How To Get To Sölden
Widely accessible via a variety of transportation, Sölden is a sought-after location in Austria’s Ötztal valley. Whatever your preferred means of mobility, there are handy choices to get to this lovely alpine town.
Conveniently situated on the B186 road, Sölden is easily reachable by car from the A12 motorway across the Ötztal valley. Around 35km to the north, Ötztal is the closest motorway exit to Sölden. Following the Sölden signs will get you at your location in about forty minutes. Should you be heading from Italy, you could choose to use the Timmelsjoch Pass, open from June to October. Although the pass is toll-free, it’s important to note that the road is small and twisting and the Merano trip takes roughly ninety minutes.
If you enjoy using public transportation, you will be happy to find out that Ötztal Bahnhof is the closest train station to Sölden. It is rather close—about forty kilometers north of Sölden.
By plane
Conveniently accessible from several surrounding airports, the Sölden resort provides several means of transportation including rental cars, taxis, or shuttle services. These are the closest airports to Sölden, together with their expected driving times:
| DISTANCE | AIRPORT | SÖLDEN | DRIVING TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83 km | INNSBRUCK/A (INN) | 1h 15min | |
| 231 km | MÜNCHEN/D (MUC) | 3h 15min | |
| 281 km | ZÜRICH-KLOTEN/CH (ZRH) | 3h 30min | |
| 263 km | SALZBURG/A (SZG) | 3h | |
| 587 km | WIEN-SCHWECHAT/A (VIE) | 6h | |
| 206 km | BOZEN/I (BZO) | 2h 30min |
Innsbruck Airport
About 83 km away, Innsbruck Airport is the closest and most practical way to reach Sölden. Usually, the car travel takes one hour and fifteen minutes. Renowned airlines including Austrian Airlines, British Airways, and Lufthansa abound among the scheduled and charter flights from many European locations offered by Innsbruck Airport. A real highlight at the start of your trip, the landing approach straight above the grand mountain ranges of the Alps is quite amazing.
Once at the airport, there several ways you could start your trip to Sölden:
- By train: Getting to the Ötztal Valley is conveniently by train. Just get off a train from Innsbruck at Ötztal station, close to the valley entrance. Usually lasting forty minutes, the train trip costs about ten euros per person. From Ötztal station, Sölden can be reached with handy means of mobility. You might decide to pay a taxi or ride a public bus. The trip takes about forty minutes; the bus costs roughly ten euros per person; a taxi ride runs about eighty euros.
- By shuttle: If you would want convenience, you could arrange a shuttle service to get straight from the airport to your Sölden hotel. Priced at almost forty euros per person, the shuttle service runs for one hour and fifteen minutes. One may book the shuttle by phone or online.
- By car: Renting a car at the airport and driving to Sölden is a handy way if you would want to be in charge of your mobility. The path is straight; most of the way is on a motorway. Using the motorway comes with a toll charge, roughly 10 euros for a 10-day vignette. Driving in the Alps calls for winter tyres and snow chains. Peak season parking in Sölden may be limited or costly.
Other Airports
Should you be unable to locate a suitable flight to Innsbruck, you may wish to investigate the possibility of flying to other surrounding airports within driving distance from Sölden. Still, these airports are farther apart and might call for longer, more expensive transfers. Among the other airports you could think about flying to are these:
- Munich Airport: Conveniently close to Sölden, Munich Airport is a good choice for visitors. By car, the two’s distance—roughly 231 km—can be travelled in about three hours and fifteen minutes. Compared to Innsbruck, Munich Airport presents a broad spectrum of international flights from different locations, so providing more options and maybe more reasonably priced rates. Conversely, the move to Sölden can be rather costly and complicated. With a ticket price of roughly thirty euros per person, the train ride from Munich to Innsbruck runs about two hours. Arriving in Innsbruck, you can investigate the same choices as before. One further consideration is perhaps scheduling a shuttle from Munich to Sölden. Usually costing about 80 euros per person, this service takes three hours and fifteen minutes for travel. Should you be thinking about renting a car and driving to Sölden, be aware that you will have to pay the toll for the motorway and cross the Germany to Austria border.
- Zurich Airport: About 281 km away, Zurich Airport is reachable by car in around three hours and thirty minutes. Comparatively to Innsbruck, Zurich Airport is a hub for international flights from many locations, offering a large spectrum of choices and maybe more reasonably priced rates. Conversely, the relocation to Sölden might be rather costly and complicated. Train can be used to get from Zurich to Landeck; the travel time is about three hours and the cost is roughly forty euros per person. From there, you can keep on your way to Sölden by either bus or taxi, which costs roughly 10 euros each person or 100 euros for the taxi and takes an extra hour. Furthermore accessible for booking from Zurich to Sölden is a shuttle service. Each person pays roughly 100 euros, and the trip takes three hours and thirty minutes. Should you so want, you could rent a car and head toward Sölden. You will be paying the toll for the motorway and crossing the border from Switzerland to Austria, though.
- Salzburg Airport: About 263 kilometers distant, Salzburg Airport is a smaller airport whose car ride takes about three hours. For those wishing to mix a visit to Salzburg with a trip to Sölden, Salzburg Airport provides international flights from Europe, so providing a handy option. Conversely, the transfer to Sölden can be rather costly and complicated. With a ticket price of about thirty euros each person, the two-hour train ride from Salzburg to Innsbruck Once in Innsbruck, you have the same choices discussed before. Furthermore accessible for booking from Salzburg to Sölden is a shuttle service. The trip takes about three hours and the cost per person is roughly eighty euros. Should you choose to rent a car and head to Sölden, kindly be aware that there is a toll on the motorway you will be using.
- Vienna Airport: Vienna Airport is the farthest airport, situated about 587 km from Sölden. The road by car takes about six hours. Serving a lot of international flights from all around the world, Vienna Airport is well known as the biggest and busiest airport in Austria. Conversely, the travel to Sölden can be rather expensive and time-consuming. With a travel time of around five hours and a cost of about sixty euros per person, one choice is to ride a train from Vienna to Innsbruck. You can then investigate the same choices as before from Innsbruck. Furthermore accessible for booking from Vienna to Sölden is a shuttle service. The trip takes about six hours and each person pays roughly 150 euros. Should you choose to rent a car and head to Sölden, be aware that there is a toll on the motorway you will be using.
By car
About 80 kilometers from Innsbruck, the state capital, Sölden is in the southern part of Tirol. Sölden is situated within the Inntal valley branch, the Ötztal valley. One can readily reach the Inntal valley by the A12 motorway. If you intend to drive to Sölden, just exit the motorway at the Ötztal junction and carry on along the B186 federal road for about 35 km. The road offers amazing views of the river and the mountains and is in great state. On the other hand, especially during busy times, there are occasions when it might get rather packed and claustering. Driving calls for careful attention and following the advised speed limits.
One easy approach to see the area at your own speed is driving to Sölden. Should you be in Europe, you could choose to rent a car from adjacent airports or large cities. If you have one, you might alternatively make use of your own car. Remember the road conditions, tolls, and parking costs that might apply to your travel.
Depending on where you start, there are several ways to get to the A12 motorway and the Ötztal junction. These are few of the most often used paths:
- From Germany via Munich: From Germany via Munich, follow the A8 motorway toward Salzburg then change to the A93 toward Innsbruck. Once you have passed the border into Austria, just follow the A12 motorway until you come to the Ötztal exit. Subject to traffic, this route’s distance is roughly 230 km and its expected travel time is 2.5 hours. One must have a vignette (toll sticker) to drive on the Austrian motorways; these are readily bought online or at petrol stations. Following the B307 and B173 federal roads from Rosenheim to Kufstein then linking to the A12 motorway will help one avoid the tolls.
- From Switzerland via Zurich: Travel from Switzerland via Zurich starting the A1 motorway toward St. Gallen. Then change to the A13 motorway headed for Chur. Just follow the signals that will lead you to the San Bernardino tunnel, from which you can readily cross the border into Italy. Till you get to Bolzano, keep following the A22 motorway; then, turn to the A13 going towards Brennero. Once you have passed the border into Austria, just follow the A13 motorway until you come to the Innsbruck junction. Travel on the A12 motorway towards Bregenz and exit at Ötztal junction. Depending on the state of the traffic, this path runs about 330 km and the trip takes about four hours. Whereas the Swiss and Italian motorways need a toll ticket, driving on the Austrian motorways calls for a vignette. One may buy these online or at the borders.
- From Italy via Verona: Using the A22 motorway towards Brennero and crossing the border, drive from Italy to Austria. Continue on the A13 motorway till the Innsbruck junction. Go on the A12 motorway towards Bregenz and exit at Ötztal junction. This path runs about 300 km, and the expected travel time is 3.5 hours—which might change depending on the state of the traffic. Driving on the Austrian motorways calls for a vignette, thus you also need an Italian toll ticket for that. One can buy these online or at the border.
When you get to Sölden, you will find a range of parking choices—including both paid and free ones. For your convenience, public parking lots abound close to the cable cars, the center, or the outskirts of the town. Should your lodging offer parking, you also have the ease of parking your car there. Certain hotels and guesthouses may have limited car access or be located in pedestrian areas, so it’s crucial. It advised to ask your host about the parking situation before you arrive.
By train
The train ride to Sölden presents a calm and ecologically aware means of mobility. Discover the ease and comfort of the Austrian or German trains, then enjoy the amazing scenery that opens out before your eyes. Online train ticket booking lets you quickly choose from a set of departure and arrival times. Conveniently get off at ÖTZTAL Bahnhof and then transfer to a public bus or local taxi to get to your hotel in the valley.
Here’s some information should you be thinking about taking a train there:
- At the entry of the Ötztal valley, Ötztal Bahnhof, the train station closest to Sölden, From many nations and cities—including Zurich, Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck, Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne— Ötztal Bahnhof is readily reachable.
- Conveniently located to many kinds of trains, including ICE International, Railjet, Nightjet, and Hungarian Railways (MÁV), Ötztal Bahnhof is Should you be leaving from a designated point and at a designated time, you might find it necessary to change trains at particular stations such as Munich or Innsbruck.
- The type of train, the path, and the date of booking will all affect both the length of the trip and the ticket cost. The most current information on deals and timetables comes from the websites of train companies including ÖBB, Deutsche Bahn, and Swiss Railways. Discounts abound, ranging from Sparschiene to BahnCard to super saver tickets.
- When one arrives Ötztal Bahnhof, there is a handy public bus route to Sölden. The bus runs hourly and usually the trip takes forty minutes. For a more quick and easy transfer, you could also arrange for a taxi or shuttle service.
- Should your bags be rather heavy, the ÖBB Luggage Service is here to help. They will gladly gather your stuff from your house and make sure it gets securely delivered to your Sölden hotel. Only visitors from Austria and Germany can access this service provided the trip is booked with ÖBB.
By Bus
Attracting guests year-round for both winter and summer activities, Sölden is a very sought-after location in the Ötztal valley of Tirol, Austria. Depending on your starting point and budget, there are several ways you might get to Sölden by bus.
- From the airport: From different airports including Innsbruck, Munich, Salzburg, and Zurich to Ötztal-Bahnhof, the main train station in the valley, public buses offer travel. You then might choose to catch another bus to Sölden. The tickets are reasonably priced and the bus plans complement the arrival of the train and plane. See the Sölden website for further schedules and information.
- From the train station: Should you arrive by train at Ötztal-Bahnhof, Sölden can be reached conveniently by bus. Operating hourly, bus line 4196 has an estimated travel time of forty minutes to get Sölden. Adults pay 8.50 euros for their ticket; children pay 4.30 euros. Moreover, the VVT SmartRide app lets you easily schedule your trip and buy tickets online.
- From other locations: Apart from the local means of mobility, bus lines link Sölden with different locations in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The bus lines you could choose are bus line 300 from Kühtai, bus line 320X from Innsbruck, bus line 320 from Landeck, bus line 330 from Vent, or bus line 60 from Obergurgl. Furthermore, [Four Seasons Travel] or [Ötztaler] lets you schedule a shuttle service from several sites. These companies offer Sölden easy and pleasant transfers.
- Within Sölden: Arriving in Sölden, you will find a handy local bus system to assist in town and ski area navigation. For visitors with a valid ski pass or guest card, the bus lines 52–57, 58, 61, and 62 offer free rides during the winter. Year-round operation of bus line 44 offers a practical link between Sölden and Längenfeld. Längenfeld offers you the chance to tour the well-known thermal spa and wellness center Aqua Dome. At [007 Elements], a cinematic installation honoring James Bond situated atop the Gaislachkogl mountain, the bus line 44 also stops.
