Lies in the upper reaches of the valley, 40 km south of the main railway station of the region - Ötztal-Bahnhof (Bahnhof Otztal). In fact, this is not one village, but a whole string of villages and individual farms stretching along the Ötztaler-Ahe River at the foot of Peak Windaher-Daunkogel(2248 m). At the same time, from the west, the valley is bounded by no less impressive Oysere-Schwarze-Schneide (3255 m) and Schwarzkogel (3016 m) massifs, which creates almost unlimited opportunities for active recreation. The main street, lined with shops and hotels, runs along the western side of the river, while the eastern bank is lined with chalets, boarding houses and private mansions. And in almost every quarter there is a cable station, equipment rental, a sports club and so on.

Ski holidays

Sölden is primarily known as a winter resort offering a wide range of pistes of all difficulty levels. In total, there are about 144 km of well-prepared slopes (35% "blue", 47% "red" and 18% "black") with heights from 1350 to 3250 meters. Many long and steep descents come from Geislachkogel peaks(Gaislachkogel, 3058 m) and giggiyoh(Giggijoch, the Schwarzkogel massif in the west), which are quite clearly distinguished by the level of the slopes - the Giggijoch ski area is more designed for skiers with intermediate training and beginners, and both slopes of the Gaislachkogel peak are designed for professionals and off-piste skiers. Glaciers Rettenbach in the southwest and Wüttenkar in the northwest they provide excellent off-season skiing opportunities, and in the east there are several short but steep trails for experienced skiers.

In addition, just 5 km south of Sölden lie the famous mountain villages (Ober Gurgel, Obergurgl) www.obergurgl.com and Hochgurgl(Hochgurgl) - the highest mountain resorts in Austria and a real Mecca for extreme people. Excellent road access and the steep slopes of the Wurmkogel mountain (3032 m) make Hochgurgl a first-class center for year-round recreation. From here, a toll road (from June to September - 10-14 euros per car) rises to the 2509-meter Timmelsjoch Pass (Timmelsjochberg) on ​​the Italian border, from which breathtaking panoramas of the Alps open up.

At the same time, in the lower forest part of the Ötztal, Fentertal and Windachtal valleys, you can find many easy trails for beginners. Yes, and summer holidays are not deprived of attention - many hiking and horse trails lead to the heights of the western side of the valley. Interestingly, even in winter, the footpaths around Sölden and Vent are cleared of snow - a map of them can be obtained from the tourist office located in the western suburb of Hochsolden (Hochsolden). The latter, by the way, is also the starting point for the lift that leads to the top of Rotkogel (2947 m), from where a whole network of trails scatters.

From December to April, the Giggijochbahn gondola connects Hochsölden with the Giggijoch area, where the snowpark is located.

On the southern outskirts of Sölden, the Gaislachkoglbahn cable car begins (operates from late June to late September and from December to April; 7 euros), leading to the top of Gaislachkogel (3058 m), from where two dozen ski slopes are laid, and in summer you can take a walk to Lake Gaissiacher -Ze. And just south of the cable car station in Sölden, the Gletscherstrasse toll highway begins (open from May to October; cars - 16.5 euros, motorcycles - 5 euros, bus passengers - 5 euros), leading to the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers, between which a special tunnel is laid.

You can also get here by bus or car along the Panorama Road - the distance from Sölden is only 14 km. Here is the famous track (rather snowy area) Schwarze Schneide with a total length of almost 13 km with a vertical drop of 1880 meters! Ski slopes on both glaciers are open most of the year, and the gondola from Tiefenbach will take you to the top of Tiefenbachkogl (3309 m), which in winter is connected by slopes and lifts with Rettenbach, Giggijoch and Gaislachkogel (as you might guess - in summer these same cable cars provide hiking trails in the surrounding mountains ).

A little further down the valley lie the towns Langenfeld(Langenfeld) and Umhausen(Umhausen). This ski area is just beginning to develop - in total there are about 16 km of ski slopes, mostly "red", plus all the necessary recreation infrastructure.

The recreation infrastructure around Solden itself is also very rich - about fifty restaurants, bars and cafes, 10 nightclubs, the Freizeit Arena wellness center with several pools, children's slides, saunas and gyms, Aqua Dome and Längenfeld Thermal Spa spa centers with two indoor pools and a health and wellness center, 5 equipment rental centers with sports shops (plus another two dozen "regular" shops), six high-level ski and snowboard schools, mountaineering and paragliding clubs and much more.

The skiing season lasts from December to early-mid April.

Travel passes

A single pass for all lifts in the Sölden area also includes the Gletscherstrasse fare and is available all year round. In winter, it costs from 39 euros (one day) to 188-212 euros (for 6 days) for an adult and from 20 to 114.5 euros for children. In summer, it is more convenient to use the Otzal Card, which costs 47 euros for 7 days and provides free access to swimming pools and museums, travel on local transport, as well as discounts on sports equipment rental and ski lifts throughout the region.

How to get there

The nearest airports are (85 km, about an hour and a half by car) and Munich (285 km, about 3 hours). You can also travel by train via Munich and the Ötztal Bahnhof (Bahnhof Otztal, 40 km north), from where regular buses and taxis run to Sölden.

In terms of places for active "winter" recreation, Austria can be safely called one of the most developed European countries. There are quite a few ski resorts here (read our article). Among Russians, the ski resort of Selden is very popular in this country. Located in the picturesque Alpine Ötztal valley, it is an example of a successful combination of terrain and climate for skiing and snowboarding, as well as the correct use of this combination by man.

Sölden is one of the most popular Austrian resorts for skiing and snowboarding. Difficult trails are located on the slopes of three mountains, the height of which is over 3000 meters. Most of the routes laid here are among the "red" and "black" slopes, although beginners can come here too - there are many ski schools in Selden, where experienced instructors will teach the basics.

It is worth coming here, even if not everyone in the gathering is active skiers and snowboarders: beautiful scenery and many additional attractions leave most visitors to this resort village satisfied.

Infrastructure of the ski resort Sölden

Sölden is a very large resort, with a variety of pistes and numerous lifts. The total length of the ski slopes is about 145.5 kilometers, while many of them have a very steep descent.

The slopes of the ski resort Sölden:

Divided by difficulty, the Sölden pistes have the following lengths:

1. For skiers who know how to ride or "blue" slopes - 69.5 km;
2. For those who are good at skiing or "red" slopes - 44.9 km;
3. For experts or "black" slopes - 29.2 km.

Easy ski routes are no more than 1.9 km.

It is worth mentioning the descents from the peaks separately. "Big Three". First, these are the longest routes. For example, descending from Schwarze Schneide to the station Gaislachkoglbahn in length is about 15 km, and the descent from the neighboring peak Gaislachkogl to the same station - 10 km. At the same time, the elevation differences on the routes are 1970 m and 1678 m, respectively. This is an example of the second distinctive feature of the descents from the Big Three platforms.

For those who love and know how to go down very steep slopes, it will not be superfluous to look at 3, 7, 14, 25 and 31 slopes. Their visit will undoubtedly be remembered even by professionals of extreme skiing.

At this resort, you should pay attention to one of the main peaks of the resort - Gaislachkogl.

For autumn and spring skiing, it is recommended to go to the Sölden glaciers, where about 33 km of ski tracks are presented for tourists.

Scheme of slopes of the ski resort Sölden (map):

Lifts of the ski resort Sölden:

Ski resort 33 lifts various types: 8 "gondolas"- booths 16 chairlifts cable cars and 9 rope tows lifts. Occasionally during the skiing season there can be a queue for the lifts, but this does not stop anyone.

All tracks are regularly retracked, and more than 60% of them are constantly automatically covered with an additional layer of snow.

Sölden cannot be called a “cheap” resort, although there is a differentiated subscription payment system for different categories of tourists, as well as for the time of their skiing.

Depending on what time you arrive at the ski areas, the price of the lifts will be different. When issuing a ski-pass for a part-time day in the main skiing season, you should expect that the cost of a subscription is on average 40–45 euros for adults, while for pensioners the price will be an average of 30 euros, for students 25 euros, for children about 18 euros. In the non-main season, the average prices are 5-10 euros lower.

Price ski passfor adults per day will be about 50 euros. Further for each day is added 35–45 euros and for weekly pass have to pay about 280 euros. Subscriptions are also issued for a longer period according to different schemes. If you take a ticket up to 15 days, then coordination is not required. Otherwise, additional conditions for the provision of a subscription are stipulated.

The ski resort also offers a discount for groups.

All discounts are provided only after presentation of documents proving the status and identity. The resort stipulates in advance that tickets are not exchanged, extended or restored in case of loss, so you should decide in advance on the duration of your stay at the resort and carefully monitor the safety of the purchased subscription.

The rented chip card is subject to a refundable deposit of 2.5 euros.

In Sölden, tourists can not only go skiing or snowboarding from the slopes, but also make a real ski trip with a resort guide. Prices for such entertainment can be found directly at the ski center or on the Sölden website.

In addition, there are a large number of ski schools in Sölden, where specialists with rich experience in skiing and communicating with beginners in this type of recreation will teach all the basic basics and help you better navigate the slopes.

Restaurants, hotels and hostels in Sölden, Austria

Sölden is not just a ski resort, but a whole tourist village. Rows of hotels from two to five stars stretch along the road. There you can find just an overnight stay, and entire complexes with spa centers, swimming pools and excellent cuisine. There are also apartments in Sölden.

Their only disadvantage is the proximity to clubs and bars, which makes a relaxing holiday next to them impossible. In this regard, lovers of silence are advised to choose hotels in Sölden away from the road, near the lower ski lifts or even in the neighboring village of Obergugl, which is located in the same valley as Selden.

There are no problems with places for lunch and dinner at the resort. There are special huts in the mountains where you can have a good time, enjoying not only the food, but also the mountain air and the landscape opening from a height. In the village itself there are several restaurants, average check according to which will be about 25–50 euros. There are many supermarkets and small shops in the area, which can also be useful for tourists.

For families with young children, the resort provides kindergartens, which is better to learn about in advance before the trip.

Ski season and weather in Sölden

Sölden has a fairly long skiing period. Some trails are already open from mid October, and close in the middle of April. At this time, snow is provided at the resort, and riding there is a pleasure.

Climate resort soft, alpine. Average monthly temperatures rarely drop below -5 degrees. At the same time, the snow in the uncultivated areas is deep.

See photos of the ski resort Sölden, Austria:

How to get to Solden

Sölden - as already mentioned, a West Austrian village located in the Ötztal valley next to the districts of Obergugl, Otzi and Vent. Therefore, the first point when choosing this ski resort for your vacation should be the availability valid visa to EU countries.

There are several ways to get to Sölden: by car or plane-bus, train or taxi.

If this resort is part of an auto-trip, then it is necessary to move, as a rule, along the A12 autobahn towards Innsbruck and turn at the exit Ötztal.

If the trip is aimed specifically at visiting this ski resort, then it is first recommended to get to the nearest cities with airports. It is closest to Sölden (about an hour on the way), Bolzano(Italy, about two hours on the way). From airport Munich And Salzburg to Sölden can be reached in 2-3 hours, from Zurich to Sölden - 3 hours, from Vienna for 5-6 hours.

From the point of arrival by train, bus or taxi, it will already be possible to get directly to Sölden. There is a railway station in Ötztal, from which buses run to the resort itself.

Ski resort Sölden, video:

Also interesting

Sölden is a popular ski resort in Austria, located in the Otztal (Ötztal) valley in the federal state of Tyrol. Sölden is close to other popular high-altitude resorts: Vent, Hochselden, Hochgurgl and Obergurgl, which also hold the record for attendance.

The Sölden ski resort is considered one of the best in Austria, which provides excellent opportunities for a variety of skiing, namely, it offers vacationers skiing from four main slopes: Giggijoch, Gaislachkogl, from the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers.

All ski slopes in the resort are marked according to the international marking system and are divided into blue (easy), red (medium) and black (difficult). The Giggijoch track is the main one for skiing and is intended for beginners and intermediate skiers. The Gaislachkogl is suitable for professionals as the trail is black marked. Rettenbach is dominated by blue and red slopes of medium and short length. And the Tiefenbach Glacier has long blue trails.

One of the main reasons why the Sölden ski resort is so popular is skiing from three three-thousanders, which are called "BIG-3" peaks.

BIG-3 includes:

• Gaislachkogl - 3058 meters;
• Tiefenbachkogl - 3250 meters;
• Schwarze Schneid - 3340 meters.

All 3 peaks can be reached on modern lifts.

Sölden also has the BIG3 Rally ski safari, which is an opportunity to conquer all three peaks in one day and enjoy incredible views from all three lookouts.

Map of the ski resort Sölden

Before traveling to the Sölden ski resort, you can first consult the ski slope map, which clearly shows all the ski lifts and slopes, including difficulty levels, ski routes, stops and even installed cameras online.

Webcams in the ski resort Sölden

On the territory of the ski resort there are about 10 cameras that monitor what is happening in real time. The cameras are installed on different peaks and on different slopes. To watch the cameras online, you need to click on the "LIVE" section on the right on the red panel.

Weather in the ski resort Sölden

The ski resort of Sölden provides vacationers with a fairly long skiing period. Trails begin to open from mid-October, and close in mid-April.

In winter, Sölden is quite warm. The climate is mild, alpine. Average winter temperatures rarely drop below -6 degrees. So, from October to April, the average air temperature has the following indicators:

• October: +5.3°C;
• November: -0.4°C;
• December: -4.5°C;
• January: -6.0°C;
• February: -5.5°C;
• March: -1.5°C;
• April: +3.0°C.

Tours in the ski resort Sölden

To go to Sölden for a ski holiday, you can buy a whole tour with a flight and hotel accommodation. Leading tour operators offer current tours with departures from different cities of Russia.

To buy tickets

Winter sports enthusiasts can now buy Sölden ski tickets online. The site has the ability to calculate the total cost of the holiday, including any category of citizens.

Leisure

The ski resort of Sölden is not just a place for winter sports. This is a whole entertainment complex with a developed infrastructure and an active busy life.

First, it is worth mentioning that 4 ski and snowboard schools have been opened in Sölden, where 240 experienced instructors, including Russian-speaking ones, work. There is also a ski kindergarten, designed for children from 2 years old, and a children's ski school.

For lovers of active holidays in the ski resort, the Freizeit Arena sports center is open, which is a multifunctional recreation center in the center of Sölden and has a gym, fitness center, 2 indoor tennis courts, indoor pool, sauna, solarium, cinema, outdoor and indoor ice skating rinks, volleyball courts. There is also a rental of all types of winter transport.

In Sölden there are about 100 restaurants, various cafes, bars and nightclubs where noisy parties, discos and night shows are held.

Relatively recently, in Längenfeld, which is 13 km from Sölden, the Aqua Dome Tirol Spa Längenfeld spa complex was opened, which has outdoor and indoor pools with hydromassage, sandy beaches, water attractions, a spa center, a club, a solarium, a medical center with therapeutic wellness programs and a children's recreation area. Aqua Dome also offers a climbing wall, restaurants, shops and a hotel.

In addition to active recreation in the resort, you can do shopping. On the main street of the city there are numerous shops: with clothes, with sporting goods, with souvenirs and many others.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to Sölden: by car, bus or taxi. Innsbruck and Munich are closest to Sölden.

Innsbruck-Sölden

The fastest way to get to Sölden is from the neighboring Austrian city of Innsbruck, which is located 88 km away. You can get there by train, taxi or rented car.

• Since Sölden is located away from the railway tracks, you can only get by train to the neighboring city of Etzal, from there you need to take a regular bus and get to Sölden. This method is a little inconvenient due to the number of transfers, which is why some tourists use taxi services.
• To get from Innsbruck to Sölden with convenience, you can book a transfer in advance. The convenience of the transfer lies in the fact that the taxi is waiting at the right time and in the right place. You can order a transfer on various services, the most popular of which is, for example, Kiwitaxi.

Search for transfers from Innsbruck

Show transfers in Innsbruck

• Independent tourists can use car rental, which can be taken at Innsbruck Airport or in the city itself. You can get to Sölden along the A12 and B186 highways. During the peak season, from October to April, it is recommended to book a car in advance, since a huge number of tourists go to the ski resort in a rented car.

Munich-Sölden

Another popular route to Sölden, despite a decent distance of 223 km, is Munich-Sölden. Getting from Munich to Sölden by public transport is completely inconvenient due to the large number of transfers. And how best to get there, see the material below at the link.

Search for transfers to Sölden

Show transfers from Sölden