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Table of Contents:
How to get to Flachau from Salzburg
How to get to Flachau from Munich
When to travel to Flachau
Flachau is a famous ski resort in Austria, located in the surroundings of Salzburg. Excellent natural conditions, developed infrastructure, a large selection of skiing routes, spacious and well-groomed trails, great opportunities for cross-country skiing, toboggan runs, a snowboard park with a halfpipe – all these factors make Flachau a popular resort.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Flachau. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Flachau.
Flachau is an all-year-round resort. The skiing period lasts from November until May. In winter time Flachau has an excellent quality snow cover that is why not only skiing, but snowboarding and freeriding are also popular here. The hiking period lasts from May until October incl. This period is picturesque and colorful with a nice mild climate. You can try hiking, sightseeing, rock climbing, tennis and other seasonal sports during the summer time.
How to get to Flachau
Where do you fly into to get to Flachau? Most often, tourists get to Flachau from Salzburg or Munich; both cities have airports to fly into. Check the current flight timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I usually use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options, which is very helpful when organizing an upcoming trip in advance. Then you can get to Flachau by public transport, by taxi or by rented car.
How to get to Flachau from Salzburg
By public transport: The most convenient way to get to Flachau is from Salzburg. The distance between the cities is 81 km. If you choose to use public transport, the scheme will be as follows: you will first need to get from Salzburg to the town of Radstadt by train, and then take a regular bus directly to Flachau. You can check the train schedule and purchase tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. Raileurope is one of my favourite online services, and it helps me a lot to organize my trips around Europe. The distance from Radstadt to Flachau is about 10 km. You can take the bus at the Flachau Railway Station; focus on the bus # 280.
By taxi: For those traveling with their own ski equipment, or a lot of luggage, the public transport option is not entirely convenient. Therefore, tourists often order a car transfer that takes them directly from the airport to the hotel door. The travel time in this case is about an hour. You can book a transfer in advance via various online services or you can try to take a taxi car upon your arrival. Kiwitaxi and other similar services run along the route. Based on my research, Kiwitaxi has a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: Such an option as renting a car is also suitable. To rent a car you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card. It is better to book the required class of car in advance, since it is a very popular option. You can book a car in advance via specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Salzburg and Flachau are connected with highway No. A10. The travel time is approximately 55 minutes (see on the map).
How to get to Flachau from Munich
After some map examining, I can say that Munich is located 200 km from Flachau. The Munich Airport is popular among skiers because there are many direct flights from all over the world arriving here. You can get from Munich to Flachau by public transport, by taxi/transfer service or by rented car.
By public transport: The cheapest way to get from Munich to Flachau is by public transport. In this case you need to combine a train + a bus. Firstly, you need to take a direct train to the town of Radstadt at the Main Train Station in Munich. Direct trains run several times a day. You can also take a train from Munich to Radstadt via Bischofshofen, such trains run more frequently. The travel time is about 3 hours 20 minutes. You can check the train schedule and purchase tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. Then from Radstadt to Flachau you need to take a regular bus # 280.
By taxi: Alternatively, you can use a taxi or a transfer service. You can find a taxi upon arrival by ordering it at the airport check-in desk. Or you can book car transfer services in advance, then the driver will already be waiting for you upon your arrival. You can order a transfer car via the online services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. The travel time from Munich Airport to Flachau is 2 hours 20 minutes.
By rented car: You can also get to Flachau by rented car, but you need to have an international driver’s license. In addition, you need a passport and a bank card (cash payment at rental offices is not accepted). There are many offices of international rental companies at the Munich Airport. You can book a car in advance via specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. I often use both services at once to compare all available options for renting a car. The distance from Munich to Flachau is 200 km. Highways No. A8 and A10 run between the city and the resort. The travel time takes approximately 2 hours 20 minutes (see on the map).
Where to stay in Flachau
After some research, I can conclude that in Flachau, the most popular type of housing is apartment rentals. In addition, here you can find such options as hotels, B&B`s, chalets or guest houses. During the “high” season, I would recommend booking accommodation in advance, as the resort is popular among tourists and locals.
Hotel Flachauerhof 4* – the hotel is located in the center of Flachau and 250 m from the nearest ski lift. The hotel has a spa area with a sauna, a steam room, an infrared cabin and an ice room. In addition, at the hotel you can find a restaurant, a bar and a fitness room. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast or half board is offered. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. At the reception there are places for storing luggage and skis, and ski passes are also sold;
Hotel Forellenhof 4* – the hotel has an excellent location in the town center. The hotel has a tennis court and a spa centre. In the spa you can find an indoor pool, hydromassage, a sauna, a steam bath, an infrared cabin, a Kneipp bath. In addition, the hotel has a restaurant, a billiards area and a table tennis area. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Some of them have a balcony. Breakfast, depending on the type of room, may be included in the price or paid separately. Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. At the reception there is an area for storing luggage and skis;
Sonnberg Ferienanlage 4* – this aparthotel is located in the village of Rietdorf, right next to Flachau. The hotel is surrounded with a park and has quiet and peaceful vibes. There is a playroom for children on site. A spa area includes a sauna, a bathhouse and a relaxation room. You can stay in apartments of various categories. There is everything you need in apartments, including a safe, a refrigerator, a hairdryer, a kettle, an oven, a stove and a toaster. Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel and is free of charge. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that free private parking is available on site. There are also places for storing luggage;
Schlosshotel Lacknerhof 4* – the hotel is located in the surroundings of Flachau and has a spa center with activities such as saunas, steam baths, an infrared sauna, a hot tub, a fitness room, and a panoramic indoor heated pool. There is also a water park, which has a 112-meter slide, a 15-meter triple slide, Austria’s first vertical slide, various water attractions, a water castle, a family sauna and a family relaxation area. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Half board is included in the price. Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is available on site. Ski passes are sold at the front desk;
Hotel Garni Ransburgerhof – the hotel is located close to the main attractions of the Amade Valley. Guests can stay in apartments of various categories. Some rooms have a balcony. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. The aparthotel has a sauna and ski storage facilities. A game room for adults (billiards, table tennis) and a playground for children are also available.
What to do in Flachau
Flachau is considered to be a popular ski resort in the surroundings of Salzburg. I did some decent research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- Here, skiers are offered 115 km of trails;
- An altitude difference from 740 m to 1980 m;
- There are 30 km of trails for beginners, 81 km of trails for intermediate skiers, and 4 km of challenging black trails for pros;
- The length of the longest route is 6 km;
- The resort is served with 43 ski lifts;
- The “highlight” of the resort is the three-kilometer ice cup track.
On the eastern slope there is a vast area for educational skiing. Also, at the resort you can find a carving track, a fan park, a halfpipe, a snowboard park, 40 km of cross-country ski trails (skate and classic), 7 km of toboggan runs. There are huge opportunities for hiking (about 40 km of marked routes). The cost of ski passes in Flachau depends on the season (high, low) and on the number of days.
What other options are there at the resort in Flachau? The list goes on for night skiing, freeride options, forest trails, a sports center, an indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, sleigh rides, horseback riding, ice skating. In addition, do not forget that Flachau is located in the Amadé Valley, which also offers a lot of entertainment.
For example, in the neighboring town of Altenmarkt im Pongau there is a huge thermal complex called Amade. Here you can find panoramic, wave, outdoor, indoor, children’s, sports pools, as well as salt pools with different salt concentrations. In addition, there are 5 types of saunas, a steam bath, a hammam, a foot pool, a fountain, a bar, a restaurant and much more. Among the saunas, you can choose options such as a pine sauna, a salt sauna, a panoramic sauna and others. In addition, there is also a salt room in the area of the complex. I found out detailed information for visiting the complex:
- The Amade thermal complex is open daily from 09.00 to 22.00;
- The massage area is open from 11.00 to 20.00 every day;
- The cost of visiting the pool area starts from 19,40 euros for 2 hours;
- The cost of visiting the pool and sauna area starts from 22,90 euros for 2 hours;
- A full-day ticket costs 38,50 euros for an adult and 27,60 for a child (pools + saunas);
- You can get from Flachau to Altenmarkt im Pongau by bus or taxi. The distance is only 7 km.
As I see it, Flachau and the Amade Valley offer a lot of entertainment for every taste. Coupled with high-quality pistes, unique natural conditions and developed infrastructure, the resort offers truly high-quality service. The ski season here lasts from November to May. In summer, Flachau offers tennis, golf, rock climbing and trekking.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Austria, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Kārlis Dambrāns
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
I´ve never been to Flachau but it looks stunning and your blog post is super detailed!
This looks like such a beautiful place to visit!
Flachau looks like a fun ski destination, for both downhill and cross country. Is there usually enough snow in December, or is it better to wait until January-February?
Hello!
The high ski season starts from 21.12 this year, but pre-season starts a bit earlier.
Cheers,
Julia