK, or hiring a car from whichever airport you fly into. The former option, although cheaper, involves a long drive which includes a trip over the English Channel via either car ferry or the ‘Chunnel’ train service.

From the French port of Calais, it is a two-day drive (1,160kms) to St Johann along the major highways A-26, A-4, and A-8 (to Salzburg). From Salzburg, drive south on the A-10, then cut southwest at the intersection with Route 311. If you opt for hiring a car from Salzburg Airport, take the B-1, A-1 and A-10 (as above) to access St Johann.

Rail connections extend from the UK right up to St Johann. The first leg of the journey is by Eurostar to Paris. At Paris, you will need to change train stations from gare du Nord to gare de l’Est, from where there is an overnighter to Munich. From Munich, regular Eurocity trains leave for Salzburg, and from Salzburg, trains depart from the Hauptbahnhopf at least every two hours, making the journey from Salzburg to Klagenfurt, Venice and Trieste via St Johann.

The most convenient option, albeit the most expensive one, is to fly into Salzburg’s international airport, get a shuttle to the train station and make the one hour rail journey to St Johann. Alternatively, Munich’s FJ Strauss Airport is four hours away by train

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