Obergurgl Apres Ski

Apres Ski in Obergurgl

Some of the mountain huts and umbrella bars in Gurgl begin playing music from lunchtime onwards, and by 4pm people are often dancing on the tables at the Nederhutte above Obergurgl. But everything quietens down in the evening when most guests return to their smart hotels (and families) to eat gourmet meals.

Obergurgl Village

In Obergurgl, ownership of the land has been tightly controlled by families of the original farmers, resulting in the village’s development being kept in check and its traditional Alpine character preserved.

The first skiers took to the slopes in 1911, making Obergurgl the second oldest ski area in Austria after St Anton.  More tourists started to arrive in the 1930’s after Professor Picard in his hot air balloon made the first ascent into the stratosphere, but then had to undertake an emergency landing on the Gurgler glacier in 1931, thereby putting the place in the world’s newspapers. Obergurgl now receives over 100,000 visitors a year during the winter season, mostly from Germany, UK and the Benelux countries. English is widely spoken. In general, Obergurgl appeals to an older clientele and to families with children – singletons in their twenties and thirties usually prefer the nightlife in Solden, down the valley.

Staying in the hamlet of Hochgurgl, consisting of just six hotels situated high above the tree line, is an even quieter holiday experience. Most visitors are content to use their hotel facilities. For those desperate for nightlife Obergurgl is only a taxi drive away, but even here late nightlife is quiet compared to other bigger and busier ski resorts.

Obergurgl Apres Ski Bars

Obergurgl’s apres ski hot spot is the Nederhutte with live music four nights a week and traditional dancing on the tables. Snowmobiles will usually ferry you back to the village if you feel unsafe on skis after too many beers but check this service is available before consuming them!

In Obergurgl itself, the Edelweiss Umbrella and the CU bar between the Edelweiss and the Josl cellar are popular. The Josl cellar is open daily from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.  Hochgurgl is more sedate, with little après ski.

Obergurgl Restaurants

For dinner in Obergurgl, the gourmet attractions lie in the restaurants of many of the upmarket hotels rather than village restaurants which are scarce. In Hochgurgl, there are no restaurants outside of the hotels. 

Obergurgl Other Activities

Other activities in Obergurgl – Hochgurgl include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ski touring, ice skating, tobogganing and night skiing, but apart from winter activities, indoor golf and indoor horse riding there’s not a great deal for non-skiers to do in either village.

Night-Skiing

Both Obergurgl and Hochgurgl offer night skiing and on different evenings in the week, and most ski passes entitle you to take part in both of them In Obergugl, the floodlit run is blue piste 6 from Festkogl down to resort. In Hochgurgl, it’s red piste 33 from the resort down to the valley road.

Night-tobogganing

Hochgurgl has a 3km long floodlit toboggan run with 25 turns from the resort down to the valley road near piste 33 (but separate from it). It’s open one evening a week as well as during the day.

Ice Skating

Obergurgl has a natural ice skating rink which stays open in the evenings till about 9pm.

Cross-country skiing

Obergurgl has a long valley level circuit connecting Obergurgl with Pill and Angern near the Hochgurglbahn base station. In Hochgurgl there is a shorter but higher track which l starts above the Chapel, next to the ski run.  Part of the run is floodlit.

Winter-hiking and snowshoeing

Obergurgl has lovely winter-hiking paths. The most renowned go into the Rotmoostal valley via the remote Schonwieshutte restaurant where a re-fuelling stop will be well deserved. There are also tracks around Hochgurgl. For those who want to go even further into the wild there is guided snowshoeing.  You can also arrange for guides to take you out on 2 hour nighttime snowshoe expeditions.

The Alpine Church in Obergurgl

Obergurgl’s beautiful alpine church is worth a visit. Consecrated in 1737, St Johannes Nepomuk Church is the highest in Europe and on Christmas Eve the midnight Mass with the local all male choir in the gallery is memorable.

The Aqua Dome at Langenfeld

Reached by bus or taxi from Obergurgl, the Aqua Dome at Langenfeld is a magnificent complex of pools, heated to an ultra-comfortable 38 degrees celsius, where you can swim out into the open air, and back, with occasional jets popping up at the sides and in the centre, to ease the tired muscles.  There is a separate pool for naked swimming within the sauna section. There are two children’s pools, built within a vast wooden Noah’s Ark, and separate play areas.  There are sunbeds in the solarium, a restaurant and bar, a hairdresser and a shop.   On a bad snow day, this is a great escape – or just to relax for an afternoon away from the slopes to recharge the batteries. 

For more information, including details of events, contact the Tourist Office in Obergurgl.

Obergurgl Tourist Office
Gurglerstrasse 118
A-6456 Obergurgl
Tel: +43 (0) 5254 510100
Fax: +43 (0) 5254 510101