family travel guide
Any Austrian resort can be praised for the quality of the snow, for the variety of pistes, for the service in the hotels, for a decent après-ski programme.
The resort of Sölden in the Öztal Alps also deserves all the praise, with nuances: young people love it for the abundance of entertainment, experienced skiers -— for long runs and virgin snow for freeriding, snowboarders — for the stunning snow park, extreme fans — for decent altitude skiing.
When it comes to family holidays, Sölden, one of the respectable and famous Austrian resorts, makes sure that all tourists have maximum enjoyment.
Find out about children's ski schools, top family attractions, the best hotels and everything you need to know about holidays with children in Sölden.
Sölden (often spelled Soelden) is a municipality in western Austria, in the state of Tyrol. It is part of the district of Imst (the administrative centre is the town of Imst).
The distance from Sölden to Innsbruck is 88 km, to Imst — 48 km, to Meran (Italy) — 74 km.
The Ötztal valley, where Sölden is situated, is surrounded by high mountains: there are about 250 three-thousand metre peaks and three of them are located in the resort. Thanks to these heights, the season in Sölden begins in October and lasts until May.
The ski resort of Sölden easily takes its share of tourists: it holds records for the length of the season, the height of the ski area and the number of long and steep slopes.
In terms of altitude and ski season, it can only be compared to Stubai, with the other Austrian resorts losing out.
The possibility of skiing in autumn and spring is of course an additional advantage of Sölden. However, the slopes at an altitude of 2-3 thousand metres can be a disadvantage if you do not prepare for the trip beforehand.
The acclimatisation of a child in such high mountains, even in frosty winter, usually takes a few days: you may not be able to start lessons at the ski school immediately.
We recommend that you spend the first few days resting with your child in a quiet environment, and then start the activities.There are many activities for children in Sölden. Most of the activities take place outdoors, so be prepared for the weather.
Summer is also a popular time to visit Sölden, although there is a lack of sun and heat. However, it is a good time for travelling and sightseeing. If you are holidaying with a baby, we recommend that you choose an Austrian resort with more pleasant summer weather.
The ski season in Sölden is quite long. The first skiers hit the slopes at the end of September - at a time when other Austrian resorts are just closing for the summer.
Skiing continues until the beginning of May, and during this time thousands of tourists visit the region, despite the fact that the community itself has a population of just over 3,000.
Is it worth coming to Sölden for the season opening? Observations of the weather show that it is better to postpone the trip.
There is one good reason to postpone the trip for at least a month: at the end of October, the resort will host the first round of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup, which means good coverage on the slopes and the opportunity to see the performances of famous athletes first hand.
Residents of Austria and Germany have their own opinions about the best time to visit Sölden: most tourists from these countries come during the Christmas and New Year period and in February and March.
For a holiday with a child, the second half of March or April is a good choice, when there is no severe frost. The price of ski passes from December to April does not change much, but in the middle of spring, tourists in the mountains pay a little less.
The summer weather in Sölden is not particularly hot, and it rains quite often. For passive recreation, the resort is a little boring, so a trip to Sölden with a baby will be less successful than a holiday in warmer and sunnier Alpbach or Seefeld.
If you ask skiers about the climate in Sölden, they will tell you that the weather is the best it can be. The summer is short, cool and rainy, and winter arrives in September.
The snow in the mountains around the Öztal valley stays on the ground until May — isn't that a blessing for skiers?
The weather in September has little resemblance to winter. The temperature is around +10°C during the day and +2°C at night. But this is in the valley — and at an altitude of 2000 metres there is already a decent layer of snow by the end of the month.
The latest information on snow cover can be found on the resort's website. For example, at the beginning of October 2018, snow had not yet fallen in the valley, the thickness of the snow in the Giggijoh ski area was 7 cm, and on the glaciers — 28 cm.
In October the temperature is +5°C during the day and freezes at night. At this time it can rain and the mountains are covered with snow.
From November to March the temperature is below zero and it snows almost every day. Sometimes the winter is mild: the temperature stays between -5-8 degrees during the day and -10-12 degrees at night.
However, there can also be severe frosts, when the temperature drops to -15-18°C during the day and -20°C at night. Therefore, you should prepare for your holiday in Sölden with all due care, especially ski equipment for children.
In April, the nights remain frosty, but during the day the air warms up to +3-5°C. The best holiday in Sölden with children is in April, when the snow cover remains decent and the frost does not prevent you from spending time on the slopes.
The season closes in the second week of May. The snowfall is replaced by rain, and very heavy — until September the weather forecast shows more rain than sunshine.The air temperature is +7-15°C during the day and can drop to zero at night.
Public transport in Sölden is well organised, with ski buses carrying tens of thousands of skiers during the season. Ski buses run every 20 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (check the resort's website for exact schedules and departure times).
In summer, the Sölden bus runs from 6:00 to 21:00 and there are two night routes. Buses 4194 and 8352 run through the town and connect Söden with Imst, Ötztal-Bahnhof and Obergurgl. A ticket to Ötztal-Bahnhof costs €10.70, with half price for children aged 6-14.
To get around Sölden you can book a taxi. It is also convenient to travel by car.
There are plenty of car parks near the bottom stations of the ski lifts, with space for 100 to 1000 cars. In addition to the public car parks, there are private car parks in the village, and there are often car parks near hotels and apartments.
In Sölden, a lot of people spend their days skiing in the morning and eating out in the evening. This is a bit monotonous and we recommend a family holiday in a different way.
First of all, children who have not spent all their energy in the ski school can try other activities: sledging on a five-kilometre-long track (it is illuminated in the evening), skating or playing Icestock (Bavarian curling), hiking on cross-country skis (the length of the track is 1 km and is sufficient even for beginners).
You can take your child snowshoeing through the snow-covered woods — the shortest route is an hour's walk.
Secondly, after the frost it is so nice to warm up in the pools of the Freizeit Arena Complex. There is a paddling pool for children in the complex, but wouldn't it be interesting for a child to swim with their parents in an artificial cave or under a waterfall? Freizeit Arena also has indoor sports facilities, tennis courts and bowling alleys.
Thirdly, you can take a dip in the open-air thermal pools. The Aqua Dom complex looks after the little ones while parents relax in the saunas and spa treatments.
Unfortunately, the question of what to do with a child in Sölden cannot be delegated to the hotels. Some hotels have playrooms and children's pools, but that's about it.
Skiing in Sölden is a very bright activity. Firstly, the resort has glaciers where snow lies almost all year round. Secondly, the slopes are 10-15 km long and will impress even experienced skiers. Thirdly, the slopes for beginners are located at different altitudes, including the area of the glaciers.
Sölden's "Big Three" are the peaks of Gaislachkogl (3058 m), Tiefenbachkogl (3250 m) and Schwarze Schneide (3340 m). The most difficult and longest pistes in the resort start from these heights.
Skiing with a child in Sölden usually takes place in the Innerwald, Giggijoch, Geislachkogl, where there are many blue slopes and the skiing altitude is relatively low (1370 - 2284 m).
However, there are also blue slopes on the Tiefenbach and Rettenbach glaciers, and these are serious altitudes and a real adventure. Gaislachkogl is also popular with freeriders, who can show off their skills on the virgin snow. And on the slopes of the Giggijoch there is a snow park: the figures are mostly designed for professionals.
Ski schools in Sölden can be found in all the resorts and in the town itself. Each school has a special course for children who are learning to ski for the first time: lessons, games, competitions and prizes await them.
The minimum age for learning to ski is 3-5 years, for snowboarding 8 years. Some of them offer family courses: you can spend time with children and learn skills together.
Children from 6 months to 3 years can be left for half a day in the kindergarten (they work in the ski schools).
| General season | end of September – early May |
| Ski areas |
• Gaislachkogl (3058 m)
|
| Elevation difference | 1350 m-3340 m |
| Ski slopes |
144 km — total |
| Ski lifts |
31 total, including |
| Ski routes | 143 km |
| Snowpark | 1 |
| The longest ski run | 15 000 m |
| Interactive scheme of ski slopes and lifts | https://winter.intermaps.com/soelden |
The season in Sölden lasts more than 8 months and the prices of the skipasses vary during this time. The highest ski pass prices are from 22 December to 11 January and from 26 January to 28 April.
A day's skiing costs €68 for an adult, €54 for a teenager (16-18 years) and €37 for a child (6-15 years) in high season.
Ski passes are available for up to 14 days. For example, a 7-day ski pass costs €418 for adults, €334 for juniors and €230 for children.
During the low season, from 15 November to 21 December, children's and junior ski pass prices are the same and adult ski pass prices are lower. For example, a one-day skipass costs €65 and a seven-day skipass costs €398.
There are dozens of ski hire shops in Sölden close to all the lifts. All the equipment is of high quality, prepared for skiing and there are skis of different classes.
The average price of a ski or snowboard rental for an adult is 17-43 euros, depending on the class. Boots cost 12-14 euros per day, helmet, gloves, goggles - 8 euros per day.
You can also hire cross-country skis (€25-27), sledges (€8) and snowshoes (€12-14). If you book your equipment online, you can save 10-15%.
Many rental companies offer special discounts for children. The cost of equipment hire for children under 14 is half that for adults, and for children under 10 the cost can be three or four times less.
Summer holidays in Sölden are very popular, despite the cool and rainy weather. The resort mainly attracts fans of outdoor activities: those who enjoy mountaineering, mountain biking, climbing or at least geocaching.
Without any special training, you can hike on small themed trails. For example, the Nature Experience Trail introduces you to the flora and fauna of the Öztal valley, local traditions and the dangers of the mountains.
If you are walking with children, we recommend the Adventure Mile and Dwarves trails.
There are also a number of playgrounds in the mountains, made from natural materials that blend in with the landscape.
You can also find family entertainment on the outskirts of the resort. For example, you can go rafting and canyoning at the Area47 park near Ötztal station.
For a different level of extreme, there are climbing walls, bungee ropes, ropes courses and water rides. It's worth noting that almost all the attractions are designed for children over the age of 10.
Kids will love a day at Ötzidorf, where you can experience the atmosphere of the Stone Age and take a few lessons in fire mining and rock art.
Near the park there are a number of other attractions: the Stuibenfall, the highest waterfall in Tyrol, the bridge over the waterfall, the crystal clear swimming lake of Umhausen with a beach and children's play area, the barefoot path, the old weaving mill where sheep wool carpets are still woven by hand.
The question of what there is to see in and around Sölden is worth asking when you arrive in the resort. The answer is obvious: mountains, glaciers and alpine villages.
The list of attractions includes the high Timmelsjoch Pass, which opens the way to the south, the Öztal Glacier Road with the highest car tunnel in the Alps and the village of Went, where Haflinger horses are bred.
There are several interesting places for children near the resort. The first place we would like to mention is the Umhausen Birds of Prey Park: This is a unique opportunity to show your child how eagles, falcons, owls and other birds of prey behave in the mountains.
And here are a few more places to visit with children:
1. The old villages of Etz and Farst with their painted houses and mountain paths.
2. The museum of local history in Langenfeld.
3. An archaeological site of Stone Age hunters.
4. The nature park exhibition in Wente about the Alps.
5. The site of the discovery of Ötzi the Iceman, the oldest human mummy in Europe
And if you are on holiday in Sölden with children, you can also go to Innsbruck to see the beautiful city itself, Ambras Castle, the Alpine Zoo and the Swarovski Museum.
In the Italian city of Bolzano you can visit the Archaeological Museum (where the mummy of Etsy is kept), the Crib Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Messner Mountain Museum.
Finding accommodation in Sölden with children is easy: there are plenty of nice hotels and apartments either at the bottom of the lifts or a 5-7 minute ski bus ride away. In the centre of the resort there are five and four star hotels, while the rest are hotels of varying star ratings.
When choosing where to go with children, it's better to look at the specific services that are important to you:
For an independent holiday in Sölden with children, apartments or rooms in apartment hotels are often rented. The resort has many restaurants and supermarkets, so there is no problem with food.
There is good accommodation close to Sölden in the villages of Reinstadl, Pitze, Zwieselstein, Hochselden — all of which are part of the ski resort.
There are also several other good winter resorts around Sölden, the largest of which are Obergurgl-Hochgurgl and Mutterbergalm.
The closest international airports to Sölden are Innsbruck (83 km), Bolzano (206 km), Munich (231 km) and Zurich (281 km). Most international flights arrive in Munich and Zurich.
The best way to get to Sölden from any airport is to take a taxi, arrange a private transfer, book a seat on the Öztal shuttle or rent a car. The journey by car takes 1.5 hours from Innsbruck, 2.5 hours from Bolzano, 3 hours from Munich and 3.5 hours from Zurich.
There are no direct trains to Sölden. From Innsbruck you can take a train to Eztal station and from there take a bus or taxi to the resort. From Munich you can get to Eztal station with a transfer in Kufstein. Information on train travel and ticket prices can be found on the Austrian Railways website: https://www.oebb.at/.
Buses 8352 and 4194 run from Öztal station to Sölden and take about an hour. The timetable can be found on the VVT website: http://www.vvt.at.
How to get to Sölden (toll roads require a vignette)
The official Sölden website has information on the location of the car parks.
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