Travel to Gurgl with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Ski resorts in Gurgl

Gurgl is located at the end of the Otz Valley, near the Austrian border with Italy. The term Gurgl is used when describing the resorts of Hochgurgl and Obergurgl. Hochgurgl (2,150m) is the highest parish village in Austria and sits above Obergurgl (1,930m). Transportation between the resorts is possible on the Top Express Gondola. The resorts are popular with older, affluent skiers, giving the resort an exclusive feel.

Pistes at Gurgl total 110kms and are serviced by 24 lifts (two gondolas, 11 chairs and 11 surface lifts). Runs are suitable for beginners through to advanced skiers. Cross-country trails at the resort total 10kms.

Expensive, tasteful and modern hotels are joined by more traditional inns and guesthouses offering more reasonably priced accommodation. Obergurgl has around 3,500 beds available. As an alternative to skiing, après-ski entertainment consists of scenic mountain restaurants, cafés, bars and discos. Other night-time attractions are found at the casino or at the folklore evenings and concerts.

Nearby in the Otz Valley, the resort of Solden (20 minutes from Gurgl) is based around two glaciers. Solden resort has a lively nightlife and gives a view of the area in which the 4,000-year-old Ice Man of Similaun was found. Slightly farther away, Innsbruck (the Tyrolean capital), is an hour’s journey from Gurgl.

The ski season is from late November to late May. Good prices can be found in December during the Ski-Fit weeks and in January for the Powdersnow weeks. The most convenient route is to arrive at Munich Airport, take a train to Otztal, and then a bus to the resort.

Skiing in Gurgl

Popular with the wealthy, but also catering for budget skiers, Gurgl is located 100kms from Innsbruck at the end of the Otz Valley. It has 110kms of pistes and skiing is possible to just over 3,000m. One of the longest, most consistent seasons in the Alps (apart from glacier skiing) is available at Gurgl resort.

Servicing the 110kms of slopes at Gurgl are 24 modern ski lifts, including: two gondolas, 11 chairlifts and 11 draglifts. The runs are divided almost equally for different levels of skiers, with the majority being most suited to middle-intermediates. The longest run is 8.5kms. As an alternative, 10kms of cross-country trails are also provided.

The ski season at Gurgl lasts from late November until middle to late May. Snow conditions are considered to be consistent throughout the season, with the best snow in February and March. From Munich Airport, the most convenient route is to take the train to Otztal, then complete the journey by bus to the resort.

Apres-ski in Gurgl

Besides skiing, other outdoor pursuits are available in the form of snowboarding (with a terrain park and half-pipe), ice-skating, curling, hiking and mountaineering. Indoor swimming, bowling and squash are also offered. In this quiet resort, après ski can still be found at the tempting casino. Restaurants, bars and discos are the other choices for entertainment.

Generally, Gurgl is considered to be a resort for the serious skier, due to the lack of a lively après ski scene and its relative seclusion. The resort offers beautiful scenery and a long ski season thanks to its height. The new Top Express Gondola travels between the Gurgl resorts, making access easier than before.

Transportation to Gurgl

Close to the south Tyrol border with Italy, Gurgl is near to the major airports of Munich, Zürich and Innsbruck. Munich Airport has the better flight options; from here a train/bus combination will take you to the resort.

By car from Calais, motorways and autobahns take you through France, Germany and into Austria. From the A-12 autobahn in Austria, junction 123 to Otztal takes you on to route 186 to Gurgl (1,060kms).

By train from London (Waterloo), the Eurostar service takes you to Paris (Nord); from here, a short transfer to Paris (l’Est) gets you on the Internationaler Schnellzug to Mulhouse Ville. A Regional Express train takes you from here to Zürich, and then a EuroNight continues to Innsbruck (15 hours so far) and then Otztal. At Otztal, a regular bus service transfers you to the resort of Gurgl.

The nearest airport to Gurgl is Innsbruck (100kms), however, the better option is probably Munich. Buses travel to Gurgl from the airport; alternatively, you can journey by train to Otztal, where a short bus journey takes you to the resort.

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