The Ötztal is a side valley of the Inn Valley in the Austrian state of Tyrol. The five municipalities of Sautens, Oetz, Umhausen, Längenfeld and Sölden are located in the approximately 65-kilometer-long valley. The Ötztal is internationally known primarily for its winter sports areas in Sölden-Hochsölden, Obergurgl-Hochgurgl and Oetz.
Tourism
With around 3.8 million overnight stays (including around 2.7 million in winter), the Ötztal is one of the tourist conurbations in Tyrol. The places in the outer Ötztal are more bi-seasonally oriented, whereas in Sölden with its districts winter tourism is dominant.
Since the construction of the first Sölden chairlift in 1948, the transportation systems have been continuously expanded. Hochgurgl was opened up in the 1960s and the glacier ski area on the Rettenbach and Tiefenbachferner in the 1970s. The Rettenbachferner is also the scene of alpine ski world cup competitions. In 1975 the mountain railway to the Acherkogl in Ötz started operating in the lower Ötztal. The thermal baths in Längenfeld, which opened at the end of 2004, give the front Ötztal in particular a further tourist boost. Tourism is therefore the most important employer in the valley.
Today the following ski areas exist in the valley:
- Sölden: Hochsölden, Gaislachkogel, Rettenbachferner, Tiefenbachferner (33 lifts)
- Gurgl: Obergurgl-Hochgurgl with the Top Mountain Star panorama platform (21 lifts)
- Oetz: Hochötz (12 lifts + 13 lifts in association with Kühtai)
- Vent: Bergbahnen Vent (4 lifts)
- Niederthai (3 lifts)
- Gries (1 lift)
There are a total of 87 lifts (including Kühtai) in the Ötztal.