Soak up some traditional Tyrolean charm at this quaint, alpine village in the heart of the beautiful Wildschonau valley. Nestled between the larger Auffach and Niederau with excellent links to the Ski Juwel area, Oberau is an ideal base for skiing the nearby resorts and the family friendly atmosphere means it’s perfect for first-timers on the snow.
Nestled between the larger villages of Auffach and Niederau in the western Tyrolean Alps, this quaint resort is in a prime location for skiing the entire Wildschonau Valley and vast Ski Juwel area.
Much quieter and less well known than its larger Austrian counterparts, Oberau and the entire Wildschonau valley offer a peaceful atmosphere for a relaxing getaway to the piste and great value to match it.
The town itself is very traditional and relaxed with a few bars and restaurants - the medieval architecture, traditional Tyrolean buildings and pretty village church will make you feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. A lot of the après takes place around the hotels, which are the main accommodation here, so evenings are spent relaxing with friends and family over a few drinks or winding down in local spa facilities. The village’s prime position in the valley is brilliant for making the most of the off-slope activities. Hop on the free Night-liner which runs throughout the valley to nearby Niederau where you’ll find lively bars or wander over to Auffach for a moonlit toboggan party.
The peaceful, friendly atmosphere makes this a lovely resort for families, particularly those bringing younger children to ski for the first or second time - whilst the little ones steady their skis at ski school, parents can easily roam the nearby mountains.
The Wildschonau lift pass gives you access to the neighbouring Niederau and Auffach which have a variety of terrain and some excellent red piste for intermediate skiers. Recent renovations have linked Oberau to the larger 145km Ski Juwel ski area, with a new 8 man gondola running directly from Auffach mid-station to the larger Inner-Alpbach - those looking to take advantage of these easy links should opt for the Ski Juwel pass.
The nearest airport to Oberau is Innsbruck at 70 km or about 1 hour by car
The nearest ski resorts to Oberau include Auffach, Niederau, Alpbach.
This small, laid-back town has a very relaxed après ski and most evening meals and drinks are spent at the hotels. With a very family-friendly scene, parents can wind down at the bar without leaving the premises. There are a number of options for eating out- Reini’s Essbar is highly regarded for its local dishes and Thalmuehle is a favourite for its delicious Tyrolean cuisine where you can spend your evening sharing stories over great food and flowing wine.
You’re most likely to find a traditional Tyrolean evening or two within the valley - don’t knock it until you’ve tried the local speciality of Wildschonau schnapps made from white turnip which will probably be found proudly on offer at most bars. Wine tasting is also held in some accommodation - a great way to learn about more of the local traditions
A fun evening can be had at a toboggan evening party where you get the ‘slow train’ up to the mid station at Auffach for a glass of Glühwein before descending the 5km toboggan run. Whilst there isn’t much après activity in Oberau, the free Night-liner bus makes it easy to get to the livelier resort of Niderau where you’ll find a number of casual bars with a fun nightlife. Dorfstub'n is the place to be and the most popular for après drinks and cave bar and O’Malley’s are also popular watering holes.For a moment of respite, hotels with spa facilities offer a relaxing way to wind down. If you’re taking an afternoon away from your skis, the panoramic train journey across the mountain takes you past some of the most beautiful scenery in this picturesque valley - a memorable and unique experience.
The twenty or so shops in the area are divided between the two main villages Niederau and Oberau. Oberau has a grocer, baker and a shop selling traditional national costume as well as the convenience stores and sports shops for rentals and new gear. There is also a gourmet farm shop, a'Aglers, open Tuesdays and Wednedsdays.
View our detailed Oberau snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Oberau snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Oberau snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.
We have 434 ski holidays in Oberau. Search all Oberau ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:
Maximum and minimum adult Oberau lift pass prices ranged from €206 to €229 for 6 days access to the Oberau ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Oberau holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.
Lift Tickets | Child | Adult | Senior |
---|---|---|---|
1 Day Price | €21 - €23 | €41 - €46 | N / A |
6 Day Price | €104 - €115 | €206 - €229 | N / A |
Age Range | 7 - 14 | N / A | N / A |
Most of our ski holidays to Oberau packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Oberau from nearby airports
Flights from London take about 2 hours to Innsbruck, Salzburg. This table shows approximate transfer times to Oberau from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.
Airport | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Innsbruck | 70 km | 1 hour |
Munich / München | 130 km | 2 hours |
Browse our self-drive ski holidays which include your car channel crossing, or go choose accom-only and book your car ferry or tunnel later.
The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Oberau transfers.
Station | Distance | Transfer Time |
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Wörgl | 6 km | 6 minutes |
Need help choose your Oberau ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!