Schladming-Dachstein is ready to be the next big summer mountains’ destination, and when it comes to making their alpine world easy and appealing for active holidays with kids, they’ve got it sussed.
Schladming-Dachstein is a great family destination
A world of contrasts and a card to take you everywhere
The Schladming-Dachstein region in Styria, Austria, is rich in contrasts. Rugged peaks meet gentle alpine meadows; vibrant villages meet tranquil mountain lakes and secluded glacier landscapes. They’re proud of their reputation as warm hosts, promising proper relaxation for all the family at numerous places to stay across the Schladming-Dachstein region, and culinary delights deserving of daydreams. And let’s not forget that pure mountain air – you’ll be breathing easy as well as savouring the view, which is a combination for happiness every time.
Active holidays are easy in Schladming-Dachstein
As an epicentre for active holidays, Schladming-Dachstein is well-established on the hiking and biking front, with a kilometre-long network of trails and 33 via ferrata climbs. There are an impressive 16 lakes and outdoor pools to discover, and some truly brilliant kids’ activities including a summer toboggan run, special trails including a Fairytale trail, adventure parks, ziplines, and Hopsiland. Which is Styria’s highest play park and boasts a circular trail, water flumes, lots of wooden play equipment and several marble runs – a popular sport around here.
Family biking in Schladming-Dachstein
Sommercard – your free ticket to an active holiday summer
But that’s not even the best part. With stays of just one night or more, visitors to Schladming-Dachstein staying at any of over 1,000 designated Sommercard hosts will receive a free Sommercard – which gives free travel on all cable car routes (one route up and down per day), public transport, toll roads, and amazing discounts on over 100 activities and local attractions.
Via ferrata for kids on your active holidays
Active holidays make happy families, and there’s a real focus on family activities during summer in Schladming-Dachstein – whether small moments in nature to great big adventures. Choose from an extended hike or a challenging via ferrata (there are special ones appropriate for children), a fast-paced bike tour or a leisurely ride – those 620 miles of trails mean there’s no chance you’ll get bored of the landscape.
Your kids will receive a KidsCard, entitling them to over 40 free activities including guided pony treks, treasure hunts, guided hikes, adventure playgrounds, all the swimming pools/lakes, carpentry workshops, museums and more. On top of the freebies, there are a wide range of discounts on other experiences. The Sommercard brochure is comprehensive, and basically a handbook to your holiday. There’s even an app you can download. Pretty convenient, wouldn’t you say?
Hopsiland, Schladming-Dachstein
KidsCard for a weekly programme of activities
Little guests get big adventures here, and the 40 family-friendly activities included with the KidsCard are all about fun, games, action and sport. Whether it’s taster climbing on the special childrens’ via ferrata, tractor driving, children’s archery or a bread baking course, there’s loads of variety to keep your little ones busy.
The seven summer mountains of the region are home to Hopsiland on the Planai, the mountain go-kart track on the Hochwurzen, the Rittisberg with Flyline and summer toboggan run as well as several high ropes courses and climbing gardens (young-at-heart welcome to join).
Mountain go-karting
They love a family-friendly hike in Schladming-Dachstein and are very attuned to the different levels of requirement. So you’ve got everything from pram-friendly tours to lively ‘spring and water’ hikes, to fun themed trails such as the Barefoot trail on the Riesneralm or the Fairytale trail in Schladming. The paths are wide, and the views are incredible wherever you go.
The Dachstein Glacier is another free Sommercard experience
With stays of two nights or more in Schladming-Dachstein, Sommercard entitles you to a cable car ride up to the otherworldly Dachstein Glacier. From the mountain station, which is undergoing renovations for 2024, you’ll be able to take in the stunning views across Enns Valley and the surrounding mountains. Numerous attractions, such as the dreamy-sounding Skywalk, Ice Palace and Stairway to Nothingness, are within easy reach of the Glacier.
Dining al fresco on the planai
Active holidays make for hungry families
In pretty mountain huts, at hill farms on idyllic alpine pastures and in gourmet restaurants, you’ll find tradition meeting contemporary award-winning cuisine. The regional Styrian cooking and local specialities are lip smackingly good, with hearty favourites like beef broth with cheesy dumplings, Ennstal lamb, and something your kids may be very on board with – homemade doughnuts. Another winner for those adventurous little visitors is ‘Kaiserschmarrn’ – a delicious fluffy, shredded pancake, and they’ll no doubt have earned it after a day running around their alpine playground (in fact, so will you).
They are big on organic produce in the Schladming-Dachstein region, and if you see a ‘Bio Austria’ sign in the window, you’ll know a business is certified organic – they go through quite a stringent testing process to achieve it, so it’s worth knowing. You can find organic food shops, markets and coffee shops all over the region. There’s also the GenussRegion initiative – a certification of quality local produce, so look out for that too.
Mountain wanderers
Find your rustic holiday home from home
The great thing about a summer mountains holiday in Schladming-Dachstein is that you can take advantage of all those cute mountain chalets – but you’ve also got a choice of sprawling holiday village resorts with family rooms, apartments with separate kids’ bedrooms, campsites for the full nature experience, and over 250 farmhouses with views of green pastures and breakfast tables set with freshly laid eggs. There are some lovely holiday homes, too, which often come with handy extras, like e-bikes. You can find a full guide to accommodation here, so get looking and get booking!