Here is some Schladming practical information in order to help you plan your trip to this small mining town. Located in the Austrian region of Styria, Schladming is rapidly becoming one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, although the size of the town itself is quite small. Read on for a bit of information that may prove helpful to you as you plan your trip to Austria and to Schladming in particular.

Town History and Facts

With a population of roughly 5,000 permanent residents, the mining town of Schladming was, for many decades, a very obscure Austrian mountainside town. However, in recent years it has gained in popularity among tourists in the winter months because it is ideally situated for some excellent skiing. The mountain range that is closest is called the Planai. As part of the Alps, this range has a wonderful set of different ski slopes that cater to all ages and levels of ability. The most popular time to visit Schladming is in the winter, roughly between the months of November and March. If you plan to visit and wish to ski, it's a good idea to book an accommodation well in advance, as the city is not capable of housing a great number of tourists at this point.

General Austria Information

Austria is a democratic republic and a member of the European Union. Thus, it has a shared currency with the other nations that are EU members, and you will not need to transfer or exchange money if you're arriving from one of these other countries. The border exchange between these countries is also minimal. Austrians speak German, with a slightly different dialect and speech pattern than people who live in the country of Germany. As with much of the rest of Europe, many Austrian citizens go on vacation during the month of August, meaning that many restaurants and shops may be closed for business for several weeks in the summer.

If you're driving through Austria, you'll need to purchase a "vignette," or a small sticker that you can place in the corner of your windshield. This serves as your pass to drive through the country. If you're caught without a vignette that is valid, you'll be made to pay a hefty fine (typically on the order of 150 or 200 Euros.)