There are a wide choice of ski resorts reachable from Graz between 1 – 2 hours drive. You can see a list of open resorts here. The Steiermark tourism page also has recommendations for ski resorts, including a section on family friendly resorts, plus sledging runs, fun parks for snowboarders, cross country skiing and ski schools. My favourites are Weinebene, Präbichl, Stuhleck, Lachtal, Tauplitz and Turracher Höhe. There are also small cheaper ski resorts like Teichlam and Sommeralm. Most ski resorts get very busy on weekends.

Weather and snow are often an important factor in skiing, Bergfex has good weather reports which show the weather in the valley as well as the top of the mountain, plus current snow levels. You can also view webcams for most of the resorts to see what the snow coverage is like and how busy they are.

Many ski resorts are really only reachable by car but there are some ski buses from Graz, for example the Postbus goes Thursdays – Sundays from Murpark and the main Graz train station to Tauplitz and Bad Mitterndorf until March 10th (daily during the Feb semester school holidays). Adults €34 / kids €17.

Gruber Resien offers a bus service leaving 7 am from Murpark on Saturday and Sundays to different ski resorts on different dates from €80 – €99 (includes a day ski pass).

Ritter Resien offers a bus service on Saturdays to Planai, Schladming for €89 which includes a day ski pass, leaving 6 am from Graz-Webling P&R.

The TIM car sharing service has a special deal for Präbichl ski resort for their members. Book a car for €87 for 24 hours (chose Präbichl as the destination), includes 100 free kilometers and 10 % discount on day ski passes for everyone travelling together.

You can rent skis at most resorts or in Graz for the season at Andreas Ski Laden. They also have good deals on second hand ski equipment to buy. Willhaben is also a good place to buy secondhand ski equipment or clothes. Carla stores often have really good deals on ski clothing for adults and kids, or the kid second shops like Pascalino at Hasnerplatz. Intersport and Gigasport can both service skis.

It is important to have mountain rescue insurance as the regular Austrian health insurances do not cover rescue costs in the mountains should you have an accident. ÖAMTC and the Alpenverein both offer very affordable insurance coverage which includes mountain helicopter rescue.

At the beginning of the ski season, Der Grazer offers a great deal ski pass for €75 (2022/23 price) for 1 day pass x 5 ski resorts. These sell out quickly!

AK Members (Abeiterkammer) get 50% on special days at Weinebene, Salzstiegl, Lachtal, Obdach, Riesneralm and Brunnalm-Veitsch. There is free goulash soup for card holders at lunchtime and music entertainment. More details can be found in the ACard Journal that is mailed by post to all AK members.

The City of Graz offer really good value ski courses for kids for Graz residents 5 x Saturdays or for a week in the semester holidays for only €10! Including bus transportation from Graz. These book up quickly! More details in their brochure here.