This mountain village in Salzburg's ski region has 3,000 residents and connects to the Ski Amadé network. Its winter sports history dates to 1947, with 120km of slopes today.
Wagrain sits in Austria's Salzburg state, at the heart of Snow Space Salzburg ski region with 210 kilometers of slopes across 12 peaks. You can ski down World Cup runs in winter, bike mountain trails in summer, or visit the Gothic parish church where Josef Mohr, the composer of Silent Night, once served as priest. Children learn to ski at Wagrainis Winter World, while advanced riders practice jumps at one of Europe's largest snowparks.
Skiing in Snow Space Salzburg
The Snow Space Salzburg ski area connects Wagrain with Flachau and St. Johann through the G-LINK, the world's largest valley-spanning aerial tramway. The northern and eastern facing slopes stay covered in snow from early December through March, with snow machines maintaining 180 kilometers of runs. You'll find plenty of red-marked slopes for intermediate skiing, while expert skiers can challenge themselves on two World Cup runs. The Absolut Park in Flachauwinkl has over 100 freestyle elements, ranking among Europe's largest snowparks.
Winter Activities for Children
At Wagrainis Winter World, children learn skiing basics on magic carpet lifts and slide down snow tubing runs. Young skiers can time themselves on the speed-check course and practice jumps in a beginner-friendly snowpark. The dwarf's playhouse serves as a warm-up spot between ski sessions. All lifts across Snow Space Salzburg come equipped with child safety bars, making it the first Austrian ski region to implement this safety measure.
Transport and Access
You can drive from Salzburg Airport to Wagrain in 56 minutes via the B 163 Wagrainer Straße highway. Three exits from the A10 motorway lead directly to the ski areas: Flachau, Flachauwinkel, and Pongau. The roads to the slopes are wide and well-maintained, unlike many Alpine resorts with narrow mountain passes. Modern lifts connect all resorts in the area.
Summer Mountain Activities
In summer, hiking paths crisscross the Öbristkopf mountain (1,400 meters). The ski lifts convert to carrying mountain bikes, giving access to trails throughout the region. For more challenging hikes, head to the southern Gabel mountain range, which reaches 2,037 meters and looks out across the Salzburg Alps.
History
Wagrain's industrial legacy began in 1955 when Alois Rohrmoser and four craftsmen started making skis from local timber in a small wheelwright shop, establishing what would become Atomic Skis. The town's Gothic parish church, expanded in 1450 and 1711, contains a Gothic Madonna on its main altar from 1976. Josef Mohr, who wrote the lyrics to "Silent Night," worked here as a priest after 1837.
