Mayrhofen and Sölden are two of Tyrol’s biggest single resorts, both within about 40 km of Innsbruck airport as the crow flies, but they ski very differently. Sölden is marginally the bigger of the two, 144 km of slopes against Mayrhofen’s 142 km, and its lifts climb from a valley base of 1,350 m to glacier terrain at 3,250 m. Mayrhofen sits far lower, from 630 m to 2,500 m, and skis harder: 46% of its pistes are red and 23% black, while Sölden grades more than half of its runs blue. Mayrhofen’s day pass is €82 for 2026/27, Sölden’s is €86.50, though Sölden opens six weeks earlier, on 12 November 2026 against Mayrhofen’s 4 December, thanks to its glaciers. Choose Mayrhofen for a lower, more traditional valley resort with more red and black runs; choose Sölden for altitude, glacier skiing, a longer season and gentler pistes.
Key takeaways
- Mayrhofen (Mayrhofen Hippach): 142 km, 58 lifts, 44 km easy / 66 km intermediate / 32 km expert, 630 to 2,500 m.
- Sölden (Sölden-Ötztal): 144 km, 31 lifts, 75 km easy / 40 km intermediate / 29 km expert, 1,350 to 3,250 m.
- Terrain: Sölden grades 52% of its pistes easy, Mayrhofen 46% intermediate. Expert share is 23% at Mayrhofen against 20% at Sölden.
- Season: Mayrhofen December to April, planned opening 4 December 2026; Sölden October to May, planned opening 12 November 2026.
- Adult day pass: Mayrhofen €82 (2026/27); Sölden €86.50 (2026/27). Per km of piste: €0.58 against €0.60.
- Both resorts are close to Innsbruck airport: Mayrhofen about 41 km, Sölden about 42 km, both straight-line.
Mayrhofen vs Sölden: the numbers side by side
| Mayrhofen | Sölden | |
|---|---|---|
| Ski area | Mayrhofen Hippach | Sölden-Ötztal |
| Total slopes | 142 km | 144 km |
| Easy | 44 km (31%) | 75 km (52%) |
| Intermediate | 66 km (46%) | 40 km (28%) |
| Expert | 32 km (23%) | 29 km (20%) |
| Lifts | 58 | 31 |
| Km of piste per lift | 2.4 km | 4.6 km |
| Base to top | 630 to 2,500 m | 1,350 to 3,250 m |
| Vertical drop | 1,870 m | 1,900 m |
| Season (our data) | December to April | October to May |
| Planned opening 2026/27 | 4 December 2026 | 12 November 2026 |
| Snow parks | 1 | 1 |
| Adult day pass | €82 (2026/27) | €86.50 (2026/27) |
| Pass cost per km of piste | €0.58 | €0.60 |
| Nearest airport | Innsbruck, about 41 km | Innsbruck, about 42 km |
| Intski flags | Après-ski, off-piste, snow-sure, modern lifts, traditional charm, scenic | Snow-sure, modern lifts, scenic |
| Rank in Austria by size | 23rd of 49 | 22nd of 49 |
Source: Intski resort database and lift pass index, checked 19 September 2026. Slope kilometres are each resort’s own sector: neither is part of a larger linked ski area in our data.
Size and terrain split
On paper Sölden is the bigger resort, 144 km of slopes against Mayrhofen’s 142 km, a 2 km difference that is not meaningful on its own. Difficulty is where the two diverge. Mayrhofen’s 142 km splits into 44 km easy, 66 km intermediate and 32 km expert, or 31%, 46% and 23% of the mountain. Sölden’s 144 km splits into 75 km easy, 40 km intermediate and 29 km expert, or 52%, 28% and 20%. That makes Sölden the gentler of the two by a distance: 31 km more blue piste than Mayrhofen and 26 km less red. Mayrhofen has the higher expert share of the two and carries our off-piste flag, which Sölden’s page does not. Lift count tells a different story. Mayrhofen has 58 lifts to Sölden’s 31, working out at 2.4 km of piste per lift against 4.6 km. Mayrhofen’s mountain is served by more, shorter lifts across a wider valley network; Sölden’s fewer, longer lifts, including the cable cars up onto the glaciers, cover more ground per ride. Neither resort shares a linked area with a neighbouring village in our data, so both totals are each resort’s own sector rather than a wider network.
Altitude, glaciers and season length
The elevation numbers explain most of the rest of this comparison. Mayrhofen’s base sits at 630 m in the Zillertal valley floor and its top lift reaches 2,500 m, a vertical of 1,870 m. Sölden starts much higher, at 1,350 m, and its glacier lifts reach 3,250 m, a vertical of 1,900 m, the larger of the two. The 3,340 m viewing platform on the Schwarze Schneid is a short walk above the top station. Both are flagged snow-sure in our data, but they earn it differently: Sölden’s altitude and glacier cover keep snow reliable from the top down, while Mayrhofen leans more on its higher sectors and on snowmaking lower in the valley. The season dates follow the same logic. Sölden’s planned opening for 2026/27 is 12 November 2026, made possible by its glacier lifts, and our data has its season running to May. Mayrhofen’s season in our data is December to April, with a planned opening of 4 December 2026, almost six weeks after Sölden. For background on why vertical and altitude matter for a resort’s snow record, see our guide to vertical drop in skiing, and check the opening dates page before booking an early or late-season trip.
Lifts and mountain access
Mayrhofen’s 58 lifts make it one of the better-served mountains of its size in our data, and the density means shorter queues at any single station even on a busy day. Sölden’s 31 lifts include several high-capacity cable cars that carry skiers straight from the valley to the glacier plateaus, which suits a mountain built around fewer, bigger journeys rather than many short hops. Neither resort’s snow park count separates them: both run one. The practical difference is in how a day unfolds. At Mayrhofen you lap a wider spread of shorter lifts across easy, intermediate and expert sectors; at Sölden you ride fewer, longer lifts to reach terrain that starts higher and stays open for longer in the season.
Price and value per kilometre
Sölden’s day pass is €86.50 for 2026/27, the more expensive of the two. Mayrhofen’s is €82 for the same season, €4.50 less. Both prices cover each resort’s own sector rather than a wider pass network. Per kilometre of piste covered, Mayrhofen is marginally the better value at €0.58 against €0.60 at Sölden, though the gap is small enough that it should not decide the trip on its own. See the full lift pass price index for how both compare with the rest of Austria and Europe, and run a full week including flights, accommodation and hire through the ski trip cost calculator.
Getting there and village character
Both resorts are reached from the same airport. Mayrhofen is about 41 km from Innsbruck as the crow flies, Sölden about 42 km; the straight-line distances are almost identical, though Sölden sits further up the Ötztal valley and the road transfer typically takes longer than Mayrhofen’s more direct run up the Zillertal. Our guide to ski resorts near Innsbruck covers both valleys. The two villages feel different once you arrive. Mayrhofen carries our après-ski, off-piste, snow-sure, modern lifts, traditional charm and scenic flags, the full set in our data, and its tags describe it as adventurous with year-round skiing nearby. Sölden’s flags are snow-sure, modern lifts and scenic, and its tags point to its glacier terrain, a film location and its status as a season-opening World Cup venue. Mayrhofen reads as the more traditional, sociable valley village; Sölden as the higher, more modern glacier resort built around its cable cars.
The verdict by skier type
- Intermediates and off-piste skiers: Mayrhofen. 66 km of red piste against Sölden’s 40 km, the higher expert share, an off-piste flag Sölden lacks, and a denser lift network for lapping the steeper sectors.
- Skiers who want the longest season: Sölden. A planned opening of 12 November 2026 against Mayrhofen’s 4 December, and a season that in our data runs into May.
- High-altitude and glacier skiing: Sölden. A top station at 3,250 m against Mayrhofen’s 2,500 m, and 1,900 m of vertical.
- Value per kilometre: Mayrhofen, at €0.58 per km against €0.60, though the gap is small.
- Village character and après-ski: Mayrhofen, with the full set of our character flags including traditional charm and off-piste.
- Beginners and easy mileage: Sölden. 75 km of blue piste, 52% of the mountain, against 44 km and 31% at Mayrhofen. The rankings list the resorts with an even higher easy-terrain share.
Compare either resort against a third option in the compare tool, or read how Tyrol’s other well-known double act stacks up in our St. Anton vs Ischgl guide. Official sites: Mayrhofen and Sölden.
Not sure which to book? Sölden’s higher, colder glacier terrain calls for warmer layers than Mayrhofen’s lower valley; check our what to wear skiing tool before you pack, and set a snow alert on either resort page for opening-day updates.
Quick answers
Which is bigger, Mayrhofen or Sölden?
Sölden, marginally: 144 km of slopes and 31 lifts, against Mayrhofen’s 142 km and 58 lifts. The 2 km difference in total terrain is not significant.
Which is harder, Mayrhofen or Sölden?
Mayrhofen. 32 km of its 142 km is graded expert, 23% of the mountain, against 29 km and 20% at Sölden, and it has 66 km of red piste against Sölden’s 40 km. Mayrhofen also carries an off-piste flag that Sölden does not.
Which is better for beginners, Mayrhofen or Sölden?
Sölden. 75 km of its 144 km is graded easy, 52% of the mountain, against 44 km and 31% at Mayrhofen.
Which has the longer season?
Sölden, October to May in our data, with a planned opening of 12 November 2026. Mayrhofen runs December to April and opens on 4 December 2026.
Which is higher, Mayrhofen or Sölden?
Sölden. Its glacier lifts reach 3,250 m, against 2,500 m at Mayrhofen. Sölden’s base is also higher, 1,350 m against Mayrhofen’s 630 m.
Which is cheaper, Mayrhofen or Sölden?
Mayrhofen. Its adult day pass is €82 for 2026/27 against €86.50 at Sölden. Per kilometre of piste, Mayrhofen is also the better value, €0.58 against €0.60.
How far are Mayrhofen and Sölden from Innsbruck airport?
Both are close. Mayrhofen is about 41 km away as the crow flies and Sölden about 42 km, though Sölden’s road transfer up the Ötztal valley usually takes longer.
Does Sölden have glacier skiing?
Yes. Its lifts reach 3,250 m on the glaciers above the resort, which is why its season in our data opens in mid-November. Mayrhofen’s top station is 2,500 m and its season in our data starts in December.
