When can the highest visitor frequency be expected? Especially during the Christmas vacations and the Dutch crocus vacations (second half of February), as well as on weekends with good snow conditions, high traffic volumes can be expected when traveling to the winter sports centers around Winterberg and Willingen. In order to avoid this, smaller ski resorts offer themselves as insider tips.

How do I prepare my arrival? If you can not avoid the times with expected high crowds, we recommend you to plan your arrival as well as possible. Check which parking lot you would like to use and which entrance to the ski area is the best. Reserve your ski equipment and ski lessons before your arrival. Most resorts offer this service and even give discounts.

The major ski resorts Skiliftkarussell Winterberg, Willingen ski resort, Postwiesen-Skidorf Neuastenberg and Altastenberg ski resort offer the service of booking tickets online in advance. This usually requires a KeyCard, which can be topped up again and again. This must be ordered once in advance via one of the ticket shops. Click here to go to the booking platforms of the ski resorts.

Travel options by bus and train Does it always have to be the car? Often the journey by train or by long-distance bus is less stressful and even cheaper.

Winterberg is easily accessible by public transport. The RegionalExpress RE 57 runs every hour on weekends (Mon-Fri every two hours) from Dortmund via Meschede to Winterberg, with connections from Warburg/Kassel in Bestwig. Additional connections exist from Hagen and Schwerte with the RE 17 to Olsberg, where there is a connection to the S 50 express bus to Winterberg. On Saturdays in the winter season, there are also direct trains from Oberhausen, Essen and Bochum with connections from the Netherlands.

With the "SchönerTagTicket NRW 5 Personen", up to 5 people from all over NRW (as well as from Arnhem and Venlo) can travel to Winterberg and back for just €46.

Current timetable information can be found here. (Link on www.westfalenfahrplan.de)

In Winterberg, a ski bus operates between the core town and the districts of Neuastenberg, Altastenberg and Langewiese on weekends.

Arrival by train to Willingen

By train from the Ruhr area

Hourly with change in Brilon-Wald on the line RB97 and RE97 to the station Willingen

By train from the Rhine-Main area

Hourly with change in Marburg on the line RB97 or RE97 to the station Willingen or Willingen-Usseln.

By train from Kassel

Take the RB4 line to Korbach interchange station, then continue with the RB97 or RE97 line to Willingen or Willingen-Usseln.

Arrival by car. Which routes can I take? Particularly on weekends and during vacation periods, increased traffic is to be expected in the mornings when arriving and in the afternoons when departing, especially on the main approach route from the Ruhr Valley (B480 via Olsberg). Possible alternatives for this arrival route are:

Alternative Route I: Motorway A46 - exit Meschede onto the B55, then take the L740 towards Winterberg, via Remblinghausen, Bödefeld, Altenfeld, Siedlinghausen, Silbach.

Alternative route II: Motorway A46 - exit Wennemen on L914 direction Eslohe, in the course of L840 via Calle, & L541 Eslohe - Wenholthausen. B55 direction Meschede, in Bremke turn onto L511, direction Schmallenberg, via Dorlar, Bad Fredeburg, Gleidorf. In Gleidorf take the B236 towards Winterberg, via Winkhausen, Oberkirchen, Albrechtsplatz, Langewiese, Neuastenberg. At Albrechtsplatz follow the B480 towards Winterberg via Langewiese, Neuastenberg.

Alternative route III (arrival in the Willingen area):

Freeway A44- exit Bad Wünnenberg on the B480 direction Brilon, from there on the B251 and via Brilon-Wald to Willingen. More information: How to get to Willingen

When is the best time to leave? Most of our guests leave at the closing time of the ski resorts (16.30 to 17 o'clock). If possible, try to leave a little earlier or stay a little longer in the ski lodges to avoid a simultaneous departure.

Where can I get information about the traffic situation? WDR2 & Radio Sauerland, as well as https://www.verkehr.nrw/de (for freeways & federal roads) inform about the current traffic situation.

What else can I do? Make sure you have good winter tires. Many traffic problems are caused by broken down or very slow vehicles. Inform yourself in time about the weather and road conditions and drive carefully. We would like to draw your attention to the road traffic regulations, which stipulate a fine for summer tires in case of winter road conditions: Road traffic regulations fine catalog