How about combining your skiing or snowboarding vacation with a visit to Europe’s most popular castle – Neuschwanstein Castle? Stay in one of the boutique and luxury self-catering apartments or rustic hotel and enjoy the view of the Castillos del Rey, which look stunning, especially when illuminated at night.
And as a special bonus you can use the Royal Thermal Spa with its indoor and outdoor hot pools, sauna and massage offers after a fun day on the mountain.
Here is a list of the best places to ski in and around Schwangau.
1. Tegelberg Mountain (1720 m) and Wintersport Arena / Schwangau Germany
Right in Schwangau, the village of King’s Castles Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau is the Tegelberg winter sports stadium with its cable car, 4 regular lifts and flood lights at night. You’ll enjoy 7.3 kilometers of downhill runs here, as well as a separate toboggan run. This place is ideal for beginner and intermediate skiers, it has a ski school and a ski / snowboard rental service. Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.
A special highlight is the 2 km long Neuschwanstein cross country ski trail which lights up at night … and of course skiing with ‘Cinderella’s castle’ in sight.
2. Buchenberg (1140 m) Ski area / Buching Germany
Just a 5-minute drive from Schangau you will find a two-seater lift that will take you to the top of the Buchenberg. 2 more regular elevators provide variety.
A special highlight is the 2.5 km long toboggan run from the top of the mountain. The cabin at the top of the mountain offers amazing views of the lakes and the valley. This area is ideal for beginners and families, as well as sledding fans.
3. Alpspitz (1575 m) Ski Arena / Nesselwang Germany
Just a 20-minute drive from Schwangau is the Alpspitz Ski Arena. It benefits from the longest 2 km daily illuminated track in the region, has a cable car, a 4-seater, a 2-seater, 3 regular lifts and 2 for children. This diverse place offers skiing fun for both advanced and beginner skiers and families. Ski school, ski / snowboard / sled rental and tobogganing areas are available, as well as several excellent mountain huts for your après-ski.
Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.
A special highlight here is the O’Neill Alpspitzpark, a modern freerider snowboard park with Floodlight every night from 6-9pm.
4. Breitenberg Mountain Ski Center (1877 m) / Pfronten Germany
Just a 15-minute drive from Schwangau, you will reach the Breitenberg ski center with its cable car, an open 4-seater and 5 regular lifts, as well as 4 children’s lifts. Near Steinbach you will find the Snowboard amusement park, the ski school and two more illuminated slopes.
A special highlight for the first time in winter 2009/10 is the 6.5 km long toboggan run from the top of the mountain.
5. Hahnenkamm Ski Resort (1900 m) / Reutte Austria
Just a 25 minute drive from Schwangau to Austria is the Hahnenkamm ski area with its cable car, two seats and 5 more regular ski lifts. It has one of the best ski schools for adults and children. There you can rent skis and snowboards.
6.-9. Füssener Jöchle (1821m) and Ski Arena Tannheimer Tal / Austria
There are 4 ski resorts in Tannheimer Tal in Austria, no more than 30 minutes from Schwangau, one of which is Füssener Jöchle in Grän. It has a cable car, a 6 seater and 3 regular lifts. The track from the top is 3.5 kilometers long.
The other ski resorts here are Neunerköpfle / Tannheim, Schattwald and Nesselwängle.
10. Jungholz / Jungholz Ski Center Germany
About 40 minutes from Neuschwanstein Castle there is a super family ski center with two 4 special seats for children and a training chair lift. For adults there are 4 regular lifts. Snow machines provide guaranteed snow.
There are even more cross-country / Nordic skiing opportunities that I’ll cover in a separate article. And if you get bored of alpine skiing, how about you kite it in the snow and let the wind from your kite carry you around the piste?