The Skiers' Guide to Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

Saalbach-Hinterglemm sits in the Austrian Alps, forming part of the expansive Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, on of Austria's largest connected ski areas. Just over an hour's transfer from Salzburg, this resort has become a favourite for many skiers who return year after year.

The resort combines traditional Austrian charm with one of the most modern lift systems in the Alps, spanning a massive area that includes Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang, and Fieberbrunn, with recent connections to Zell am See. Stretching from 840m to 2096m, the ski area offers an impressive range of terrain across its linked valleys.

Our community rates Saalbach-Hinterglemm exceptionally highly with an overall rating of 4.55/5. It scores particularly well for lift efficiency (4.86/5), family friendliness (4.62/5) and groomed runs (4.70/5).

As one Snomad user, Graeme, describes it: "Probably my favourite corner of the world. I've been making the trek over for the last 20 years... Friendly drinking village with a skiing problem!"

Saalbach-Hinterglemm offers 156 runs spread across 270kms in its interconnected areas: 87 beginner runs, 55 intermediate runs, and 14 advanced runs. The modern lift system is exceptional, with 29 gondolas/cable cars, 21 chairlifts, and 20 drag lifts—most featuring modern amenities like heated seats and weather covers.

The resort excels for intermediates (4.50/5) and advanced skiers (4.64/5), with plenty of wide, well-groomed pistes perfect for carving. Steve, an advanced skier, notes: "The pistes are great, wide and so much fun for carving. They are well connected and we skied 25 to 30 km a day without repeating pistes."

The ski area's crowning achievement is the Ski Circus challenge—a 65km circuit with 12,400m of vertical that can be completed in a day. Adrian, an advanced skier, calls it "a brilliant day and a must for confident and reasonably fit skiers."

For off-piste enthusiasts (3.82/5), Saalbach Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn offer the best terrain in the area. Nicol, an advanced snowboarder, mentions: "The Fieberbrunn side is the quieter part of the resort which I prefer. Great runs with good variety and not too busy." This ski area often referred to as a freeride hotspot, hosting a Freeride World Tour event since 2013.

Freestylers can find a variety of fun throught this ski areas snowparks. Namely the Nitro Snowpark offers a world-class park for riders of all levels, featuring; the Easy Park, the Kicker Line, and the Pro Line.

The resort scores impressively for eating out (4.36/5), with a vast array of mountain restaurants scattered throughout the ski area. Malcolm, an advanced skier, mentions "abundant excellent mountain restaurants at every turn. Austrian food, service and gemütlichkeit really makes for a great day on the hill."

The quality and value of mountain dining is frequently praised by users. David, an expert skier, simply calls them "superb mountain restaurants," while Mark recommends Die Alte Schmiede for "terrific pizzas."

In the villages, you'll find everything from traditional Austrian fare to international options. Ali, an intermediate skier, comments on the "great places to eat on and off slopes," while Colin notes the "excellent range of accommodations and shops."

Saalbach-Hinterglemm ranks highly for its après-ski scene (4.51/5), with a reputation for lively, fun atmospheres without the premium price tag of some other Austrian resorts. David, an expert skier, describes it as "Apres ski to almost rival St Anton but without the price tag."

Specific venues get frequent mentions from our users. The Goatstall in Hinterglemm is particularly popular, with Jenny recommending it for families: "If you have children definitely have a meal in Goasstall, we've got a collection of cuddly goats." For those looking to party, Dominic suggests: "Start at the Berger Alm and end at the Hinterhag Alm."

Soul House gets special praise from Jade, who calls it "incredible" and recommends catching the band Rifforama who "were absolutely fantastic and got everyone singing and dancing!"

While Hinterglemm offers good après options, Tim notes that "if you want to take the party into the night" you should head to Saalbach, which has more late-night venues.

With a stellar family friendliness rating (4.62/5), Saalbach-Hinterglemm is a top choice for those with children. The resort combines excellent ski school quality (4.47/5) with plenty of family-friendly activities and facilities.

Stella, an expert skier, calls it "a very family-friendly resort with lots of gentle runs for children." The wide, well-groomed slopes are perfect for building confidence, and the modern lift system makes getting around easy even with little ones.

Jenny shares her family experience: "We have been to the ski circus with our 3 children a few times... Runs are wide and a good mix of blue/red/black, really is something for everyone." She also recommends the Goasstall for families, noting that ski schools often take kids there for lunch and a free cuddly goat.

Holly adds that beyond skiing, there's "a great swimming pool and ice rink just down the road in Zell am See for after skiing relaxation and fun."

Saalbach-Hinterglemm scores exceptionally well for accommodation options (4.60/5), with a wide range of choices to suit different budgets and preferences. The resort primarily offers hotel accommodation, many with wellness facilities and spas.

The location of accommodation is a significant plus point, with many properties offering ski-in/ski-out access. As Michael, an advanced snowboarder, notes: "Stayed in a fantastic all inclusive hostel, queues in morning were light, plenty of rooms with few people on them."

Pete explains that there are "lots of food options to suit different budgets. Same with accommodation," while Dale appreciates the convenience: "Our accommodation was right in the middle of the town and it was super convenient for everything!"

Many hotels feature wellness facilities, which Mark describes as "high quality hotels many with comprehensive wellness/spa facilities," perfect for relaxation after a day on the slopes.

Saalbach-Hinterglemm has invested significantly in efficient, modern lift infrastructure, which helps reduce energy consumption. The resort has extensive snowmaking capabilities, which, while energy-intensive, are necessary due to its relatively low altitude.

Several users note the resort's commitment to maintaining good slope conditions through efficient grooming and snow management. Michael observed that "the lower runs that take you down into Saalbach-Hinterglemm valley were maintained by man made snow," highlighting the resort's adaptation to changing climate conditions.

Public transport in the area is well-regarded, with Ali mentioning an "incredibly efficient and reliable bus service between the different ski areas" and noting that the "bus from Salzburg to Saalbach and other areas [is] remarkably cheap."