High altitude and plenty of varied terrain help to make Obertauern one of Austria’s most attractive ski resorts. Set in the heart of SalzburgerLand, Obertauern’s 100km of pistes curve around a natural snow bowl – all connected via ultra-modern ski lifts. Enjoy the ease of having your hotel right by the pistes, and you won’t have to go far to make the most of Austria’s renowned après-ski scene.
Hit the heights
Obertauern’s long ski season runs from the end of November until the beginning of May, giving skiers of all levels the chance to get to know its slopes. Everyone is catered for, from complete beginners to advanced skiers – even biathletes. If you’re after a serious challenge, take the Gamsleitenbahn 2 lift to the mountain station at 2,313 metres – the highest point in the Obertauern ski area. The mogul run down is one of the steepest in Europe, at times reaching a 100 per cent gradient. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted.
Get ahead of everyone else by making first tracks on the mountain before the lifts open. Once you’ve carved up the pristine pistes with only a limited number of skiers for company, you can treat yourself to a well-deserved Alpine brunch. If you haven’t had your fill of skiing for the day, carry on into the evening with night-time skiing. And for an unforgettable experience, take a helicopter tour of Obertauern for jaw-dropping mountain views.
Winter fun
Put aside your skis for a few hours and try some hugely entertaining ways of bombing along the slopes. Snow biking is one of the most popular, and you’re guaranteed an adrenaline kick if you try snow kiting.
Fans of The Beatles will recognise Obertauern from the 1965 movie Help!, and the resort erected statues of John, Paul, George and Ringo at Kirchbühellift to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary. If you remember the scene with the grand piano, head to Grünwaldkopfbahn and play a few chords on the keys.
Special treats
If you’re a gin aficionado, you’ll want to visit Hotel Glöcknerin, home to Obertauern’s premium G-Punkt gin. Other liquor lovers aren’t left out either, as there’s a tempting selection of fruit brandies to taste.
For a magical experience of Obertauern, come during the Tauern Advent, which in 2020 runs from 27 November to 20 December. It’s the highest Christmas market in SalzburgerLand, and you’ll fall under its spell as you wander past its food and trinket stalls in a winter wonderland.
To find out more about Austria's SalzburgerLand, visit austria.info/winter and obertauern.com
