7 reasons for choosing Obertauern for family skiing

Publication date

16 September 2024

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Ski resort Obertauern is one of the best ski resorts in Austria, with the highest snowfall. Last year, the ski area had a snow cover of 2 metres, this autumn it snowed for the first time in mid-September and the 2024/2025 ski season opens on 22 November.

Obertauern - the hometown of snow!

In the mid February we visited ski resort Obertauern for prolonged weekend and once again got confirmation that this is a supreme skiing resort that that impresses with tidiness, natural now and limitless fun polygons for children.

100 kilometers of ski slopes on Obertauren are arranged on the Hight 1.630 - 2.313 meters above the sea level, which ensures great ski conditions from the end of November until the beginning of May. Location in central Austria contributes as well, since this region gets lots of snow from the north as well as from the southern direction.

In Obertauern, you’ll see memorials in several places for the music group The Beatles, which in 1965 recorded winter recordings for the video clip of hit Help.

7 reasons for visiting ski resort Obertauern

1. Good road connection to the ski area

The Obertauern ski area has excellent road connections, so it's only a good hour's drive from Salzburg and Villach and you're already on the slopes.

More than half of the route is on a modern highway, and then a wide regional road takes you direct to Obertauern.

2.. Skiing without crowds in front on the lifts

Modern ski lifts are guarantee that you will not spend much time waiting in the lines, not even during the holidays. Out of 26 lifts, there is one gondola and two combined lifts with gondolas, tri modern chair-lifts for 8 persons, six chair-lifts for 6 persons, 8 chair-lifts for 4 persons, 2 chair-lifts for 2 persons and few ski lifts.

At 8.30 in the morning first three ski-lifts are opened, while the rest open at 9.00. Additionally, they prepared special offer First Track for the skiing enthusiasts, when for few days in season they enable to a smaller group start at 7.30 already. They get the privilege to cut into fresh slops and enjoy the empty tracks.

3. Wide ski tracks and natural snow

Ski slopes in Obertauern are divided into right part that is more sunny and have flatter slops that are suitable for all family members. And left part that is more shady and where ski tracks are steeper. Here the most popular is Gamsleitenbahn track. 

As Obertauern is well-know for natural snow the skiing is pure pleasure as there no ice sheets that are common with artificial snow. Lots of snow is great news also for lovers of free skiing outside the arranged slopes.

If you prefer trying different slopes, you should visit seven highest peaks that are marked with S7 - Super Seven. This enables you to ski across whole resort that will award you with the most beautiful views. Smaller circle is arranged for kids Bobby Tour.

Each Monday and Thursday night skiing is arranged between 19.00 and 22.00 on the slopes reachable with Edelweiss chair-lift.

4. Rich ski offer for children

60 kilometers of the ski slopes out of 100 are marked with blue color, which ensures that children will be able to enjoy skiing safely. They have prepared as well several playgrounds. For the smallest we recommend Bobby park with track among the gates, through the wooden huts and wavy ski circle. There are several skiing schools with teachers that speak different languages.

Completely new is Bobby's monster park with ski slope that leads children directly through the house of fears.

A bit older children will be eager to measure their skiing speed, enjoy longer ski cross track or enjoy the snow park with slopes for different tricks on skis.

We have to point out as well special attention of the workers on the ski tracks - they always lower the speed of the ski-chair and assist children to sit safely on the lift.

5. Excellent restaurants and Après-ski parties

Almost every ski track has its restaurant with larger terrace where you will be able to taste local dishes and of course, Austrian 'wienerschnitzel'. Popular are various meat dishes with cabbage and fried potatoes, sausages and Kaiserschmarren. We have to point out the Krings Alm, that has very nicely decorated interior, large terrace with swings and playground for children. 

Obertauern is well known also by parties that start during the day at the restaurant's terraces on the ski slopes and move in the afternoon to the bars in town. Several times live music can be heard which creates special atmosphere.

Most known is Après-ski party every day in restaurant Lürzer Alm, where skiiers start their party in the outdoor bar and continue in the evening in discotheque in the restaurant.

6. From the room directly to the ski slope

The hotel offer is very varied, and you can choose from

family pensions or hotels with four and five stars.

. The hotels are located all along the ski slope, so it's just a few steps to the first ski slope.​

Most of the hotels offer bed and breakfast, but a few also offer half board. Valamar, the well-known Croatian campsite company, which also manages the Istra Premium, Jezevac, Krk Premium campsites, already has 3 excellent hotels on the Obertauern ski area, which also have swimming pools and wellness facilities. These are hotels: Oberatuern Places, Valamar Obertauern and the luxury hotel Kesselspitze.

There are also some apartment accommodation, but more affordable accommodation is available in the nearby town of Tweng, which is connected to the ski resort (6 km away) by ski bus.

Overnight camping is not allowed in the car parks. The first campsite, which is also open in winter, is in Mauterndorf.

7. Affordable ski pass prices

Ski resort Obetauern will have a single price for ski passes regardless of the season in winter season 2024 / 2025 - 65 € per day for an adult, which makes it one of the cheapest big ski resorts  in the region.

Skiing is free at Obertauern for children up to 6 years of age, from 6 to 15 years old at Obertauern they pay 32.50 €, young people from 16 to 18 years old pay 49 € and seniors 62 € for daily ski pass.

All information about skiing and ski resort Obertauern can be found at  www.obertauern.com