Galtür Ski Resort Austria
Galtuer is another of several fabulous ski areas in the Paznaun valley of the Austrian Tirol. The Paznaun is best known for the vibrant, party central Ischgl but is also home to some fantastic ‘small’ ski areas including Kappl & See. As with most ‘small’ skiing areas in Austria, their lifts & terrain are world class & Galtür is no exception.
Pros & Cons for Galtuer Ski Resort
Pros
- High elevation base area in a snow-sure part of Austria.
- Untracked powder available for days after a storm.
- No lift lines, quiet slopes.
- Good range of piste trails for all levels.
- Interesting variety of off-piste terrain including some tree skiing.
- High quality accommodation at Wirl & Galtuer.
- Spectacular alpine surrounds.
- Good value local lift pass price .
- Close to several superb Paznaun valley ski resorts.
- Good public transport access by bus from Landeck & the Paznaun ski resorts plus ample free car parking for day trippers close to the ski lifts.
- Excellent ski touring & winter-walking trail network.
Cons
- Relatively short skiable verticals off most lifts (230 to 500m with some notable exceptions).
- High alpine pass location means the snow can be wind affected on occasions.
- Several ski trail crossings are quite dangerous when heading to or coming back from the Breitspitz sector.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Quiet after hours, the polar opposite to Ischgl!
- Smallish ski area that may or may not hold one’s interest for a few days, depending on snow. Luckily some awesome ski resorts down the road will ensure no one is bored!
- Village at the ski lift base (Wirl) has only limited services, but nearby Galtür has a full range.
- The road to Galtuer from Ischgl can close during major storms, isolating the town for periods of time.
- Accommodation can book out quickly throughout the season.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
The Galtuer - Silvapark ski resort has a skiable vertical of 700m, starting from a high base (for Austria anyway!) of just over 1,600m elevation. Its 43km of trails & 6km of marked ski routes are geared way more toward intermediates & advanced riders than beginners, but more are wide enough and short enough for newer snow sliders to get down the pistes easily. The longest trails are over 4km (on the return back to the base from the top of the Breitspitz gondola), with true skiable verticals tending to be more like 230 to 500m rather than the full 700m. The resort also has a nice focus on exploring the off-piste terrain, particularly in the complex Breitspitz sector. Great for some, not so good for others! A well-positioned learn-to-ski area is located in the centre of Wirl.
Check out the ski trail map for Galtür below.
The 10 ski lifts include two modern gondolas providing a comfortable ride up the deliciously cold, north-aspect terrain below the 2,671m Ballunspitze. There are two aging chairlifts and several surface tows and novice conveyors making up the total.
Lift Pass
The ski resorts of the Paznaun valley, including Galtür, each have a cost-effective 'local' area ski pass as well as access to the broader Silvretta Pass. The Silvretta Pass is more expensive & even though it includes unfettered access to all the combined ski lifts & trails of Galtuer, Ischgl-Samnaun, Kappl & See resorts, we think it has limited value unless basing oneself in Ischgl. Free local ski buses link the resorts together. If wanting to ski in the morning only (and looking to save a few euro), be sure to ask for a morning pass when purchasing your daily lift ticket. Ski the morning's powder, then return the lift pass by 12.30pm to get a significant refund from the cash desk.
View the Silvretta Pass resort map.
Where is Galtuer Austria?
Funnily enough the Galtür ski resort is superbly located in the high alpine hamlet of Wirl, 2km of west of Galtuer in the Austrian Tyrol’s Paznaun valley. Shame they didn’t name the resort Wirl - sounds way more interesting! The Paznaun’s best known town & ski resort, Ischgl, is only 11km from the lift base & connected by free ski bus in winter.
Access is best via Innsbruck - around 112km by road away. The nearest major centre is Landeck-Zams, 42km north of Wirl. The Paznaun valley is well serviced from all airports by train & then bus via Landeck-Zams train station. Closest major gateway airports are Innsbruck (INN), Munich (MUC) & Zurich (ZRH).
Landeck-Zams train station is on the main line between Switzerland & Innsbruck. The route 260 bus is free for skiers from Landeck all the way up the Paznaun valley to Galtuer & Wirl in around 70min. Other free ski-buses run up & down the valley linking all the villages & smaller ski resorts. It is certainly possible to do day trips to Galtür from Landeck by free ski bus. Search & book train tickets to Landeck-Zams. Buy bus tickets from the driver, or if in ski attire, travel for free.
Some people may feel safest and most comfortable travelling by private transfer to Galtuer & the Paznaun valley. Search & book all private transfers to Galtuer.
Galtür Accommodation
Whilst Ischgl might dominate the Paznaun valley simply by the sheer weight of its reputation, the many smaller villages & towns can provide a welcome respite from its high energy environment. The villages of Galtuer & Wirl are no exception. Both are high altitude havens with exceptional quality lodgings set in a valley dominated by spectacular peaks. Galtür's location is 2km down valley from the ski lifts at Wirl.
At the base of ski area is the hamlet of Wirl. A collection of hotels & guesthouses, most lodgings offer ski-in ski-out convenience, and all are within an easy stroll of the ski lifts. The Hotel Almhof has a prime location on the side the slopes near the Alpkogel gondola and its bar is perfectly located to take it all in directly from the slopes. The rooms & suites are at a premium quality and come with the requisite price tag. Other superb places to stay slopeside include the perfect & affordable Hotel Garni Birkhahn. Across the road from the slopes, the sprawling 4-star Hotel Wirlerhof has all one could desire on a ski holiday and is next to the Birkbahn chairlift valley station and in front of the bus stop for Ischgl, Kappl & See. If requiring any shops or services, they are all available in nearby Galtür.
Even though not at the base of the ski lifts, Galtuer is wonderfully positioned in the valley and regularly connected to the ski resort by a short, free ski bus ride (or by a winter walking track!). The village has all the services one would require and a huge range of hotels, apartments & guesthouses to suit all budgets, plus several interesting bars & restaurants. In fact, if looking for a quiet alternative to Ischgl, but still want to ski there, we would recommend staying in Galtür (or Wirl).
Search & book all Galtür ski accommodation.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Our local partners have several convenient equipment rental locations in the centre of Galtuer, plus another just near the ski lift valley station at Wirl. Receive a discount when you search & book via our Galtür-Wirl Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
A mind-boggling array of ski instructors, ski schools & mountain guides ply their trade in the Paznaun valley & its numerous resorts, including See. To narrow down the field, search, compare & book a private/group lesson or mountain guide with the best providers via the link(s) below.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Austria Paznaun" subcategory="Galtuer Guiding"]
Nearby Ski Resorts
Aside from the 3 other Paznaun valley ski resorts; the unbelievable Ischgl, plus awesome Kappl & See, another sneaky little resort is on the way. The secret stash of Venet above Landeck-Zams is a beauty on a powder day or for a quick leg stretch. If coming via Innsbruck, the local resorts are sensational and diverse. And of course, Ischgl is interlinked with Samnaun in Switzerland ensuring a little cross-border international fun.
Review
The Powderhounds reviewed the entire Paznaun valley & Galtür during a delightfully snowy week in February 2022. We enjoyed all that the region had to offer, and as is normally the case, found ourselves preferring the smaller resorts, like Galtur, over the behemoth that is Ischgl-Samnaun. But each to their own in the end! Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Galtür compares to the rest of the Austrian ski resorts on the Austria ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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