Sankt Michael im Lungau
St Michael has more of our Lungau homes than any other village. The Grosseck-Speiereck lifts start from the edge of the village, and the bigger Katschberg area is around 10 minutes south by car. It sits at the junction of the A10 Tauern motorway, which makes it the easiest Lungau base to reach. In summer the Mur cycle path starts nearby. Salzburg airport is around an hour and a quarter away, and Klagenfurt a little over an hour.
Best for: Skiers who want two ski areas within a short drive
Not for you if: You want a resort scene: St Michael is a working village by the motorway, and evenings are quiet.
Sankt Margarethen im Lungau
St Margarethen is a small village a few minutes from St Michael, and the Aineck lifts climb from here into the Katschberg-Aineck ski area. That gives you access to the area's longer runs without staying on the pass itself. It is a farming village with a church, a few guesthouses and walking trails into the Nockberge hills to the south. Salzburg airport is about an hour and a quarter away.
Best for: Families who want quiet slopes and a lift up to the Katschberg area
Not for you if: You want to walk to shops and restaurants: the village is small, and St Michael is the nearest place for supplies.
Mariapfarr
Mariapfarr is a quiet village on the sunny northern side of the basin. Joseph Mohr wrote the words of Silent Night while he was curate here, and the pilgrimage church has a small museum on it. The Fanningberg ski area is a short drive away and suits families and intermediates. Obertauern is around 25 minutes over the pass for bigger skiing. Salzburg airport is around an hour and a half away.
Best for: Families and beginners who want a small, uncrowded ski hill
Not for you if: You want a big lift network: Fanningberg is a compact area, and bigger slopes mean a drive.
Mauterndorf
Mauterndorf has a medieval castle above the square and painted old houses along the main street. The Grosseck-Speiereck lifts are on the edge of the village, and Obertauern is around 20 minutes up the pass road for snow-sure slopes. In summer the castle runs medieval exhibitions and events. Salzburg airport is around an hour and a quarter by motorway, or longer over the pass.
Best for: Families who want a castle, a village centre and two ski areas nearby
Not for you if: You want a long choice of homes: we have only a handful here.
Tamsweg and Unternberg (east)
Tamsweg is the Lungau's main town, with supermarkets, cafés and a broad market square, and is known for its Samson procession, where a giant figure is carried through the streets in summer. The Prebersee, a small high lake used for swimming and cross-country skiing, is a short drive away. Unternberg is a quiet village on the Mur just to the west. The narrow-gauge Murtal railway runs east from Tamsweg into Styria. Salzburg airport is about an hour and a half away.
Best for: A town base with shops, lakes and walking
Not for you if: Skiing is the priority: the main lifts are 20 to 30 minutes away by car.
