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Rauris Ski Resort
Rauris is an incredibly charming old market town with a history of gold mining dating back to the 18th century. It sits in the picturesque Hohe Tauern National Park, quietly nestled between Zell am See and the Gastein valley in the Austrian Alps. Even though it is located between two very well known ski areas in Austria it still remains largely unspoiled and maintains somewhat of a hidden gem identity; thanks to its position within a protected and stunningly beautiful national park.
The gold mines may have long been a thing of the past in Rauris, but the village has prevailed nevertheless. Set among some of the highest mountains in Austria, Rauris has a long history of downhill skiing dating back to the 1890s were the only equipment at the time was 2 wooden planks ( no edges) with a bent top, brought by Wilhelm Ritter von Arlt from a trip to Scandinavia. A few years later, the first skiing lessons were held at Rauris and skiing would eventually grow to become a staple of the area. As the popularity of the sport grew, Rauris had a decision to make; they could choose to exploit the area and push for mass tourism or follow a more idyllic and traditional approach to develop the area. They decided against mass tourism and favoured a quieter, preservationist approach which has resulted in a truly fantastic and wholesome ski village.
The skiing at Rauris takes place on the Hochalm mountain ( and the areas adjacent to it) which sits overlooking the village. There are up to 32 kilometres of pistes stretching between 950 metres and 2,175 metres altitude. The resort is best suited to beginners and intermediate skiers with advanced skiers not finding too many challenging pistes on the slopes but the fantastic snow conditions make up for that. Families are more than welcome at Rauris, with the resort being very family-oriented as well as being the recipient of numerous family awards as a resort. The resort is also very well equipped with enough facilities to accommodate a full village of holidaymakers and its locals. The accommodation is located very close to the foot of the gondola making it very convenient for families with young kids to access the ski area without much hassle. The accommodation area is also in close proximity to the local shops and restaurants, with all areas pretty much walkable, adding to the charm and laid back feel of the resort. It's the perfect resort for a quiet yet memorable family ski holiday.
Skiing in Rauris is perfect for beginners and families with young children just learning how to ski. Most of the beginner skiing takes place on the slopes of the Hochalm at about 1,250 metres. It may seem an intimidating height for beginners but the snow conditions are great with wide open pistes ( with breathtaking scenery of some of the Hohe Tauern valley. The area has gentle blue slopes as well as family fun areas including a race track and f700 metre long Family Fun Slope.
Intermediates can head over to the adjacent slopes of the Kreuzboden and Waldalm ski areas to tackle the very few reds at Rauris. Access is granted via a chairlift from the village. The red pistes here may be few but skiers will be pleased to find that they are constantly in very good condition, being groomed daily.
Advanced skiers will be pleased to find one or two hidden surprises including a 600-metre vertical drop from the Heimalm back to the gondola base at the village. Waldalm and Kreuzboden also have a good amount of off-piste opportunities.
Rauris has a great fun park including a boardercross course. There are also fantastic off-piste opportunities for free riders to exploit with lots of powder, but we would always recommend getting a local guide. The reds on Waldalm and Kreuzboden are wide open and perfect for free riders.
Snow Conditions in Rauris
The snow conditions on Rauris are very good with most of the slopes enjoying good snow coverage all season through. The resort is also well equipped with snowmaking facilities ensuring that up to 80% of all the slopes below 1,700 metres are covered should there be any snow shortages.
Rauris is not popularly known for having a particularly vibrant apres-ski scene; not at least compared to its Austrian counterparts. It is relatively quiet here, with a number of huts on the slopes where you can stop over for some food and drinks before heading back down to the village. Mountain huts always have a brilliant, friendly atmosphere and are a splendid start to an apres-ski evening. Down in the village, there are a few bars to visit for an evening drink and a chat. Some of the hotels also have really good bars which make up some of Rauris apres-ski scene. We have listed a few here;
Sportstuberl
A great meeting spot among skier groups. It is located in the heart of the resort and quite hard to miss. It is your typical sports and ski bar, with a few pub games and live sporting events on TV. They have a great drinks menu featuring everything from ales, whiskies and wines. Visit for a lovely evening with your travelling group for drinks, snacks and a pub quiz ( hosted weekly). Great place to meet people and share skiing experiences.
Maislau Hut
Located in breathtaking scenery in the Rauris valley, the Maislau Hut or the Maislau Alm is a traditional, cosy mountain hut that sits across the river in idyllic Austrian Alpine scenery. Part of the family-run apartment and inn, the Maislau Alm offers a fantastic menu for tasty and delicious meals as well as home-brewed beers. The Maislau Alm is also very popular with locals, as it's owned by a local family and has been a staple of the community. If you are after a traditional Alpine apres-ski experience on the slopes, ensure that the Maislau Hut is on one of your stops.
Rauriserhof
Rauriserhof hotel is a 4-star rated hotel located close to the bottom of the slopes. It is an absolutely fantastic hotel with a chic and boutique theme. Its bar and cafe have an elegant and contemporary interior which gives it a classy ambience. It has an extensive drinks menu which also features a wide range of wines. Great place for a relaxed apres-ski evening.
Extra: There are some additional places you can check out for a great apres-ski evening Rauris. There is an umbrella bar close to the base station in the resort where a lot of skiers congregate for a few drinks after a day on the slopes. Also, look out for bars like Pub Mix or Dies and Das.
Rauris has great facilities to ensure that it is able to cater to all the needs and requirements of ski holiday makers visiting the resort. It has everything from ski equipment hire shops, fantastic hotels and accommodation, great restaurants and enough shops for essential needs. We have provided a few details below.
Rauris has a few ski hire shops within the resort that sell and rent ski equipment for visiting holidaymakers. If you plan on visiting Rauris this season and are looking to rent ski equipment rather than bring yours, you can easily hire your equipment directly from us and include it in your overall holiday booking. We make it very simple to hire any needed equipment with only a few clicks. Simply select what you need from the option provided in the ski extras page and add them to your order. Once completed, your equipment will be reserved for you and a voucher sent to you in advance. Upon arrival at Rauris, you can pick up your equipment from any of the branches of your ski equipment partners by simply presenting them with the voucher. Check out our Rauri ski hire pages for more information.
All ski passes for the area around Rauris can be purchased at the resort from the machines and ticket/tourist offices, however, you also have the option to purchase your passes in advance and as part of your holiday package deal with us at Erna Low. Pre-ordering your Rauris ski pass from us is probably the easiest and most convenient way to secure your ski pass. It's also very easy to pre-order as you are simply adding it to the total cost of your order. You can easily do this when placing your ski holiday order online or you can request to have the ski passes added to your orders if you speak to one of our team representatives, over the phone. Ordering your ski pass from us ensures that your ski pass is ready and waiting for you when you get to Rauris. You can follow more information about our Rauris ski passes here.
After an exciting day on the slopes, there's really nothing better than unwinding and relaxing those tired muscles in a spa and sauna session, massage therapy or swimming in a heated pool. Rauris is a calm resort with a quiet apres-ski, so one can be forgiven for opting for a reinvigorating spa session over a quiet night out in a pub. Rauris does not have a sport or aquatic centre that is open during the winter seasons, however several of its highly-rated hotels have spas and some have swimming pools as well. Hotel Sonnhof Rauris is an ideal example and perhaps a fantastic place to enjoy an evening sauna session and a relaxing swim which offers amazing views of the valley. The Rauriserhof hotel also has fantastic wellness facilities to offer. It is well equipped with a rock sauna which also has outdoor seating, a bio sauna, a large steam bath and a thermal infrared cabin sauna amongst other great facilities. It also has a large indoor swimming pool with panoramic views and an outdoor swimming pool which is also heated and open all winter. A relaxation room that offers amazing views of the mountain range provides visitors with all available comforts; admiring the lovely mountains as the sun sets after a spa and sauna session is a great way to unwind. For any additional indulgence, the Rauriserhof BergSpa has a wide range of massages and beauty treatments always available.
Rauris is a lovely small commune with a good amount of shops to meet the needs of both locals and tourists alike. Most of its shops can be found on its popular Marktstraße ( Market street). It has sports shops, clothes boutiques, jewellery shops, a shoe repair shop, children's clothes shops, grocery stores, homeware shops and many more. Dotted across the resort also, you can find a cafe, restaurants and a souvenir shop.
Rauris is a popular family-friendly ski resort and has the facilities to cater to the needs of visiting families with children of all ages with events that are child-specific and also family-oriented and involve all members of the family.
Rauris has a few ski schools which offer children-specific courses, however, if you are planning on visiting Rauris as part of our ski holiday package, why not also include your children's ski lessons as part of your overall holiday package? We have partnered with the very best ski schools and instructors across the European Alps, including Rauris to ensure that the lessons your children receive are indeed the very best possible out there. There are no hidden costs or charges and you will not be charged higher than what our partners offer. Look up our ski lessons pages for more information.
Rauris makes sure that children are entertained both on and off the pistes. The Rauriser Hochalmbahnen family ski area has a family race track and snow park specifically for children featuring 700-metre fun slopes complete with waves, kickers and tunnels. Children and parents can also take part in the famous Kreuzboden sled run at Rauris. It is a thrilling fun ride perfect for the whole family. Kids can also look forward to joining the resort mascot, Tilly the fluffy owl, as she takes part in the downhill sleds and tobogganing. There are other fun-filled activities for the family at Rauris including the pony pulled coach rides and treasure hunts every week as families search for an old pirate's old treasure. and a weekly big treasure-hunt on the slope for the old pirate treasure. If you are visiting before and during the Christmas festive period, Rauris transforms into a wonderful winter wonderland with a traditional Austrian Christmas market offering loads of excitement for the whole family; and children will particularly enjoy the Christmas torch walk around the village. Out of the snow, families can enjoy games of bowling and curling. Some of the hotels also have swimming pools which may also admit children.
Rauris has a number of trained and certified childminders in the village. Contact the local tourist office for more information and possible recommendations.
The slopes on the Hochalm mountain provide the majority of the skiing at Rauris. Of the 32.5 kilometres at Rauris, 25 kilometres are on the Hochalm. The Waldalm and Kreuzboden make up for most of the remaining kilometres and are the slopes best suited for intermediate skiers. Access to the Hochalm is via the main gondola from the village, the Hochalmbahn. The Waldalm and Kreuzboden can be accessed via chairlift and gondola.
