Have you ever been able to say you have skied on a Glacier before?! Well, ski Stubai Glacier, the largest glacier ski area in Austria, and you can! Picture yourself navigating pristine slopes with a backdrop of the stunning Austrian Alps. It’s truly a winter wonderland that meshes breathtaking views with a sense of alpine magic. Whether you plan your whole trip around skiing Stubai Glacier, or add a day to your Innsbruck itinerary, skiing Stubai Glacier is well worth it!
How To Get To Stubai Glacier
You can get to Stubai Glacier from Innsbruck easily by public transportation. Bus 590 departs from the Innsbruck main train station (Innsbruck Hbf) about every 30 minutes. Once on the bus, the scenic drive takes about 1 ½ hours to Stubai Glacier.
Getting To Innsbruck
The easiest way to get to Innsbruck is to fly to Innsbruck Airport (INN). However, more flights come into Munich International Airport (MUC), so if flying internationally it may be a better option to fly into Munich and take a train to Innsbruck. The train from Munich to Innsbruck is about 2 ½hours with 1 train change. You can take the train to Innsbruck from other areas within Austria such as Vienna, Salzburg, and Kitzbühel.
For all trains throughout Austria, check route availability and prices, and book your tickets online with OBB.
Where To Stay When Skiing Stubai Glacier
There are hotels in Stubai Glacier that provide the cozy charm of mountain chalets or luxurious alpine resorts, that all have shuttles to the mountain. Otherwise staying in Innsbruck is an option.
If skiing multiple days then it makes sense to stay at a hotel close to the mountain. However, if only skiing for one or two days, I would recommend staying in Innsbruck as it is a charming city with colorful facades on buildings, historic landmarks, and the majestic Nordkette mountain range as a backdrop. Innsbruck is beautiful in all seasons, but I think the winter season is a little extra magical with the snow-capped peaks and ski enthusiasts coming for the epic slopes. It’s a great place to spend your time outside of skiing, and the bus makes it easy to get to/from Stubai Glacier. If staying in Innsbruck, check out this perfect itinerary to pair with skiing!
Lodging options in Innsbruck
I would recommend staying in Old Town, as it is easily walkable to the train station and the popular sights in Innsbruck. I have stayed at Stage 12 and it is a great hotel in a perfect location right on Maria-Theresien Street! Other hotels in Innsbruck include The Penz Hotel, Hotel Innsbruck, and NALA individuellhotel.
When Can You Ski Stubai Glacier
The elevation of Stubai Glacier is between 1,695 meters to 3,212 meters high (~5,600 feet to ~10,500 feet). Due to the higher elevation, Stubai Glacier offers a long ski season typically guaranteeing snow from October to May. This extended ski season is perfect if you are trying to maximize your time on the slopes!
How To Get A Ski Pass
You can easily purchase your ski pass to Stubai Glacier online and pick it up at one of the kiosks at the base of the mountain. You can choose from daily passes or multi-day passes.
Another option is getting the SKI Plus CITY Pass, which is a good option if you are staying in Innsbruck and will be going to some of the tourist attractions. This pass is one fee that includes your ski pass to 13 resorts close to Innsbruck, with Stubai Glacier included, as well as includes the Innsbruck Card, which provides entry to many of the tourist attractions in Innsbruck.
How To Rent Skis At Stubai Glacier
Renting skis is very easy at Stubai Glacier! Reserve your gear online at the Bergstation Gamsgarten Stubaier Gletscher location and pick them up in just a few minutes when you arrive. To pick up your gear, take the gondola at the base of the mountain, and the rental area is located on the bottom floor of the gondola station. I was skeptical about riding the gondola up the mountain without ski gear, but trust me it’s there! They also have ski lockers to store anything you don’t want to take while skiing.
How To Navigate The Mountain
Check out the full details for the map of Stubai Glacier here.
The slope difficulty color classifications might be a little different than what you are used to so here they are!
- Blue = Easy
- Red = Intermediate
- Black = Difficult
- Ski Route = Expert
There is a combination of gondolas, ski lifts, and T-bars, and the runs are classified by numbers so they are easy to navigate. The runs are color-coded based on the difficulty noted above so it is easy to determine the route you want to take.
The bus will drop you off at the base of the mountain (get off at the second stop, at Gamsgarten), then pick up your ticket at a kiosk, and get on the gondola. This will take you to Mittelstation Fernau where you can pick up your rental gear, if necessary, and then the mountain awaits!
What Are The Best Spots On The Mountain
Views
The views are one of the best parts when skiing Stubai Glacier! Make sure to stop along your way and admire the endless peaks covered in snow. The skiing is epic, but the views simply cannot be overlooked! I was in awe the whole time skiing in Stubai Glacier with the breathtaking, panorama views of the snow-capped peaks. When the sun was getting lower throughout the day, it created an even more beautiful backdrop!
One of the best spots on the mountain for views is at the Top of Tyrol viewing platform at 3,210 meters. This is the highest spot on the mountain so it provides spectacular views! Access this from the top of the Schaufeljoch Gondola. It’s difficult to climb the stairs to the viewing platform in ski boots, but worth it for the view!
Runs
It is hard to choose a favorite area of Stubai Glacier, as I enjoyed all the runs I did as well as the views throughout! It is a smaller mountain, so you can check out most of it in a single day, which I would recommend, to get a taste of it all! Here are a few areas to check out though.
There is a 6-mile (10 km) run to the base of Stubai Glacier, which is the longest run on the mountain following runs 7 (blue),14 (red), and 27 (blue). This is a fun run to bring you to the bottom station!
For experienced skiers, I would recommend checking out some of the more difficult runs off of the Daunjoch and Daunscharte lifts, including runs 21 and 22.
Restaurants
There are many places to stop for a drink or food on the mountain, including Eisgart Restaurant and Gamsgarten Restaurant. However, one of the best places to stop with a view is Jochdohle Restaurant, at the top of Stubai Glacier. I recommend the Schnitzel, burgers, or gulaschsuppe while enjoying the spectacular view around you. It can be accessed from the Schaufeljoch gondola or the Eisjoch lift.
From the extended ski season offering slope access from October to May, the diverse terrain, and the stunning mountain views, Stubai Glacier has so much to offer! Skiing Stubai Glacier is spectacular and I highly recommend taking a trip to this mountain or it’s the perfect addition to your winter Innsbruck itinerary. Did I mention the stunning views?!
Follow for more on social media and email me with any questions! If you ski Stubai Glacier, I would love to know your thoughts!
3 responses to “Your Complete Guide to Stubai Glacier Skiing”
[…] If you are visiting Innbruck in the winter, then check out any of the several incredible mountains nearby and go skiing! My favorite is Stubai Glacier, the largest glacier ski area in Austria. Check out everything you need to know about skiing at Stubai Glacier. […]
[…] Check out the full 1-day itinerary in Innsbruck and the complete guide to skiing at Stubai Glacier. […]
[…] is great to pair with skiing in Kitzbühel or one of the many Innsbruck ski mountains, such as Stubai Glacier. Or, there is enough to do if you want to stay an extra day or two in […]