Tucked away in the heart of Austria’s mountains, St. Johann im Pongau is a winter gateway to 760 kilometres of downhill ski slopes. With snow all the way to the valley floor, the village is at the heart of Austria’s premier ski area, Alpendorf. Located 55 kilometres south of Salzburg city, it’s a village of wooden chalets, hearty restaurant meals, and easy access to the slopes.

Over 270 ski lifts and gondolas take people up the mountains, and they’re all accessed using the same ski pass. They lead to 760 kilometres of groomed slopes, which are usually open from late-November until early-April. Many slopes are assisted by artificial snow-making facilities, ensuring that almost all the slopes can stay open for the whole season. They run right down to the valley floor, which makes for a charming journey downhill journey back to the village. The range of slopes make this area a very popular family ski destination, as well as catering for snowboarders and professionals. Hahnbaum is the most popular and most accessible section of slopes in St. Johann im Pongau.

This charming town is less than an hour from Salzburg, and almost everyone will need to pass by Salzburg on route to the slopes, whether by private car or public transport, with St. Johann im Pongau on the Intercity railway route from Salzburg. Local buses around the town are free for anyone with a lift pass. The mountains host a different sort of holiday during the summer, with alpine huts and jagged mountains creating hiking and cycling adventures.

This town is sometimes referred to as Sankt Johann – Alpendorf. St. Johann im Pongau is the name of the town in which the village of Alpendorf is incorporated. In turn, Alpendorf gives its name to the ski resort area.