The Hochkönig ski area is part of the larger Ski amadé region and is named after the 2,941-metre-high Hochkönig mountain. The 120 kilometres of pistes run from villages between 800 and 1,900 metres in altitude. It’s an area that offers plenty for all skill levels, and its beautiful mountain restaurants cater to modern culinary needs. In this blog, we’ll take you on a journey through the Hochkönig region, with special attention to local gastronomy. A surprising discovery.
Arrival in Hochkönig
As you enter Austria from Germany, you find yourself on a long road through the beautiful Alpine massif. The oncoming traffic on this road is leaving the area in large numbers after the first week of January. It’s the end of a week of national holidays for both Germany and Austria. It’s nice that we arrive after this busy period. The first and largest village we encounter is Maria Alm. This is the most touristy place in this area. We drive on to the next village, ‘Dienten’.
Dienten, a village blending into the mountains
We’re staying in Dienten, which lies at an altitude of 1,000 metres. It’s centrally located between Maria Alm and Mühlbach. The church towers proudly above the houses and is a defining feature of this village. There are 700 inhabitants, one supermarket, a bakery, and a doctor’s surgery. Everyone knows each other, and tourists are also greeted warmly. The ski station in the village is modern and has all the facilities a winter sports enthusiast needs.
Don’t expect noisy après-ski in Dienten; you come here for peace and quiet. After a day on the slopes, you can relax in the hotel’s wellness area and let the tension flow out of your muscles. Or you can go to your apartment and only leave for a restaurant or shopping. It’s all about nature here, which you can fully immerse yourself in.
Cherry on the (snow) cake: the Königstour
The best way to explore this area during winter is to take on the challenging Königstour. This well-marked 35-kilometre route runs from Maria Alm to Mühlbach. The colour (yellow or orange) indicates which direction you’re going. In total, you experience 7,500 metres of altitude in ski or snowboard pleasure. It’s a beautiful challenge that the fastest can complete in three hours. Our advice: take a bit more time and visit one of the inviting mountain restaurants along the way.
Alternatives for long distances: the culinary Königstour
Of course, it’s wonderful to enjoy the sense of freedom and beautiful vistas on the piste. Adding a good meal to that gives even more pleasure. If you divide that meal into several courses in different mountain restaurants, you get a culinary tour. They’ve understood this well in Hochkönig. Tickets for such a gastronomic tour are available at local tourist offices.
The participating restaurants stand out for their beautiful architecture with lots of glass and thus stunning mountain views. Moreover, the food is of high quality. Self-service has been replaced by friendly table service. The dishes look beautifully prepared with mostly local products and nice presentations. A hilarious visit is to the mountain restaurant Deanternerin. Every customer is greeted with a warm handshake from the owner. Then a short and cheerfully enthusiastic conversation. After the excellent main course, another handshake with thanks for the visit. How welcome can you feel?
Schnapps and tobogganing, a good combination?
We walk towards the south side of Dienten and soon arrive at the Grünegg Alm. This farm has developed into a tourist attraction. You can eat well there, and there’s a real distillery where they make many types of schnapps.
In winter, the access road is not passable by car, so it’s a walk. In a good half hour, we walk up. Along the way, there’s another beautiful view of the village church. At the top, a typical Austrian mountain atmosphere awaits in a cosy restaurant. The food looks top-notch again, and the service is cordial. From the restaurant, we look out at a clock outside. This was used in the past to call the farm workers for meals.
Behind the restaurant, you enter the world of drink. A large copper distillation installation is central to the space. There’s a wide variety of flavours and types of drink. ‘Schnapps’ is what it’s all about here. Tasting is free, and we put that into practice. Afterwards, you have to take the way down again. They’ve come up with the following solution for this. You can toboggan down the path with a sled. It goes quite fast and thus requires some practice. All in all, it’s hilarious to do, and you’re down in no time…
Hiking near Dienten in the Hochkönig region
The area around Dienten is also excellent for a walk in the snow. The Grünegg Alm described above is a great starting point for snowshoe hikes.
From the Steinbockalm, you can make various prepared walks. Here you first take the lift up. The small church on the top is regularly used for weddings. A beautiful spot with a fantastic view of the Hochkönig.
If you drive past the Grünegg Alm by car, you’ll find yourself in a winter wonderland along the small Dientnerbach river. A nice place to take photos. Several hiking trails also start from the car park here, although these are not prepared.
Our general impression of the Hochkönig ski area
The Hochkönig winter sports area is a beautiful and varied area for winter sports. The location is not too high, but it’s still a snow-sure area due to its central location in the Alps. The pistes are spacious, and the descents are varied, partly due to the forests. The Königstour introduces you to the entire area. We are pleasantly surprised by both the quality of the lifts and the mountain restaurants we visited. Quality is paramount.
In the area, there are hotels with good wellness facilities, making it pleasant to relax after a day on the slopes. Dienten is a place where especially active nature and peace seekers will feel particularly at home.
Practical information about winter sports in Hochkönig
Hochkönig is located in northern Austria in the Salzburg region. It's part of the Ski amadé area.
There are three places that together form the Hochkönig winter sports area. The best known is Maria Alm with more than 2,000 inhabitants. The other villages are Dienten and the old copper mining town of Mühlbach. Each place has its own atmosphere and peculiarities. The whole is part of the larger Ski amadé area.
The pistes of Maria Alm, Dienten, and Mühlbach have been connected since 2011, creating an extensive area of 120 kilometres of pistes. These pistes can be reached via the 34 (modern) lifts in this area.
The area has a large number of blue and red pistes, but there are also some black ones. Most pistes are wide. Because it's generally not very busy, you have plenty of space to make turns. Of course, this also depends strongly on the weather conditions and the number of people.
The navigation system guides you over the secondary (but well-passable) '311'. You don't need a vignette for the motorway on this road. If you go via Salzburg and take the motorway there, you do need a vignette.
It's best to order ski passes online in advance for the best price. For current information about rates and ordering: Hochkönig Ticketshop.
Here you'll find some suggestions for good accommodations for each of the villages Maria Alm, Dienten, and Mühlbach in the Hochkönig ski area.
Maria Alm:
- Lifestyle Hotel eder: This 4-star hotel is located in the heart of Maria Alm, just 100 metres from the ski lifts. It offers a unique concept with a gallery and is appreciated for its central location and stylish decor.
- Berg & SPA Hotel Urslauerhof: This hotel offers direct access to the ski slopes of the Hochkönig area. Guests appreciate the friendly staff, excellent cuisine, and spa facilities that are available from 1 pm.
- Hotel Langeck: This family-run hotel is located right on the slopes of Aberg in Maria Alm. It offers excellent service, delicious food, and good value for money.
- All accommodation in Maria Alm
Dienten am Hochkönig:
- Übergossene Alm Resort: This 4-star superior hotel is located right next to the slopes and has a 1,700 m² wellness centre and an indoor swimming pool. It is praised for its extensive breakfast and ideal location for both cross-country skiers and alpine skiers.
- We stayed with great satisfaction at Vitalhotel Post. Spacious rooms and good, extensive wellness facilities. The hotel is about 150 metres from the central ski lift in Dienten.
- Wellnesshotel Mitterwirt: This hotel is often mentioned as one of the best options in Dienten, especially appreciated by families and couples.
- All accommodation in Dienten
Mühlbach am Hochkönig:
- Hotel Bergheimat: This traditional 4-star hotel is located at an altitude of 1,200 metres and is appreciated for its authentic atmosphere and beautiful views.
- Berghotel Arthurhaus: This hotel offers accommodation with a garden and free parking. It is 33 km from Eisriesenwelt Werfen and is praised for its location and facilities.
- Hotel Alpenrose Mühlbach am Hochkönig: This hotel is 25 km from Eisriesenwelt Werfen and offers accommodation with a garden. It is appreciated for its location and service.
- All accommodation in Mühlbach
These hotels all offer excellent facilities, good access to the ski slopes, and are highly rated by guests. The exact choice depends on personal preferences regarding location, price, and specific amenities.
In the ski area, we have the following recommendations.
Maria Alm:
- Jufenalm BOHO Hotel & Restaurant: praised for its stylish and adventurous atmosphere, with a menu that combines German and Austrian dishes.
- Panorama Kronreith: known for its fantastic meals and spectacular views.
- Tom Almhütte: loved for its delicious food, friendly staff, and great beers.
Dienten:
- Die Deantnerin: considered one of the best restaurants in the Alps, with a modern approach to Austrian mountain cuisine
- Zachhofalm: praised as a real gem, known for its fantastic food and cosy atmosphere.
- Gruenegg Alm: appreciated for its great views and delicious food. We also tasted 'Schnapps' here.
Mühlbach:
- Paussbauer: this restaurant is praised for its variety of traditional dishes, including Wiener Schnitzel.
- Zapferlalm: a popular choice for both lunch and dinner. It's a perfect place for a break while skiing.
- Zum Steirer: This restaurant is known for its German and Austrian dishes. A special recommendation is the venison schnitzel.
These restaurants offer a mix of traditional Austrian dishes and modern interpretations of local cuisine, often with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. It's advisable to book in advance, especially during high season, to avoid disappointment.
You can find more information about Hochkönig on the website of the Hochkönig tourist office.
Disclaimer: We visited Hochkönig at the invitation of the tourist office of Ski amadé and Hochkönig. We have independently compiled the content of this blog based on our own experiences.
