What's on in Sölden, Austria through the year

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year ski peak, Christmas holidays in Austria

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Ski season (15 Nov – 1 May (usually)), Christmas and New Year ski peak (20 Dec – 6 Jan (usually))

Busy — Semester (winter) holidays in Austria, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ski season (15 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Busy — Easter holidays in Austria, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Easter

  4–6 AprCrowdedClosures

  Easter Monday is a public holiday and shops stay closed on Easter Sunday too, so it is a long weekend. Austrians and neighbouring Germans travel, filling hotels at higher rates, and many shops close on both days. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (15 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Peak crowds — Easter, Easter holidays in Austria

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Easter (4–6 Apr), Ski season (15 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Busy — Pentecost (Whitsun) holidays in Austria, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

• Closure

  Between-seasons shutdown

  5 May – 20 Jun · usually

  Lifts stop, hotels close and the Oetztal is a valley with a main road through it for six weeks. The high passes are still under snow. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (15 Nov – 1 May (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Summer lifts and high trails

  25 Jun – 5 Oct · usuallyTrail season

  The Gaislachkogl and the Oetztal high routes run from about the start of July, and the Timmelsjoch road over to Italy opens with them.

Still on: Between-seasons shutdown (5 May – 20 Jun (usually))

Busy — Summer holidays in Austria, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Summer lifts and high trails (25 Jun – 5 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Oetztaler Radmarathon, Summer holidays in Austria

• Festival

  Oetztaler Radmarathon

  25 Aug – 5 Sep · usuallySporting eventCrowdedBook early

  Five thousand riders leave the village before dawn for 238 kilometres and four passes. The valley roads are closed and half the beds are taken by people who will not sleep in them. Source ↗

Still on: Summer lifts and high trails (25 Jun – 5 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Oetztaler Radmarathon, Summer holidays in Austria

• Opening

  Glacier skiing opens

  15 Sep – 15 Nov · usuallySki season

  The Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers turn lifts from about mid-September, which is why the national teams train here before anyone else has snow. Source ↗

Still on: Summer lifts and high trails (25 Jun – 5 Oct (usually)), Oetztaler Radmarathon (25 Aug – 5 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Ski World Cup opener, Autumn holidays in Austria

• Festival

  Ski World Cup opener

  24–25 OctSporting eventCrowded

  The alpine season starts here with two giant slaloms on the glacier on the last weekend of October. The valley fills for a weekend in what is otherwise the off season. Source ↗

Still on: Summer lifts and high trails (25 Jun – 5 Oct (usually)), Glacier skiing opens (15 Sep – 15 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Ski season

  15 Nov – 1 May · usually

  A high, snow-sure area with two glaciers at the top and lifts to 3,300 metres, which is why the season runs long at both ends. The valley floor is a road, not a village square.

Still on: Glacier skiing opens (15 Sep – 15 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year ski peak, Christmas holidays in Austria

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year ski peak

  20 Dec – 6 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The fortnight from Christmas to early January is the busiest of the ski winter. Hotels book out months ahead, often with minimum stays, rates are at their highest and lift queues at their longest. Source ↗

Still on: Ski season (15 Nov – 1 May (usually))