Schladming in Styria is the farthest east of Austria's main ski resorts, located in the center of the vast Dachstein ski region and only an hour from Salzburg. Schladming boasts 170kms of runs in a large but gentle wooded ski area across four separate mountains with spectacular rocky peaks. Schladming is one of seven fine ski villages in the Dachstein Tauern region and is well-known for an annual World Cup night race in January.

Not just a ski resort but an old town, Schladming (749m) dates back to 1322, with stone buildings and a medieval town gate. The centre is compact, with a pedestrian area and many wooden chalets featuring painted shutters, homely cafés, exclusive boutiques, cosy restaurants and plenty of hotels in the main street. The area near the town centre and the Planai lift is a good place to stay.

Schladming has a wide range of accommodation, ranging from two- to four-star hotels and guesthouses, to pensions and apartments - totalling 3,500 beds (25,000 beds in the region). If you have time away from the slopes, the town has several shopping malls, sports shops, grocery stores, and gift shops supplemented by some great après-ski and nightlife, including bars, discos, and folklore evenings.

The area is an intermediate level skiers' paradise; beginners should centre their efforts on Rohrmoos, although all sections have beginner runs. There are 170kms of prepared slopes in various ski areas in the Dachstein region, with good off-piste possibilities and a longest run of 7.7kms. Eighty-four lifts, including seven gondolas, twenty three chairlifts, and fifty four T-bars, are able to transport 97,100 skiers per hour.

Nearby Ramsau is settled on a long plateau that features some of the most memorable cross-country skiing in Austria. At the top of the Ramsau cable car, you overlook the complete Tauern region mountain range and the Enns River Valley. Haus im Ennstal, a short drive along the valley from Schladming, is perhaps the most beautiful of the main villages in the region. It remains traditional, anchoring the Hauser Kaibling ski area.

The long ski season runs from November to April with special bargain rates in January and March/April. Summer skiing is also possible on the Dachstein Glacier from June to November. The quickest and most convenient way to get here is to fly to Salzburg, take a shuttle to Salzburg train station and the take the Schladming-bound train (1 hour, 30 minutes).