Skiing in Dachstein West Ski Resort in Austria
Dachstein West is one of the less-known ski resorts in Austria, and it is a great place to be when the winter is in full swing. Are you looking for your winter getaway in Europe? Our travel guide includes everything you need to know before visiting Dachstein West - Gosau, Russbach, Annaberg in winter, including tips on how to buy a ski pass, where to stay, or how to get there.
Are you looking for a perfect less-known destination for skiing, snowboarding or cross country skiing in Europe?
Even though most travelers like to visit Europe in the summer to explore its wonderful historical cities and castles, this part of the world definitely has something to offer in terms of winter activities.
Skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, or simply hiking when surrounded by snow-capped mountains is perfect for your body and soul.
Dachstein West, also known as Dachstein West - Gosau - Russbach - Annaberg, is one of those ski resorts in Austria that offers a large selection of ski slopes for beginners, professionals, but also occasional skiers or snowboarders.
If you are looking for a destination where you can glide downhill with ease, enjoy great views, perfect infrastructure, and a well accessible place, look no more.
Simply put, Dachstein West in Upper Austria must be your next ski destination.
How did we discover Dachstein West?
Well, as we live in the Czech Republic, a neighboring country to Austria, this country is actually our first choice when we crave to enjoy a few days on the slopes.
Not only most of the ski resorts are within driving distance, but the mountains are simply wonderful, the selection of ski resorts is wider, and snow is often guaranteed throughout the winter season.
Plus skiing in Austria won't ruin your bank account, if you know how to travel on budget.
We had skied in Austria multiple-times, but this time our eyes were caught with Dachstein West.
As soon as we found out this destination is only four hours' drive from our apartment, we quickly booked a hotel room, rented necessary gear, and in only a few days, we were headed to Austria, hoping for the ultimate skiing experience.
What we liked the most about Dachstein West was, that it is not as overly popular as some of the other ski resorts in this European country, but it offers everything an avid lover of winter activities needs, including the chill atmosphere.
In this travel guide, we would like to share with you everything you need to know before visiting Dachstein West, including tips on where to stay, how much things cost, how to get there, or what to expect.
ABOUT DACHSTEIN WEST
Dachstein West ski resort has a perfect location, as it is within driving distance to some of the top tourist destinations in Austria, such as Hallstatt, Salzburg, Linz, but even the capital Vienna is not that far away.
The ski resort was named after a mountain range Dachstein that is visually stunning and give this place the exceptionality.
Dachstein West area has three main access points, it is Annaberg, Russbach, and Gosau.
This ski resort is partnering with a few others in the area, so one ski pass gives you access to 160 kilometers of ski slopes!
HOW TO GET TO DACHSTEIN WEST
Dachstein West is well-accessible by either car, public buses, trains, and in the area, of course, also runs a ski bus that will take you directly to the lower terminus cableways.
Many travelers who seek skiing in Austria, especially international travelers, prefer to get around by car, but it is good to know that public transport in this European country is efficient and reliable, and you can consider this alternative as well.
Here's a list of the best transportation options to get to Dachstein West without troubles.
Car | If you have your own car, getting to Dachstein West is a no-brainer, but you can also consider renting a car.
The good news is, that roads in Austria are well-maintained in the winter, but you still should have winter tires and snow chains in the car trunk, just in case, especially once you get off the main highway and get nearer the mountains.
If you plan on traveling via highways, do not forget to buy a highway sticker - in case you do not have it (make sure you stick it properly on your front window) and you are stopped by police control, you can expect a hefty fine.
As we do not know from where you plan on traveling to Dachstein West, use your GPS and enter there either Annaberg, Russbach, or Gosau, which are three destinations from where you can take lifts that will take you to the rest of the resort.
Public transport | As we've already mentioned, there's nothing to worry about when traveling around Austria by either train or bus.
This alternative is the best for skiers who travel to Dachstein West on a one-day trip.
Once you get off the bus or train, you can switch to a frequent ski shuttle, that will take you to lifts.
Ski Shuttle | Skiing is a super-popular winter activity in Austria, and services that help people get to ski resorts are amazing.
During winter months, you can use the service of a free ski bus, that connects Dachstein West with several destinations in the surroundings.
This way you do not have to stay nearby the ski resort, but you can still easily get there from other places such as Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern, Hallstatt, Obertraun, Golling, Abtenau, St. Martin, Lungötz, or Golling.
There are also free shuttles between Gosau and Russbach, so you can hit as many slopes as you can.
WHERE TO STAY
You have several options on where to stay when skiing in Dachstein West, which is great.
First of all, you will likely find accommodation that suits your level of comfort, your location requirements, and foremost, travel budget as well.
Second of all, you can choose the place that won't be only close to the ski resort, but the one that will also entertain you in the evening, according to your needs.
We've handpicked the best accommodation options in destinations, that are within driving distance to Dachstein West.
Annaberg im Lammertal | Alpine Loft Martini - Perfect location only hundreds of meters away from the cablecar. Guests can enjoy spacious apartments, some of them have even a sauna.
Russbach | Gasthof Schönblick - This guesthouse offers great services for all active travelers, no matter if you are visiting the area in the summer or winter. Cablecar is within walking distance.
Gosau | Appartements Pension Elfi - Located at the foot of the Dachstein Glacier, it is hard to find an apartment in a more tranquil setting. The rooms are warm and cozy.
Hallstatt | Heritage Hotel Hallstatt - Who would not know Hallstatt? Austria's premier location that is also on the UNESCO list, can be easily your base for skiing in Dachstein West.
Salzburg | Altstadt Hotel Hofwirt Salzburg - Salzburg is about an hour's drive from Dachstein, but in case you prefer to be in the city in the evening to enjoy its perks, it is definitely an alternative that is worth it to consider.
SKIING IN DACHSTEIN WEST: OUR EXPERIENCE
We spent three wonderful days full of skiing in Dachstein West.
We must say that we were blessed with blue skies, so the experience was even better.
February that year was a month with plenty of snow, so to be honest, we hadn't tried any other winter activities in the area, because we wanted to enjoy skiing down the slopes as much as possible.
We slept in a cozy apartment that is located in a small village Sankt Martin am Tennengebirge, that is only a short drive from Annaberg.
As we wanted to save money, we brought food with us and cooked in the kitchenette in the apartment, but if you prefer eating in the restaurants, the supply is plentiful in the area.
We usually ate breakfast and dinner in the apartment, but lunch with a few drinks we purchased in one of many restaurants in the ski resort.
As we had three full days, we started every day in a different location, so one day, we drove to Annaberg, then to Russbach and Gosau.
It is good to know that all these three locations are connected with a series of lifts and cable cars, and you can explore all the slopes one by one, so you'll never get bored here.
The slopes were very well-maintained, and we were absolutely satisfied with the size of the resort.
At the end of the second day, we already explored the majority of all hills, and on the third day, we unmistakenly skied only on our favorite ones.
As you will most likely spend in Dachstein West the whole day, take a credit card or cash with you, to buy a tea, coffee, or Aperol Spritz, and a snack as well.
SKI PASS
In order to enjoy skiing in Dachstein West, you have to buy a ski pass.
You can buy the ski pass on spot, either at ski resorts' ticket counters or in pre-sale offices in the region, or the safest way how to save time is to purchase the ticket in advance.
You can choose between day passes, multi-day tickets, or seasonal passes, in case you plan on skiing more frequently in the area of Dachstein West.
Expect to pay around 45 EUR for one day of skiing, which we think is a reasonable price, when we take into account the size of the resort and the quality of services. The ticket does not get much cheaper when you purchase a multiple- day pass.
OPENING TIMES
The ski resort is open between December and the beginning of April, with two pre-season weekends in November.
Check out the official website before you go, because opening dates might vary each year, depending on weather and snow forecast.
Lifts are open between 9 AM and 4 PM.
WHERE TO RENT THE GEAR
To enjoy all winter activities, you need to have quality gear.
We like to arrive at our ski destination well-prepared, so we normally rent everything we do not have already at home in the Czech Republic.
This way we can hit the slopes immediately, but it is good to know that you can rent all the gear or even buy it in the whole region of Dachstein West, as there are many sports shops and rental companies.
WHAT TO PACK
What do you need for skiing? All around skis are key to success - if you ski more often, it pays off to invest in your pair of skis.
On the other hand, as we go on a ski trip only occasionally, we prefer to rent them, as it gives us also a chance to try a new model every year.
If there's one thing you should not take lightly, it is your safety.
We always wear a durable ski helmet, proper snow goggles, warm ski gloves, and we always never forget to wear a back protector.
Always.
When it comes to clothes, the key to success lies in layers.
We like to wear a functional t-shirt with long sleeves, fleece jacket , ski jacket, snow pants, and knee socks.
It is good to ski with no backpack, but we usually have a small backpack for the camera, water and snacks.
ACTIVITIES TO DO IN DACHSTEIN WEST IN WINTER
Dachstein West is not only about skiing and snowboarding, even though these two activities are for sure the most popular ones.
Local people, but also travelers from the European countries know that the area is well-known for perfectly taken care of cross country skiing trails, which is another activity you can try here.
Of course, walking and simply admiring the wonderful views is also a great way how to spend your time in this mountainous part of Austria.
It should go without saying that in case you want to explore mountains in the winter, you should always ask in any information center about current conditions, you should be well-experienced or hire a guide.
And you should definitely pack avalanche gear - avalanche transceiver | avalanche probe | snow shovel - to stay safe.
HOW MANY DAYS YOU NEED FOR DACHSTEIN WEST
How many days do you need for Dachstein West?
It is highly individual. As we came solely for skiing, we found three full days absolutely sufficient.
The great thing about this ski resort is, that it offers many slopes of multiple gradients, so when we were a bit tired, we could opt for the easier one, while when we were full of energy, we chose a more challenging slope.
Had we wanted to try other winter activities or had we wanted to make our visit more leisurely, we would have opted for five to six days.
In case you like skiing, but also want to explore the top tourist destinations in the area, you can easily spend a week in the Dachstein area, without getting bored.
INSURANCE
We always travel abroad with travel insurance, but if you are tempted to save a bit of money, this is really not the time.
Skiing is an amazing activity, but accidents happen, and it can be quite dangerous, no matter if you are a beginner, or if you ski like a professional.
The treatment and transport to a hospital are very expensive, so insurance is an investment you want to make when planning your winter adventure.
There are many insurances available so always make sure that yours include also sports activities, skiing included.
It is worth it to purchase insurance that covers not only your injuries but insurance that also covers the possibility when you accidentally hurt someone.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
It also covers winter activities such as skiing.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
