Sölden Ski Resort Austria
Soelden ski resort in the Ötztal (or Oetz valley) is one of Austria's largest standalone skiing areas, plus has both the country's longest skiable vertical & longest ski trail. Be prepared for the word BIG to be thrown at you when visiting Sölden. A visit to the Austrian Tyrol is probably not complete without even a short visit.
Everything about the resort is big. Expansive terrain over 2,000m elevation, 146km of piste trails, 2 glaciers, skiing from September to May, three peaks over 3,000m, huge beginner ski areas & a vast off-piste make Sölden an intriguing ski area to visit. To make it even bigger, every lift pass of 3 days duration or longer is valid in all the resorts in the Oetztal.
A caveat though. By its very nature, it may not appeal to everyone, particularly discerning Powderhounds & their families.
Pros & Cons for Soelden Ski Resort
Pros
- Modern lift system, directly accessible from two points in town.
- Extensive piste terrain for beginners & intermediates.
- Quality snow up high.
- Vast & challenging freeride terrain.
- Loads of ski-in (& several ski-out) accommodation options.
- Long ski season - late September to May.
- Longest ski trail in Austria - 15km.
- Biggest skiable vertical in Austria.
- Numerous valley trail options all the way into town.
- Stupendous viewpoints.
- Free daytime undercover parking.
- Vibrant après ski and nightlife.
- Several good restaurant options in town.
Cons
- Extremely busy;
- Many piste trails are 'manufactured' & not natural fall line.
- 'Advanced' on-piste trails are generally overrated.
- Major piste trails can become dangerous at certain times of day.
- Town has numerous (& unnecessary) tawdry strip clubs.
- Accommodation & ticket window lift passes expensive.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Soelden is a large, busy town with full services & entertainment available.
- A BIG resort, where everything is BIG!
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Soelden ski resort is an engorged behemoth that skites about how big it is. It’s true. Two glacier ski areas. Skiing for nearly 8 months of the year. Biggest skiable vertical & longest run in Austria. Modern & efficient ski lifts. Interesting (& huge) off-piste. The list goes on. And yet, there is something missing at Sölden. Perhaps there are too many people on the pistes. Perhaps the tawdry feeling town itself reduces one’s resolve to enjoy the actual ski experience. Or maybe too much of the on-piste terrain is for beginners.
Check out the ski trail map for Solden below.
In fresh snow with a deep snow-pack, the resort has much to offer the powder hound. The off-piste & freeride terrain is vast & will provide plenty of action for all levels of powder rider. The pick of the area's freeride terrain in good visibility is any of the multitude options from the top of 3,058m Gaislachkogel. Long descents of over 1,000m vertical are possible via steep alpine chutes & bowls. Light trees appear at the lower elevations.
Snow & Weather
Sölden is one of Europe’s most snow sure ski resorts. A high annual snow fall is coupled with most terrain being above the 2,000m mark. Terrain is generally north & east facing so avoids the worst of the sun’s rays without being ‘in the dark’. During alot of winter storms, snow quality seems better at here than at nearby Obergurgl Hochgurgl, mainly due to its terrain aspect relative to prevailing winds.
Lift Passes
Day tickets at Soelden during high season are amongst the most expensive in Austria when purchased on the morning from the ticket window. If purchased online at least 5 days prior to use, a standard day lift pass can be up to €11 cheaper - a huge saving!
Good to know also is that lift passes of 3-days or greater duration are also valid in the nearby ski resorts of Gurgl (Obergurgl-Hochgurgl), Hochoetz-Kuhtai & Vent.
Where is Sölden Austria?
The Soelden ski resort rises over the town of the same name in the Ötztal (Oetz valley) of the Austrian Tyrol. The best gateway cities & airports are Innsbruck (INN) (88km by road to the northeast) & Munich (MUC) (around 250km north).
Aside from Sölden, the next major town is Oetz, 31km to the north. A further 7km north, the Ötztal Bahnhof provides train access from Innsbruck, Munich or Zurich. Bus services run at least nine times per day up the valley from Ötztal Bahnhof to Soelden & beyond. Journey time from Innsbruck is generally less than 2hr. Search & book train tickets to train tickets to Ötztal Bahnhof.
Driving to Solden is easy via the motorways to the Oetz valley & there is plenty of free parking (including undercover) at Soelden for day trippers.
For those not keen on public transport or driving to Soelden (& for reasons of value & efficiency), we recommend looking at a private transfer - at least from Ötztal Bahnhof & particularly if in a group of 3 or more people.
Search & book all airport/private transfers to Sölden.
For more information about travelling around the Austrian Alps in winter, see our Travel in Austria page.
Soelden Accommodation
The town of Sölden is a sprawling mass lining the busy main road heading up the Oetz valley toward Obergurgl. It has zero traditional ambiance but is certainly functional. If looking for a traditional Austrian ski village then Solden may not be for you. The upper areas of Hochsölden & the small Innerwald, Unterwald & Ausserwald at the top of the funicular provide options to move above the town.
Search & book all Sölden ski accommodation.
If one has their own transport, alternative places to stay include up the valley in Obergurgl Hochgurgl, or down the valley at Längenfeld (near the awesome Aqua Dome) & Oetz - a Powderhounds favourite based on price, access to ski resorts, lack of crowds & good places to eat.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Ski rentals are available the villages of Soelden & Hochsölden. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Soelden Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
An incredible diversity of ski instructors, ski schools & guides work their craft in the Soelden ski resort & Oetztal. To narrow down the field, search & book private or group lessons & mountain guides with the best providers Sölden Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Nearby Ski Resorts
Beyond the sprawling Sölden, the Ötztal (Oetz valley) has two other major ski resorts. At the start of the valley, Hochoetz is accessible directly from the major valley town of Oetz as well by ski bus from the excellent Kuhtai ski resort higher up. In the opposite direction at the top of the valley near the border with Italy is Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, one the most snow sure non-glacier ski resorts in Austria. In the next valley west, the Pitztal (Pitz valley), the superb Pitztal Glacier and Hochzeiger ski resorts provide a quieter alternative to the Oetztal. From the Ötztal railway station, depending on whether you choose left or right, a short train ride will get you to Innsbruck or St Anton. Visitors to the Tyrol are spoilt for choice.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed Sölden in 2018 & 19 with mixed results. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read our fearless postulations!
See how Soelden compares to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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