Short answer
Schladming-Dachstein in Styria has 123 kilometres of pistes on four linked mountains – Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm. Children born in 2021 or later ski free, and for small beginners Wollis Kids Park at Hauser Kaibling and the children's area on Reiteralm are the calmest. The train runs right into Schladming.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Austria, Styria (Ennstal)
- Ski area
- Schladming-Dachstein, 4-Berge-Skischaukel (Ski amadé)
- Altitude (village – top)
- 750 – 2,015 m above sea level
- Pistes
- 123 km
- Season
- early December – 4 April 2027 (Planai)
- Nearest airports
- Salzburg (approx. 1–1.5 h) · Graz (approx. 2 h) · Munich (approx. 3 h)
- Train
- Train to Schladming station in the town, with connections from Salzburg
- Price level
- ●●●●● (1 = cheap, 5 = expensive)
Family rating
4,8 / 5
- Beginner slopes A children's area on all four mountains, and Wollis Kids Park at Hauser Kaibling is one of the largest practice areas in the region.
- Children's lift passes Children born in 2021 or later ski free, the third sibling skis free, and in spring children ski free with a parent's four-day pass.
- Calm for families Rohrmoos, Pichl and Haus are quiet villages. Schladming is livelier, especially around the Nightrace in January.
- More than skiing A seven-kilometre toboggan run with evening sledging, the Dachstein glacier with its suspension bridge and ice palace, and a huge Ski amadé area just round the corner.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Schladming-Dachstein is Styria's big ski region and one of the best family choices in the eastern Alps. Four mountains are linked in what is known as the 4-Berge-Skischaukel: Hauser Kaibling in the east, Planai right in Schladming, Hochwurzen above Rohrmoos and Reiteralm by Pichl in the west. The Dachstein massif forms a backdrop on the other side of the valley, and the train runs right into town.
Below, we go through which of the mountains suits your children best, how the children's lift passes work and what you can do when legs run out of steam. You can see how Styria compares with Tyrol and the Salzburgerland in our overview of ski resorts in Austria.
Four mountains, one lift pass
The ski circuit has 123 kilometres of pistes and goes up to 2,015 metres on Hauser Kaibling. Planai is the World Cup mountain with the Nightrace and the long FIS run down to Schladming, Hochwurzen has evening skiing and a toboggan run, Reiteralm is the quietest mountain and Hauser Kaibling has the highest summit.
The mountains are lined up along the Enns valley, and you can ski between them. With children, though, it is wise to pick one home mountain and take it in small doses. Skiing from Hauser Kaibling to Reiteralm and back in a day is a goal for bigger children who already ski confidently.
Which mountain and which village suit you?
| Your family | Stay here | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small children and beginners | Haus im Ennstal | Wollis Kids Park is right by the gondola valley station |
| As quiet as it gets | Pichl (Reiteralm) | A small mountain, a children's area by the gondola, hardly any nightlife |
| Children who want a change from skiing | Rohrmoos (Hochwurzen) | Beginner meadows, evening skiing and the toboggan run |
| Without a car, by train | Schladming | A railway station in town and Planai straight up |
| Children who ski well | Schladming or Rohrmoos | Planai and Hochwurzen are linked, longer runs |
Children's areas and ski school
Each mountain has its own children's area, and they differ more than you might think:
- Wollis Kids Park, Hauser Kaibling: a 24,000-square-metre practice area at the valley station of the eight-seater gondola, with a 170-metre button lift and three magic carpets. Parts of the area are free to use, with or without skis. The best place for the very first day.
- Reiteralm Kinderland: up by the Silver Jet gondola, with a covered magic carpet, figures and children's courses. Sunny and calm.
- Hopsi-Winterkinderland, Planai: right by the mountain station, with magic carpets and play stations. Good for children who can manage a gondola ride and want to be where the action is.
- Hochwurzen: beginners start down on the Rohrmooser Weide, where the ski schools have their practice slopes.
The region has 14 ski and snowboard schools with around 400 instructors. Children can start from age three or four, depending on the school, and snowboarding from age eight. The groups fill up during the February half-term weeks, so book ahead. How to plan the days with small children is covered in ski trip with children – tips and advice.
Children's lift passes for the 2026/27 season
- Born in 2021 or later: free skiing on all four mountains, plus Galsterberg and Fageralm.
- Children's pass (born 2011–2020): a lower price than for adults, and if you buy online before the trip it is a little cheaper still.
- Youth pass: applies to those born 2008–2010.
Three offers are worth knowing about:
- Familien Bonus: the third sibling and every one after that get a free lift pass.
- Jungfamilienkarte: for families with a small child, born in 2024 or later, who does not ski. The parents share the pass and take turns.
- Family Spring Deals: from 13 March 2027, children born in 2011 or later ski free when a parent buys a lift pass for four days or more. A good fit if your Easter break 2027 falls before the season ends on 4 April.
Ski amadé – when you want to go further afield
Schladming-Dachstein is one of five regions in Ski amadé, which together have up to 760 kilometres of pistes. If you buy a lift pass for two days or more, it automatically becomes a Ski amadé pass, so a day trip to Flachau or Bad Gastein is included. You need a car or a bus to get between them, and the multi-day passes are only valid on consecutive days.
Obertauern is close by but is not part of Ski amadé. For that you need the resort's own pass or the Salzburg Super Ski Card.
The toboggan run on Hochwurzen
The toboggan run on Hochwurzen is a seven-kilometre natural track with just over 700 vertical metres from the Gipfelbahn mountain station at 1,852 metres down to Rohrmoos. It takes around half an hour. During the day the run is open during lift hours, and on certain evenings a week in high season it is floodlit. You can hire a toboggan at the Gipfelbahn.
The run has no published age limit, but it is rated intermediate. Let children under about six ride on an adult's lap, put helmets on everyone and don't head out onto the ski pistes after a break at the hut – they are too steep for toboggans. If you are going up in the evening, bear in mind that the evening bus to the Gipfelbahn is not included in the day lift pass.
The Dachstein glacier
From Ramsau, the Dachstein Gletscherbahn takes you up to 2,700 metres. Up here, winter is about cross-country skiing, ski touring and the view – not family runs. What the children remember is the suspension bridge, the Sky Walk and the ice palace inside the glacier. The “Stairway to Nothingness” is for the brave. Pick a clear day and take a break from the slopes in the middle of the week.
The journey from Sweden to the Enns valley
- By air: Salzburg is the closest, around 90 kilometres away. Graz and Munich also work but take longer.
- By train: Schladming has its own station on the Ennstal line, and from Salzburg the journey takes around an hour and a half. We describe the whole chain of night trains and changes from Sweden in the guide to taking the train to the Alps.
- By car: via the Tauern motorway towards Radstadt and on into the Enns valley. Don't forget the vignette. We compare the pros and cons of each way of travelling in how to choose between car, train and plane.
If you like Schladming but want more villages on one and the same pass, compare it with Saalbach Hinterglemm. Do not forget the ski trip packing list.
Packing for Schladming – the things that are easy to forget
Frequently asked questions
Do small children ski free in Schladming?
Yes, the youngest do. If your child was born in 2021 or later, skiing in the 4-Berge-Skischaukel costs nothing in 2026/27, and the same goes for Galsterberg and Fageralm. Those born 2011–2020 ski on a children's pass, and those born 2008–2010 count as youths. The ticket office may ask for the children's passports or ID cards.
Which mountain in Schladming is best for beginners?
Hauser Kaibling and Reiteralm. Wollis Kids Park is right by the gondola valley station at Hauser Kaibling and is a large practice area with a button lift and magic carpets. On Reiteralm, the children's area is up by the Silver Jet gondola, with a covered magic carpet. On Hochwurzen, beginners start on the Rohrmooser Weide down in Rohrmoos.
Is the lift pass valid across Ski amadé?
If you buy a lift pass for two days or more, you automatically get a Ski amadé pass. It is valid in all five Ski amadé regions, including Flachau and Gastein. The multi-day passes are only valid on consecutive days. Obertauern is not included.
From what age can children go to ski school in Schladming?
The region's 14 ski and snowboard schools take children from age three or four, depending on the school. Snowboard courses for children start from age eight. It is a good idea to book ahead for the February half-term weeks.
Can children ride the toboggan run on Hochwurzen?
Yes. The run has no published age limit, but it is seven kilometres long, rated intermediate and takes around half an hour to get down. Let small children ride on an adult's lap, wear helmets and stay on the toboggan run – the ski pistes alongside are too steep for toboggans.
Are there family offers in 2026/27?
Yes. With the Familien Bonus, the third sibling and every one after that get a free lift pass. From 13 March 2027, children born in 2011 or later ski free when a parent buys a lift pass for four days or more. Families with a child who does not ski, born in 2024 or later, can buy the Jungfamilienkarte and take turns skiing.
