How to get to Kaprun in the Austrian Alps
Specifically?
The route is through Slovenia and the Karavanke Tunnel.
We are traveling by car. It fits everything, you can stop and see an interesting city along the way, as we did with an overnight stay in Ljubljana. To see it and for the driver to rest.
Salzburg is a city we love very much, only 98 km from Kaprun – you can pop over for a day and explore it.
The best time for skiing in Kaprun is generally from December to April.
Last year, we managed to return from skiing in Austria healthy, and they closed afterward. You know that currently, only ski resorts in Bulgaria are open.
As a season, January is cheaper. But in February and March, the days grow longer, and you can enjoy the views almost until sunset.
Agree – a ski pass for all 22 resorts for 6 days is around 215 euros, which isn't unattainable, right?
The Alps and Bulgarian resorts – a personal comparison
Now calculate how much it will cost you in Bansko or Borovets – to get a hotel or to travel from Sofia every day.
Even if you have an apartment in a native mountain resort, skiing in Switzerland, Austria, and France is an unsurpassed pleasure.
The queues in Bansko for the ski lift are a problem. And when there was no pandemic, they were enormous, not to mention the crush to get to the gondola, equipped with all your gear.
Parking is also unpredictable in Bulgaria – the prices are new every time and always going up.
It seems strange to me. The Alpine countries in the EU build new facilities every year, while our „misunderstood civilization“ of an army of „ecologists“ protests...
Both my daughter and I learned to ski on Vitosha.
I placed it between my legs at the Cherni Vrah anchor point and kept it there all the way to the top.
Green slope. And the beauty – incredible.
She started driving when she was three years old.
Every year, they had a green holiday from school and went skiing for at least two weeks.
In the morning, a bus took them from Vasil Levski Stadium. They were divided into groups – from A to D. In the afternoon, they were at school.
And so it went from first through fourth grade.
What happened to Vitosha?
Mountain as a treasure for the capital?
People from Sofia go skiing in Borovets…
In 1983, the „Vitosha Tulip“ (then known as “Akademika”) was built for the International Youth Universiade, and since then, not a single new lift has been installed.
On the contrary—slowly but surely, everything is falling apart and nothing is being maintained.
Kaprun, Kitzsteinhorn, and Zell am See – Europe's Sports Region
But let's get back to Capron.
It is called the sports region of Europe.
It includes the following resorts:
• Zeeland
• Kaprun
• Kitzsteinhorn
There are three more nearby:
• Saalbach
• Hinterglemm
Leogang
Everything is within a radius of 30–40 kilometers.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Europe, combining the alpine beauty of the jagged mountains with the charm of the lakes.
Kaprun has preserved the traditional spirit of cozy Tyrol.
Take a deep breath, and you'll experience all the scents of this authentic Austrian town.
It is only 7 km to its larger counterpart, Zell am See.
Kaprun is a modern resort with a full range of challenging slopes on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier (3,023 m), ensuring year-round skiing. The lifts are state-of-the-art.
Would you like me to take you on a hike through the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier?
„Only“ 19 modern cable cars and lifts will take you to the very top.
At an elevation of 3,029 m are:
Gipfelwelt 3000 and Top of Salzburg
Year-round relaxation center with a panoramic viewing platform overlooking the peaks of Großglockner (3798 m) and Großvenediger (3662 m).
Cinema 3000 and the Hohe Tauern Gallery
You will find the Cinema 3000 with modern screens and a 360-meter tunnel with interesting exhibitions on the history and development of the glacier.
Ice Igloo Ice Camp
You can rest in the Ice Camp igloo at an altitude of 2600 m.
Maiskogel – the beginner's zone
The so-called „easy area“ of Kaprun is the Maiskogel mountain (1675 m).
It is dedicated to beginner skiers.
Wide blue and red slopes, excellently groomed and suitable for family riding.
The Black Mamba – 63%: Thrills and a Dose of Adrenaline
Or are you an adrenaline junkie?
The „Black Mamba“ is at your disposal—a run with a 63% gradient, a length of 1,000 meters, and a vertical drop of 290 meters.
Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See and lake:
Lifts, transport, and lack of queues
There are parking lots that fill up quickly.
For your convenience, stewards are directing cars to the next available parking space.
Shuttles are provided to the starting station.
Even during peak season, there are no queues at the Kitzsteinhorn lifts.
The capacity was 74,000 people per hour even before the construction of the large gondola and the new 6- and 8-seater lifts.
ALPIN CARD – one card for three regions
408 kilometers of pistes and 121 lifts
With the ALPIN card, you ski in three premium ski resorts:
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See
• Kitzsteinhorn Glacier in Kaprun
These are 408 kilometers of slopes and 121 lift facilities.
Between them, you'll find cozy chalets and sunny terraces with incredible views.
Aprés-ski, pastry shops, and Austrian hospitality
There's something for everyone.
Numerous after-hours bars, restaurants, and a great Viennese pastry shop in the city center.
Every wallet has been considered.
One thing is certain – you will be satisfied with the portion sizes, the quality of the food, and the hospitality.
The spa center near Kaprun
If you still have energy left after a busy day of skiing, a spa with many pools, including rooftop pools, is located 2 km from Kaprun.
Various temperatures, water slides, steam rooms, jacuzzis, and all sorts of water treatments.
Take a whole day to relax.
From memory, the price is 27 euros, and massages are paid for separately.
Is a ski vacation in Austria worth it?
I don't deny the merits and beauty of our mountains, and I ski in Borovets in my free time, less often in Bansko.
But it's worth going on a ski vacation in Europe at least once.
And make the comparison yourself.
See more Author Yanush Yanev here
