Short answer
Oberstdorf is Germany's southernmost municipality and lies in the Allgäu on the border with the Kleinwalsertal. One lift pass covers seven ski areas with 130 kilometres of pistes and 48 lifts in two countries. With small children, start on Söllereck, ski Fellhorn and Kanzelwand once the children can manage blue runs, and save Nebelhorn for the experienced skiers.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Germany, Bavaria (Allgäu) and Vorarlberg (Kleinwalsertal)
- Ski area
- Oberstdorf · Kleinwalsertal (Fellhorn/Kanzelwand, Nebelhorn, Söllereck, Ifen, Walmendingerhorn, Heuberg)
- Altitude (village – top)
- 813 – 2,224 m above sea level
- Pistes
- 130 km
- Lifts
- 48
- Season
- December – April, Nebelhorn often until early May
- Nearest airports
- Munich (just under 3 hours by train)
- Train
- Regional train from Munich to the end of the line in Oberstdorf, direct or with a change in Kempten or Immenstadt
- Price level
- ●●●●● (1 = cheap, 5 = expensive)
Family rating
4 / 5
- Beginner slopes Söllereck with Sölli's Winterwelt, the family runs on Fellhorn, Seealpe on Nebelhorn and a string of small practice lifts in the Kleinwalsertal. Few resorts have so many good places to start out.
- Distance from accommodation to lifts The Nebelhornbahn leaves from the village, but Fellhorn and Söllereck are a bus ride away. With the guest card, the local buses are free.
- Calm for families Oberstdorf is a spa town with quiet evenings, not an après-ski village. The exception is the days around the ski jumping at the end of December.
- Snow reliability The village sits at just over 800 metres, so the runs down to the valley need artificial snow. Up on Nebelhorn and Fellhorn, the snow is more reliable.
- More than skiing The ski jumping arena, sledging hills, the Allgäu-Coaster, the igloo village on Nebelhorn and a proper village with shops and cafés.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Which mountain suits whom?
| Area | Suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Söllereck | The youngest and beginners | Sölli's Winterwelt with magic carpets, more than half the runs blue, a 3-hour pass for the first few days |
| Fellhorn and Kanzelwand | Children who ski blue and red runs | 36 km of pistes in two countries, family runs 3 and 4, a 5.7 km run down to the valley |
| Nebelhorn | Experienced skiers – and families at Seealpe | Up to 2,224 m, Germany's longest valley run at 7.5 km, lots of red and black |
| Ifen and the practice lifts in the Kleinwalsertal | Beginners staying on the Austrian side | Burmi's Winterwelt by the Ifenbahn, small lifts in Riezlern, Hirschegg and Mittelberg |
The same lift pass is valid in all the areas, except for the special beginner passes that only cover Söllereck or the practice lifts.
Oberstdorf lies at the very bottom of the Allgäu, in Germany's southernmost municipality. The village is an old spa town with pedestrian streets, cafés and a railway station where the line ends. Around it are seven ski areas, two of them in Austria. It is that combination that makes Oberstdorf so good for families: it is easy to get to, the evenings are quiet, and there is a slope for every level.
The ski areas are run by Oberstdorf · Kleinwalsertal Bergbahnen and together have 130 kilometres of pistes and 48 lifts. One and the same lift pass is valid everywhere. That means you can start the week on the children's slope at Söllereck and finish it with lunch in Austria.
Seven mountains, one lift pass
The areas are spread out around the village and the two valleys. For a family, four of them matter:
- Söllereck is the family mountain, a short bus ride from the village. More than half of the pistes are blue.
- Fellhorn and Kanzelwand is the largest area, with 36 kilometres of pistes. Fellhorn is in Germany and Kanzelwand is in the Kleinwalsertal in Austria, and the lifts link up across the border.
- Nebelhorn goes straight up from the village to 2,224 metres. Here you will find Germany's longest valley run, 7.5 kilometres, but also lots of red and black.
- Ifen and the small lifts in the Kleinwalsertal suit those staying on the Austrian side. By car, the Kleinwalsertal can only be reached through Germany, via Oberstdorf.
The season starts in December. Nebelhorn is expected to be open from 12 December 2026 to 2 May 2027, and most of the other areas close in April. The village sits at just over 800 metres, so the runs down to the valley need artificial snow.
Söllereck – where the children start
Söllereck is the obvious first mountain. In Sölli’s Winterwelt there is one short and two longer magic carpets, a figure slalom and flat terrain where the youngest can practise their balance without things getting fast. The next step is the Wanneköpfe lift, which the ski schools use once the children can do snowplough turns. After that comes the family run and the trail through the troll forest.
A practical tip: buy the 3-hour pass for the first few days. It is valid in Sölli’s Winterwelt, and you avoid paying for a full-day pass for the whole area when the children can only manage a morning anyway. After skiing, the youngest love climbing on SölliBully, a big wooden piste basher by the children's slope.
If you are all new to skiing, see ski trip for beginners for more on how to plan your days.
Fellhorn and Kanzelwand – two countries in one day
Once the children can manage blue runs, Fellhorn is the next step. The Fellhornbahn goes up a little south of the village, and from there you can ski across the border to Kanzelwand and down towards Riezlern in the Kleinwalsertal.
For families there are the easy family runs 3 and 4, and the family run between the top station of the Fellhornbahn II and Höfle station. Next to family run 4 is Crystal Slope, a fun slope with rollers and banked turns that is a favourite with children who have started to pick up speed. There is a playground by the Schlappoldsee mountain restaurant, so the grown-ups can stay on the terrace a little longer.
The valley run from Fellhorn is 5.7 kilometres long. It is at its best in the morning, before the snow has gone soft.
Nebelhorn – the highest, the steepest and with its own family area
Nebelhorn is Oberstdorf's highest and most alpine mountain. Since 2021, the new cable car has run straight from the village, and from the top you can see over 400 peaks. The pistes at the very top are mostly red and black and suit experienced skiers.
Halfway up, though, at the Seealpe mid-station, there is a sheltered family area. There is a practice lift with two blue runs, a separate ski school slope for the youngest (only for those in ski school), a new sledging hill for beginners and the NTC park, where you can hire Zipflbobs and other snow toys. For those who want to go all the way down, there is a natural toboggan run to the valley.
Ski school and lift passes – the age limits
Most ski schools in Oberstdorf take children in groups from age four. Neue Skischule Oberstdorf, for example, has a Kinder Club for children aged 4–6 years on Söllereck. Children must be out of nappies, and skis, boots and a helmet are included, as is supervision over lunch. The NTC ski school has its own children's area at Seealpe on Nebelhorn. Always ask whether the lift pass is included when you book, and book well ahead for Christmas, New Year and the German winter holidays in February.
The lift pass comes in a child version that is valid into the teenage years, a youth version and a separate Snowman pass for the very youngest. The Snowman pass costs considerably less, but it is not free. In the 2026/27 season, it applies to children born in 2020 or later. All discounted passes require photo ID. Current prices are shown when you book.
Ski jumping – the Four Hills Tournament starts here
Oberstdorf is one of the world's great ski jumping venues. The Nordic World Ski Championships have been held here three times, most recently in 2021, and the Heini-Klopfer ski flying hill is one of the biggest ski flying hills in the world.
Every year, the Four Hills Tournament opens at the Schattenbergschanze, before the competition moves on to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck and Bischofshofen. In winter 2026/27, the women compete and the men qualify on 28 December, and the men's competition takes place on 29 December. The arena holds 27,000 spectators and is a few minutes' walk from the station.
It is a thrilling experience for older children. But it also means that accommodation in the village is full between Christmas and New Year, and that the buses and trains are crowded. Plan your ski days around the two competition days.
How to get to Oberstdorf
- Train from Munich: the regional trains run towards the Allgäu, some direct to Oberstdorf and others with a change in Kempten or Immenstadt. Allow just under three hours. Oberstdorf is the end of the line, and the station is in the middle of the village next to the bus station.
- By train all the way: from Sweden, you take the night train and other trains to Munich and change there. How changes and luggage work is explained in train to the Alps – how it works.
- Bus to the lifts: with the guest card from your accommodation, you ride the local buses to the ski areas for free, and there is a free bus between Kanzelwand and Ifen.
- By car: compare journey times and costs in the guide car, train or plane to the ski resort.
Oberstdorf or Austria?
Oberstdorf suits families who want to take the train, stay in a proper village and have lots of easy runs to choose from. Rest days are easily filled with sledging and ski jumping, and for more ideas, see ski holiday without skiing. If you want higher altitude and a big linked ski area, you will find it in Tyrol, for example in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis or SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser. For more comparisons, see Austria's ski resorts and skiing in the Alps.
If you are staying in an apartment, the recipes for a week on your ski trip give you easy dinners, and don't forget the ski trip packing list.
Packing for Oberstdorf – the things that are easy to forget
Frequently asked questions
Is Oberstdorf good for small children?
Yes, very. Söllereck is built for families, with Sölli's Winterwelt, magic carpets and more than half of its pistes blue. Fellhorn has two easy family runs, and Nebelhorn has its own family area at the Seealpe mid-station. The Kleinwalsertal also has several small practice lifts.
Do small children ski free in Oberstdorf?
No, not on the standard lift pass. The youngest have their own Snowman pass, which costs considerably less than the child pass, and the child pass is then valid into the teenage years. Bring a passport or photo ID card, as age is checked at the ticket office.
From what age do the ski schools take children?
Most group lessons start at age four. Neue Skischule Oberstdorf, for example, has a Kinder Club for children aged 4–6 on Söllereck, and the children must be out of nappies. Equipment and lunch supervision are included there, but always check what applies to the lift pass when you book.
Can you ski into Austria on the same lift pass?
Yes. The lift pass is valid in all seven ski areas in Oberstdorf and the Kleinwalsertal, and Fellhorn and Kanzelwand link up across the border. So you can ride up in Germany and have lunch in Austria.
When is the ski jumping in Oberstdorf?
The Four Hills Tournament starts in Oberstdorf every year. In winter 2026/27, the women jump and the men qualify on 28 December, and the men's competition takes place on 29 December. The arena is a few minutes' walk from the station.
How do you get to Oberstdorf by train?
Take the regional train from Munich. Some trains run direct in just under three hours, others need a change in Kempten or Immenstadt. Oberstdorf is the end of the line, and the station is in the middle of the village, right next door to the bus station.
