Sport & Health
Sport makes you happy
Health is not everything, but without health everything is nothing. To ensure our Green Heart does not get out of rhythm, Steiermark not only offers excellent healthcare, but also countless activities to strengthen your physical and mental health.
The Green Heart of Austria - a true paradise for sports enthusiasts! From skiing in Schladming to hiking between the Dachstein and Weinland and cycling or swimming, the Green Heart offers a variety of sporting activities in the midst of nature. But there are plenty of indoor options too, with numerous bouldering and tennis halls, squash centres and yoga studios.
Less action-packed but just as beneficial for body and soul, thermal spas are known for their healing water. In addition to various health resorts and rehabilitation centres, there are also an excellent range of doctors, hospitals and health centres at their disposal. Find out what else Steiermark has to offer to promote, strengthen and maintain physical and mental health below.
On the way on the Hochschwab | © Erzberg Alpin Resort | Tom Lamm
1/11
Lodge place at the thermal spa Bad Gleichenberg | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm
2/11
Weekly running meeting | © Thermenresort Bad Loipersdorf
3/11
Time out in the Rogner Bad Blumau | © Steiermark Tourismus | Punkt & Komma
4/11
Skiing on the Tauplitzalm | © Steiermark Tourismus | Punkt & Komma
5/11
Reiteralm Trails | © Steiermark Tourismus | Gleichweit-Nistelberger
6/11
Spa golf course Loipersdorf | © Thermengolf Loipersdorf-Fürstenfeld
7/11
Cross-country skiing on the Weirerteich trail | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm
8/11
Ski touring on the Viehbergalm | © Steiermark Tourismus | photo-austria.at
9/11
Cyclist meets stand-up paddler | © Steiermark Tourismus | pixelmaker.at
10/11
Yoga in the garden of the Hotel Pichlschloss | © Steiermark Tourismus | Tom Lamm
11/11
Figures that make the Green Heart of Austria beat faster
- Whether high up on the Dachstein Glacier in the north or leisurely through the vineyards in the south – with thousands of hiking routes and mountain tours to choose from, Steiermark has options for every fitness level.
- From the popular Mur Cycle Path to the Styrian Wine Country cycle tour that leads through all three wine-growing regions to the Schilcher Tour, Steiermark offers a wide variety of cycle and bike tours. Whether mountain, road or gravel bike – throughout the country there are 60 official cycle paths with a total length of around 2,500 kilometers and many other themed cycle paths. Mountain bikers have 175 mountain bike routes with 1,350 km of approved forest roads at their disposal. There are also 36 trails in bike parks, 16 public trails and around 15 pump tracks.
- Winter sports can be practiced in more than 60 ski areas with over 700 kilometers of slopes in Steiermark. In addition to skiing, snowboarding and ski touring, here you`ll find also around 17 cross-country skiing areas which have been awarded the Cross-Country Ski Trail Seal of Quality and 22 toboggan runs to enjoy. Some of these ski and cross-country skiing areas and toboggan runs are illuminated in the evening to ensure winter fun even after work.
- In addition to more than 30 outdoor pools, there are more than 60 bathing lakes that invite you to paddle, take a refreshing swim or even an ice bath.
- A total of 27 golf courses are waiting to be played on.
- The Green Heart of Austria currently boasts around 20 high ropes courses and climbing parks, 14 bouldering halls, eight climbing areas and about 50 via ferratas. The most famous areas in the Alps include the Dachstein massif and the Gesäuse which is also known as the "University of Mountaineering".
- Rafting, kayaking or canyoning – the water sports offers in the Gesäuse are among the most popular in Europe.
- From American football to decathlons: with its countless sports clubs and facilities, the Green Heart offers a wide range of activities for young and old. Around 720 clubs are listed with the Sportunion Steiermark, 736 with the ASKÖ Steiermark and 836 clubs with the ASVÖ Steiermark. They not only provide an excellent sporting environment, but also opportunities to make social contacts.
- And Sportpark Graz is a meeting place for around 25 different sports on 3,718 square kilometers.
Did you know that...
Healthcare facilities are better in Austria than anywhere else in the world. No other European country can boast such comprehensive medical care as the Alpine Republic. On average, in Styria there are 525 doctors per every 100,000 inhabitants.
Every second counts: the emergency services, with its more than 37,000 volunteers, needs an average of eight to 15 minutes to get to the scene. Seamless help is is also guaranteed in rural and remote areas.
With its well-established network (municipalities, sports clubs, educational institutions etc.), the "Bewegungsland Steiermark" initiative promotes long-term, sustainable and successful collaboration in the field of physical activity and aims to improve access to more exercise through sports clubs.
From a young age all I could think about was becoming a ski racer. The 1982 World Championships in Schladming were the decisive point.
TOP HEALTHCARE IN the Green Heart of Austria
Patients are in good hands: 8 state hospitals at 20 locations and three state care centres run by the Styrian Hospital Corporation (KAGES, one of the largest hospital companies in Europe) are available for emergencies. In addition, around 6,500 doctors and a further 15,000 people within the non-medical health sector look after the physical well-being of the population. This means that Austria has the highest density of doctors in Europe.
This infrastructure has a positive effect on the quality of life. 71.7 percent of people living in the province rate their health as (very) good, which is partly due to the excellent coverage through pharmacies (around 210 in total) as well as specialised care services and facilities such as old people's homes and rehabilitation centres.
Land of Spas
Nine thermal baths invite you to relax and enjoy a spot of wellness in Steiermark. There are also countless spa centres, wellness hotels and health resorts.
Air and water
The Green Heart of Austria is not only known for climatic health resorts such as Bad Aussee, Fischbach, Aflenz or Grundlsee, but also for medicinal, thermal and mineral water springs.
NATURAL VITAMINS
More than 4,300 organic farms supply regional direct marketers with fresh and seasonal produce from Steiermark.
SPECTACULAR SPORTS EVENTS
The Green Heart of Austria is an active province. According to an Austria-wide survey on the frequency of physical activity, the proportion of people who exercised five or more times a week was highest in Steiermark. For this reason, more and more sporting events have been established in the Green Heart of Austria over the past few decades in order to celebrate the joy of exercise together.
Events range from competitions that you can join in with to international ski races such as the Nightrace in Schladming or Formula 1 races at the Red Bull Ring, which attract tens of thousands of visitors to Steiermark every year.
Red Bull Ring
Summer season is racing season: the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg is not just the venue for Formula 1 races, but also for other well-known sporting events such as the Moto GP.
Action-packed Runs
From the "Erzberg Dirtrun" to the "Grazathlon", "Ladiesrun", "Drei-Gipfel-Lauf" and "Businesslauf" – the Green Heart of Austria hosts a number of marathons and spectacular hurdle races.
Winter Sports
The Nightrace on the Planai is a regular fixture in the Austrian event calendar. Another reoccurring highlight: the Ski Flying World Championships on the Kulm.
The Ski World Champion on Moments of Happiness & Low Blows
Nicole "Nici" Schmidhofer was one of the most successful female ski racers for many years. The world champion made a highly acclaimed comeback after a serious knee injury. On her 34th birthday, she announced her retirement from the World Cup circuit. (interview in german)
Even more information
Which sports courses are offered where? Where is the nearest pharmacy? How does the Austrian Health Insurance Fund work? Find helpful links on sport and health here.
- ASVÖ Steiermark (only in german)
- ASKÖ Steiermark (only in german)
- Sportunion Steiermark (only in german)
- Sportpark Graz (only in german)
- KAGES (only in german)
- Bewegungsland Steiermark (only in german)
- Pharmacy search (only in german)
- Search for a doctor (only in german)
- Emergency hotlines (only in german)
- Psychotherapeutic counseling center (only in german)
- Pro Mente Psychosocial Service (only in german)
- ÖGK Austrian Health Insurance Fund (only in german)
Our sources:
- Figures on hiking routes, ski areas, cross-country skiing trails etc., www.steiermark.com
- Figures on doctors in Steiermark, www.landesentwicklung.steiermark.at (only in german)
- Facts about rescue operations, www.roteskreuz.at and www.samariterbund.net (only in german)
- Healthcare Austria, www.workinaustria.com
- Density of doctors, www.eurostat.eu
- Pharmacies in Steiermark, www.apothekerkammer.at (only in german)
- Sports clubs, www.sportaustria.at (only in german)
- Organic farms in Steiermark, www.landesentwicklung.steiermark.at (only in german)
- Swimming in Steiermark, www.stmk.arbeiterkammer.at (only in german)
- Sporting habits Steiermark, www.statista.com
- State hospitals KAGES, www.kages.at (only in german)
- Bouldering halls, www.sportaktiv.com (only in german)
- Golf courses in Steiermark, www.steiermark.com