6 December 2021

Which leisure activities are currently allowed during lockdown in Austria? And how easy is it for Viennese to reach slopes for skiing?

Walking such as for window shopping or other leisure activities like skiing are allowed during lockdown. Over the approximately two years of the pandemic and several lockdowns, Austrian retailers extended their stores by telephone order possibilities or online shops as window shopping on the streets or via the internet or telephone are the only possible ways for contacts between retailers and customers in times of distance. When ordered with click & collect delivery option, the goods can be handed out at the door of the store. What's not allowed is to enter the store to try shoes or to select another book from the shelves in addition to the ordered books.

Sports activities are recommended during lockdown. Open air fitness is allowed - starting from walks to running, gymnastics in public parks or skiing. Almost two thirds, more than 60% of the Austrian landscape is mountainous. The geography of the capital city Vienna is absolutely different to the largest part of the country. Which means that also leisure activities in the Alpine regions are naturally different to the ones practised in the flat landscape of the capital which is lying in the Vienna Basin between the Alps and the Pannonian Basin.

While Viennese walk or run 20 kilometers through the Prater, Styrians or Tyroleans also use their environment around them in the best way - and in winter, the population prefers the slopes of the mountains for skiing. But as mentioned before; Vienna is located near the beginning of the Alps. And the best ski region over decades (since the 1950s) nearest to Vienna is Stuhleck in Spital am Semmering. It's a classical family destination with several slopes for every level from beginners or kids to well-trained skiers, tobogganing or cross-country skiing; last mentioned is practiced in the valley of the snow area.

Image: Stuhleck in Spital am Semmering, Styria opens this year on 8th December. Currently obligatory: 2G (vaccinated or recovered)! Photo: © Stuhleck.

Fashion.at searched online maps and route planners for the fastest and most affordable transport to the ski area Stuhleck. The result depends on the number of persons who travel in a group or if it's a single person and if the travelers own one of the special train cards of the Austrian Train Service ÖBB. Suppose, a Viennese couple (without owning special train cards for reduced ticket prices) has the plan to ski together instead of running through the Prater forest, the two can start on 8th December (opening day of the Stuhleck ski area) at 7:25 from the Vienna Central Station 'Wien Hauptbahnhof' and will reach in 1h 27 min (time for breakfast and/or for checking the emails) the Semmering Bahnhof where the slopes can be reached in some minutes. At this time (7:25), the ÖBB offers a special ticket, the 'Einfach-Raus' (translated as much as 'escape') ticket for two adults for 35.- Euro the whole day long, which means that the price includes also the costs for the home trip which can be taken with the 'Einfach-Raus' ticket for example at 17:04. In sum, the transport for the couple to and from the Stuhleck ski region costs (fast checked today; can change) currently 35.- Euro.

Editor's note: Masks are obligatory on trains or in closed spaces. When gatherings happen, leave the mask on - if it's officially requested or not! Keep your distance from others and wash your hands! Stay healthy.