Obertauern, Austria | Welove2ski
Ski Resorts

Obertauern, Austria

Obertauern, Austria | Welove2ski
Photo: © TVB Obertauern

The Stats

Altitude: 1740m

Top Lift: 2313m

Ski area: 95km of piste

Adult lift pass: 174-205€ for six days

site Official Site | site Ski Map | site Webcam

In a Nutshell

Unusually for Austria, this is a purpose-built resort. It has convenient skiing and an excellent snow record, but it is not the best destination for non-skiers.

Essential Advice for the Perfect Trip

When snow-cover is light elsewhere in Austria, this high-altitude ski area has virtually guaranteed conditions. Its position on a mountain pass in the Niedere Tauern mountain range, 90km south of Salzburg, attracts a favourable microclimate. Radstadt railway station is 20km away.

Until local ski enthusiasts ‘colonized’ the pass in the early 1930s the only building was Hotel Tauernpasshöhe. During the intervening decades a straggle of hotels and bars has sprung up along the roadside to give Obertauern more of an American ski resort atmosphere. ‘I recommend the resort for families, intermediates and beginners looking for an all-round fun holiday – but probably not for experts,’ said a reader.

Obertauern is Austria’s only resort where you can ski to and from the door of most of its hotels. The main skiing areas has 26 lifts around the Tauernrunde bowl region – all of which are interconnected without the need for a ski bus. There’s an excellent snow record, and a good variety of terrain – including everything from nursery slopes to some tricky black runs.

Obertauern has some lively nightspots and has been famous for its apres-ski ever since the Beatles made part of their film Help here in 1965.

The Loveometer

Where to Ski Loveometer 69% | Welove2ski

We Love

We Hate

tick The purpose-built style of resort, which is unusual for Austria
tick The convenient snow-sure skiing.
tick The wide range of beginner and intermediate skiing.
tick The fact that this is a good all-round family destination.
tick The late-season skiing.
cross The lack of activities for non-skiers.
cross The fact that it isn’t an atmospheric little Austrian village

Continue Exploring Obertauern

About the author

Felice Hardy

Felice was one of the founders of Welove2ski and regularly contributes, as well writing for a range of other publications including The Evening Standard, The Guardian, Conde Nast Traveller, Tatler, Harpers Bazaar, Country Life, BA Highlife and House & Garden. She started skiing at the age of three. She also enjoys hiking with her dogs and mountain biking in the Alps.

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