Skiing in Obertauern
Obertauern sits on a mountain pass in Austria's Salzburgerland at around 1740 metres, built around one simple promise: snow. The village lies in a bowl of peaks with pistes descending towards the centre from all sides, together offering 196 kilometres of pistes and 27 lifts. The famous Tauernrunde circuit lets you ski around the whole area in a day, with ski-in ski-out from virtually every hotel. Recent winters brought up to 151 centimetres of snow, and Obertauern traditionally ranks among the snowiest villages in Austria. We list 3 accommodations, with winter sports holidays from 1643 euros per person.
Last checked: 2026-10-26 · Sources: Open-Meteo (snow data), OpenStreetMap (lifts and pistes), partner offers refreshed daily.
Accommodations in Obertauern
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The ski area from Obertauern
Obertauern is a ski circus in the literal sense: the village sits in the middle and the 196 kilometres of pistes with 27 lifts wrap around it like a ring. From nearly every accommodation you click into your skis, and via the Tauernrunde, clockwise or anticlockwise, you circle the entire area in a day.
The terrain is varied: wide practice slopes by the village, plenty of red pistes on the flanks and serious black descents and ski routes higher up. Beginners, intermediates and experts all get their share, rare for an area of this size.
Snow reliability in Obertauern
Obertauern owes its reputation to its position on the Tauern pass, where northern and southern weather systems both unload their snow: the village at around 1740 metres traditionally ranks among the snowiest spots in Austria. Recent winters recorded up to 151 centimetres.
The season is long for a non-glacier area, typically from late November into May, and pistes running into the village are the norm rather than the exception. Even in December and late March, skiing in Obertauern is almost always the real thing; few Austrian villages offer that guarantee.
The village of Obertauern
Obertauern is a functional ski village along the pass road, built for winter sports: hotels, sports shops and restaurants within walking distance of the lifts, without a historic core. The charm lies in the setting, in the middle of the white bowl.
Apres-ski is lively and part of the village identity, with well-known huts and bars filling up from late afternoon. At the same time there are plenty of quiet hotels for families. A fun detail for music lovers: The Beatles stood in the snow here filming scenes for the movie Help.
Who is Obertauern for
Obertauern is for winter sports fans who want certainty of snow and convenience: ski-in ski-out, a circuit-skiable area and a long season. Sporty groups and couples who pair skiing with apres-ski are in their element, and families benefit from the practice slopes by the village.
If you seek an authentic village scene or a cheap holiday, be honest with yourself: the starting price of 1643 euros per person makes this one of the pricier choices, in line with the hotel-led offering. In return you get quality on every front.
Practical: getting there and booking
You reach Obertauern via the Tauern motorway, Radstadt exit, after which the pass road brings you to the village in half an hour; the road is intensively maintained but demands winter equipment when it snows. Salzburg is the nearest airport, within comfortable transfer distance.
The long season makes November, December and April more interesting here than elsewhere; the Christmas and half-term weeks are peak crowds. We list 3 accommodations in Obertauern, with winter sports holidays from 1643 euros per person.
Obertauern on the map
FAQ about Obertauern
How much piste can you ski from Obertauern?
From Obertauern you reach the Obertauern ski area with around 196 km of marked pistes and 27 lifts.
What does a ski holiday in Obertauern cost?
Accommodations in Obertauern start from around €1.762 per person; Nivosola compares 3, refreshed daily.
Is there enough snow around Obertauern?
Yes. Recent winters in Obertauern reached a maximum snow depth of around 151 cm. December to March is the most reliable period.
How high is Obertauern?
The village sits at around 1740 metres on the Tauern pass, exceptionally high for an Austrian village. The pistes run from the surrounding peaks right into the village.
What is the Tauernrunde?
A circuit on skis that loops the full 196-kilometre area in one day, clockwise or anticlockwise. The route is signposted and well within reach of intermediates.
Is Obertauern suitable for beginners?
Yes, wide practice slopes and calm blue runs sit by the village, and ski schools are plentiful. The area then grows with you effortlessly.
How lively is the apres-ski in Obertauern?
Lively: the village has a string of famous apres-ski venues that fill up in the late afternoon. Quiet hotels exist just as well, so you decide how much of it you join.