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Table of Contents:
How to get to Obergurgl from Innsbruck
How to get to Obergurgl from Munich
How to get to Obergurgl from Salzburg
When to travel to Obergurgl
Obergurgl is a modern ski resort located in the Otztal valley. It has everything for a winter holiday, including unique natural landscapes, developed resort infrastructure, picturesque routes, various entertainment options, comfortable living conditions. Obergurgl is adjacent to the more famous resort of Solden, but it offers calmer vibes while maintaining developed infrastructure. The ski season lasts quite long here – from November to May, and all thanks to climate conditions – the region is snowy, with abundant falls throughout the entire skiing period.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Obergurgl. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Obergurgl.
Tourists can come to Obergurgl any season of the year. The skiing period, as it has been said before, lasts from November until May. The other period you can visit Obergurgl for sightseeing, hiking, rock climbing, tennis and doing other seasonal activities. Lifts in Obergurgl operate all year round.
How to get to Obergurgl
Where do you fly into to get to Obergurgl? You can get to Obergurgl both by public transport and by taxi/transfer. Travelers, who have a driver`s license, can also rent a car. The nearest major cities with international airports are Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich. A little further away is Zurich, Switzerland. You can check the current flight timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. I often use this online service as it helps me to compare different flight options and to choose an optimal one.
How to get to Obergurgl from Innsbruck
By public transport: From Innsbruck you can take the train to the town of Otztal. Further from that town you need to take a regular bus running directly to Obergurgl. You can check the schedule and purchase train tickets to Otztal on the Raileurope booking service. The travel time from Innsbruck to Otztal takes only half an hour, and trains run three times an hour throughout the day. Next in Otztal, at the railway station stop you need to take a regular bus to Obergurgl. You should focus on buses NL, 4194, 8352.
By transfer service: If you arrive with a lot of luggage or your own ski equipment, then public transport is not the most convenient option, because you will have to make a change. Besides using public transport, you also can find a taxi at the airport or order an individual transfer service in advance before your arrival. You can book a transfer in advance on various specialized services, such as Kiwitaxi and others. The travel time from Innsbruck Airport is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Based on my research, Kiwitaxi has a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: As an option you can also rent a car. There are 9+ more rental offices of various suppliers open at the Innsbruck Airport; in addition, there are rental offices in the city centre. You can book a car in advance on specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Innsbruck and Obergurgl are connected with highways #A13 and #SS44. The distance is 136 km (see on the map).
How to get to Obergurgl from Munich
Munich is located a little further from the Austrian resort than Innsbruck, but the Munich International Airport takes more flights. You can get to Obergurgl from Munich by public transport, by transfer service or by rented car.
By public transport: If you choose public transport, you will need to combine a train and a bus. Trains from Munich to the town of Otztal run every two hours throughout the day. A short change is required in Kufstein or in Innsbruck. The travel time to Otztal is about 2.5 hours. You can check the schedule and purchase train tickets to Otztal on the Raileurope booking service. Next, at the Otztal railway station you need to take a regular bus. Please, focus on buses No. NL, 4194, 8352.
By transfer service: You can also order an individual car transfer from Munich. This option will come in handy if you travel with your own ski equipment or with a lot of luggage. You can book a transfer in advance on various specialized services, such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. The travel time from Munich Airport is 3,5 hours. Examining some information, I found out that these online services have a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend them. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: Renting a car is also a popular option among the travellers. There are many rental offices of various suppliers at the Munich Airport; in addition, rental offices can be found in the city centre. You can book a car for renting in advance on specialized services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other ones. Munich and Obergurgl are connected with highways No. A95. The distance is 210 km, and the travel time is about 3,5 hours (see on the map).
How to get to Obergurgl from Salzburg
By public transport: To get from Salzburg to Obergurgl by public transport, you need to use a train and a regular bus. A direct train departs from Salzburg Train Station to the town of Otztal every hour during the day. The travel time is 2 hours 15 minutes. You can check the schedule and purchase train tickets to Otztal on the Raileurope ticket service. Next, at the railway station of Otztal you need to take a regular bus directly to Obergurgl. Please, focus on bus lines # No. NL, 4194, 8352.
By transfer service: You can also order an individual car transfer from Salzburg. This option is convenient if you travel with your own ski equipment or a large amount of luggage. You can book a transfer service in advance on various specialized websites, such as Kiwitaxi and others. The travel time from the Salzburg Airport is 3 hours.
By rented car: One more suitable option to reach your travel destination is renting a car. You can rent a car directly at the Salzburg Airport. There are rental offices in the city center as well. If necessary, you can book a car in advance on specialized online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Based on my experience, both online services have a decent search and a lot of filters to sort and narrow the results in order to choose the best suitable car rental option. Salzburg and Obergurgl are connected with highway No. A12. The distance is 285 km, and the travel time is just over 3 hours (see on the map).
Where to stay in Obergurgl
After examining some information, I can say that tourists can stay in apartments, detached houses, guest houses, holiday homes and standard hotels in Obergurgl. In other words, there is a decent number of accomodation options. Most hotels are located close to the ski lifts, making it possible to ski almost to the hotel door. I would recommend booking accommodation at the resort in advance, as the place is popular among skiers.
Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl 4* – the hotel has a convenient location and direct access to the ski slopes. Guests can enjoy a restaurant, a bar, a relaxation terrace, a fitness center and a swimming pool. A sauna and hydromassage are also available. You can stay in single, double or family rooms, as well as suites. Buffet breakfast or half board is included in the price. Wi-Fi is provided in the hotel rooms free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. Ski pass sales, ski equipment rental and ski storage are available at the front desk;
Hotel Garni Pirchut 4* – the hotel is located directly opposite the ski lift. Such options as a sauna and a spa area are available on site. You can stay in standard rooms or apartments. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is provided throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that there is storage area for luggage and skis at the reception;
Hotel Olympia 4* – the hotel is located next to the ski slopes. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a wine cellar. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast or half board is included in the price. Some rooms have a balcony with mountain views. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms free of charge. Free public parking is provided on site. There is also a sauna and a Turkish steam room on site. The front desk offers ski pass sales and luggage and ski storage services;
Josl Mountain Lounging Hotel 4* – the hotel is located within walking distance from the nearest cable car. The hotel offers scenic views of the Otztal Mountains. The hotel rooftop spa features indoor and outdoor pools, hydromassage, steam showers, a sauna and massage services. There is a lounge area with a fireplace. You can stay in standard and superior rooms. Half board is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms free of charge. Free public parking is provided on site. Ski passes can be purchased at the front desk, and there is also area for storing skis and luggage;
Hotel Mathiesn 3* – the hotel is conveniently located in the center of Obergurgl and offers rooms with a balcony, a wellness center, and a restaurant. In the sports center you will find a Finnish sauna, a sanarium and a solarium, as well as a climbing wall and table football. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available in the hotel rooms free of charge. Free public parking is provided on site. Ski storage is available at reception.
What to do in Obergurgl
The resort of Obergurgl has a united ski area with the neighboring resort of Hochgurgl. And if the home ski area includes 54 km of slopes, then the total one is already 110 km. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The elevation difference at the resort is 1280 m.
- A total of 35 trails are available.
- 35 km of trails are for beginners, 55 km of trails are for intermediates and 20 km of trails are for profi.
- There is a small area for freeride (about 10 km).
- The length of the longest route is 8,5 km.
- The resort is served with 24 ski lifts.
In addition to alpine skiing, the resort also has a snowboard park and a halfpipe, cross-country ski trails and toboggan runs. There are also options such as night skiing.
You can also consider such activities as an ice-skating rink, sledding, tennis, bowling and others. The cost of ski passes in Obergurgl depends on the season. Seasons are divided into standard, high and low.
In nearby Solden (11 km) you can find many spa centers. For example, the famous thermal complex of Aquadome is located here. On the area of the complex there are outdoor and indoor pools with a waterfall and a water slide, 7 different saunas, an ice pool, a diving pool, relaxation areas, a spa area offering a variety of massages, including traditional local “stamp” massage and Otztal stone massage. Outdoor pools are open all-year-round and have a temperature of +36 degrees; they differ in type – massage, salt or sulfur.
You can also visit the Freizeit Arena complex. Here you will find various swimming pools (including children’s ones with slides), a wellness area, saunas, heated stone benches, tennis courts, a solarium, a gym, a fitness arena, and bowling. I visited some thermal spas in Europe and can definitely recommend such a nice activity to try.
As I see it, Obergurgl is a modern and highly-developed resort with an excellent infrastructure and vibes of calmness and tranquility. Gorgeous mountain views, high-quality trails and all kinds of relaxation treatments only complement the overall picture. The ski season here lasts from November to May; in the summer the resort is also open and invites guests to enjoy hiking, rock climbing and other summer sports. The lifts continue to operate in walking mode.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Austria, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: mindgrow
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
We had so much fun skiing and tobogganing at Obergurgl. Though we drove, it’s nice to know that it’s possible to do by public transport for future trips.
how lovely! I never heard of this place before.
I’ve never really considered visiting Obergurgl but now I’m intrigued!
Never heard of this place before! Good to know that it’s so accessible😊
This place is new to me! Thanks for providing thorough information about how to get here, where to stay, and stuff to do!