Obertauern Ski Resort Guide, Austria

Obertauern or Austria’s Snow Bowl is one of the alpine skiing areas where snow is guaranteed more than 150 days a year. The region is famous for skiing and snowboarding from mid-November to early May, with an average of 2,6 meters of perfect snow! You can find everything you hoped for in terms of ski slopes, ski hire, ski schools, accommodation, restaurants, and nightlife. Not to mention that the setup at Obertauern is impressive! If you want to know more, read this Obertauern ski resort guide!

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Useful Info for Your Obertauern Ski Resort Guide

The region includes 100 kilometers of uninterrupted ski runs (61 kilometers easy, 35 kilometers moderate, 4 kilometers difficult) operated by 26 modern lifts and cable cars (one cabin cable car, 17 chair lifts, two combi chair/cabin cable cars, and 6 T-bar lifts), 31 kilometers of cross-country slopes and reaches altitudes up to 2,300 meters.

There are ski runs for every ski or snowboard level, and for the more adventurous ones, there is the Gamsleiten 2 slope, one of Austria’s steepest runs.

For more Infos and prices, read more here.

The best way to explore the ski resort is the famous circuit Tauern (Tauernrunde), which starts and ends in Obertauern’s village and has no more than 12 kilometers. What’s great about it: you can make it in both directions – clockwise (following the red signs) and anti-clockwise (following the green signs). And you can do both on the same day, which is even greater. The circuit is suitable for beginners for advanced skiers, and you can enter it at any point. The free ski buses operate every hour in both directions.

At an elevation of 2,313 meters, you’ll reach the Gamsleiten 2 slope, one of Austria’s steepest runs and the highest point in the Obertauern ski area. This slope is only for the most daring skier or snowboarder. Due to its exposed position, the lift works only if the weather plays along.

For experienced skiers, The Super Seven circuit is something special. The round marks the seven highest picks in the Obertauern ski region, each at the top of a lift facility.

Every Monday and Thursday, from 19:00 until 22:00, a 1.5 kilometer-long slope is open for night skiing at the Edelweiss 4-chair lift.

Tip. Be at the Zehnerkarbahn first thing in the morning, hop on the cable car and leave your first tracks in the freshly prepared slopes. Nothing can beat that feeling!

How to Get to Obertauern

By car. You can easily reach Obertauern from the A10 highway. There are countless parking opportunities in the area.

By train. The nearest train station is in Radstadt, 20 kilometers away. From here you can get to Obertauern by taxi or Postbus 280. (bus-stop out front of the train station) The Postbus from Radstadt to Obertauern is free to ski pass holders with skiing equipment only.

By plane. The closest airport is in Salzburg, 90 kilometers away. With shuttle service or individual service, you will get to Obertauern in no more than 1hour.

Accommodation in Obertauern

Obertauern is a gorgeous ski resort located southeast of Salzburg, in the Austrian Alps. The village lies in the vicinity of the Radstädter Tauern Pass’s highest point over which the Katschberg road runs. More than 200 residents live in the small but modern village situated at an altitude of 1,664 meters. Once here, you won’t need a car since all accommodations have access to the surrounding ski slopes and lifts.

The accommodations tend to be expensive; however, you can find everything you crave: basic self-catering apartments, traditional guesthouses, or luxury spa resorts.

Only 7 kilometers to the south you’ll reach Tweng and 8 kilometers to the north, Untertauern, both with a wide variety of accommodation. Radstadt, only 20 kilometers to the north or Mauterndorf to the south, are excellent options if you’re looking for a budget stay in the area.

Aprés Ski and Restaurants in Obertauern

When it comes to food, the options are endless in Obertauern.

The legendary Treff 2000, right next to the top station of Grünwaldkopf, on the east side of the valley, is always a great choice. You’ll love the ambiance, the views, and the food!

Die Talstation restaurant, underneath the bridge of Grünwaldkopf and Zehnerkar stations, is an excellent place to take a break from the slopes! With a more laid-back atmosphere and modern decor, the place is perfect for a quick traditional lunch at reasonable prices.

For a modern and comfortable decor, head to Gamsmilchbar, on the west side of the valley, right next to the top station of Zehnerkarbahn. The views overlooking the valley are gorgeous! Make sure to try the famous Gamsmilch among other traditional Austrian dishes!

A popular dish served in the Austrian mountain huts is Käsespätzle. This course is for you if you love noodles, cheese, and caramelized onion! First, the homemade noodles and the shredded cheese are layered on top of each other and garnished with caramelized onions. Then, the course is placed into the oven for 10 minutes or so for the cheese to melt. Side dishes are usually leaf salads or potato salad. Simply delicious!

Another popular dish in Austria is Kaiserschmarrn, a fuzzy shredded pancake that takes its name from the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, who was very fond of this kind of dish. It is believed that the recipe started as a failed pancake that served Empress Sissy. This sweet dish can be served both as a main course and as a dessert.