Ski Season 2026/27 Opening Dates Around Salzburg
Planned 2026/27 opening dates for Kitzsteinhorn, Obertauern, Saalbach, Flachau, Schladming, Zell am See and Bad Gastein, plus drive times from Salzburg Airport.
When the 2026/27 season starts
The 2026/27 ski season around Salzburg opens in stages: the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun has been open since 10 October 2026, Obertauern plans to start on 20 November, and most large ski areas follow between 27 November and mid-December. All resorts in this guide are within about 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes of Salzburg Airport (SZG).
Every opening date below is the resort’s planned date and depends on snow and weather. Early-season openings often mean a limited number of lifts and slopes, with links between valleys added later. Check the lift company’s own page shortly before you travel.
Planned opening dates 2026/27
- Kitzsteinhorn, Kaprun (about 1 h 20 min)
- Season started on 10 October 2026, with the first slopes on the glacier. Planned to run until 17 May 2027. The most reliable choice for skiing in November.
- Obertauern (about 1 h 10 min)
- Expected opening on 20 November 2026, with the Tauernrunde ski circuit planned from 26 November. Its high pass location usually makes it one of the first non-glacier resorts to open.
- Saalbach Hinterglemm (about 1 h 15 min)
- The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn plans to start on 27 November 2026 with partial operation.
- Flachau, Ski amadé (about 50 min)
- Snow Space Salzburg (Flachau, Wagrain, St. Johann) plans to open on 28 November 2026, with the full 12-peak connection planned from 5 December.
- Schladming (about 1 h 15 min)
- Reiteralm plans to open on 20 November, Hauser Kaibling on 28 November, and Planai and Hochwurzen on 4 December 2026.
- Zell am See and Bad Gastein
- Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See (about 1 h 15 min) plans to open on 4 December 2026, with the main Schmittenhöhebahn from 11 December. In Gastein (about 1 h 30 min), Ski amadé lists 27 November for Schlossalm and Stubnerkogel, 4 December for Dorfgastein and 11 December for Sportgastein; other listings show later dates, so check before booking.
Where to ski in early season
For a November trip, the Kitzsteinhorn is the safe bet because it does not depend on natural snow in the valley. Obertauern is the next choice: its village sits at around 1,700 metres, so snow tends to arrive early and stay.
From late November, Saalbach, Flachau and Schladming open their first lifts, often with good artificial snow on the main runs. Ski amadé calls the period from opening until 18 December its early season, before the main season starts on 19 December. This is usually a calmer and better-value time to ski, though with fewer slopes open.
The Christmas and New Year weeks and the February half-term holidays are the busiest. Accommodation in Saalbach, Obertauern and Schladming often sells out early for these periods.
Getting there from Salzburg Airport
Salzburg Airport sits on the edge of the city, close to the A1 and A10 motorways. Flachau and the Ski amadé villages are reached via the Tauern motorway (A10) in about 50 minutes, Obertauern in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Saalbach, Zell am See and Kaprun lie in the Pinzgau, around 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 20 minutes away, and Bad Gastein about 1 hour 30 minutes.
In winter, Austrian rules require winter tyres in wintry conditions, and the last stretch to resorts such as Obertauern or Bad Gastein climbs mountain roads where snow chains may be needed. Saturday is the main changeover day in many resorts, so roads and car parks are busiest then.
If you arrive with skis, snowboards or boot bags, declare them when you book your transfer. HotelTaxi arranges private transfers from Salzburg Airport with local transfer companies that drive these roads every winter and send a vehicle with enough room for your equipment.
Early-season checklist
Check the opening status
Look at the lift company’s page a week before departure to see which lifts are actually running.
Buy passes early
Several regions offer pre-sale prices for season and multi-day passes until early December.
Declare your equipment
Tell your transfer provider how many ski bags and boot bags you carry.
Plan the return
Leave your resort with the drive time plus about two hours before departure, more on Saturdays or after snowfall.
Frequently asked questions
Which ski resort near Salzburg opens first in 2026/27?
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier in Kaprun opened on 10 October 2026. Among the non-glacier resorts, Obertauern plans to open first, on 20 November 2026.
Is skiing in early December worth it?
Often yes, especially in Obertauern, Flachau, Saalbach and on the Kitzsteinhorn, which usually have good coverage on their main runs. Fewer slopes are open than in January, but lifts are quieter.
How long is the transfer from Salzburg Airport to Saalbach?
About 1 hour 15 minutes in normal conditions. Allow more time on Saturdays and after heavy snowfall.