Turracher Höhe
Most of our Styrian homes are at the Turracher Höhe, a pass at around 1,760 metres on the border with Carinthia. Three small lakes sit at the top, the ski area has lifts close to most houses, and the altitude helps snow cover. In summer there are walks across the Nock Mountains and the Nocky Flitzer alpine coaster. The road up is steep. Klagenfurt airport is around an hour and a quarter away.
Best for: Skiing and walking from a high mountain pass with a lake
Not for you if: You want a town: the Turracher Höhe is a small pass settlement of hotels and holiday homes.
Schladming, Rohrmoos, Pichl and Haus
These villages share the Schladming-Dachstein ski area: the Planai and Hochwurzen above Schladming and Rohrmoos, the Reiteralm at Pichl and the Hauser Kaibling at Haus, all linked by lift or ski bus. Schladming is a proper town with a railway station and a long main street. In summer the lifts serve walkers and mountain bikers. Salzburg airport is around an hour and a quarter by car.
Best for: A big linked ski area and summer walking under the Dachstein
Not for you if: You want quiet in peak ski weeks: Schladming is a busy resort town with lively après-ski.
Ramsau am Dachstein
The Ramsau is a sunny plateau above Schladming, under the south face of the Dachstein, with long cross-country tracks and small family slopes. The Dachstein glacier cable car runs from the edge of the plateau to a viewing platform and a suspension bridge at the top. Schladming's downhill slopes are around 15 minutes away. Salzburg airport is about an hour and a half.
Best for: Cross-country skiing and a glacier trip to the Dachstein
Not for you if: You want downhill skiing from the door: the Ramsau is mainly a cross-country and walking plateau.
Gröbming, Stein an der Enns, Öblarn and Donnersbachtal (Ennstal)
East of Schladming the Enns valley is quieter. Gröbming sits under the Stoderzinken, Stein an der Enns and Pruggern are close to the Galsterbergalm, and the Riesneralm is at the head of the Donnersbach valley. Öblarn is a small village on the valley floor, and Bad Mitterndorf to the north is near the Tauplitz ski area. In summer this is farmland and walking country. Salzburg is about an hour and a half away.
Best for: Families who want small ski areas and lower prices than Schladming
Not for you if: You want one big ski area: you drive between several small hills here.
Eisenerz and Hohentauern
Eisenerz is an old mining town under the Erzberg, a terraced iron-ore mountain you can tour in a giant truck in summer. The Leopoldsteiner See and the Gesäuse National Park are close, and the Präbichl ski area is above town. Hohentauern is a high village on a pass with its own small ski area. Graz is around an hour and a half from either.
Best for: Walkers, mine visits and simple, good-value winter weeks
Not for you if: You want polished resorts: both are small and old-fashioned, with limited shops.
Graz and the south-east (Bad Waltersdorf, Stubenberg am See, Bad Gleichenberg)
Graz has an old town on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the Schlossberg above it and the Kunsthaus beside the river. South-east of the city, Bad Waltersdorf and Bad Gleichenberg are thermal spa towns, and Stubenberg am See has a swimming lake. The hills towards the Slovenian border are wine country with farm taverns. Graz airport is around 20 minutes from the city.
Best for: City breaks, spa days and wine country
Not for you if: You want lots of choice: we only have a handful of homes in this part of Styria.
