A compact area in Lower Austria, around two hours from Vienna, and one of the closest reliable ski mountains to the capital.

It sits high for this part of the country at nearly 1800 metres, which gives it a better snow record than the eastern Alps usually manage, and the terrain is largely intermediate with a good learning area.

The mountain is exposed, so wind can hold the upper lifts, and weekends fill with Viennese traffic while midweek stays quiet. There is a scenic road up and a good deal of walking in the surrounding Ötscher region. Prices are moderate and the crowds are entirely domestic.