Hotels in Lofer
For skiing in Lofer, I would sleep within walking distance of the Almbahn I valley station, because that is where the day starts and, snow permitting, where the 7 km valley run ends. The eight-seat Almbahn I climbs from the valley at about 640 m to the Loderbichl middle station at 1,000 m, and the Almbahn II continues up to the Almenwelt plateau; the top of the area sits at about 1,630 m. There are 46 km of slopes, 32 of them easy, with snowmaking on about 90 percent, two children's areas and a 140 m covered magic carpet. Of the eight hotels listed here, Landgasthof Neuwirt is about two minutes on foot from the lift and Hotel Hubertus about 350 m; Familien- und Vitalhotel Mühlpointhof runs a free ski bus to the valley station. The eight average 9.0 out of 10 over 1,336 reviews. Lofer has no thermal spa: the nearest, the Rupertus Therme in Bad Reichenhall, is about 30 km away, so if you want water after skiing, pick one of the five hotels with a pool or hot tub. The trap is the bus: the Saalachtal Card covers line 260 only from May to October.
Lofer is a market town in the Saalach valley in Salzburger Land, and its ski area, the Almenwelt Lofer, starts with the Almbahn I gondola from the edge of town. The honest answer to "ski-in ski-out in Lofer" is the valley run: about 7 km and 1,000 m of descent that bring you back to Lofer when the snow holds. I would pick Lofer for a family week with children who are learning or cruising blue runs, since 32 of the 46 km are easy. Strong skiers will find only 2 km of black and will have seen it all in two days.
Lofer in numbers
Der Steinerwirt - hangout & hotel
A relaxed hangout-style base in Lofer
Why guests love itTravellers staying here find the relaxed hangout atmosphere is a genuine change of pace from the more formal wellness hotels in Lofer, bathrobes and a sauna covering the essentials without any fuss at all. The terrace became the natural spot for an evening drink from the on-site bar before dinner most nights of the trip. Free private parking meant the roughly thirty-nine kilometre drive in from Salzburg ended without any hunt for a space in town that evening.
Madlgut
A kitchenette and hot tub base in Lofer
Why guests love itTravellers staying here find the hot tub is the genuine highlight after a day on the Loferer Alm, better than expected from a three-star guesthouse this size. Having a kitchenette meant we weren't eating out every night of the week, real savings on a longer stay in the valley. Free parking on site solved the one real headache of a Lofer trip, since spaces near the town centre fill up fast in peak season most winters.
Gasthof Bad Hochmoos
An indoor pool, tennis court and hammam in Lofer
Why guests love itTravellers staying here find the tennis court is a genuine surprise for a mountain guesthouse, a real option on a day the kids want a break from skiing altogether during the trip. The hammam alongside the sauna gave the wellness routine more range than expected from a property this size in a town this small. Having a children's playground and the electric vehicle charging station both on site meant the whole stay felt more modern and varied than a typical Lofer guesthouse.
Familien- und Vitalhotel Mühlpointhof
Lofer family hotel with its own bakery, thermal pools and a free ski bus
Why guests love itI think this hotel answers the question most parents ask about Lofer: where to sleep so that the ski day starts easily. The ski bus to the Almbahn I is free, the ski cellar and rental are in the house, and the slopes above are mostly blue, with two Kinderland areas and a covered magic carpet of 140 m at the Loferer Alm. The village lies at around 640 m, so the lower runs depend on snowmaking early and late in the season. The pool area, the playroom and the in-house bakery make bad-weather days easier. The guest score is 9 out of 10, but on only two reviews, so I would not lean on it. Skiers who want nightlife or a large linked ski area should look at other valleys.
Hotel & Restaurant Dankl
Italian and Austrian dining with real dietary range
Why guests love itTravellers staying here find the vegetarian and vegan menu options are handled properly, a real relief for a group with mixed dietary needs on a week-long ski trip together. Alternating between the Italian and Austrian dishes across the stay kept dinner from feeling repetitive, unlike some of the more single-cuisine guesthouses nearby in the valley. The garden and sun terrace gave a quiet spot to plan the next day's runs on the Loferer Alm before heading up each morning.
Landgasthof Neuwirt
Two minutes from the Lofer Bergbahnen lift
Why guests love itLandgasthof Neuwirt is a guesthouse two minutes from the Lofer Bergbahnen ski lift, and I would book it for families who want an early start on the slopes without a long walk in ski boots. The on-site restaurant and bar keep evenings simple, so nobody has to head out again after a day outdoors. Rooms have balconies with mountain views and cable TV, WiFi is free, and private parking is free too. Guests rate it 8.9 across 289 reviews.
Hotel - Wirts'haus "Zum Schweizer"
A seasonal outdoor pool and games room in Lofer
Why guests love itTravellers staying here find the games room and play areas give children a genuine option beyond another full ski day, useful on a trip with mixed energy levels across the group. The seasonal outdoor pool caught us on a warmer spring afternoon, an unexpected bonus this late in the season we hadn't planned for. The sauna and steam room gave the adults their own quiet evening once the kids had settled into the games room downstairs for the night.
Hotel Hubertus
Panoramic views 350 metres from the cable car
Why guests love itHotel Hubertus sits 300 metres from Lofer's centre, with the Loferer Almbahnen cable car 350 metres away, and I suggest it to families who want a short walk to the lift. The indoor pool suits children after skiing, while the sauna, steam bath and infrared cabin are there for parents. The hotel has panoramic mountain views, and breakfast features regional products. Guests rate it 8.7, though from only 41 reviews so far, which is worth keeping in mind.
What to expect
- Almbahn I, an eight-seat gondola, to Loderbichl at 1,000 m, then Almbahn II up to the Almenwelt plateau
- 46 km of slopes: 32 km easy, 12 km intermediate, 2 km difficult, with snowmaking on about 90 percent
- A valley run of about 7 km and 1,000 m of descent back to Lofer
- Two children's areas and a 140 m covered magic carpet
- Postbus 260 from Salzburg main station, Salzburg Airport and Bad Reichenhall to Lofer without a change
Local tips
- ✓For the closest beds to the lift, Landgasthof Neuwirt is about two minutes on foot from the Almbahn I, Hotel Hubertus about 350 m away and Mühlpointhof about a five-minute walk from the ski area; from the other hotels you walk through town or take the ski bus.
- ✓Coming from Salzburg for the day? Postbus 260 to the Almenwelt Lofer is free when you buy a one-day ski pass, while the Saalachtal Card only covers the line from May to October.
- ✓The bottom of the valley run sits at about 640 m, so in a mild spell it is the first stretch to go thin; in that case, ride the Almbahn I down from Loderbichl rather than skiing to town.
- ✓Small children learn up on the plateau, on the 140 m covered magic carpet and in the two children's areas, so plan both gondola rides before the first lesson.
- ✓Keep an evening for tobogganing: the area has two toboggan runs of 2 to 7 km, one of them lit at night.
- ✓If a pool matters, Gasthof Bad Hochmoos and Hotel Hubertus have indoor pools and Mühlpointhof heated indoor and outdoor pools; Hotel Zum Schweizer's pool is outdoors, so not one for January.
Where to stay
Frequently asked questions
Is there a thermal spa in Lofer?
No. Lofer has no public thermal baths; the nearest, the Rupertus Therme in Bad Reichenhall across the German border, is about 30 km away. The wellness is in the hotels: five of the eight hotels listed here have a pool or a hot tub, and Gasthof Bad Hochmoos, with 462 reviews, adds an indoor pool and a steam bath.
What is the Almbahn 2 in Lofer?
It is the second section of the cable car into the Almenwelt Lofer. The eight-seat Almbahn I runs from the valley station in Lofer to Loderbichl at 1,000 m, and the Almbahn II continues from there up to the plateau, where the children's areas and most of the blue runs are.
Can you ski right back to your hotel in Lofer?
Back to town, yes, when the snow holds: the valley run is about 7 km long with roughly 1,000 m of descent. Back to the door, only if you sleep next to the valley station: Landgasthof Neuwirt is about two minutes on foot and Hotel Hubertus about 350 m. Gasthof Bad Hochmoos is about 3 km out, between Lofer and St. Martin, on the free ski bus route.
Is Lofer good for beginners and families?
Yes, the slope mix is made for them. Of the 46 km of slopes, 32 km are easy and only 2 km difficult; there are two children's areas, a 140 m covered magic carpet and the Lofi Funline along the Family Express lift. For a family I would look first at Mühlpointhof, with its ski cellar, rental and heated pools, or Hotel Hubertus, with its indoor pool, 350 m from the cable car.
How do I get to Lofer without a car?
Postbus 260 runs from Salzburg main station, Salzburg Airport and Bad Reichenhall station to Lofer without a change. In winter the Saalachtal Card does not cover it, but the ride from Salzburg to the Almenwelt Lofer is free when you buy a one-day ski pass, which makes a day trip from the city easy.
Which Lofer hotel has the best reviews?
Der Steinerwirt, in the old centre of Lofer, has the highest score of the eight, 9.4 over 91 reviews, with a sauna but no pool. Madlgut scores 9.2, but over only 11 reviews, and Mühlpointhof's 9.0 rests on just 2. For a score that rests on many reviews, Gasthof Bad Hochmoos has 9.1 over 462 and Hotel Dankl 9.0 over 328.