If it’s guaranteed snow you’re after on a family ski holiday, we know just the place, Obertauern in Austria’s Tauern mountains, where there’s enough snow from November to May.
Taking in the sights Obertauern-style
Turn to Obertauern for snowy family fun in a magical setting
It’s not just plentiful snow we love about Obertauern – although we obviously love that – it’s the fun it promises expert skiers, winter sports’ lovers, first-timers and families alike.
From the village centre at 1740m above sea level up to 2313m on the slopes, you’ll find 100km of perfect pistes, and eight ski and snowboard schools (as well as snow biking and snow kiting schools) to take care of your little adventurers as they learn to stop and turn.
Then there’s the Bibo Bär family ski park: where three slopes of varying difficulty help learners grow their skills, which is great for building confidence before the next stage. Outside the family ski area, you’ll find 60km of blue slopes: offering plenty of easy runs for everyone to enjoy once they’re confident on their chosen equipment.
Add fun winter sports like snow kiting and snowshoe hiking into the mix, as well as cosy lodges serving the best in mountain food, relaxation spaces, a great range of accommodation (much with ski-in-ski-out access), 11 different entry points to the slopes, and the kids’ adventure area of Bobby Land, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect winter break for every age.
Making the most of the winter weather, Obertauern
Obertauern snow facts – a convergence of north and south
Guaranteed snow is reassuring when you’re hoping for uninterrupted ski time, and Obertauern is officially the snowiest resort in Austria, with an average of 264cm max snow depth over the past 30 years, which is pretty incredible.
Snowfall begins in November, transforming the resort into a magical winter wonderland, and stays that way until May, meaning you’ve got serious seasonal options for your family ski holiday. This is due to a weather system above the Tauern mountains, where snow clouds from north and south meet and double up on flakes for guaranteed snow. The resort’s altitude helps: rising to a lofty 2313m, and meaning you’ll find plenty of panoramic views on the way to the top.
Keeping it geographical, another Obertauern USP is that it sits in a basin with the village in the centre, and the ski area surrounding it from all sides. Which means you can ski all the way around, clockwise or counter-clockwise, and end up exactly where you started – just one of the reasons the ‘Tauern Round’ is such a big draw amongst winter sports fans.
Fun times at Bobby Land
Magical times for kids in Obertauern
A family ski holiday is all about creating magical memories for kids, and Bobby Land packs them in all day long. For the little kids, there’s Bobby’s Monster Park, with its cute mascots and puzzles to solve, and for the older ones there’s a wave track, archery and slalom course. You’ve got a cosy lounge to warm up in between adventures, an igloo, a ski ghost train in the fairytale park at Schaidbergbahn, as well as magic carpet rides, and free skiing for the under-6’s – in other words, a whole feast of fun.
The Bibo Bär family ski park is a perfect place for kids to hone their skiing and motor skills on three specially-designed pistes. Local animal mascots are used to teach the fundamentals – like attentiveness, orientation, balance, speed, swings, and carving – a fun method they’re bound to enjoy. A cool new addition is the ‘scary piste’, a 30-metre wooden tunnel with scarily lifelike carved figures inside: one for the brave, and the blasé.
Every day is a snow day in Obertauern
Winter sports to please everyone: no ski, no problem
It’s not just skiing kids can do for fun in Obertauern – there’s snow bike rentals (and a snow bike school), tobogganing (of which the funnest part is possibly the skidoo trip up), snowshoe hiking, snow kiting, and cross-country skiing, which is a whole different beast to the usual kind – there are slopes for beginners as well as the advanced, so if your kids have a taste for it, this is the perfect place to give it a try. Obertauern is renowned amongst freeriders for the quality and longevity of its snow, and so they flock here in their droves (pun intended): the ultimate Alps accolade.
If you’re considering an off-piste adventure with older kids (or yourselves), make sure you consult one of the local ski guides before setting off, who’ll advise on checkpoints (located at Hochalmbahn and Kringsalmbahn), avalanche warnings, snow depths, and dangerous snow exposures. Because no-one wants to get into a pickle off-piste!
Learning the ropes on the slopes, Obertauern
Finding somewhere to stay is easy, choosing may be hard
There’s a wide choice of accommodation in Obertauern, so it all depends on your preference and budget – with around 150 hotels, apartments, self-catering lodges and guest houses, there’s plenty of choice to go around.
For a 5-star experience, Hotel das Seekarhaus is a ski-in/ski-out luxury retreat, Sporthotel Cinderella is a modern and elegant pick with a lovely spa, and Kesselspitze Valamar Collection Hotel is a family-friendly hotel with gorgeous wellness area and direct slope access.
There are also some excellent 4-star hotels for family ski holidays, including cosy Hotel Kristall, modern spa and ski-in-ski-out hotel Das Kohlmayr, Superior Hotel Panorama with its stunning views and great location, and family-run Hotel Gamsleiten, a welcoming hotel right next to the ski lifts.
Or if you want the convenience of self-catering, try Aparthotel Bernhof, with its spacious and well-appointed apartments and stunning views, Apparthotel Sonnenberg, a modern complex near the slopes, or Alpenhotel Perner, which is a combination of hotel rooms and self-catering apartment suites.
Obertauern, Austria
Skiers needs sustenance and Obertauern delivers
Austrian food is perfect for après-ski contentment, and you’ll find everything here: from traditional lodges such as Lürzer Alm serving up the Wiener schnitzel and fondue to a fun crowd, more modern restaurants like Restaurant Freiwild offering Alpine twists on fresh fish and venison, mountain huts with stunning panoramic views such as Hochalm, and very contemporary options like Mundwerk, with the creative plates and focus on local produce.
For kids, Restaurant Kringsalm and Treff 2000 both offer universally kid-friendly international options alongside hearty portions of the more traditional fare, so both very safe bets for your smaller eaters.
Ready to plan your trip to snowy Obertauern? Find out more here