OBERGURGL, THE ÖTZ VALLEY AND YOUR ACCOMMODATION

WHERE IS OBERGURGL?

Obergurgl is a village in Tyrol in the west of Austria. It is situated at the end of the Ötz Valley, a valley running in a north-south direction, which begins approx. 45 km west of Innsbruck and forms the longest side valley of the Inn Valley. Gurgl is part of the municipality of Sölden in the district of Imst. This small mountain village, to which the Hochgurgl settlement belongs, is home to 564 inhabitants. It nestles at an altitude of 1,930 metres above sea level, immersed in the Ötztal Alps near the main Alpine ridge, and is therefore Austria's highest church village.

WHERE DOES THE NAME COME FROM?

Obergurgl is surrounded by numerous glaciers, which is also reflected in its name. Gurgl can be traced back to the word "Gurgall", which roughly translates as "village in the glacier crown".

HOW DO YOU GET THERE?

The easiest way to reach Obergurgl is by car. If you are arriving from Germany, just take the A7 to the end of the Autobahn and then drive toll-free over the Fern Pass in the direction of Imst. From there follow the signs to Ötztal and take the B186 to the end of the valley. Travelling on the A9, drive to Munich and then continue on the A8 towards Innsbruck and Bregenz. The Autobahn becomes the A12 near Kufstein in Austria and requires a vignette. Take the Ötztal exit from the Autobahn 45 km west of Innsbruck and follow the B186 to the end of the valley. Alternatively, you can take the A95 from Munich to Garmisch and continue on to Mittenwald. Pass Seefeld and Telfs and continue on the B171 to Ötztal-Train Station, where you change to the B186 to Gurgl. You can conveniently travel by train to Ötztal Station. From there you can either take the bus - approx. 1 hour 25 minutes - or a taxi - approx. 50 minutes - to Obergurgl. The nearest airport is Innsbruck-Kranebitten (INN), which is approx. 100 km away. The most convenient way to get to your holiday home from there is by taxi, which takes approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes.

DO I NEED WINTER TYRES OR SNOW CHAINS TO GET TO THE ÖTZ VALLEY?

Winter tyres are absolutely necessary if you want to drive to Obergurgl in winter. Please note that it is mandatory in Austria to have winter tyres from November 1st to April 15th as well as snow chains. A snow chain requirement for cars can also be imposed at short notice in the event of heavy snowfall.

WHERE DO I PARK MY CAR?

Obergurgl is a small village, which means that parking spaces are scarce. Most of the time your vehicle will also be outdoors and exposed to the weather. Your vehicle will be well protected in a garage at the Hotel Gurglhof for the duration of your holiday.

HOW FAR AWAY IS OBERGURGL?

It is approx. 225 km from Munich and approx. 340 km from Stuttgart. Frankfurt am Main is approx. 540 km away, while Düsseldorf is about 740 km away. It is approx. 850 km from Berlin to us and Hamburg and Obergurgl are separated by 930 km. Vienna is about 570 km away and Zurich is located approx. 290 km away.

DOES OBERGURGL HAVE A SKI RESORT?

Of course there is a ski resort here. The ski resort of Obergurgl-Hochgurgl stretches from the valley station of the Hochgurgl cable car network at 1,800 metres above sea level to the summit of the Wurmkogel at 3,080 metres above sea level. This guarantees a long skiing season from mid-November to the end of April.

HOW BIG IS THE SKI RESORT?

The ski resort of Obergurgl-Hochgurgl consists of 25 modern lift systems. Waiting times at the lifts are no issue at all thanks to the transport capacity of approx. 42,000 people per hour. You can reach the ski resort from several valley stations, eliminating the need to queue at the lift in the morning. You can then take your turns down into the valley on 112 kilometres of slopes, and because the slopes are very wide, nobody will be getting in your way.

HOW GUARANTEED IS THE SNOW IN OBERGURGL?

Obergurgl-Hochgurgl confidently calls itself the most snow-sure region of the Alps. One reason for this is the altitude, because the ski resort starts at 1,800 metres and leads up to 3,080 metres. The other reason is that statistical data indicates that on average there is snow cover on 198 days.

HOW MANY LIFTS ARE THERE?

There are 25 lifts in Obergurgl, which are able to transport approx. 42,000 people to the top per hour. Waiting times at the lift are virtually non-existent, even during the holiday season.

IS OBERGURGL A GLACIER SKIING REGION?

No, it is not a glacier skiing region, although it is surrounded by a lot of glaciers. The high altitude means that you can enjoy skiing here as early as mid-November.

HOW LONG HAS THE SKI RESORT EXISTED?

Obergurgl has developed into a renowned winter sports resort over the last century. The first T-bar lift was built here in 1949 and only 4 years later a chair lift to the Hohe Mut was installed. The construction of the Hochgurgl settlement began in 1960, after the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road was completed.

WHAT ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE ON SITE?

You have a wide range of accommodation to choose from in Obergurgl. You will find renters that will hire out small rooms as well as numerous hotels of all categories. There is a particularly extensive range of 4 star hotels in Obergurgl. From family-friendly children's hotels to sophisticated adult hotels, there is something to suit every taste. Those who prefer staying in their own holiday apartment during their holiday in Obergurgl will of course also find an apartment complex here.

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE NOW?

Quite good mostly. Obergurgl has a relatively dry inner-Alpine climate thanks to the high mountain ranges surrounding the village. That also means that the sun shines a little more often here than elsewhere, with more than 1,260 hours of sun a year. A weather forecast updated daily for the coming days can be found on our website. You can catch a live glimpse of Obergurgl here on one of our webcams.

WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO IN OBERGURGL?

The area is also very popular with ski tourers, because there are many destinations around Obergurgl worth visiting. There are plenty of mountains stretching up to over 3,500 metres that can be reached directly from the village or from the Langtalereck hut. You can still ski here in May thanks to the glaciers. Snowshoe hikers can look forward to a scenically charming excursion in the Swiss stone pine forest behind the village. There are also many opportunities for cross-country skiers to indulge in their sport here. There is a toboggan run at the Hochgurglbahn lift, where you can also rent toboggans.

HOW IS THE NIGHTLIFE?

If you want to go out after dinner, or if you want to continue the party after après-ski, then you will inevitably end up in the Josl Keller, quite simply the place to party in Obergurgl. This is where locals meet visitors to end the day together. A larger selection of bars and various nightclubs can be found in Sölden, which is approx. 15 minutes away by taxi.

WHERE CAN I GO SHOPPING?

There are two small grocery shops in Obergurgl that stock all the daily necessities. Souvenirs as well as various other items, from sun cream to nappies and sanitary products, are available.

IS THERE A DOCTOR OR A PHARMACY IN OBERGURGL?

A doctor is always on hand if you need medical help. You will receive all the treatments you need at the local outpatient clinic. Drugs can also be quickly obtained from this facility at any time.