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Overview of Saalbach
Visitors should make sure they are well rested before they come to the Saalbach-Hinterglemm region of Austria. Colorfully named the “Ski Circus,” the region combines the slopes one of the largest linked ski area in Austria with the liveliest of après-ski activities.
The valley, in the provinces of Salzburg, is one of the famous ski resorts in Austria. The 1991 Alpine World Ski Championship and various World Cup races have increased Saalbach / Hinterglemm´s celebrity. Saalbach is the larger village in the duo which make up Austria's second most popular tourist destination after Vienna.
Excellent skiing for all standards and lively, noisy après-ski.
The charm of the two smaller villages has now blended into one. Saalbach is big and lively, and Hinterglemm more old fashioned and down to earth. Both have great charm, a safe, car-free center, plenty of après-ski and all the traditional Austrian attractions. But the four-kilometer (two and a half-mile) stretch of road is completely developed, and there is no discernible point where one resort stops and the other starts. In terms of skiing, Saalbach-Hinterglemm offers more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) of slopes served by more than 60 lifts and cable cars.
Saalbach has sunshine and good cruising on vast blues. Hinterglemm has great variety and the best snow, being slightly steeper and more northerly. Vorderglemm has a bit of both and good links to Leogang, where there are some glorious, long runs through trees. There are also snowboarding-only runs and a snowboard park. All abilities are fine here. Sixty percent of the trails are for intermediates, 30 percent for beginners and 10 percent for experts.
The visitor should save some energy for après-ski. For night owls, Saalbach is the more sophisticated and has the wider variety. Hinterglemm has a more “down home” atmosphere, with lots of small pubs and restaurants. Many route their runs in order to arrive at one of the 30 or 40 remodeled barns, restaurants with big bars, or chalets where the parties start before the lifts close at four. With some planning it’s possible to eat, drink, dance, and be merry for a couple of hours here, then ski (or in some cases, stagger) down into the villages where 35 bars await. If you still haven’t had enough when everything else closes, there are 15 discos where you can dance until the lifts open the next morning.
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