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Ponderful views in the Sölden ski resort
Enjoy the fresh outdoor air and snow. Overlooking a beautiful mountain landscape. Relax on the terrace in the sun or in a cozy mountain hut. Of course with a nice snack and drink. And then after skiing or boarding seek out the cosiness of an après-ski bar. That is Sölden in a nutshell. Sölden and Hochsölden are located in the Ötztal Arena ski area. A true paradise for the advanced winter sportsman. And for beginners and children there are a number of beautiful blue slopes. Nice and wide, well groomed and high above the tree line. You can also enjoy excellent winter hiking and cross-country skiing.
The ski area around Sölden is one of the most snow-assured ski areas in Austria. This is due to its high altitude and the presence of two glaciers. On these glaciers the snow quality is always excellent. You can even ski here in the summer. Because of the high altitude, the pistes are also often in the sun. Lovely!
The Ötztal Arena ski area is one of the most popular ski areas in Austria. The characteristics of the winter sports area are shown in the table below. In the table you will also find a link to the piste map of the ski area with the villages Sölden and Hochsölden.
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Characteristics ski area Ötztal Arena near Sölden & Hochsölden |
|
| Highest point | 3244 metres |
| Lowest point | 1350 metres |
| Total kilometres of pistes | 144 |
| Blue slopes | 70 kilometers |
| Red slopes | 45 kilometers |
| Black slopes | 29 kilometers |
| Villages | Sölden, Hochsölden, Längenfeld |
| Snow security | High |
| Après-ski possibilities | Very good |
| Child-Friendliness | Moderate |
| Oportunities for beginners | Moderate |
| advanced options | Very good |
| Post ski pass Sölden & Hochsölden (6 days) in 2018 | € 293 |
| Average price for a lunch on the slopes | € 5 - € 20 |
| Price ski lessons (4 days x 4 hours) | € 160 - € 200 |
| Best travel period | December to March |
| Travel time from Innsbruck airport | 1 hour and 15 minutes |
| Distance to Utrecht | On approximately 900 kilometres |
| Pistecards | Pistecard |
The villages within the Ötztal Arena ski area are Sölden, Hochsölden and Längenfeld. Sölden is centrally located in the ski area. From the slopes two gondolas go up into the ski area. The village is elongated. Often you have to walk a bit or take the ski bus to get to a lift. There is a beautiful valley run to the Sölden. Because of its high altitude, it is open almost throughout the entire winter sports season.
Sölden has a nice center with some authentic buildings and beautiful old houses. Along the water you will find beautiful hiking trails. However, the buildings along the busy main street consist mainly of apartment buildings, restaurants, shops and hotels. Hochsölden is located between the ski slopes at an altitude of more than 2000 meters. From the hotel you step directly onto the slopes. It is a real hotel village and not really authentic. The hotels are equipped with all luxury. For conviviality you have to make a ride to Sölden.
Längenfeld is the most important place in the Ötztal. You will find several companies and schools here. The village itself has no ski slopes or ski lifts. If you are staying in this village, you should always take the car or ski bus to Sölden. The travel time is about 20 minutes. If you like rest and wellness, then Längenfeld is a good choice. You will find a large wellness resort here: the Aqua Dome.
| Village | Height (m) | Downhill | Lift | Snow | Price | Authentic village | Après-ski | Children | Achievable |
| Sölden | 1368 | + | + | + | +/- | +/- | ++ | +/- | +/- |
| Hochsölden | 2060 | + | + | ++ | - | - | - | +/- | - |
| Längenfeld | 1179 | - | - | + | + | + | - | - | + |
The Ötztal Arena can roughly be divided into the Gaislachkogl, the Giggijoch, the Rettenbach Glacier and the Tiefenbach Glacier. The Ötztal Arena is a ski area that is ideal for advanced skiers. You have a wide choice of red and black slopes and the variation is great. Beautiful tours, challenging off-piste possibilities and a fun park for the daredevils. The most beautiful off-piste routes can be found around the Giggijoch and the Gaislachkogl.
Funpark at the Giggijoch in Sölden
Enjoy the view from one of the high peaks in Sölden
Tip: As an advanced player you should definitely try the black track 14. You start at the top at 2727 meters with a beautiful view. Then you descend on a beautiful wide and steep slope. If you want you can ski all the way to the valley at 1350 meters on the black slopes 20 and 22.
In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Sölden/Hochsölden also offers excellent paragliding, cross-country skiing, winter hiking, ice climbing and tobogganing. Want to relax after skiing? Then visit the large wellness resort Aqua Dome in Längenfeld! And as a James Bond fan, a visit to Elements 007 is really worth it.
Elements 007 in Sölden
Sölden is not the most child-friendly area, but there are several possibilities for the youngest. In the village of Sölden you will find a number of practice slopes for the little ones. On top of the mountain on the Giggijoch are several children's slopes and simple blue slopes. Hochsölden is located near the Giggijoch. From here you can quickly reach the children's land and the slopes where lessons are given. With children it is better not to spend the night in Längenfeld. The village does not have its own ski area.
For older children the area is quite large. It is therefore not ideal if they are going to explore the ski area on their own.
Ötztal Arena is one of the snowiest ski areas in Austria. Partly thanks to the two large glaciers. The highest point is over 3200 meters. In the area you can almost always ski. Also in early December and in April, the snow is guaranteed. On the two glaciers you can even ski in summer. Advantage of winter sports in April is that it is a lot quieter on the slopes than earlier in the season. Moreover, the days are longer and you have more chance of sunshine. At the end of the season it can happen that the valley runs are closed.
Hochsölden is located high on the mountain and the snow conditions are very high. Throughout the whole winter sports season you can go on the slopes.
After skiing or boarding enjoy the Austrian après-ski? That's excellent in Sölden. If you want until the late hours. Well-known après-ski bars in Sölden include the Schirmbar and the Almrausch. Pubs, discotheques and even nightclubs with pole dancers. You can find it all in Sölden. Hochsölden has no après-ski, so you have to make a trip to Sölden. Yet the hotel bars are often quite cozy. In Längenfeld you will not find après-ski. Fine if you like peace and quiet.
Are you a novice winter sportsman? Or would you like to learn better skiing or snowboarding? In Sölden you will find various ski schools. The lessons are mainly given on the Giggijoch. If you already have some experience, a trip to the Tiefenbach Glacier is sometimes on the programme. You can choose between group lessons and private lessons for children and adults. Count on between €160 and €220 for a group lesson of four days (four hours per day). This rate applies to both adults and children. Private lessons are a lot more expensive (over 200 euro for four hours), but usually more effective.
Wanna be assured of a spot in a ski class? Then arrange the lessons in advance.
Winter sports means being active. And then, of course, you have to eat and drink as well. There is a wide choice of traditional mountain huts and more modern restaurants in Sölden. On average the prices for a lunch on the mountain are between 5 and 20 euro. Goulash soup, Tyrolean gröstl, a large pizza, schnitzel with chips, half a chicken, käsespätzle. You can order all kinds of goodies. Enjoy a plate of Kaiserschmarren on the terrace of the Löple Alm or order a Tyrolean Speckknödelsuppe in the traditional mountain restaurant Hühnersteign.
In Sölden you will find numerous hotels, chalets, apartments and guesthouses. From a simple guesthouse to a super luxurious five-star hotel. The prices differ considerably per accommodation. In general, the accommodations in the village are a bit more expensive than average by Austrian standards. If you want to be cheaper, you can choose a hotel or guesthouse in Längenfeld. You are then further away from the ski area.
Hochsölden is a real hotel village. Because of its high location at 2000 meters you step directly on the ski slope. That luxury is reflected in the prices. A hotel or guesthouse in Hochsölden is generally quite expensive. The hotels usually have four stars and almost all have a bar, swimming pool, sauna complex and luxury restaurant.
If you're staying in Hochsölden, you'll suffer less from the hustle and bustle. After a short descent and a chairlift you are directly on the Giggijoch.
You can reach the ski area of Sölden via the Fernpass. From here you drive along a through road into the Ötztal to Sölden or Längenfeld. When there is heavy snowfall, the Fernpass is often difficult to cross. You can reach the area via the Arlberg Tunnel. From Sölden you reach Hochsölden after a steep climb. It can be quite snowy in Austria. Make sure you have winter tires and snow chains. In Germany and Austria winter tyres are even mandatory in winter conditions. And don't forget to buy a vignette for the motorway. You can do this in the Netherlands via the ANWB. Or buy the vignette along the motorway.
Do you prefer to take a plane on winter sports to Austria? From Innsbruck airport you can take a taxi to your destination within an hour and fifteen minutes.
A winter sports holiday in Sölden guarantees fun in the snow. Beautiful views, high snow conditions, a large number of pistes, delicious food and drinks and cosy après-ski. Once you've visited Sölden in the winter, you will definitely want to come back again!
