Exploring Solden, Austria: Travel Tips And Tricks

Solden, Austria is a popular ski resort located near the end of the Otz valley. The nearest airport to Solden is Innsbruck Airport, which is 25.9 miles away. However, Salzburg and Munich airports are also viable options for those willing to endure a lengthier transfer. Alternatively, you can reach Solden by train, with the nearest train station being Otztal Bahnhof, located at the entrance to the Otz valley. The train journey offers daily international direct connections from Germany, Switzerland, and within Austria.

Travel to Solden by train

Solden, located in the Tirolean holiday region of Otztal, is accessible by train from all directions, with direct connections from Germany, Switzerland, and within Austria. The nearest train station to Solden is the Otztal Bahnhof railway station, located at the entrance to the Otz valley.

Trains run on the main line between Innsbruck and Zurich, but Otztal Bahnhof is a station on the Innsbruck suburban network, which may require a change to a regional service. There are seven daily direct connections from Zurich to Otztal-Bahnhof without changing, with a travel time of three hours. Rail jets stop every two hours in Otztal-Bahnhof in the direction of Bludenz. There are also six daily direct connections from Vienna, via St. Polten, Linz, and Salzburg, with a stop in Otztal-Bahnhof, with a travel time of approximately 4.5 hours. Additional direct connections are available during the winter months.

The railway companies in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland offer various special deals and bargain rates for their national routes, as well as other ticket promotions. Information on timetables and booking options can be found on the websites of the respective railway companies.

To make your journey even more convenient, the Tirolean holiday region of Otztal offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism initiative. As part of this initiative, guests staying at private accommodations or holiday apartments who arrive by train can send their luggage to their holiday destination, even if no one is there to receive it. The luggage will be delivered to a central address and then to the accommodation upon the guests' arrival. This service is provided in cooperation with the ULTIMOB project and will be available at no additional cost during the 2024 summer season.

Travel to Solden by plane

Solden is located near the end of the Ötz valley in Austria, and its high altitude can make it difficult to access in poor weather conditions and heavy snowfall. If you are travelling to Solden by plane, Innsbruck Airport is the best option for your flight destination. The resort is under an hour away from Innsbruck Airport in good conditions, and there is a good mix of scheduled and charter flights at the weekends. Major airlines such as Austrian Airlines, British Airways and Lufthansa, as well as smaller companies, service Innsbruck Airport on a daily or weekly basis.

Salzburg and Munich airports are other options, but they are not ideal as they involve a lengthy transfer to Solden. The journey from Munich can be especially long during busy periods or in bad weather. If you are set on flying into Munich, the easiest route to Solden is to follow the motorway south to Kufstein and then the Inn valley motorway to the junction with Haiming.

Once you arrive at Innsbruck Airport, you can take a train to Ötztal Bahnhof, the nearest train station for Solden. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to your accommodation. Alternatively, you can book a taxi transfer service in advance to take you directly from the airport to your hotel.

Travel to Solden by bus

Solden, Austria is located near the end of the Ötz valley, a side valley off the main Inn valley. The high altitude and associated bad weather and heavy snowfall can make Solden difficult to get to. However, public transport in Ötztal is well-developed, with buses running every half hour to countless stops between Ötztal-Bahnhof and the uppermost part of the valley.

The public bus offers a sustainable and inexpensive travel option from Innsbruck Airport or Ötztal-Bahnhof to Solden. The bus can also take you back to Innsbruck Airport or Ötztal-Bahnhof from your accommodation in Solden. The coordinated bus timetable provides direct connections to arrival and departure journeys by train or plane. You can use the VVT route planner or Ötztaler Verkehrsgesellschaft’s interactive route map to find the right connection.

Innsbruck Airport is the closest airport to Solden and is under an hour away in good conditions. Munich and Salzburg airports are other options, but they are much further away and involve lengthy transfers.

If you are travelling from outside of Austria, you can use a bus ticket booking platform such as Busbud to find and book tickets for international journeys to Solden.

Luggage delivery services

If you're travelling to Solden, Austria, by plane, you may want to consider using a luggage delivery service to avoid the hassle and stress of carrying your luggage through the airport and to your accommodation. Munich and Salzburg airports, for example, are quite a long distance from Solden and the transfers can be lengthy, especially during busy periods or bad weather.

Eurosender is one such company that offers low-cost, door-to-door luggage delivery services to Austria. They offer a variety of service options, depending on the urgency and size of your shipment. You can book their services online, and they recommend scheduling the pick-up at least 5 days before you travel.

If you're travelling by train, the ÖBB luggage transport service will pick up your luggage from your home and deliver it straight to your holiday accommodation. This service is available to all guests from Austria and Germany if the trip is booked with ÖBB Austrian Railways.

The Ötztal Holiday Region is also offering a free trial of their additional luggage delivery service in the 2024 summer season, in cooperation with the ULTIMOB project.

Travel to Solden by car

Solden is located in the westernmost part of Austria, in the province of Tirol, in the Oetztal valley. It is near the end of the Oetz valley, a long side valley heading south from the Inn valley. The high altitude means that it can be difficult to access in poor weather and heavy snowfall.

If you are travelling to Solden by car, you will be taking the route through Inntal to the valley entrance and then almost 40km into Oetztal. You can take the toll motorway or follow the region's federal roads. The route through Inntal is likely to be the Inn Valley motorway.

If you are hiring a car, be aware that driving in a foreign country may be stressful, especially if you are starting a ski holiday. You may want to consider an airport transfer instead.

If you are driving yourself, be sure to check for any traffic jams, locks, and construction on your route.

Frequently asked questions