Wildschönau Card and Premium Card: what is included?

Which card will I get?

There are two versions. You get the Wildschönau Card in every accommodation in the valley, whatever the type of stay. The Premium Card is a fuller summer version issued only by participating partner accommodations. Both are handed over on arrival and valid from the first day. The arrangement can change slightly from year to year, for instance in the periods when lifts or the pool are open. When booking, ask whether your accommodation issues the regular card or the Premium Card, especially if you plan to use the lifts a lot. Hotel Wastlhof and other partners can tell you straight away.

Summer: lifts with the Premium Card

In summer the Premium Card gives unlimited use of the mountain lifts in the Wildschönau, including the Markbachjoch lift in Niederau and the Schatzberg lift in Auffach. That gets you up the mountain for hikes, the Markbachjoch and its children's attractions without a separate ticket. The lifts only run within the summer season, often until early or mid October. Exact dates differ per year and per lift, so check the lift operators' websites beforehand. If you only have the regular Wildschönau Card, the summer lifts are not included and you buy a separate ticket.

Summer: bus, pool and museums

The card is worth a lot even without the lifts. The hiking bus within the Wildschönau is included, so you can get from village to village and to trailheads without a car. The open-air pool in the Wildschönau is free to enter, as is the Bergbauernmuseum z'Bach in Oberau. In recent summers the offer also included free entry to the Augustinermuseum in Rattenberg and use of the tennis court. Because such extras can change from year to year, it pays to ask your accommodation or the tourist office for the current list.

Summer: guided hikes and the Drachenclub

During the summer season, joining the guided hiking programme is free, usually Monday to Friday. You discover routes with a guide without planning anything yourself. You normally need to register in advance, for example through your accommodation or the tourist office. For children there is the Drachenclub, the Wildschönau activity programme. It is aimed at children of roughly 5 to 14 and consists of activities in nature and around the valley. Taking part is covered by the card. Programme and days vary by week, so ask for the current schedule.

Winter: what is included?

In winter the card is mainly about getting around and doing things beyond skiing. The ski bus between Niederau, Oberau and Auffach is included, as is the Nightliner, the night bus between Niederau and Auffach on Friday and Saturday evenings. That means you do not have to drive after dinner. Guided winter and snowshoe hikes are also free, including a snowshoe walk with headlamps on Tuesday evenings. Snowshoes can be rented in limited numbers from sports shops, with the rental covered by the card. The museums in the Wildschönau are included too. Contact the organiser beforehand to join a hike, since places are limited.

What is not included?

The ski pass for the Ski Juwel Alpbachtal Wildschönau ski area is not part of the card. You buy it separately, even if you take the ski bus to the lift in winter. For the summer lifts you need the Premium Card; with the regular card you pay yourself. Also not included are ski lessons, equipment rental (apart from snowshoes), food and drink, entry to attractions that do not take part, and journeys outside the Wildschönau. An attraction or programme item may also drop out in a given year. If in doubt, check beforehand whether something is covered by the card.

How do I get the card?

You do not need to apply for anything. Your accommodation issues the card, normally at check-in, and it is linked to your stay. It is valid from the first night until the day of departure, and the cost is included in the room rate. If you want the Premium Card, book with a participating partner accommodation. Not every stay includes it, so ask before booking. If you booked through a booking site or tour operator, ask the accommodation to confirm that the card comes with your stay. Keep it with you all week, as you show it on the bus and at the pool and museum.

Frequently asked questions