This traditional mountain village sits at a high 1930m in Austria’s Oztal valley. Obergurgl is renowned as a snow sure resort with some of Austria’s highest altitudes, making it well worth a visit if you’re travelling particularly early or late in the season.
Scattered with upmarket accommodation, the village itself blends a luxury touch with a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. It has a vibrant character, and alpine charm with many a Tyrolean tradition found in the town and on the mountains in popular slope-side restaurants that fill up as the après ski starts. A must-visit is the Hohe Mut – a famous vantage point overlooking 21 spectacular peaks.
As a small Austrian Village that’s less known than its larger Austrian counterparts, the streets are unspoilt by crowds, or too much traffic and the slopes tend to be nice and peaceful. Everything is fairly compact, with most properties ski-in ski-out or just a short stroll from the lifts or slopes, making holidays as hassle-free as possible. The unhurried pace and ease of getting about, as well as the easy one-hour transfer from Innsbruck airport, have made the town one of Austria’s most popular resorts for families.
The Topexpress gondola links Obergurgl to the neighbouring and slightly higher resort of Hochgurgl – they’re often referred to together as ‘The Diamond in the Alps’. The lift pass covers both areas giving access to 112km of runs connected by an excellent lift system. Look out for discounts for children & youths too (make sure you bring ID to the ticket office to qualify).
Location: Oztal Alps, Austria.
Established: 1840
Open: November- May
Downhill: 110km
View our detailed Obergurgl snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Obergurgl snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Innsbruck | 85 km, 1hr30 |
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Top Altitude: | 3082m |
Bottom Altitude: | 1930m |
Resort Altitude: | 1930m |
Longest run: | 8km |
Slope Orientation: | NSEW |
Vertical Drop: | 1152m |
Skiable Vertical: | |
Night Skiing: | Yes |
Glacier: | No |
Downhill Runs: | 110km |
Beginner slopes: | 32% |
Intermediate: | 50% |
Advanced slopes: | 18% |
Lift Pass Price: | € 332,00 (adult 6 day) |
Nearby resorts: Hochgurgl, Solden |
Many highly regarded ski schools are on hand for beginners – there's a gentle learning slope at the resort for picking up the basics. A mini club and ski kindergarten are available at the Obergurgl Ski School where skiing is taught in a fun and safe environment for little ones just starting.
The Top-express Gondola takes you to Hochgurgl's higher altitudes. Wide pistes and amazing snow make this the perfect area for progressing beginners to test their abilities. After steadying those legs, work your way up to the Festkogl peak where you can ski the wide-open cruisey 6 all the way back to base or head over to Hochgurgl for some more wide runs. Several steady blues lead off from the mountain's highest point, meaning beginners don't miss out on skiing some of Austria's best conditions.
Intermediates will enjoy building their skills on the easy cruising runs and can find more challenging terrain such as the windy and narrow red 1 from panoramic Hohe Mut.
Steeper verticals give more confident skiers something to tackle such as the tree-lined skiing on red 33. Gaisberg offers some fantastic moguls from the Hohe Mut and over in Hochgurgl from 3080m the black 28 is usually powdered and mogulled for a true test on the thighs. There's also a load of off-piste to explore with some of the best-untracked snow leading from the Kirchenkar lift at Hochgurgl. Snowboarders aren't restricted by too many drag lifts and are free to roam the whole of the mountain. A fun park at Festkogl attracts many a freestyler testing their tricks on the jumps and rails.
When you purchase a lift pass for 3 or more days, your pass is valid in all open ski areas in ÖTZTAL, including 144km of piste in Sölden and 80km of pistes in the Hochoetz-Kühtai ski region. A regular bus service runs between Obergurgl, Hochgurgl and Sölden and takes just 10 minutes between Hochgurgl and Sölden.
The après starts on the mountains where there are many bars ready to serve skiers that well-deserved pick me up of warm glühwein. The skis come off at the lively Nederhütte, just above the resort, where merry skiers mingle with drinks accompanied by live music before getting up on the tables when the real party starts. The gondola next to the bar will take those a little unsteady on their skis back to the resort - when these close, skidoos run everyone back to base.
Hohe Mut is another favourite amongst skiers for a midday mountain tipple at 2,670m. David’s Hutte is known for having BBQ and fondue evenings where home-made schnapps is freely flowing in a lively atmosphere. Those looking for a casual cocktail should head for a laid-back evening at Crystal bar. Josl Keller usually keeps its doors open for some traditional Austrian après until the early hours.
Those who fancy dining out have several options such as Restaurant Pic-Nic, which is great for a causal dinner or Dorf Alm for a cheesy fondue. If you get a chance, try the Gergrillte Schweinsripperl- a dish of famously good grilled spareribs.
A favourite evening for many is the weekly ‘skivolution’ event where local instructors show off their tricks to a medley of music with a spectacular firework display as the finale. A toboggan night is held on the 8km run at Hochgurgl when the grill at the end of the slopes becomes a lively watering hole. Ice skating, curling and horse riding are a few of the après activities on offer, and there are several guided hikes to embark on.
Due to the high altitudes of the ski area, which reaches up to a mighty 3080m, conditions here are snow-sure throughout the long season which usually runs from November to May - during this time skiing back to the resort is pretty much guaranteed.
There is usually a decent amount of snow at each end of the season with dumps of fresh powder common on winter days, especially further up the mountain.
With the season usually running through till May and decent snow up to this point, Obergurgl is a good choice if you’re looking to ski Austria later on in the season.
As a popular resort for families, it tends to be busier during the school holidays but the efficient lift system means queues are minimal and the piste is rarely crowded.
Whenever you visit there is likely to be something going on – the resort is known for its weekly ‘Skivolution’ event (ski show, music, fireworks and more) and a weekly toboggan night at nearby Hochgurgl.
Spend a memorable and cosy Christmas in Obergurgl where the village is lit up with pretty lights and the mountain alive in festive cheer. Make fresh tracks through a powdery white piste before skiing down to enjoy a hot glass of Glühwein in a slope-side bar. Obergurgl Christmas ski holidays ‣
Start the New Year in Obergurgl in style on an unforgettable week with incredible snow and a vibrant après scene. Join in the party at Nederhutte or spend quality time celebrating with family and friends. Obergurgl New Year ski holidays ‣
The whole family will enjoy their half-term in Obergurgl where you can ski some of the best conditions in the Austrian Alps and enjoy ski shows and toboggan nights. Beginners will get a fantastic introduction to the mountain with excellent ski schools and cruisey mountain runs. Obergurgl Half Term ski holidays ‣
The high altitude and snow-sure conditions through the long season mean past years have seen long sunny days skiing on a perfect blanket of snow during a sunny Easter in Obergurgl. Obergurgl Easter ski holidays ‣
With Obergurgl’s laid-back atmosphere, slope-side accommodation and excellent ski schools, it’s no surprise this is a firm family favourite when it comes to skiing Austria. We have some wonderful accommodation perfectly suited to a family mountain getaway and you can browse all the packages below to find the best one for you. Make your stay easy with a property near the ski school meeting place and lifts so everyone can easily get to and from the slopes - try Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl. If you’re looking for doorstep skiing, Hotel Bellevue is in a prime location. Book a half board holiday to make mealtimes easy with breakfast and dinner are taken care of.
For young children just starting out on their skis, Obergurgl ski school has a mini ‘bobo’ club which gives a fun and safe introduction to the slopes. The Kindergarten offers a secure environment for children as young as 2 who aren’t skiing so you can happily leave your children in safe hands whilst you explore the mountain. We also have some fantastic accommodation with childcare if you prefer your little ones to be looked after at your base.
Obergurgl’s snow-sure reputation means you’re likely to enjoy some excellent conditions throughout the season. Whenever you choose to ski, there’s likely to be something going on - the weekly ‘Skivolution’ event should have the whole family in awe as the ski instructor’s show off their tricks to music and a firework display. Make your holiday to the slopes a breeze by booking a package with flights and transfers or opt to drive yourself in a package including accommodation and channel crossings. Our experts are on hand to offer advice and help on all parts of your holiday so call us with any preferences!
Groups looking to ski at this resort have a number of fantastic accommodations to choose from.
If you’re all skiing on a budget opt for a self-catered apartment which gives you the freedom to eat whatever, whenever and wherever you like or stay on at an après bar all night long. The Gamper Apartments are a great choice in a central location where you can virtually ski to the door. If you’re looking for somewhere catered with doorstep skiing, have a look at Hotel Alpenland, great for a large group looking to be in the centre of the action. Hotel Gamper is another good option offering authentic wood-clad accommodation in the heart of the village. Connected to the aforementioned apartments, this is a good place to stay if your group is having mixed feelings about what type of holiday to opt for – split between the two and you can all stay near each other.
Hotels come in a variety of board options, chalets are catered and apartments self-catered, so you can choose a dining plan that best suits everyone. Most accommodation is grouped with flights and transfers making booking a breeze. Self-drive holidays with channel crossings included are also available and you can book some accommodation on its own if you prefer to arrange travel independently.
The ski area is ideal for progressing beginners and intermediate skiers and boarders. There are loads of wide cruisey runs as well as some steeper verticals for the more confident if you’re travelling with advanced skiers. The freeriding terrain is excellent and groups of powder seekers can hire a guide to explore the best-untracked snow. There are loads of cosy mountain bars on the piste which make perfect meeting points for groups. Après ski starts on the slopes, the hot spots are Nederhutte and David’s hutte where you’ll find a lively atmosphere with drinks flowing. Drinks are an absolute must at the Mountain star – it sits at the peak of Hochgurgl at a whopping 3082m and offers stunning vistas of the surrounding mountains. All abilities can enjoy this spectacular setting as the cruisey blue 26 takes you back down the mountain.
Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
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Hotel Alpenaussicht | 7 | £ 809 |
The Moss - Hotel Alpenblume | 7 | £ 909 |
Hotel Wiesental | 7 | £ 1039 |
Hotel Olympia | 7 | £ 1232 |
Austria Gourmet & Wine Hotel | 7 | £ 1260 |
Hotel Alpina Deluxe Resort | 7 | £ 1279 |
Hotel Bellevue | 7 | £ 1319 |
Hotel Alpenland | 7 | £ 1339 |
Hotel Bergwelt | 7 | £ 1369 |
Hotel Jenewein | 7 | £ 1509 |