Flachau and Wagrain (Snow Space Salzburg)
Flachau has more of our Pongau homes than any other village. Its lifts form Snow Space Salzburg with Wagrain and St Johann-Alpendorf, the largest linked area in this part of Ski amadé. Flachau is Hermann Maier's home village and is spread along the valley road, so check how far your home is from the gondola. Wagrain is more compact, with a proper village centre. Salzburg airport is around 50 minutes away on the A10.
Best for: Skiers who want a big linked area from the door
Not for you if: You want somewhere quiet in February: both villages fill up in peak weeks.
Radstadt, Altenmarkt and Forstau (Enns valley)
Radstadt is an old walled market town with corner towers and a mainline station, and it has the largest group of our homes in the Enns valley. Altenmarkt is next door, with Zauchensee up the side valley, where women's World Cup downhill races are regularly held. Forstau is a small village in its own valley, with the family-sized Fageralm lifts. In summer the Enns cycle path runs along the valley floor. Salzburg airport is about an hour away.
Best for: Families who want a real town with shops and a range of small ski areas
Not for you if: You want ski-in, ski-out: from most homes here you drive or take a bus to the lifts.
Filzmoos, Eben and Hüttau
Filzmoos sits at the end of its own road below the twin-peaked Bischofsmütze, on the southern side of the Dachstein. It has a small ski area, cross-country tracks and good summer walking to mountain huts, and hosts a hot-air balloon week in January. Eben, on the main valley road, has the Monte Popolo lifts and quick access to the motorway. Hüttau is a quiet village on the road west towards Bischofshofen. Salzburg airport is around an hour away.
Best for: Walkers and families who want a quieter base under the Dachstein
Not for you if: Big-mileage skiing is the point: the local areas are small, and Flachau is a 15 to 20 minute drive.
Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Bischofshofen and Werfenweng
Mühlbach is on the Hochkönig ski area, which it shares with Maria Alm and Dienten on the Pinzgau side. Bischofshofen is a working town with a station, and its ski jump hosts the final of the Four Hills Tournament on 6 January. Werfenweng, on a plateau under the Tennengebirge, has a small ski area and is set up for car-free holidays. The Eisriesenwelt ice cave and Hohenwerfen castle are near Werfen. Salzburg airport is around 45 minutes to an hour away.
Best for: Hochkönig skiing and summer trips to the ice caves and Hohenwerfen
Not for you if: You want a lively village scene: these are small places and evenings are quiet.
Goldegg and St Veit im Pongau (sunny terrace)
Goldegg sits on a terrace above the Salzach valley, with a small swimming lake and a castle beside it. St Veit, a few minutes away, faces south over the valley and gets plenty of sun. Both are good walking bases, with the Liechtensteinklamm gorge at St Johann about 15 minutes down the hill. In winter the Snow Space lifts at Alpendorf are around 15 minutes by car, and Gastein is around half an hour. Salzburg airport is about an hour away.
Best for: Summer stays with lake swimming and couples after a quiet base
Not for you if: Skiing is the main point: you drive to the lifts at St Johann-Alpendorf or Gastein.
Obertauern (Radstädter Tauern pass)
Obertauern is a purpose-built ski village at around 1,700 metres on the pass between the Pongau and the Lungau. The lifts form a circuit around the village, so most homes are close to a run, and the season usually runs from late November into early May. We only have a couple of homes here. Radstadt is around 20 minutes down the pass road, and Salzburg airport about an hour and a quarter.
Best for: Skiers who want snow-sure slopes and a long season
Not for you if: You are coming in summer: Obertauern is a ski village, and much of it closes outside winter.
