Short answer
Obertauern is one of Austria's most snow-sure ski resorts – a village at just over 1,700 metres up on a pass in SalzburgerLand, with 100 kilometres of pistes all around and a season from late November to early May. Almost every hotel is right on the pistes, 61 per cent of the runs are blue, and the Tauernrunde takes you on a full loop around the village.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Austria, SalzburgerLand (Radstädter Tauern)
- Ski area
- Obertauern
- Altitude (village – top)
- 1,740 – 2,313 m a.s.l.
- Pistes
- 100 km
- Lifts
- 26
- Season
- late November – early May
- Nearest airports
- Salzburg (approx. 1 h) · Munich (approx. 2.5 h)
- Train
- Train to Radstadt, then bus or taxi approx. 20 km up to the pass
- Price level
- ●●●●● (1 = cheap, 5 = expensive)
Family rating
4 / 5
- Snow reliability The village lies at just over 1,700 metres on a pass where the snow comes early and stays late – the season runs into May.
- Distance from accommodation to lifts Almost every hotel is right on the pistes, and the Tauernrunde circles the whole village.
- Beginner slopes 61 per cent blue and children's areas by the village – but open, windy slopes on a bad day.
- More than skiing The village is built for skiing. Off the slopes it is mostly hotel pools and quiet evenings.
The rating is our overall assessment for families with children based on the criteria above – not a paid placement.
Obertauern is the resort you go to when you want to be sure of snow. Unlike most Alpine villages it does not sit in a valley, but up on a mountain pass at just over 1,700 metres in SalzburgerLand. The pistes surround the village like a bowl, and the snow often arrives early and stays well into May.
That makes Obertauern one of the safest choices for both early December weeks and late Easter holidays. And because the village is built for skiing, almost every hotel is right on the pistes – you walk out of the door, click into your bindings and off you go.
But Obertauern is not for everyone. This guide shows what the resort does well and what you should know before you book.
The skiing – a bowl around the village
The ski area has 100 kilometres of pistes and 26 lifts between roughly 1,630 and 2,313 metres. The split is family-friendly:
| Difficulty | Kilometres | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | 61 km | 61 % |
| Red | 35 km | 35 % |
| Black | 4 km | 4 % |
Most of it lies above the treeline: open, wide slopes that are perfect in sunshine and easy to find your way around. But it also means visibility gets poor in snowfall and fog. Bring goggles with a light lens, and stick to the lower lifts closest to the village when the clouds are heavy.
Those looking for really steep terrain will find a few challenges, for example at the Gamsleiten 2 lift, which has the area's steepest runs. But with only 4 kilometres of black, Obertauern is not a resort for strong teenagers who want to ski black runs all week. For them, St Anton am Arlberg or Ischgl is a better fit.
The Tauernrunde – a loop around the village
The most fun way to ski Obertauern is the Tauernrunde, a signposted loop around the whole village. It can be skied clockwise (marked in red) and anticlockwise (marked in green), and you can start anywhere on the loop. The loop is around 20 kilometres and takes about three hours at a relaxed pace, including breaks.
For families the Tauernrunde is perfect:
- It suits anyone who skis blue and easier red runs.
- It has a clear goal – the kids love to “complete the loop”.
- It starts and ends at the village, so you can stop whenever you like.
Ski it in one direction one day and the other direction another day – it feels like two completely different loops. If you enjoy ski circuits, also take a look at Saalbach Hinterglemm, where several circuits are entirely blue.
Obertauern with kids
Obertauern has a lot that makes a ski week with children easy:
- Ski-in/ski-out is standard. No buses, no gondolas with skis and boots in the morning.
- Children's areas by the village. The ski schools have their own children's areas with magic carpets, and several take children from three years old.
- Quiet evenings. There is après-ski, but evenings are much quieter than in Saalbach or Ischgl, and many families have an early dinner at the hotel.
- Blue runs all around the village, so the children can ski with their parents early in the week.
A lift pass costs around 72 euros for an adult and 36 euros for a child per day in high season, which is less than in the big Tyrolean resorts. Check with the ski schools and the lift company which discounts apply to the very youngest. If you are planning the week with small children, use our advice for the ski trip with kids. If anyone in the family is new to skiing, there is the beginner's guide.
A late Easter in Obertauern – a smart choice
Because Obertauern is so high, the season usually lasts until early May. That makes it one of the best choices when Easter falls late. By then the snow may be gone in lower resorts, while Obertauern still has winter. The 2026/27 season is planned for From 20 November 2026 to 2 May 2027.
More than skiing
Obertauern is a pure ski resort, and the village is more practical than picturesque. There are only a few shops, so it is a good idea to buy food down in Radstadt on the way up. On rest days the hotel pool and winter walks are the most common activities, and a trip down to Radstadt offers a real small town with old city walls.
A fun detail for music lovers: in March 1965 the Beatles filmed the ski scenes for the film Help! here, because the snow was so reliable so late in winter. A Beatles monument in the village is a reminder of it.
Getting to Obertauern
- By air: Salzburg is the closest, about an hour away by car. Munich also works, about two and a half hours away.
- By train: the nearest station is Radstadt, about 20 kilometres below the pass. From there you take a bus or taxi up to the pass. On night trains and changes on the way from Sweden: train to the Alps.
- By car: the pass road up to Obertauern requires winter tyres and snow chains in the car. On the other hand, you can park at the hotel and leave the car there all week.
Obertauern or Flachau?
Obertauern and Flachau are not far apart in SalzburgerLand but are very different. Obertauern is high, snow-sure and compact with your skis at the door. Flachau lies lower, in a much larger lift system with more forest and more variety. Choose Obertauern if snow and simplicity matter most, and Flachau if you want more kilometres.
To see more resorts in the country, go to Austria's ski trips – and don't forget goggles and sunscreen from the ski trip packing list.
Packing for Obertauern – easy things to forget
Frequently asked questions
Why is Obertauern so snow-sure?
The village sits at just over 1,700 metres up on a mountain pass, where snow often arrives early and in large amounts. The pistes lie between roughly 1,630 and 2,313 metres. The season usually runs from late November to early May – for 2026/27 it is planned for 20 November–2 May.
What is the Tauernrunde?
The Tauernrunde is a ski circuit around the whole village that can be skied both clockwise and anticlockwise. It is around 20 kilometres and takes about three hours at a relaxed pace. You can start anywhere on the loop, and it suits anyone who skis blue and easier red runs.
Is Obertauern good for families with children?
Yes. Almost every hotel is right on the pistes, 61 per cent of the runs are blue and the evenings are quiet. The ski schools have their own children's areas with magic carpets by the village. What is missing is steep terrain for strong teenagers – only 4 kilometres of the pistes are black.
What do you do in Obertauern on a day with bad weather?
Most of the ski area is above the treeline, so visibility gets poor in snowfall and fog. Then stick to the lower lifts closest to the village, take a longer lunch or make a trip down to Radstadt. With children, a rest day in the hotel pool is often the best plan.
How do you get to Obertauern?
Fly to Salzburg and allow about an hour's drive up to the pass. Train travellers get off in Radstadt and take a bus or taxi for the last 20 kilometres or so.
Is it true that the Beatles filmed a movie in Obertauern?
Yes. In March 1965 the Beatles filmed the ski scenes for the film Help! in Obertauern, because the snow was so reliable so late in winter. There is a Beatles monument in the village.
