Nassfeld needs to expand to keep up with expansion at so many other ski areas. Here's the problem with the lift system: They've been talking about a lift from Pontebba or at least from the Italian side valley for 20 years. The whole backside of Kofelplatz/Madritschenkopf has amazing potential but no lifts. Auernig is another nice area with no lift. From the Passo Pramollo lake up to Madritschenkopf is needed to increase red/black run percentage. A connecting lift from Rudnigsattel over to the Troghoehe is needed to save skiing all the way down into the gondola valley. From Tropolach a second Millennium lift is needed direct to the top of Gartnerkofelbahn, ideally with a new skiout underneath. Lastly if these are not possible at least spend my money on developing a new more challenging run from the top of Zweikofelbahn down to the first Millennium mid station. The boring schuss, currently the only way to ski to the valley, is way, way past its time.
On a European scale Nassfeld is a medium sized ski area located in the eastern Alps of southern Austria on the Slovenian/Italian border. It's the largest ski area in the province of Carinthia catering to day/weekend skiers primarily from Villach (the closest city), Klagenfurt (the provincial capital) and bordering countries, Slovenia and Croatia in particular. Its local competition comes from Gerlitzen located on Villach's doorstep, Bad Kleinkirchheim and Turracherhoehe, both of which are smaller but nicer weekend/week long destinations where you can enjoy a more authentic ski village feel. The Nassfeld ski area is not a 'resort', rather it is situated in a small town (Tropalach) with mostly basic hotels catering to bus groups from surrounding countries as well as the Netherlands, Belgium and other north European/Scandinavian countries. The vast majority of skiers drive into the large free parking area at the base of the Millennium gondola. Shuttles run from the lots to the gondola entrance. From there you can ride 15 minutes to the top station or disembark at one of the two stations on route. Alternatively you can continue up the serpentine road from the parking lot about 15 minutes to reach the townsite of Nassfeld, a purpose built condo community requiring a chairlift to reach the top on either side of the valley. unless the weather is good you may need chains to drive it. There are more luxurious hotels in addition to condos in Nassfeld.
Nassfeld ski area, as large as it is with decent facilities and plenty of runs, is unfortunately poorly designed. It has a major drawback in that there is only one way to get down to the valley and that is by a 45 min to an hour circuitous 'tour' of the area using two lifts and skiing red and blue runs, assuming you leave enough time in the afternoon to make the lifts before they close. There is a long flat boring schuss in the middle that good skiers with well waxed skis may be able to tuck if the conditions are quick enough, but speeds into the flat need to be fast or you will be walking or polling for a stretch. Snowboarders cannot schuss the whole stretch. And then the bottom section is red/black down to the valley. You can detour to the Millennium lift to avoid this steep section but lineups are common there. And what is really frustrating is that the Skiout is usually closed earlier and later in the season forcing you to join the Millennium downloading crowds at Tressdorferhoehe. There's no public announcement advising skiers when the skiout opens or closes.
Food prices on top (Kofel restaurant) are expensive and it can be crowded, albeit with a nice convenient panoramic location, but you pay for it. Tressdorferhoehe is better with a nice outdoor sitting area. But the best restaurant pricewise on the mountain is the Garnitzenalm, found on the quieter side of the ski area also with a nice location. It has rustic decor with a large outdoor sitting area and the cleanest washrooms on the mountain. It is usually the least crowded and gives you access to one of the nicest red runs with few people on it directly above. This is the area to ski when the mountain is packed with people and the runs turn to ice.
Personally, if I were planning a trip to Europe for a week or two I'd give Nassfeld a miss. It's just not attractive enough from a location, price and ski run layout perspective. It's attractive to bus groups for a week of lessons but for the intermediate to advanced skier looking for more run-out variety, gondolas and funparks you can do much better in France or even at less touristy Swiss resorts.
I have been coming to Nassfeld ski area since 1980. The resort was and is very friendly and good for families. There are a few black runs but that is ok as very few people using them can actually ski well. Queues at the bottom of the gondola can be huge when school parties visit but on the whole not too bad. The whole ski experience is very good, fantastic views and well groomed pistes. Alcohol consumption is at times worrying when you then see people skiing down the slope. The FIS rules are not looked at by people and the code is not regularly observed. The rules should be on larger sheets of paper and in better areas so that people will be able to read them. Going out of season is always a better experience but during the school holiday times it gets very crowded. Great to read that at last there will be a chairlift instead of the T-bar next to the warm up lift. So many more choices then. I love to come to Nassfeld. More things to do in the village would be good and particularly in Hermagor!
Visited Nassfeld in the week March 11-16th, 2013. Great impressions! Very good slopes for every skiers - you will find place for skiing irrespectively from your skills. Friendly assistance at the ski lifts and at the huts. Amazing views (if there is no fog, but as always you have to be lucky with the weather). Pistes prepared mostly ok (1 day was awful - a lot of ice parts from snowgroomers).
I may recommend this place. Not crowded at all (in March), not any lines at gondola in the morning. Definitely worth to visit.
Nassfeld is a really good resort that just keeps improving each year. Really good value for food and drinks on the mountain, state of the art lifts and facilities and hardly any queues.
The skiing is mostly intermediate with lots of reds, a few blues and no blacks, I don't think, so experts won't be challenged unless they go off-piste. Away from the main gondola there is virtually no one on the mountain making this a brilliant resort for anyone wanting to improve or just cruise about without millions of people to dodge or get mown down by. Good for snowboarders too with a decent new park in this year.
The resort is still developing (it's only 12 years old) and there is not much in the way of nightlife after apres o'clock so don't come there thinking it's Mayrhofen or Saalbach in that respect but in other ways you could argue it's actually better than these more famous Austrian resorts - Highly recommended!
Fab runs, fab lifts, no queues at Nassfeld if you turn up at around 10am. We were there in March and it's very surprising that this place is better than most of the Tyrol. Ski Nassfeld! It's got an awful lot to offer. The Carnia run is around 8km, 'sort of a red/blue run', at the right times it's awesome. We can't wait until they link this resort to the Italy.. It's big already and has its own snowboard park. One word...Awesome !..
Great skiing, and skiing.. and skiing. You need at least 3 days to ski the whole area at Nassfeld. Heard about the queues but if you start from near the Italian border at Passo Pramollo (Madritsche chairlift) it's not as crowded and a good way up. They have this skyline thing, where you go on the resort website and key in your skipass # to find out how many metres vertical you have skied. In all: best kept secret in the Eastern Alps. Only thing: watch your skis. On busy days thieves are at work.
Used to be great, but Nassfeld is now very busy with many Eastern Europeans and horrendous lines at the gondola in the morning. We have seen many accidents due to the crowded slopes.
They close the slope to bring in the helicopter to take folks off the slopes.
Best time to ski at Nassfeld is during December before the winter crowds.
This year there is an incredible amount of snow at Nassfeld. I spent my holidays from the 11 of Jan 2009 to the 18th and it was great. There is so much snow and it has beautiful and perfectly prepared slopes and pistes. Nassfeld is the best ski area on the south side of the Alps. I'll be back soon.
Just got back from a great week in Nassfeld. Really amazed that more Brits haven't found the place. Cheap Ryanair flights to Klagenfurt (great little airport),very efficient car hire & one hour twenty mins to resort. We did self-catering in Sonnleitn (half way up the mountain), ski in and out 15 metres from doorstep. Super range of runs, good snow, no queues and great views. Mountain eating was good and not too pricey. Nightlife is very quiet but that suited us and our two young kids (11 & 8). Resort staff very friendly and only too happy to use their English. Definately worth a look!