Sölden

Sölden has grown from a mountain farming community into one of the largest winter resorts in Tyrol, but its setting is still very much that of a high alpine valley. The Ötztal runs for about 65 kilometres from the Inn Valley near Imst toward the Timmelsjoch pass, and Sölden is near its upper end, where the valley splits into side valleys leading toward the main Alpine ridge. The village centre lies along the main road, and cable cars rise on both sides.

The ski area is the main reason for most visits. Sölden has two main lift systems, one starting at the Gaislachkogl in the village and another at the Giggijoch, and lifts reach terrain above 3,000 metres. The Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers, linked by a tunnel under the ridge, ensure a long season, with snow conditions usually secure from October to May. Runs include long, wide pistes suited to confident intermediates and some steep, challenging descents. The area has a reputation for lively après-ski, with huts and bars on the slopes and in the village.

Each October, the glacier hosts the first race of the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season, a giant slalom on the steep Rettenbach slope. It is a spectacle for fans and a sign that the winter has begun, and local hotels fill quickly. The race has been held here for decades, and many top skiers have won on the course.

Sölden is also known for its film connections. The Ice Q, a modern glass restaurant on the Gaislachkogl at around 3,000 metres, appeared in the James Bond film Spectre in 2015. On the summit, a museum devoted to the Bond films, 007 Elements, opened later and uses the mountain setting as part of its exhibition. Visitors with an interest in film can combine a ride on the cable car with a meal or a tour. Check current opening arrangements.

In summer, the focus shifts to walking and cycling. The cable cars carry hikers to high trails, and the Gschwendt alpine pasture and its mountain huts offer traditional Tyrolean food and views. The Palinkhütte and other huts provide stops on longer routes. The Schmiedtal, a side valley, offers a quieter, more cultural walk, and mountain biking trails range from easy to expert. The Ötztal Glacier Road, a toll road, climbs to the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach areas, giving access to high alpine terrain without a lift. The nearby Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road crosses into Italy in summer, a spectacular drive with many bends.

The valley has a deeper history that attracted worldwide attention in 1991, when walkers found the mummified body of a Stone Age man, known as Ötzi the Iceman, in the ice near the Similaun mountain on the Italian side of the border. The discovery, dated to around 3300 BC, made the Ötztal Alps famous. An archaeological park in the village of Umhausen, lower down the valley, presents life in the Stone Age.

The village itself is mostly modern, with large hotels and sports shops, but a few traditional farmhouses and a church remain. An ice arena offers skating and curling, and wellness facilities in many hotels provide a break from the cold. Food is Tyrolean: Tiroler Gröstl, Kasnocken, goulash soup and Kaiserschmarrn are common, and mountain restaurants serve them with views.

The ski season runs from autumn to late spring, with the best snow in the middle of winter and glacier skiing in early and late season. The summer season is short, from late June to September, and the valley is quiet in between, when many businesses close.

Reaching Sölden by car from Innsbruck takes about an hour and a half along the Ötztal road, and public buses run from the railway station at Ötztal Bahnhof. In winter, ski buses link the lifts and hotels.