Sam Jackson
Oct, 31 2025- 5 mins
5 Reasons Skiers Rate Sölden as their Top Resort
Sölden is the ‘Heatbeat of the Alps’. Not many resorts can offer you a premium experience at reasonable prices these days but you’ll find that here. If you want a resort that can satisfy the entire family or everyone in your friend group, look no further! Read on to discover 5 reasons why members of the Snomad community rate Sölden so highly.
© Ötztal Tourismus / Soel Alpineski
Pristine Pistes
Sölden's slopes keep people coming back. The Snomad community scored the groomed runs 4.78/5.00. Sölden is famous for its pistes. Open earlier and longer than most other resorts in Tyrol. If you love wide, open, and varying pistes you’re in luck.
Two glaciers make sure that the 146 km of slopes are 100% snow reliable. The resort offers 20 blue, 13, red, and 8 black runs. This is probably why the resort excels for intermediates (4.62/5.00), advanced (4.63/5.00), and experts (4.53/5.00).
The vertical drop isn’t skewed towards experts either, you’ll find options for beginners, intermediates, and advanced skiers wherever you are on the mountain.
Sölden is a paradise for snowboarders; with a rating of 4.69/5.00, Sölden was voted 3rd in Europe by snowboarders. It’s no wonder advanced snowboarder Kate said “Great location with wonderful glacier boarding. Good ski bus access throughout the resort and to Obergurgl and Hochgurgl as well for a quieter day.” Sölden is perfect for you regardless of your ability level as echoed by one Snomad community member who said “I absolutely loved my Solden Christmas holiday. Great resort that caters for many skill levels, with lots of terrain to cover serviced by great infrastructure”.
© Ötztal Tourismus / Aria Sadr-Salek
The Efficient Infrastructure
Sölden has all the charm and characteristics of a traditional alpine resort but under the surface it is an incredibly well-oiled modern machine. The Snomad community raves about the lifts. Luke stated “The lifts are super efficient to get you to where you want to be.” This is a true testament to the modern infrastructure that Sölden has invested in. Sölden’s lift efficiency score of 4.78/5.00 means you’ll spend far less time queuing and more time cruising the immaculate pistes.
Sölden has a great bus service, this links the resorts in the region but also allows you to stay further away from the main gondolas and not have to worry about missing the first lift.
Sölden sits close to Innsbruck airport which makes it very convenient for travelling to. You can drive in 90 minutes or get the train to Ötztal Valley if you prefer a more peaceful journey. If you catch an early flight, there is a good chance that you’ll get on the slopes after lunch and get a bonus half day of skiing on your holiday.
© Ötztal Tourismus / Luis Dopona
Events in Sölden
Sölden’s calendar is packed full of fun and festivities. As they are one of the first resorts to open, they have the pleasure of hosting the AUDI FIS Ski World Cup opener in October. The test of skill and bravery makes for an unforgettable spectacle for anyone who has come for some early season skiing.
During April, Sölden welcomes one of the most iconic ski festivals. Electric Mountain Festival is 5 days of pure action and vibes. Think world-class dance music artists such as Martin Garrix and Steve Aoki playing but instead of trudging through a field, you get to ski between stages. If you love to ski and like a party, surely a ski party sounds perfect?!
Sölden isn’t just lively during April, every Friday there’s a party on the slopes. It’s the perfect way to get ready for the weekend! The après-ski scene in Sölden is famous but it’s not all late nights and busy clubs. The resort has a fantastic and ever growing range of cocktail bars and up-market restaurants. These are the perfect places to spend a few hours with friends and family whilst you unwind from a perfect day on the slopes
If you don’t love two stepping in your ski boots and instead enjoy more cultural experiences then the Hannibal Festival is a MUST do. This bi-yearly festival is an open-air theatrical performance that celebrates the amazing crossing of the Alps by general Hannibal in 218 BC . It takes place at 3000m of altitude on the Rettenbach Glacier and turns the Alps into an amazing backdrop for a weird and wonderful cultural and spiritual experience. Piste-bashers become mammoths and daredevils base jump, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
© Ötztal Tourismus / Aria Sadr-Salek
The Authentic Town
As someone who’s skied Sölden on several occasions, I feel fairly qualified to tell you how amazing the town is. Sölden looks old and quaint like a classic ski resort but you’ll find all the amenities of a mega-resort here.
The accommodation options will not leave you wanting more, from classic chalets to hotels with all the amenities you could dream of. Sölden received a 4.59/5.00 rating for accommodation, which is an incredibly strong rating. One of the main reasons that Sölden scores so highly is the range of options available. Regardless of budget you’ll find the right place to stay. No-frills, self-catering apartments can be found next door to luxury chalets that can offer that dream ski holiday feel.
There are multiple gondolas to take you up the mountain in the morning - this means that the accommodation can be spread out over a larger area. If you’re looking for a town that isn’t stuffed with 70s high-rises then Sölden can offer that true alpine experience.
The food is a strong talking point in our community reviews. Brian loved the famous Ice Q restaurant “The restaurant next to the museum is amazing, it has really good food and excellent service”. This incredible food makes its way down into the town as well. There’s a mouth-watering number of restaurants that are sure to please everyone regardless of preference or budget. Sölden boasts fine dining at a reasonable price which has resulted in the resort receiving a 4.39/5.00 score for eating out and a 4.28/5.00 in the value for money category.
Whilst Sölden does have a very active après-ski scene, the resort really excels in its other activities. If you have kids, there’s an amazing leisure centre which includes slides and lights in the pool (you often get a trip here included with your accommodation).
The 007 Elements is a fan favourite! Snomad community members say “The 007 exhibition was stunning.” and “To elevate the experience you can visit the Ice Bar featured in the James Bond film Spectre.This museum is included if you book a two week visit. The experience is definitely worth doing and really highlights why Sölden was the perfect place to shoot the movie.
© Ötztal Tourismus / Aria Sadr-Salek
The Overall Experience
Sölden is truly a resort for everyone. If you’re looking for a resort to visit with your family or your friends then you’ll have an amazing time there. From world-class accommodation options to state of the art lift infrastructure. Whether you’re on or off the slopes, you’ll be enjoying one of Europe’s best ski resorts. Sölden’s skiing is sensational, there’s plenty of fresh tracks to be found. Skiing at some of the other local resorts is included in your lift pass. This means that if you fancy a day exploring a new area, you just need to hop on the free ski buses and get on the slopes. We’d recommend spending a day visiting Obergurgl-Hochgurgl (20 minute free bus ride) as they have some fantastic terrain regardless of your ability level and it can often be very nice to mix up the skiing (even if you’ve got the whole of Sölden’s massive ski area to explore). Whether you’re going for the Electric Mountain Festival or just want a week skiing perfect fluffy powder, Sölden should certainly be in the conversation for your next ski destination.
For more information, resort statistics and community reviews, be sure to check out Sölden’s full resort guide.