The Skiers' Guide to Sölden

Situated in the western Ötztal Valley, the tagline for Austria’s largest standalone ski resort is ‘The Heartbeat of the Alps’ - and when you factor in the two glaciers, 146 km of 100% snow reliable slopes, three peaks above 3000m and a municipality that is the third largest tourist destination in the country, it’s easy to see why. While the once-village has developed beyond its quaint origins, it has a rich cultural history. The resort is jam-packed with events. The AUDI FIS Ski World Cup opens its calendar here. The Electric Mountain Festival and Hannibal Festival offer incredible atmospheres while breathing more life into an already exciting resort. It was also used as a filming location for much of Spectre, the 24th film in the James Bond franchise (there’s a very cool immersive experience here as a result). Many of our reviews spoke about the experience with Ruth writing "The 007 James Bond experience was great fun" If you're in the mood for once in a lifetime dining, ice Q sits at over 3000m and offers an experience seldom seen in any other resort.

The resort is always evolving to fit the needs of holiday-makers but, don't worry there are still lots of traditional buildings to be admired, including one of the very oldest that dates back to the 13th Century - the Gästeheim Berghof. These stunning buildings and alpine atmosphere, really contribute to the true mountain experience which is still a key driving factor for many who visit Sölden year after year.

Sölden offers a seriously long ski season, slopes open in Autumn and don't close until late spring. The resort level is 1377m, but with the huge ski area and three glaciers with state-of-the-art lifts, you can easily reach the 3340m peaks and enjoy 1990m of vertical. With most of the terrain sitting over the 2000m ‘snow-sure’ mark, Sölden tends to be a safe bet for good conditions and is north and east facing, avoiding the most intense sun without feeling gloomy. While it’s not necessarily known for off-piste riding, there’s a good amount of it to be found for the willing and experienced rider. In general, this is a popular resort with a vibrant après scene and colossal ski area.

The Snomad community raves about Sölden. Natalie explain she "Loves Sölden! The Snow is guaranteed." She even goes as far as saying "It's one of our favourite resorts so far". Our Reviewers gave the resort an Overall rating of (4.60/5) With Groomed runs (4.76/5) being the best attribute of the resort.

Known for its ‘BIG 3’ peaks of Gaislachkogl (3048m), Tiefenbachkogl (3250m) and Schwarze Schneide (3340m), the terrain of Sölden’s ski area is vast and varied. There are pistes both above and below the treeline, opening up the options should the weather take a turn. To really get your ski legs, opt to take Austria’s longest ski run on Schwarze Schneid, a 15km long blue run from the Rettenbach glacier (3,250m) with stunning views out over the Italian Dolomites.

The entire resort is well suited to intermediates, our community awarded a (4.62/5) for intermediates and Sölden overall does have a great reputation for wide, cruisey slopes. Beginners will probably favour the more mellow runs of the Giggijoch area on the eastern side of resort, where there is a range of really nice blue runs. One of our community members described the piste offerings as "A large variety of runs.. a skier of any level should be comfortable here!" which could definitely be why, the resort received a (4.20/5) rating for beginners. You’ll also find the snowpark on this side, which offers a decent mix of features, jumps and incredible views. The snow park is well-respected by skiers and boarders rating it (4.04/5).

There are a few dedicated freeride areas should you be looking for something more technical and tricky, with Gaislachkogl offering a range of couloirs, cliff drops and everything in between. Should you be lucky enough to score a powder day during your trip, the Giggijoch area offers some insane lines that eventually take you down into the trees and back to resort. To make the most of it though (and not end up getting lost) we suggest investing in one of the many guiding services available. If you have some fresh snow, getting the bus (which is included in your lift pass) to Obergurgl can be a really good way to ski some fun terrain amongst the avalanche barriers. You can often find fresh tracks late into the afternoon! There's also some great terrain available if you're happy to take your skis off and hike for a few minutes.

Sölden is renowned for its long seasons. The Mountain opens from as early as September and won't close until May. The glaciers and altitude mean that Sölden is incredibly snow-sure and can give a 100% snow guarantee during the season. This makes it the perfect destination for early and late season getaways. For more information and stats prior to booking your Sölden adventure, check out Sölden's official site!

As well as the terrain, the culinary options on offer in Sölden are massive. The resort scores a strong (4.39/5) for eating out. On the mountain, there are casual huts, gourmet restaurants and umbrella bars all offering stunning spots to refuel at. If you’re looking to push the boat out a little during your stay, or simply want to dine like an international spy, ice Q at the Gaislachkogl top station (which also makes it accessible for pedestrians) is a stunning space designed quite literally to look like an ice cube perched on the top of a mountain. Used as one of the filming locations for SPECTRE, it also offers a very special ‘Summit Dinner’ 5-course evening sitting once a week. This sensational culinary experience sits above 3000m and is must visit for anyone skiing in Sölden. Back down at the resort level, you can find almost any cuisine you want in the countless restaurants and bistros. There are steakhouses, pizzerias and cosy alpine venues serving delicious fondue - don’t miss out on that. Sölden has earned a reputation for being good value for money (4.28/5 in this category) and a large reason for this is the dining. Sölden is certainly the epitome of a premium resort but this isn't reflected in the cost.

Sölden’s après - much like all the other Austrian ski resorts - is the stuff of legend. There’s a lively range of umbrella bars that create an open-air disco vibe on the slopes. You can even watch people come down the valley run from many of these. The Snomad community loves the après in Sölden, giving it a (4.57/5) rating.

Sölden offers a premium experience. Whilst there is a great party scene, the resort also hosts an incredibly diverse range of up-market bars and restaurants. These can give you that chalet experience regardless of what kind of accommodation you've booked. Sölden is a resort that makes everyone feel welcome both on and off the slopes.

Sölden is great for families! Our community have given a strong rating of (4.38/5). Families with little ones can enjoy the dedicated ski school and, when riding together, should head to one of the two Fun Slopes at Giggijoch, which are a long mixed-feature slope of park and boardercross with things like humps, waves, sharp turns and tunnels or make their way to the Fun Cross Course.. There’s also the usual menu of other activities such as tobogganing, ice skating and an adventure pool in the wellness-centre-cum-aqua-play Freizeit Arena Sölden.

Non-skiers can enjoy the usual physical activities such as snow-shoeing, hikes through the stunning terrain and warming wellness sessions. Zsuzsi recalled " We were very lucky with the weather, blue skies for all of our 4 days there. Stayed in Hochsölden in a ski in ski out hotel, which was super convenient. Tobigganing is also a super fun activity for adults and kids too, I can't recommend it enough." However, the must-do here is the 007 Elements experience, an immersive cinematic installation perched atop the summit of Gaislachkogl at 3050m. You’ll walk through underground galleries where you can admire the gadgets, vehicles, cars and BTS development of the James Bond franchise. It’s also a great excuse to invest in a pedestrian pass if you’re not skiing, and enjoy some of the mountain scenery while you’re at it. Just remember to book your tickets in advance.

Sölden has a great deal of exceptional accommodation options. The Snomad community have rated the lodging options (4.59/5). The resort has it all, from fully catered chalet offering a 5-star experience to self-catered apartments for travellers on a budget. The entire town and region is connected by regular buses which handily drop you off right at any of the gondola entrances. When you get to the lifts you'll be met with state of the art lift systems (which is the same accross the entire resort!) that will shuttle you up the mountain, ski lift efficiency rating (4.78/5). As with most Austrian resorts, there is less ski-in ski-out accommodation and most people elect to stay close to the centre of town so they have the best access to all the wonderful amenities. Skier Nigel commented on "the big selection of beautiful hotels". Whatever you want your accommodation to look like, Sölden will provide!

Sölden's calendar is full of exciting events. The season kicks-off in October with the AUDI FIS World Cup Opening. As Sölden is the first resort to open in the Tyrol region, it makes it the perfect destination for the pros to visit and display their unbelievable skills.

After the high-stakes entertainment of the slalom the resort begins to host weekly parties. DJs take over the Giggijoch Fun Zone from 1:45pm-4:45pm on Fridays to get everyone ready for the weekend.

As the season is beginning to wind-down elsewhere Sölden is getting ready to host the Electic Mountain Festival. Thousands of tourists and some of the biggest dance music artists flock to Sölden ready for 5 days of high-octane music and perfect skiing conditions.

As we move to April, there is the Bi-Annual Hannibal Glacier Spectacle. When, over 8000 skiers make the journey up the 3000m peak to view what can only be described as unique cinemascope experience.

There’s a range of environmental efforts at play in Sölden. Ski busses offer the primary way of travelling round the entire valley. The busses (which are included in your lift pass) mean that you can see the entire area without the need for hundreds of cars on the road!

The breathtaking summit restaurant of Ice Q is an entirely glass structure, allowing the building to increase the amount of passive energy recovery from natural sources. When creating new ski runs or altering existing ones, the terrain is covered in a 20cm thick layer of manure, peat and water to restore and protect the terrain. After that, alpine grass is planted.

Pros

• A huge ski area
• Mixed terrain suitable for everyone
• Lots of choice when it comes to activities, bars and restaurants
• Thriving après scene (may also be a con for some)
• Snow-sure altitudes

Cons

• Expensive
• Can get busy at peak times