Last Updated on January 3, 2026
A short ski break to Ötztal in the Austrian Tyrol
The Ötztal Valley, in the Austrian Tyrol, has everything you need for a great ski holiday, either for a short break or a longer stay. It should be on your short list of destinations to visit. The six ski areas have a combined total of over 360 kilometres of slopes, with high-altitude skiing on glaciers, as well as pistes suitable for families and beginners. The ski area is open from the end of October to the beginning of May, with guaranteed snow higher up. The three largest resorts in Ötztal are Sölden, Obergurgl and Hochgurgl, the latter two being collectively known as Gurgl. Smaller resorts are the family-friendly ones of Hochoetz, Vent, Gries & Niederthal, these are perfect for children and beginners. The abundance of cosy mountain huts and restaurants sets Austria apart from other Alpine countries.
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Sölden
Sölden is the largest ski resort in Ötztal, an area of more than one hundred and forty-six kilometres of slopes. With a world-class lift system, you can easily get up the mountain to explore the area. Sölden has a snow-sure record; the first slalom races of the FIS Alpine World Cup are held annually here at the end of October. Starting at an altitude of three thousand and forty metres, on the Rettenbach glacier, this is widely recognised as a challenging race. Experience the black run yourself. Although it is wide, there is a steep gradient, and you can appreciate how fast the athletes will go.
Sölden has a good variety of skiing for all levels with beautifully groomed blue runs, sweeping reds and challenging blacks. The two glacier areas of Rettenbach and Tiefenbach are connected by a two-hundred-metre tunnel, making them easily accessible. You can also find the longest ski run in Austria here, starting at the Schwarze Schneid. This is a fifteen-kilometre piste with a descent of nearly two thousand metres; it is sure to get your muscles burning!
Visit the BIG3 viewing platforms for spectacular views over the mountains. At Gaislachkogl, a height of three thousand and forty eight metres, you access the roof terrace of the Ice Q restaurant by a suspension bridge with a three hundred and sixty degree panorama. This platform is also accessible by pedestrians, using the Gaislachkogl Bahn.
At the top station of the Tiefenbach Gondola, at an altitude of three thousand and fifty metres, take the footbridge which extends out over the glacier for an outstanding view. The Schwarze Schneide platform is a fifteen-minute walk from the top of the Schwarze Schneide Gondola. The view from here extends as far as the Dolomites.
007 Elements experience
A fascinating experience is the 007 Elements, a James Bond installation at the very top of the Gaislachkogl Gondola. This was one of the dramatic settings for the Spectre film. Immerse yourself in James Bond’s world with videos, interactive displays and models depicting how the scenes were created. The original plane used in the chase scene is a stunning part of this exhibition.
007 Elements is accessible for non-skiers, with the Ice Q restaurant, Austria’s highest gourmet restaurant, close by.
Gurgl
The interlinked resorts of Obergurgl and Hochgurgl, making up Gurgl, are situated at the end of the Ötztal Valley. You can reach them by the free ski bus from Sölden in around ten minutes. This high-altitude area, ranging from eighteen hundred to three thousand and thirty metres, features wide open terrain with one hundred and twelve kilometres of pistes. Its location makes it snow sure, as it is surrounded by glaciers and three-thousand-metre peaks. The majority of the accommodation in Gurgl is ski-in ski-out, ideal if you want to maximise your skiing time.
Take the Hohe Mut Bahn up the mountain to an altitude of two thousand and seventy metres for a stunning panoramic view. The red run down to Obergurgl from here is a delight to ski; it was empty when we visited, and we enjoyed every moment of the descent. The Top Express gondola runs across the mountain, linking Obergurgl with Hochgurgl in just nine minutes, making it easy to explore the wider area.
For a spectacular view, take the gondola and chair lift up to Top Mountain Star, perched on the ridge at Wurmkogl, three thousand and thirty metres above sea level. The glass-walled restaurant at the top serves a range of refreshments. From the viewing platform, three-thousand-metre-high mountain peaks stretch out into the distance. The way down is either by a blue run or a lovely, wide, black run.
Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum
Why not visit the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum, Europe’s highest motorcycle museum, situated at Crosspoint in Timmelsjoch? This incredible collection of over five hundred motorcycles, as well as other vehicles, is a truly impressive sight.
Experience first-hand the roaring sounds of motorcycles or visit the Four D cinema for a simulation of riding a motorcycle. The museum is accessible for skiers and non-skiers alike.
Mountain restaurants
Austria has some of the best mountain restaurants in the Alps, serving tasty mountain dishes in a cosy setting. You won’t struggle to find somewhere to stop for a warming drink or delicious lunch.
In Sölden, the Gampe Thaya, to the side of the red run 11, is a typical traditional Tyrolean hut. We visited for lunch on a day with poor visibility, and the cosy, wooden interior of this excellent restaurant was very welcome. Gampe Thaya has an extensive menu of hot Ötztal specialities made using produce from local farms.
We struggled to choose between the enticing-sounding dishes; this is somewhere I could have happily returned to again. The roast potatoes with bacon and fried eggs I opted for were superb; it was a hearty mountain dish guaranteed to stoke my legs. My daughter, who accompanied me on the trip, was delighted with her Tyrolean Camembert wrapped in bacon, served with a salad. There was just the right balance between the various elements.
Our guide had recommended that we try the Kaiserschmarrn, chunks of sweet, fluffy pancake dusted in sugar, an Austrian dessert speciality. It came sizzling in a pan with a side pot of juicy cranberries. It was the highlight of our lunch and moreish to say the least.
In Obergurgl, we stopped for a coffee at the Hohe Mut Alm. This restaurant has far-reaching views over the surrounding mountains and a large sun terrace, perfect for taking time out on a lovely day.
Top Mountain Crosspoint in Gurgl is a spacious mountain restaurant, with seating both inside and outside, located next door to the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum and the gondola. The décor is influenced by the motorcycle museum. Here I plumped for one of my all-time favourite Austrian dishes, Wiener Schnitzel and wasn’t disappointed, it was wafer-thin and delicious.
Winter walks, tobogganing and snowshoe walking cater for non-skiers in this beautiful Alpine region. A good number of mountain restaurants are accessible by lifts for pedestrians as well as skiers.
Why not consider Ötztal in Austria as your next ski destination? With its excellent snow record, variety of pistes and welcoming Tyrolean restaurants, you are sure to have a great visit. Our brief stay in Ötztal more than exceeded my expectations. I will be sure to return in the future to explore the area in more depth.
Where to stay in Sölden
The hotel Bäckelar Wirt is an ideal place to stay in Sölden. This modern three-star hotel is perfectly placed for the Gaislachkoglbahn and ski bus, with both around a minute’s walk away. Featuring a sauna and steam room, the half-board rate includes a delicious five-course evening meal.
Ski Hire
We recommend the Sporthütte Fiegl for ski hire. The shop is conveniently located at the bottom of the Gaislachkogl gondola; you can pick up your equipment and hop on the lift up the mountain. They stock an extensive range of skis for all abilities. We were delighted with the top-of-the-range skis they supplied; the service at the shop was friendly and efficient.
We were hosted by Ötztal Tourismus for a short ski break, staying in the Bäckelar Wirt Hotel with a day of skiing in Sölden, a day exploring the Gurgl resorts, and lunches at the Gampe Thaya mountain hut and the Top Mountain Crosspoint restaurant.
Getting to Ötztal
The closest airport to the Ötztal region is Innsbruck, one and a half hours by plane from London Gatwick airport. The transfer time to Sölden from Innsbruck is around eighty minutes; Gurgl is slightly further away.
Fact box
To get the best price for your lift pass, you should book in advance. For holidays of three days or more, the Ötztal pass covers all the resorts in the area, giving you greater flexibility. Some lift passes include entry to 007 Elements and the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum. Find out more about lift pass options here.
For more information on skiing in Soelden.
Find out more about the 007 Elements.
Visit the Gurgl website for information on the Obergurgl and Hochgurgl resorts.
For opening times and tickets for the Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum.
For more information on Gampe Thaya.
You can see more information on Hohe Mut Alm here.
For details on the Top Mountain Crosspoint Restaurant.
Check out the facilities and rates for the Baekelar Wirt Hotel.
If you are looking for a luxury ski holiday, check out our article on the Jagdhof in Stubaital.
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