Up in the Tyrolean Alps, Nauders occupies a plateau by the legendary Reschen pass, where Austria, Italy and Switzerland rub shoulders. The Roman Road Via Claudia Augusta passed through the town as early as the second century, and it’s long been used as a stopping point for travellers, traders and smugglers on their way into Switzerland or South Tyrol.
This is a land of rolling meadows and high peaks – a Tyrolean church spire towers over chocolate brown chalets with intricate wooding carvings. Medieval Naudersberg Castle’s turret could easily have been the scene of Rapunzel’s entrapment - once a territorial court, now home to a restaurant and museum. As you’d expect from such fairy tale landscape, myth and legend surrounds life here – locals say that rather than the stork, babies come from the Holy Tree, and they’ll gladly tell you why.
But let’s not forget the ski area - Reschen Pass Ski Paradise - which covers two countries and is wonderfully varied. The castle might be old, but Nauders’ lifts are slick and modern, with excellent offerings for everyone from tots to seasoned skiers.
Location: Tyrol, Austria
Established: 1974
Open: December - April
Downhill: 75km
View our detailed Nauders snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Nauders snow history.
Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
Innsbruck (INN) | 120km, 1h20 |
|
|
Top Altitude: | 3000m |
Bottom Altitude: | 1394m |
Resort Altitude: | 1394m |
Longest run: | 5km |
Slope Orientation: | |
Vertical Drop: | 1450m |
Skiable Vertical: | |
Night Skiing: | No |
Glacier: | No |
Downhill Runs: | 75km |
Beginner slopes: | 32% |
Intermediate: | 45% |
Advanced slopes: | 23% |
Lift Pass Price: | €190 (adult 6 day) |
Nearby resorts: Samnaun, Scuol |
Being able to ski in both Austria AND Italy is always a perk, with the bigger pass covering Tirol’s Bergkastel and Schöneben and Haider Alm of South Tirol.
Easy slopes can be found near the cable car base, or families can head up on the Bergkastel cable car to Nauderix Kinderland which is set out for little learners with an adventure forest, mini bumps and a pint-sized snowpark. A wonderfully long blue streams down the valley from Ganderbild, which links up to others for a descent all the way back to Nauders.
There are red runs galore, starting off at high altitudes of 2600m and following all kinds of routes down the mountainside. Don’t miss the runs from the Tscheyeckbahn (numbered 17 and 19) where we could spend a good few hours enjoying the different paths back to the base station.
Experts should set their sights on Die Schwarze, ‘the black one’ – which is steep, mogulled and an adrenaline boost if ever there was one. There are five off piste trails including an awesome one from Gueser Kopf at 2745m.
Freestylers aren’t forgotten, with a Funpark catering for different levels.
For food with a view, we like Stieralm which serves hearty meals and beers out on the terrace when the weather’s good. Alt Nauders (look for the big yellow building) is a great place to experience traditional Austrian nosh.
Yeti Bar is popular for après ski, opening around 3pm for drinks and music and staying open until 2am. Traktor Bar (look for the tractor parked outside) and Billy’s are worth a try and Monkey Pub always has a good atmosphere.
Our favourite non ski activity here is Tirol’s longest toboggan run, which goes on for a whopping 8km from the Bergkastelbahn top station then down, down, down through the valley.
A castle, church steeple and dozens of snowcapped chalets - Christmas in Nauders is magical.
See in the New Year in Nauders and start as you mean to go on in gorgeous surroundings, feasting on good food and skiing your socks off.
Half Term in Nauders is brilliant with youngsters catered for in the kid’s areas and mountain bars and restaurants for grownups.
The slopes tend to stay in good shape over Easter in Nauders – hopefully they’ll continue the weird and wonderful tradition of Easter Shooting this year…
We love the offerings for families here, from the play area at the Bergkastel Panorama restaurant to the Nauderix Kinderland which pulls out all stops to make skiing fun. Youngsters will go wild for the 8km toboggan run – almost as much as grownups will!
With good après ski and a ski pass that lets you enjoy two countries – not to mention all the historic sites and activities for non-skiers - it’s hard to find a member of the group that Nauder’s doesn’t suit brilliantly.