Berg im Drautal – Ski Holidays, Hiking and Regional Experiences

Emberger Alm is a family-friendly ski area with ten kilometres of pistes and four lifts. At the same time, the area offers an unusually varied complement to a day of skiing: hiking trails, churches and historic buildings, activities on the Drau, an adventure swimming pool and regional food make travel planning interesting for mixed groups as well. It is therefore important to decide whether you want to focus your stay primarily on Emberger Alm or combine skiing and outdoor experiences with culture, exercise and regional cuisine.

Winter Days and Active Alternatives

Emberger Alm offers ten kilometres of pistes and four lifts. When choosing a ski hotel or other accommodation, you should consider your intended daily schedule separately: Are the pistes of Emberger Alm your main focus, or should activities in the village and along the Drau be given equal consideration?

There are also several clearly defined options away from the pistes. Guided hikes are offered from Emberger Alm. In the centre of Berg im Drautal, you can join the Way of St. James directly. The regional hiking network is part of the Oberdrautal Outdoor Park; the holiday resort has also been awarded the Austrian Hiking Quality Seal. In the Ochsenschlucht Gorge, you can enjoy a family-friendly, adventurous hike with a natural playground and campfire grill.

The accessible Geißloch Gorge combines scenery with the history of craftsmanship. There you can see large limestone formations and a renovated historic lime kiln. A hiking trail around one kilometre long, with approximately 100 metres of elevation gain, leads through the gorge. Those looking for a gentler form of exercise will find five sensory-meditative hikes in Sensopark, with exercises for body and soul.

The Drau, Leisure Activities and Options for Different Interests

Cyclists can use the Drau Cycle Path in Berg im Drautal, while canoe trips are offered on the Drau. Paragliding and hang-gliding are also practised at Emberger Alm. A venue for elaborate craftsmanship is located directly at the canoe and inflatable-boat launch and landing site, a few minutes from the Drau Cycle Path and in the immediate vicinity of the railway station. This combination opens up different options for daily itineraries without requiring all travellers to choose the same activity.

For families, the Berg im Drautal adventure swimming pool offers an independent leisure option. It has two swimming pools, including a children’s pool with a 38-metre-long water slide. There is also a paddling pool, a large sunbathing lawn, a children’s playground and a beach volleyball court. Anyone who does not ski or is planning a day without mountain activities can include this as an independent leisure option.

The holiday observatory at Emberger Alm is available to interested amateur astronomers who have not brought their own equipment. The observatory can be rented; guided tours can be booked on request and are held regularly. For planning purposes, it makes sense to consider the desired use and a guided tour separately, as they are different services.

Culture and Local Character

The Catholic parish church of the Nativity of Mary and the cemetery in Berg im Drautal are protected historic monuments by decree. Berg Parish Church was converted into a fortified church in the 15th century and was first mentioned in documents in 1267. The nave contains wall paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries. On the north side of the church stands the Romanesque charnel house known as “Michelele”; its ceiling frescoes are of great art-historical significance. The Catholic branch church of St. Athanasius and the remains of demolished buildings in Berg im Drautal are also protected historic monuments by decree.

The branch church of St. Athanas was first mentioned in documents in 1443 and was originally dedicated to Saint Nonnosus. Remains of two monumental cycles of standing figures from different periods, originally positioned one above the other, have been preserved; each depicts Jesus Christ with the twelve Apostles. The church, also popularly known as “St. Athanas”, was formerly a pilgrimage church and today provides a setting for sacred concerts with its high altar. It stands in open country near the Drau, beside the Drautal federal highway.

Regional Cuisine and Practical Information

In the Berg Slow Food Village, wine, sweet chestnuts and almost forgotten varieties of fruit and grain thrive. The Slow Food Village traditionally hosts its breakfast of regional delicacies in autumn. The Binter farm shop sells cheese, bacon, sausages and dairy products.

For residents and tourists, the Postbus Shuttle Oberes Drautal has operated in Berg im Drautal as an on-demand service since 15 October 2025. The shuttle can be booked via the Postbus Shuttle app or by telephone on 0800 80 88 08. When planning your arrival and excursions, you should take this specific booking option into account, as well as the individual location and amenities of the accommodation, which must be checked for each individual offer.

If you would like to compare other destinations besides Berg im Drautal, you can also include Lieserbrücke, Asten, Gatschach, Egg, Millstatt, Söbriach, Pfaffenberg and Kremsbrücke in your search.

FAQ

Which skiing option is relevant for travel planning?

Emberger Alm is a family-friendly ski area with ten kilometres of pistes and four lifts. Current snow and operating conditions should be checked separately.

What hiking options are available?

You can join the Way of St. James in the village centre, use the hiking network of the Oberdrautal Outdoor Park, take part in guided hikes from Emberger Alm or explore Ochsenschlucht Gorge and Geißloch Gorge.

Which activity is suitable for a day without skiing?

Options include hikes, the Drau Cycle Path, canoe trips on the Drau, the adventure swimming pool and the Emberger Alm holiday observatory.

How can the Postbus Shuttle be booked?

The Oberes Drautal on-demand shuttle can be booked via the Postbus Shuttle app or by telephone on 0800 80 88 08.

Which cultural attractions can you visit?

Cultural attractions in Berg im Drautal include the protected parish church of the Nativity of Mary with wall paintings, the Romanesque charnel house “Michelele” and the branch church of St. Athanas with historic murals.

Which regional products are available locally?

The Berg Slow Food Village grows, among other things, wine, sweet chestnuts and old varieties of fruit and grain. The Binter farm sells cheese, bacon, sausages and dairy products in its farm shop.

For the higher-level travel overview: Spittal an der Drau District.