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Table of Contents:
How to get to Solden from Innsbruck
How to get to Solden from Salzburg
How to get to Solden from Munich
What else Solden offers as an entertainment
When to travel to Solden
The ski resort of Solden in Austria is located in the Otztal Alps and is considered to be one of the most popular places in the country for outdoor activities and winter sports. The resort has a unique geographical location: there are 3 mountains of more than 3 000 m high at once, which means that the local ski slopes are suitable not only for beginners, but also for experienced skiers. For snowboarders, there is also an extensive area.
For relaxation after an active day, Solden offers to plunge into the comfort of local spa centers and sports complexes. The party area of Solden also offers a wide range of entertainment, including cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, night discos – all these activities help to end the evening in a pleasant way. 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 Solden. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Solden.
The best time of the year for skiing in Solden is the period of December-March when the snow cover is maximum prepared for winter sports. But Solden is an all-year-round resort, that is why you can also come to Solden in the period of April-October. This so-called “low” season suits best for hiking, sightseeing, horse-riding and other summer activities.
How to get to Solden
Where do you fly into to get to Solden? Most often, tourists get to Solden from Innsbruck, Salzburg or Munich; all three cities have airports to fly into. Check the current flight timetable from your city at Aviasales booking service. Solden is located 88 km from Innsbruck; 270 km from Salzburg; and 200 km from Munich. You can get to Solden by public transport, by transfer services or by rented car.
How to get to Solden from Innsbruck
Based on my careful research, I found out that the fastest way to get to Solden is from the neighboring city of Innsbruck, which is located 88 km from the resort. Flights from different cities of the world arrive in Innsbruck all year round. You can get from Innsbruck to Solden by train, by taxi or by car.
By public transport: Solden is located away from railway lines, so you can only get by train from Innsbruck to the neighboring town of Otztal, and then take a local bus from Otztal directly to Solden. The total travel time is about 2 hours. You can check the train timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. The public bus lines are #4194/8352 Otztal (route of Haiming – Obergurgl).
By transfer service: Public transport is not very convenient, because there is no direct railway route between Innsbruck and Solden, so many tourists use taxi services or book a transfer service in advance. You can order an individual transfer in advance at various transfer services, such as Kiwitaxi, etc. The duration of a taxi ride is about 1 hour. I often use this online service to figure out available options and plan my own trips in Europe, so I can definitely recommend it.
By rented car: Car rental is also a popular option. 9+ more rental offices of various suppliers are open at once at the Innsbruck Airport. In addition, there are rental offices in the city center too. You can get from Innsbruck to Solden by car in just 1 hour along highways No. A12 and B186 (see on the map). In the “high” season (from December to March incl.) it is recommended to book a car for renting in advance, because the service is highly demanded among tourists arriving in Innsbruck for Austrian ski resorts. You can book the car class you need in advance on specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Based on my experience, both services are good for searching as they have a lot of individual settings to narrow the results in the way you need.
How to get to Solden from Salzburg
After examining the map, I figured out that Solden is located 270 km from Salzburg. Flights to Salzburg are available all-year-round. In winter time the number of flights increases. You can get from Salzburg to Solden in various ways – by public transport, by transfer services or by rented car.
By public transport: For example, from Salzburg to Solden you can get there by using the train + bus option. To get started, you need to take a direct train from Salzburg to Otztal, the travel time is 2 hours and 15 minutes. Trains run every hour throughout the day and depart from Salzburg Main Railway station. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. And then you need to take a regular bus from Otztal directly to Solden. The public bus lines are #4194/8352 Otztal (route of Haiming – Obergurgl).
By transfer service: Alternatively, you can also use a private transfer from Salzburg to Solden. The advantage of an individual transfer service is that a taxi driver will be waiting for you by the time of your arrival. In addition, you do not need to waste your time making changes, as is the case with public transport. You can order a transfer in advance on various transfer services, such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel, etc. The travel time, in total, from Salzburg Airport to Solden usually takes about 3 hours. I did some careful research and discovered that both services have a great number of positive reviews so I can recommend them.
By rented car: Such an option as car rental is also popular among tourists. You can rent a car directly at the Salzburg Airport. There are also rental offices in the city center. If necessary, you can book the desired car class in advance on special services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Salzburg and Solden are connected with highways #A8 and #A12. The distance is 270 km, and the travel time is approx. 3 hours (see on the map). To rent a car, you need to have a passport, a driver’s license and a bank card to pay for services.
How to get to Solden from Munich
Despite the fact that Solden is located at a decent distance from Munich, almost 200 km, tourists often arrive at Austrian resorts exactly from Munich, because Munich has an international airport, where flights from all over the world arrive.
By public transport: Getting from Munich to Solden by public transport is not very convenient, you need to make several changes along the way, not to mention the fact that you have to spend time getting from the Munich Airport to the Railway Station. But if you prefer this option, you will need to take a train to Otztal (1 change in Kufstein is needed on the route) and then to take a local bus to get from Otztal directly to Solden. The travel time is 2,5 hours by train + 1 hour by bus. You can check the train timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I can recommend this service as I often use it by myself when planning my trips. The public bus lines are #4194/8352 Otztal (route of Haiming – Obergurgl).
By rented car: In Munich it is convenient to rent a car, you can do it right at the arrival terminal. To rent a car in Munich, it is enough to have a passport, a driver’s license and a bank card to pay for services. You can choose a desired car class in advance via various international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other ones. Munich and Solden are connected with the A95 highway (see on the map); the travel time is about 3 hours, which is almost 2 times faster than using public transport. Please, note, you may need to register for cross-border insurance to go to Austria.
By transfer service: You can also get to Solden from Munich by taxi or private transfer. You can order a car transfer in advance on the international transfer services Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel, etc. or to order a taxi car at the airport upon arrival. The travel time by taxi or transfer service is approx. 3 hours. I checked out the reviews of both services carefully and I can say that most of them are positive.
Where to stay in Solden
I did some research and I can say that tourists can find a lot of different accommodation options to stay here. In Solden you can find accommodation in various categories – from the most luxurious apartments to modest hotels designed for basic comfort, so tourists with different budgets can afford holidays in Solden. Early booking is considered to be the “main key” to a budget holiday. I would recommend choosing a place to stay in the resort as far in advance as possible, ideally no less than a few months before the trip.
A useful tip! The most common types of accommodation in Solden are hotels of various categories, apartments and guest houses. The third option, by the way, is considered to be the most budgetary for living. The advantage of staying in guest houses is that for a lower price you get virtually all the same conditions as in a regular hotel, except wellness services. However, if necessary, guests can use the wellness facilities of partner hotels at an additional cost.
In Solden, you can find hotels of various star categories. In 5- and 4-star hotels, as a rule, in addition to standard options, various additional services are offered, for example, spa and wellness centers, restaurants, included breakfasts or half boards, a kids club, evening programs, storage rooms for sports equipment and others. Spa and wellness centers at hotels usually consist of an indoor pool, a bar, a Turkish bath or a sauna, hydromassage, fitness center.
Traditionally popular places to stay in Solden include:
Hotel Valentin 4* has a convenient location next to the cable car. There is a spa center and a restaurant on site. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast or half board is offered. Ski storage, free Wi-Fi, free public parking are also provided;
Hotel Garni Hainbacherhof 3* is located close to the center of Solden and the funicular. The hotel has a spa center with a sauna, a terrace for relaxation, and free Wi-Fi. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Buffet breakfast is included. Free private parking is available at the hotel. There are also places for storing skis;
Pension Sportalm 3* is located in a quiet area, 300 meters from the nearest ski lift. The hotel has a sauna and a terrace for relaxing. Free Wi-Fi is provided. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family-type rooms. Depending on the type of room, breakfast may be included in the rate or pay separately; free public parking is also offered;
Gasthof Zweiselstein 3* is a guest house, which is located in the closest surroundings of Selden. The hotel has a restaurant, a spa area and a terrace for relaxation. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Meal options are breakfasts or half board. The hotel Wi-Fi is free and private parking is also free of charge.
In Solden, you can find quite a lot of apart-hotels; their main difference from ordinary hotels is that the rooms and apartments are equipped with a kitchen area. Some superior apartments have balconies or terraces with mountain views. Breakfast, as a rule, is not provided in apart-hotels, but you can count on free parking, which is almost always extra-paid in standard hotels. Renting an apartment is suitable for families with children, as well as for a large company, since the size of apartments, as a rule, is many times larger than the size of rooms in standard hotels.
What to do in Solden
Solden is a multifunctional resort and offers its guests various types of activities and entertainment. Skiing and snowboarding remain the most popular type of activities at the resort. This, in particular, is facilitated by a developed skiing infrastructure, coupled with unique natural and climatic conditions.
In the ski area of Solden, there are three mountains with a height of more than 3 000 m named Gaislachkogl, Tiefenbachkogl and Schwarze Schneid. They are sometimes also called the “Big Three”. I found out detailed information for visiting the resort:
- The total length of the slopes here is more than 145 km
- The height difference is more than 2000 meters
- The number of lifts is 34
- There is a half-pipe and 2 fan parks for snowboarders
- It`s also possible to try cross-country skiing and toboggan runs
Beginner skiers can be trained in various ski schools. In total, there are 5 ski and snowboard schools in Solden; there is also a freeride center. The cost of ski passes on the ski slopes of Solden varies depending on the number of skiing days.
What else Solden offers as an entertainment
Solden offers to visit the Aquadome thermal complex, which is located in the closest surroundings of the resort. The address is Oberlangenfeld 140, 6444 Langenfeld, Osterreich. Based on my research, this thermal complex offers the following services:
- Outdoor and indoor pools with a waterfall and a water slide (outdoor pools are open all year round and have a temperature of +36 degrees, differ in types – massage, salt and sulfur);
- 7 different saunas;
- An ice pool;
- A diving pool;
- Various relaxation areas;
- A spa area with massage services, including traditional local “stamp” massage and Otztal stone massage;
- The cost of visiting varies from the selected areas.
Solden also has one more sports complex, which is called the Freizeit Arena. It is located in the center of the resort. There are various pools (including children’s ones with slides), a wellness area, various saunas, heated stone benches, tennis courts, a solarium, a gym, a fitness arena, and bowling lanes. The cost of visiting also varies depending on the selected areas. Access to tennis courts and gyms is paid separately.
In my point of view, the resort of Solden offers a great variety of activities besides skiing. It can be ice skating, sledding, cross-country skiing, paragliding, rock climbing, mountaineering and even more exotic activities such as extreme snow driving courses. You can always relax and spend a pleasant evening in one of the many restaurants of the resort, which offers traditional cuisine from local products. For a more active pastime, night discos and bars are surely open here.
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: Kyle Taylor
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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 loved our stay in Solden, though we ended up spending quite a bit of our time up in Obergurgl and Hochgurgl for skiing and tobogganing. It is a beautiful area.
Hello!
I totally agree with you! Obergurgl and Hochgurgl are also definitely worth seeing!
Cheers,
Julia
We missed visiting the ski resorts when we were in Austria. Although we know this is a great region for them. Solden with its access to 3 different mountains sounds like a great spot to visit. And while we don’t ski anymore, we love ski resorts and the après ski atmosphere. Of course, a great spa would be a draw too!