Planning a ski day at Grebenzen? The ski area is just five minutes by car from our B&B in Sankt Lambrecht — a short drive over the village of Mariahof, or, on most ski days, a stop on the local ski-bus route that runs from the centre of the village. It is deliberately a small, manageable area: a single 10-person panorama gondola climbs from the valley to 1,654 metres, 27 kilometres of pistes (5 blue, 8 red, 1 black), a free Kinderland for small children at the base, and children up to 5 ski free across the entire area. We have recommended Grebenzen to guests for years — for families with first-timers, returning skiers after a long break, and couples who want a relaxed half-day on the slopes followed by an evening sauna at the house. The season runs late November to mid-March; lifts open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What Grebenzen is
Grebenzen is small and fair — and that’s why it works for so many guests. If you are looking for the scale of Schladming or the Arlberg, this isn’t it: one cable car, a handful of T-bars and practice lifts at the base, no linked-resort circus, no endless high-altitude carousels. That’s by design. But if you are skiing for the first time, or trying winter sports with children, or simply want a few unhurried runs on a clear blue day, it is the best value-for-money in the region.
Getting there and ski-bus
From Vogeltenn 2, it’s about 4.5 km to the Grebenzen valley car park — five minutes by car. Parking at the base is free. On peak days the car park fills early; arriving by 8:30 a.m. keeps things easy.A regional ski-bus links Murau, Kreischberg, and Grebenzen during the winter season; routes and schedules change each year, and we’ll hand you the current timetable at breakfast on the day you need it. On most ski days you don’t actually need the car.
Ski school and rental
There is a ski school at the valley station (group and private lessons for children and adults) and Sport Plank runs the rental — they also offer a “test & buy” scheme where the day’s rental fee is credited if you decide to buy. For current prices and availability, talk to the providers directly; we have their numbers and are happy to pass them on.
A small piece of advice from experience: book ski school and rental a few days ahead, especially during Austrian school holidays. It saves you waiting on the first morning, and the children come back to lunch rested rather than hungry-and-cross.
Skiing with children: Kinderland, practice slope, breaks
At the base there is a free Kinderland with a magic carpet, a practice slope, and child-scaled markings. Beside it runs a beginner piste served by a T-bar — the natural step-up once Kinderland gets too easy.
For breaks, the huts at the top station and along the middle of the slopes serve Kaiserschmarrn, soups, hot drinks, and they are honestly priced. With small children: aim to have lunch at 11:30 a.m. — you skip the longest queue and get the children fed before the afternoon dip.
Our day-on-the-slopes formula
Over the years we have found a rhythm that works for guests with children: 8:00 a.m. breakfast, 8:45 leave the house, 9:15 a.m. on the lift, 11:30 early lunch on the mountain, 12:00–2:30 quieter pistes (while most of the area eats), home by 3:30, sauna by 4:00. The phrase the area uses is “klein-aber-fein” — small but quality — and that is exactly what Grebenzen is.
