stubai glacier tour

Stubai Glacier – Top of Tyrol: How to Visit & Summer Tips

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: March 15, 2023

If you are looking for a beautiful mountain destination to visit in Tyrol, Austria, but are not sure where to start, then you should definitely check out the Stubai Valley , just near Innsbruck.

It is here that you can visit one of the most iconic mountain destinations in Austria – Stubai Glacier, also known as the Top of Tyrol.

In this article, we share our experience with visiting Stubai Glacier (Stubaier Gletscher), the Top of Tyrol viewing platform, Stubai Ice Grotto, and more. What to expect, what to see and do, and also practical information for your visit. Take a look!

In winter, Stubai Glacier is the biggest glacial ski resort in Austria. In summer, you’ll find eternal snow here. The most incredible views and fun activities await you in any season!

Good to know: We visited Stubai Glacier in the summer, so in this guide, I focus on the summer activities. However, most of these activities can be experienced in winter as well.

To help you get a better idea of where everything is located, below you can see the map of Stubai Glacier . You can also see the winter map. So that if you are planning to visit Stubai Glacier in winter, you have a better idea of where the ski runs are. But you don’t have to ski in order to enjoy the winter visit – the Top of Tyrol and the Stubai Ice Grotto are very enjoyable and worth a visit at any time of the year!

Here’s what you can expect to see & do at Stubai Glacier:

Top of Tyrol

From the Top of Tyrol viewing platform at 3.210 m (10.531 ft), you have the most incredible 360° views of the Alps.

On a clear day, you can see 109 mountains that are higher than 3000 meters from here. 109!!! Just try to imagine or to count that! If there are no clouds, you can even see the Italian Dolomites and the famous Marmolada mountain, the Queen of the Dolomites , from here.

Top of Tyrol has been featured as one of the 10 world’s most beautiful viewing platforms by GEO magazine and that probably says it all.

On the platform, you’ll find several Viscope telescopes (free to use) that not only zoom in on the surrounding mountains, but also show you the names of the highest summits. Our kids just couldn’t get enough of it. It’s so cool! These telescopes are so cool – not comparable to any other telescope we’ve seen before.

Good to know: Top of Tyrol might get closed in winter if there’s a lot of snowfall or in summer if there is risk of lightning. Other than that, and weather-permitting, this is a year-round activity.

Top of Tyrol viewing platform can be visited free of charge. You do need to purchase a cable car ticket in order to get there (hiking all the way to the top is also possible, but it’s not something that I’d ever recommend). If you have the Stubai Super Card , it includes a free cable car ride all the way to the top.

TIP: You get the Stubai Super Card for free when staying in most hotels in the region. So pay attention to this when booking your accommodation! At the bottom of this article, you can find information & tips for your stay.

Schaufeljoch

Schaufeljoch is the name of the cable car that brings you all the way to the top of Stubai Glacier. In addition to the Top of Tyrol viewing platform described above, there are a few other things you can do at the top.

Just nearby, you can find a small chapel – Schaufeljoch Chapel . Not a usual sight at over 3.000 meters altitude!

There is also a mountain peak with a cross on top of it – Schaufelspitze (3.333 m) . So if you want to get as high as possible, you can climb all the way to the top here.

If you want to dine at Austria’s highest mountain restaurant , the Jochdolohle (3.150 m), you’ll also find it here, at the top of Schaufeljoch mountain station. Locals say that their Riesen-Schnitzel is a must!

For more adventurous, it is also possible to walk on the glacier in summer. You can take a well-marked glacier path from the top cable car station at Schaufeljoch (Top of Tyrol) down to Eisgrat cable car station (2.900 m).

It’s also possible to do this hike the other way around – uphill. In any case, you’ll need good hiking boots and hiking poles if you are planning a hike on the glacier. It is also possible to rent equipment at Eisgrat gondola station.

Stubai Ice Grotto

If you want to experience what it’s like to walk inside an ice tunnel carved inside a real glacier, then don’t miss the Stubai Ice Grotto !

We have visited countless ice tunnels over the years, including the most impressive ones at Mt. Titlis and Jungfraujoch in Switzerland, and I have to say that the Stubai Ice Grotto offers one of the best experiences out there!

What makes it special is that it is a very long ice tunnel, of about 200 meters. Furthermore, there are lots of informational panels and various features where you can learn more about the fascinating world of ice. You can see different ice layers, moraines, glacier milk, and many other amazing things.

This is a fascinating place to visit for young and old!

Good to know: Stubai Ice Grotto is open in summer and in winter. It can easily be reached from the Eisgrat gondola station. In winter, you can ski or hike to it. In summer, you can walk there via the well-indicated hiking trail. It’s not a long walk, maybe 5 minutes, but it’s quite steep downhill (and back uphill afterwards). So good hiking shoes are recommended.

Tickets: Ice tunnel is not included in your cable car ticket. However, the fee is quite low and it’s absolutely worth it! When we visited, the price was 6.50 EUR for adults and 3 EUR for kids over 10 (free for younger kids). Furthermore, if you have the Stubai Super Card, you get a small discount for the grotto as well.

Eisgrat Mountain Station Playground and Restaurants

In addition to the ice tunnel and glacier hike near Eisgrat mountain station, there is also a nice playground for the kids here – Mammoth Adventure Playground .

You can’t miss the giant mammoth with a slide-nose. While it’s probably not the best idea to try climbing inside the mammoth as an adult, if you are visiting with kids, you definitely have to foresee some time for this playground.

In the meantime, adults can enjoy a drink or some local specialties at the adjacent Eisgrat Restaurant .

Hiking at Stubai Glacier

There are several hiking possibilities in the Stubai Glacier area too. So if you have a few hours to spare, you may want to choose one of the following hikes:

• Walk down from Eisgrat mountain station (2.900 m) to Dresdner Hütte at the middle cable car station Fernau (2.300 m). This downhill hike would take about 2 hours.
• Hike from Dresdner Hütte at Fernau (2.300 m) all the way down to the Gamsgarten valley station (1.750 m). This hike is also about 2 hours.
• There is also a possibility to do a shorter circular hike starting at Dresdner Hütte at Fernau, via Egesensee, and back to the middle cable car station Fernau. This hike takes about 1 hour.

And there are many other options. You can get a hiking map of the area at the ticket desk and easily find a hike that will suit your schedule and interests.

We visited Stubai Glacier in the afternoon. So due to time constraints, we didn’t do any of these hikes and just walked a little bit around at the middle station Fernau/ Dresdner Hütte. There were some sheep here and the views were well worth the short detour.

The hiking trail between Dresdner Hütte and the valley looked really nice. Granted, it’s a steep descent, but the views are great and you’ll be passing several very impressive waterfalls along the way. Or, you just take a cable car both ways and enjoy the amazing views the easy way, as we did.

If you didn’t do any hiking at the Stubai Glacier itself, you can still do some easy hiking and see some amazing waterfalls in the Stubai Valley.

The easiest waterfall to visit is Mutterberg Waterfall , located right next to the car parking at the Gamsgarten valley station (bottom cable car station at Stubai Glacier). You’ll see this waterfall from the car parking on your right side. Just cross the wooden bridge and you’ll have the most amazing view of this powerful waterfall. It’s just a short walk of a minute or two, so don’t miss it!

If you have some time to spare, don’t miss the Wild Water Trail ( Wilde Wasser Weg ) just a few kilometers drive along the main road. You can read more about it in our guide to things to do in Stubai Valley .

Practical Information for Visiting Stubai Glacier

Getting to stubai glacier.

Stubai Glacier can be reached by a series of cable cars from Gamsgarten Valley Station in Stubai Valley (see the exact location on Google Maps ). Stubai Valley is located just south of Innsbruck and is extremely easy to get to by car or by public transport.

By car. Just drive the Stubai Valley road all the way to the end until you reach a huge parking area at the Stubai Glacier. Gamsgarten Valley station is about 40 km/ 45 minutes drive from Innsbruck.

By public transport. You can easily reach Stubai Valley by bus, tram, or train from Innsbruck. Once in Stubai Valley, you can use the public bus that connects all the main places in the valley. This regional bus is free of charge (with the Stubai Super Card) and it runs very frequently.

Once you reach the Stubai Glacier valley car parking area, you can take one of the two gondolas up to the middle station Fernau. In summer, only one of the two gondolas is operating – the one from Gamsgarten. The entrance is at the large glass building all the way at the end of the road.

How Much Time Do You Need

As you can see, there is enough to see and do at Stubai Glacier, so you could easily spend an entire day here.

However, if you are just planning to visit the Top of Tyrol viewing platform and the Stubai Ice Grotto, you could do it in about 2 hours. Add another hour if you are planning to have lunch at one of the mountain restaurants.

We spent a bit less than 3 hours visiting Stubai Glacier. We saw all the highlights and also spent some time at the playground, but since it was late afternoon, we didn’t have any time left for hiking in the area. If you want to explore this beautiful place a bit more, I highly suggest that you come in the morning and plan to spend a good part of the day here.

READ ALSO: Schlick 2000 & Stubaiblick Viewing Platform

Where to Stay

You can stay in any village of Stubai Valley and explore everything from one central location.

If you want to have all the facilities within easy reach, we recommend staying in the main village –  Neustift im Stubaital .

Our experience: We have stayed at two different hotels in Stubai: Sepp & Hannis Suiten im Dorf  apartments that belong to  Hotel Stubaierhof  and Apart-Pension Wasserfall . Both accommodations offer the free Stubai Super Card, which saved us hundreds of euros on gondolas and other activities.

So, this is our guide to visiting Stubai Glacier and the Top of Tyrol viewing platform. I hope that this inspired you to visit. It’s a beautiful place – well worth it!

If you are looking for more travel inspiration for the Tyrol region, please check our guides to some of our favorite places via the link below!

READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Stubai Valley

More travel inspiration for Austria:

• Best Things to Do in Tirol with Kids
• Best Things to Do in Salzburg
• 1 Day in Salzburg
• 2 Days in Salzburg
• Seebensee – Drachensee Hike  (the most beautiful mountain lakes in Tirol!)
• Olpererhütte Hike and Olperer Suspension Bridge  (spectacular views)
• Tiroler Zugspitz Arena in Summer
• Zillertal in Summer
• Hintertux Glacier & Nature’s Ice Palace (a natural ice cave!)
• E-biking in Alpbach Valley
• Kaiserklamm Gorge
• Almabtrieb in Tyrol  (cattle drive festival)

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Tuesday 5th of March 2024

I think I may have missed some information on the Stubai area's Eisgrat and Top of Tyrol. I would like to know if the lifts will be in opertion during the period 18 - 28 August 2024. I simply cannot locate the summer time schedule

Thursday 7th of March 2024

Hi Bernard, most destinations in the mountains have two versions of their websites - one for the summer and one for the winter season. So indeed, it's sometimes difficult to find information in advance. But don't worry about it - August is the peak summer season so normally everything is open unless something unexpected happens or really bad weather, but it's normally not a concern in the summer.

Tuesday 9th of August 2022

We are very impressed from your detailed article about the top 0f tyrol. Please your additional information fo our question. How many steps we have to go from the gondula cable car station until reaching the top of tyrol observation platform? And how much time it takes approx. ? We shall appreciate you very much for your answers. Best wishes and thank you Michael

Friday 12th of August 2022

thank you very much for the information,

Wednesday 10th of August 2022

Hi Michael, we didn’t count the steps, but it’s really not many. It takes maybe 2-3 minutes to the top. Enjoy your visit!

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Stubai Glacier ski resort

Ski resort open

Open lifts 7/26

Stubai Glacier, the largest glacier ski resort in Austria, is by no means for freeriders and experts only. A slew of family specials and attractions make Stubai Glacier a hit with families and teenagers as well.

Situated right at the very end of the Stubai Valley is the majestic Stubai Glacier. Its ski resort extends all the way up to 3,210 metres above sea level and is the largest glacier ski resort in Austria. Here, high above the valley floor, the pistes are guaranteed to be in top condition from October all the way through until June.

Children and families are a big priority at the Stubai Glacier, so it is little wonder that the resort is considered one of the most family-friendly in Tirol. At the Big Family Ski Camp a team of trained experts will keep a close eye on your children while you are out enjoying the slopes. There is also a special children's restaurant in the resort. Further attractions for youngsters include a snow obstacle course and a snow carousel as well as a special Kids' Line in the Stubai Zoo snowpark.

Advanced and expert skiers will also find plenty to keep them entertained, including the 10km "Wilde Grube" descent down to the bottom of the cable cars. The Stubai Glacier is also known throughout the reason as a freeride hotspot, with the "Powder Department" attracting skiers and boarders addicted to backcountry adventures. Finally, what better way to end the day than with a meal at the Schaufelspitz gourmet restaurant at the top of the Eisgrat cable car? It is the highest fine dining restaurant in the Alps.

Situated right at the very end of the Stubai Valley is the majestic Stubai Glacier. Its ski resort extends all the way up to 3,210 metres above sea…

Current weather

Next snowfall.

May 13, 2024 17 cm

Start of season: Oct 16, 2023

End of season: May 20, 2024

Operating hours: 08:00am – 4:00pm. Opening hours

% / kilometre(s)

Calculation of piste kilometres

The following calculations are used to measure the kilometres of pistes within the marked ski area:

a. measured length (straight downhill)

b. skied length (with dynamic turns)

This website displays the ski resort’s measured kilometres of slopes (variant a).

54 % / 22 km

INTERMEDIATE

37 % / 15 km

10 % / 4 km

SKI TOURING ROUTES

Open lifts    7/26

Infrastructure

• Ski area incl. ski rental
• Ski area incl. ski school

» Buy ticket online

Day ticket: €63.60

Child discount: 2009-2013 Youth discount: 2005-2008 Discount for senior citizens: from 1958

More price information

Valid ski passes

• Snow Card Tirol
• Freizeitticket Tirol
• Stubaier- and Schlick-season-ticket
• Ski Plus City Pass
• Alpen Plus Gletscher Card
• Quality-approved family ski resort
• Approved Adaptive Ski Programs

Place in the ski resort

Neustift is well known throughout Tirol and beyond, mainly thanks to the nearby Stubai glacier ski area which has for many years been proudly promoted as the "Kingdom of Snow".

Arrival date

How to get here by plane, train, bus or car.

Ihr Ziel: Dorf 3, Neustift im Stubaital, Österreich

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Tourismusverband Stubai Tirol Dorf 3 6167 Neustift im Stubaital t     +43.50.1881-0 e     [email protected] w     www.stubai.at

Other ski resorts in the region

Neustift im Stubaital

Located in Neustift in the heart of Stubai Valley, the Elferlifte ski…

Situated at the foot of the iconic Serles mountain, known as the "High…

The compact resort of Schlick 2000 is the largest in the Stubai Valley and…

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Travel Tyrol

Austria travel blog, what makes the stubai glacier great for skiing, a detailed review for beginners and families.

The Stubai Glacier is one of the best family ski resorts in Austria thanks to its lovely wide blue and red runs complimented by state-of-the-art infrastructure. The panoramic setting in the Stubai Alps and the long ski season makes it popular among locals and tourists alike. 

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Table of Contents

Stubai Glacier Ski Area At A Glance

Being a family-friendly ski resort automatically qualifies the Stubai Glacier as being kind to beginner skiers too. The irony is that in our family, our son falls in the advanced skier category while his mom will forever remain a beginner. That’s why skiing on the glacier is perfect for us – there is enough variety to keep every member of the family happy.

Looking for a hotel near the slopes? Check availability here

5 Reasons To Ski On The Stubai Glacier

• It’s the largest glacier ski area in Austria.
• Kids under ten ski for free in the company of at least one parent.
• The glacier is only a 45-minute drive from Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian Tyrol. And if you don’t have a car, there are frequent buses between Innsbruck’s main train station and the glacier.
• It’s in a valley with three more ski areas if you don’t like skiing on the same slopes every day. The other three Stubai ski resorts are Schlick 2000 , Serles, and Elferlift.
• There are lots to do if you want to take a break from skiing – like walking in an ice cave or counting Alpine peaks from the Top of Tyrol viewing platform.

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Stubai Glacier Ski Pass Options

A variety of ski passes and price options are available to skiers on the Stubai Glacier. The best news for families is that children under ten pay nothing when accompanied by a parent. All ski passes include free parking and free transport on the Stubai Valley ski bus.

Stubai Glacier Only Ski Pass

This ski pass is only valid on the glacier (as well as for the Elferbahn if you buy a pass of 2 days or longer).

The prices below are for the main ski season from October to May. They’re valid for skiers with a Stubai Guest Card (staying in official accommodation in the valley). People without this card pay 10 % more. Get the full list of prices  here .

SKI Plus CITY Pass

The SKI Plus CITY Pass is the latest invention by the tourism boards of Innsbruck and the Stubai Valley to make the region more attractive for visitors. And it’s working. This pass not only lets you ski in 13 Innsbruck ski resorts , but the Innsbruck Card is included at no additional cost. With the Innsbruck Card, you get free entry to 22 attractions such as Swarovski Crystal Worlds and the Bergisel Ski Jump.

Because the SKI Plus CITY Pass includes all four Stubai Valley ski resorts, it replaces the old Stubai Super Ski Pass. The pass is available from 2 days to 21 days. Here’s an overview of some of the prices:

More Stubai Glacier Ski Pass Options

• An  annual Stubai gletscher ski pass  is available but only recommended if you live close-by and this is the only resort you will be skiing at. The cost is €538 for adults, €269,00 for children between 10 and 14, and €350 for youth.
• People living in Tyrol who ski often may benefit from the  Freizeitticket Tirol  or the  Tirol Snow Card . The Stubai gletscher is included in both. We certainly make good use of our Freizeittickets in winter and in summer.

Where To Buy The Stubai Glacier Ski Pass

There are three options for buying your ski pass for the glacier.

• Two ski pass vending machines at the Eisgratbahn valley station.
• The ticket office in the village of Neustift on the way to the glacier (opposite the BP gas station).
• The online shop .

Note:  Ski passes are in the form of KeyCards for which a deposit of €2 is charged. You will get the €2 back if you return the card undamaged to any point of sale or ticket return machine.

Our Family Review Of The Stubai Glacier Ski Area

Linda’s beginner review.

The first two things I want to know about a ski area is how many blue (beginner) slopes there are and what kind of lifts there are. I’m not fond of T-bar lifts that keep you on your feet, and I break out in a cold sweat at the thought of going down an unknown red (intermediate) slope.

Fortunately, the Stubai Glacier boasts  12 blue slopes totalling 24 ski kilometres . And most of them are reached by either a chairlift or a gondola.

If you’re visiting the glacier for the first time, my advice would be to start skiing at Gamsgarten . As the hub of the ski area, it’s surrounded by easy practice and beginner’s slopes.

Magic Carpets

You can’t miss the covered magic carpet tunnels opposite the Gamsgarten restaurant complex. This is where the ski schools start their lessons, but anyone can use the magic carpet on the far left. When you exit the tunnel you can either turn right to go down the very easy beginner’s slope or turn left to go down a little longer and steeper one to the bottom of the Kitzlift.

The Kitzlift is a button lift, which means you are pulled up the slope by a round plastic “button” between your legs. Although the lift requires a bit of skill, there is an assistant to help you get the button between your legs and send you on your way.

The Kitzlift slope is the perfect gradient and distance to practice your beginner skills or get back into the swing of things if you haven’t skied for a while.

Murmelebahn and Grubenschuss Run (no 12)

The Murmelebahn is a chair lift just below Gamsgarten and easy to reach from the main building or the Kitzlift. It gives you access to the short Grubenschuss beginner slope, the natural next step after “conquering” the Kitzlift run.

Getting on and off the chairlift is very easy (even so, I did bring it to a standstill once when my poles got stuck in the frame!). Being a lift for beginners, the Murmelebahn is not the fastest. So, sit back and enjoy the impressive views of the surrounding landscape while you wait to reach the top.

Grubenschuss is a wide slope with an even gradient except for a short, steeper part near the end. It can get quite busy if the ski schools bring their learners here, but you can easily ski around them.

Rotadlkopfbahn And Daunferner Run (No 7)

Once you’ve mastered Grubenschuss and feel like exploring more of the Stubai Glacier, the Daunferner is the obvious run to try next.

The Rotadlkopfbahn that takes you to the Daunferner run is easy to reach from the top of the Grubenschuss run when you get off the Murmelebahn. Just ski across to join the adjacent slope that ends at Gamsgarten. Rotadlkopf is the first lift on your right. Otherwise, it is right in front of you across the snow when you exit the Gamsgarten gondola.

The Daunferner ski run is on your right when you get off the 8-seater Rotadlkopfbahn. It’s very wide with a gradual gradient for the most part. There is only one tricky bit (for beginners) near the end where it gets narrower while simultaneously sloping off to the left. We hit it once when it was very icy, which made it difficult to stay in control of our skis. It was just luck that I didn’t slide off the slope completely.

Schaufeljochbahn And The Eisjochferner Run (No 1)

The idea of skiing from the top of the glacier frightened me. What if I can’t get down? Then one bright February day in 2017 C and M convinced me I could do it. Before I could change my mind, I was sitting in a gondola of the Schaufeljochbahn.

From the Schaufeljoch lift station, a narrow (but mostly flat) ski path leads around the Schaufelspitze mountain peak (3,333 m). Keep to your right all the time until you pass below the Eisjochbahn chairlift and a wide slope suddenly opens up before you. The Eisjochferner run is the one immediately left.

This run that I was so afraid of turns out to be my favourite. It’s a little steep at the start but so wide that you can easily make your turns. The last bit until you get to the Eisgrat complex is an absolute pleasure for a beginner.

The Eisjoch run is a perfect slope for beginners on the Stubai Glacier.

Warning:  You must turn right into the Eisgrat complex or cross over to the blue no 4 Access Fernau run if you don’t want to end on the red no 1b Eisjoch run which takes you back to Gamsgarten. C and M regularly ski this red run and have reported back that they “don’t think mommy will like it”.

Access Fernau and Falwesuna Runs (4 and 4a)

I manage quite well on the Access Fernau run but have a hard time getting down the Falwesuna run which starts much steeper. If it weren’t for its width and the good slope conditions I would easily classify it as a red slope.

Tip:  If you’re a timid skier and want to skip the Falwesuna run, take the Schaufeljochbahn from Eisgrat to repeat the blue Eisjoch run or take the Eisgrat gondola to the Fernau middle station. From here, you can go back to Gamsgarten to continue your skiing on the Daunferner or Grubenschuss runs.

Read more:  Don’t make the same mistakes I did! Read my  10 best skiing tips for beginners  to spare you some embarrassment on the slopes.

C’s Intermediate Review

Gaiskarferner Run (no 5)

This run goes past the Stubai Zoo snow park. Usually, I do the run while M has a go at some of the smaller jumps and obstacles. He thoroughly enjoys this more adventurous side of the Stubai Glacier. The run itself is quite relaxed, but it gets a bit more challenging if I attempt to do some of the jumps myself.

Windachferner Run (no 6)

The Windachferner is a short, steep but very wide run. It is the perfect run to attempt a steep slope and to gain more confidence. I found the slope a bit more forgiving as I practiced my turns. It is also the run to the Wildspitz chairlift.

Wildspitzbahn And Daunenhang Run (no 9) with Daunferner

With a short hop, the Wildspitzbahn connects you to the steep and narrow red 9 Daunenhang run. I find it a bit intimidating with many skiers joining the run down. As usual, M magically whisks his way down while I take some calculated turns. This short run connects with the 7 blue Daunferner run that Linda already reviewed.

M’s expert review

I don’t like waiting for mommy to catch up with us. The best is to ski with daddy on the long blue and red slopes. I don’t mind lots of people because they make bumps on the slopes which I can jump over. I like skiing backward and practicing tricks. That’s why it’s nice to go to the Stubai Zoo where I can watch other skiers making awesome backflips and other tricks.

Note:  The DC Stubai Zoo is on the sunny, south-facing Gaisskarferner slope. The  easy, medium and pro lines  attract novices as well as some of the best on the international freeski and snowboard scene who also come here to train. Apart from the Gaiskarr T-bar lift, there is a separate rope lift to speed things up.

More Slopes At A Glance

A number of  red slopes  not mentioned above are dotted all over the Stubai glacier. The three longest ones are the  Fernau (no 2) ,  Gamsgarten (no 3)  and  Pfaffenscheid (no 11)  runs.

For the real experts and adventurous skiers, Stubai offers  3 black slopes  of which the  Daunjoch (no 22)  is the longest and steepest with a maximum gradient of 60%. The  Wildspitzschütze (no 7b)  is very short with the  Daunscharte (no 21)  a little longer.

If there is enough snow (more likely in January, February, and March) it is possible to ski all the way to the valley stations on the red Fernau (no 26) or Wilde Grub’n (no14) ski routes. In fact, if you start on the Daunferner ski run, and continue onto the Wilde Grub’n and lastly the blue Mutterweg ski path to the Eisgrat valley station, you will complete the longest run of 10 km on the Stubai Glacier.

Non-Ski Things To Do On The Stubai Glacier

Top of tyrol.

Not everyone likes skiing from opening until closing time. Fortunately, the Stubai Glacier has a few surprises up its sleeve that doesn’t only involve eating, drinking or sitting on a deck chair. The  Top of Tyrol viewing platform at 3,210 m  is one of them. The best part is that you can reach it with the Eisgrat and Schaufeljoch gondolas even if you don’t ski.

The stairs leading to the Top of Tyrol is immediately outside the Schaufeljoch gondola station. It’s not necessarily an easy climb with ski shoes on but so worth it when you reach the top. From here you have a spectacular 360° view over the Stubai Alps. If it was possible to count them, you would see  109 mountain peaks  of over 3,000 m.

A fascinating insight into the world of snow and ice awaits you in the ice cave near the Eisgrat mountain station.

The ice tunnels totalling 200 m is 30 m below the ski slopes. The ice cave is both entertaining as well as educational, with a nice photo opportunity on the ice throne near the end of the tour. The temperature inside remains constant at around 0°C.

Read more:  Why  Hopfgarten is another great resort for a family ski holiday 

Eating And Drinking

Skiing makes hungry. Fortunately, there is lots of opportunity on the Stubai Glacier to still your hunger pains and quench your thirst.

Although ski resort food generally is nothing to write home about, traditional Austrian meals like Schnitzel, Knödelsuppe (dumpling soup), sausages and Kaiserschmarrn (thick pancakes with fruit puree) are sure to give you enough fuel to continue your day on the slopes.

Many of the restaurants and bars accept credit and debit cards but take some cash for some of the smaller facilities. Also, bear in mind that ski resort food and drinks are more expensive than the average restaurant. The Stubai Glacier is no different.

Gamsgarten Restaurants

Gamsgarten is a popular lunch meeting point for groups and families who don’t ski together. There are two options for buying food here.

Marktrestaurant

The Marktrestaurant (Market Restaurant) is the biggest self-service restaurant on the glacier and on the bottom floor of the Gamsgarten complex. It has a  large indoor (500 seats) and outdoor (1,100 seats) area  and is connected to the Kinder Restaurant (children’s restaurant) with an additional 300 seats. There is also a small play area with a jungle gym in the children’s restaurant.

How it works:  Find an open table and leave your helmets or jackets on the seats to reserve your spot while you get food. Grab a tray at one of the turnstiles where you enter the central food area and have a look at the menu displays. For some dishes, you may have to queue for a chef to dish up for you. Once your tray is laden with your food and drinks, take it to a cashier to pay, and Bon Appetit! In case you forgot, cutlery is available after the pay points.

Opening times:  Daily from 09:00 to 16:15

Zur Goldenen Gams Restaurant

Directly above the Gamsgarten Market Restaurant, the Zur Goldenen Gams Restaurant has waiters serving you at your table. For this privilege, you pay a Euro or two extra for your food, although the drinks prices are about the same as downstairs. Also, keep in mind that waiting times can be long over busy periods.

Tip:  Most Austrians and Germans are very serious about having lunch at 12:00. Therefore, you will struggle to find a table between 12:00 and 13:00 on busy days. If you can wait, it’s best to go after 13:00. As a bonus, the slopes are quieter if you ski during the peak lunch hour.

Eisgrat Restaurants

Eisgrat Market Restaurant

Very similar to the Market Restaurant at Gamsgarten but smaller (400 seats).

Schaufelspitz Restaurant

At almost 3,000 m the Schaufelspitz Restaurant calls itself the highest gourmet restaurant in the world. The Chef de cuisine David Kostner and his team were awarded 15 points by Gault Millau in 2016. With only 55 seats inside, it is recommended to book a table if you want to eat here. Send an email to   [email protected]

Naturally, the Schaufelspitz Restaurant’s prices don’t fall in the family holiday category. But who knows, you might want to go for a drink only or treat yourselves when the kids are in ski school. The restaurant is open daily from 09:00 to 16:15 from mid-October until early May.

Jochdohle Restaurant

For lunch with a view, the Jochdohle self-service restaurant on top of the Stubai Glacier claims to be the highest lying restaurant in Tyrol at 3,150 m. The 400-seat restaurant specialises in giant Schnitzel and glacier burgers. If you come early enough, you can grab a free deckchair from where to enjoy the views.

Jochdohle is easily reached downhill from the Schaufeljoch gondola station or across Gaiskarjoch from the top of the Eisjoch lift. It’s open daily from 09:00 to 16:00.

S tubai Glacier Ski Rental and Storage

No-one likes dragging ski equipment across countries and even continents. You can rent the latest equipment from the Intersport shops at Gamsgarten and Eisgrat.

If you make your booking online before you arrive, you have the option to select your equipment after 14:00 on the day of your arrival. This way, you will be ready to hit the slopes on your first official day of skiing. The afternoon trip up and down the mountain to select your skis is free if you also buy a ski pass for at least two days.

For even more convenience, you can store your ski equipment in the “comfort centres” at the valley stations of the Gamsgarten and Eisgrat gondolas. You can choose between storing your skis and/or your boots to renting a “comfort box” which takes two pairs each of skis or snowboards, boots, gloves, and two helmets.

Stubai Glacier Ski Schools

Four ski schools offer lessons and courses on the Stubai Glacier. On some days, there are over 100 ski and snowboard instructors on the slopes. The ski schools are:

Ski School Neustift

They are the ones responsible for the Big Family Children and Teens Ski Camp at Gamsgarten. The  Skischule Neustift  offers bilingual (German and English) group lessons and multilingual private lessons.

The group courses for children and adults are generally 4 hours per day. This is broken up into a 2-hour session from 10:00 to 12:00 with another 2-hour session from 13:00 to 15:00.

Alpin Ski School Neustift

The  Alpinschischule Neustift  was the first in the Stubai valley to limit the number of kids in a ski course group to seven. They have an office at Gamsgarten and also offer a full range of courses for young and old.

The Neustift Ski Instructors

The Neustifter Schilehrer is a smaller ski school consisting of a group of ski instructors who grew up in the Stubai Valley and know the glacier inside out.

Ski and Snowboard School Neustift Olympia

The  Ski School Neustift Olympia  is based in Neustift, where you can also rent all your ski equipment. At first glance, their prices seem to be slightly cheaper than that of the other big ski schools.

Childcare On The Stubai Glacier

There is a  Kindergarten   at Gamsgarten where children from 3 years old are looked after between 09:00 and 16:00. A half-day stay in the Kindergarten costs €28 and a full day €38.

From 4 years and older, there is an option to combine a 2-hour ski course with the rest of the day in the Kindergarten.

Getting To The Stubai Glacier

The glacier is right at the end of the 35 km long Stubai Valley. The valley is easily accessible via the A13 Brenner motorway between Austria and Italy. The Schönberg exit which takes you down the valley is only a 10-minute drive from Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol.

Keep in mind a toll fee of €3 is charged when you exit the motorway. Coming from Italy, the full Brenner Pass toll fee is €9,50. Keep your receipt to show at the Schönberg toll booth to avoid paying double.

Parking is free at both the Gamsgarten and Eisgrat valley stations of the Stubai glacier. On busy days, it may fill up quickly, however. You’ll then be directed to back-up parking areas from where a bus will shuttle you to the glacier.

All public buses in the Stubai Valley (between Schönberg and the glacier ski resort) are free for skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts between October and May.

From Innsbruck, Bus 590 leaves the main train station (Innsbruck Hbf) from bus stop A every half hour at 5 and 35 past the hour. The bus ride takes just over an hour. A return ticket costs only €7,60 if you’re wearing your winter sports attire.

The stops to get off at are either Neustift i. St. 3S Eisgratbahn or Neustift i. St. Mutterbergalm. Find a connection  here . Enter Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof next to start and Stubaier Gletscher next to destination.

There are a number of  scheduled and chartered flights  between Innsbruck and the rest of Europe in the skiing season. From the airport, you can either take public transport or use a private airport transfer company to get to your hotel or the Stubai Glacier.

Regular trains from Germany, Italy, and Switzerland stop at the Innsbruck main train station. The  most popular connections  are from Munich, Bozen, and Zurich. Within Austria, there are frequent trains from Vienna and Salzburg.

Check train connections and availability

Stubai Glacier Accommodation

Because of its location in a protected nature area, there are only two accommodation options within walking distance of the Stubai glacier lifts. They are the  Dresdner Hut  near the Fernau middle station and the  Alpensporthotel Mutterberg  at the Gamsgarten valley station.

The Dresdner Hut provides basic but affordable accommodation while the Alpensporthotel Mutterberg is a 4-star hotel with all amenities including an indoor swimming pool.

Fortunately, the Stubai accommodation options further down the valley are plenty and varied. While we normally take a day trip to the glacier, we had the luxury of staying at the  Hotel Serles  in Mieders on our last visit. What a difference to stay close to the slopes!

F i nd the best Stubai Hotel for you

*Disclosure*

Dear Reader,

Having fun in Austria, and then wr iting about it, is hard work 😆  . That’s why some links in this article are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you use any of them to make a purchase for your upcoming trip. It’s totally cool if you don’t use them. I love to help anyway . But if you do, we’ll probably blow it on another family excursion. Which really isn’t such a bad thing, because it will only result in another blog post for you to read.

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Wow. So comprehensive. I love how you itemized the food. Good to know!

Fantastic in depth post here. I have heard of the Stubai Gletscher as I have traveled to Austria many times but havent tried it. And also I have to admit, I havent actually skied yet. Loving the photos here.

I don’t think I’ve ever read such a complete guide to anywhere. The ski runs, the types of lifts, restaurants, places to stay, prices, and the list goes on. Everything anyone would need to know to be well prepared for a fun skiing holiday at the Stubai glacier.

Wow, the Stubai Gletscher Ski Complex really does have something for every type of skier. Your guide is very comprehensive! I would never think as a beginner skier that I could ski at the top of a glacier!

As a beginner living in Munich, it is great for me to know this one. Thanks!

This is such a comprehensive guide to skiiing stubai glacier! Like you, I feel like I’ll always be a beginner snowboarder and never really progress into the next category! I hate the t-bar lifts too – I have fallen right off them on more than one occasion! We were in Vienna earlier this year so reading those food options really made me excited – especially the pancake/dumplings with fruity sauce.

I’ve skied in Switzerland, but obviously have missed out by not checking out Stubai glacier in Austria! What a family-friendly ski resort, and its altitude should mean great winter conditions to boot.

I am about to plan a ski holiday so your review of Stubai-gletscher glatscher comes in handy. Thanks for all the detailed info, I love the hotel and how near the slopes it is!

What a fantastic review of Stubai! I love how you have included so many details, and the video is a real plus, too! Awesome that you didn’t start skiing until you were adults and can now experience skiing with your son. I’ve never seen anything like that “magic carpet”, and the cable cars look very nice and modern. In fact, the ‘key cards’ is something else I’ve never seen used at a ski resort. So many modern amenities!

I love that this ski resort has the perfect runs for people of all levels. The super ski pass looks like a fantastic deal. Also, the food looks amazing. That bacon dumpling soup has me drooling over here.

I don’t ski but I would love to go up there just to admire the scenery. The mountain views are so pretty! I can imagine the chalets nearby are very beautiful as well.

Good guidance, This is one of the best article that I found on Stubai gletscher which is really appreciable.

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Stubai Glacier Skiing Area - Stubaital

The largest glacial skiing area of austria can be found in the stubai valley, a place of superlatives which reaches up to 3,210 m a.s.l, image gallery: stubai glacier skiing area - stubaital.

video : Stubai Glacier Skiing Area

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Above Neustift im Stubaital rises the mighty Stubai Glacier. Along the Stubai Glacier Road, comfortably reachable by the free ski bus service of the valley, there are the Gamsgarten and Eisgrat Cable Cars, two of a total of 26 lift facilities. They take you up to 44 km of perfectly groomed slopes and to 21 km ski routes. All of this with snow guarantee from October to May - the skiing season is inaugurated with an Oktoberfest at 2,900 m a.s.l. at the Eisgrat mountain station.

There's also the Schaufelspitz, the highest located gourmet restaurant of the Alps. Even higher you can visit the Jochdohle, the mountain inn at the TOP OF TYROL , the viewing platform at 3,150 m a.s.l. From these places you reach the ski slopes of the "Kingdom of Snow": The most popular slopes include the 10 km long downhill run no. 7 Daunferner and the Wilde Grub'n Ski Route, just as long, as well as the speed track. The steepest one is the Daunhill Slope with a 60 % gradient.

Families may enjoy the BIG Family Fun Slope and BIG Family Ski-Camp. Furthermore, kids under 10, accompanied by an adult with valid ski pass, ski for free. Snowboarders, however, will amuse themselves in the Stubai Zoo Snow Park on the Gaisskar Glacier, which has been enlarged recently by a Jibline with own ski lift, the Zooshuttle. It is an international freeski and snowboard meeting point, where also the FIS Freeski World Cup Stubai takes place. If the winter sports offer on the glacier should not be enough, then the SKI plus CITY Pass Innsbruck Stubai allows you to choose between 13 participating skiing areas between the Stubai Valley and the Alpine City of Innsbruck.

Winter season 2024/25: from early December 2024 (autumn opening with part of the ski slopes and lift facilities from the end of October 2024) Opening hours: 8 am - 4.15 pm Altitude: 1,750 - 3,210 m a.s.l. Ski slopes: 65 km (25 km easy / 15 km medium / 4 km difficult / 21 km ski routes) Snowmaking: 25 % of the slopes Lift facilities: 26 lifts

Cross-country ski tracks: 1 high-altitude track at 2,600 m a.s.l. (2 km) Further information: phone: +43 +43 5226 8141, [email protected]

Dates may vary according to weather and snow conditions or additional health measures!

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Suggested accommodations

Alpenhotel Fernau

Hotel Gasteigerhof

Milderer Hof

Sporthotel Neustift

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• Stubai Alps Austria
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• Stubai Glacier Tour

Key information: Stubai Glacier Tour

• This magnificent trek follows a horseshoe of excellent huts in the Austrian Tyrol's beautiful Stubai Alps. It does, however, involves a lot of serious glacier walking. Caution!
• Superb views of snowy peaks, mountain lakes, shimmering glaciers and typical Alpine meadows massed with flowers.

Walkopedia rating

• Walkopedia rating 90
• Natural interest 17
• Human interest 6
• Charisma 33
• Negative points 1
• Total rating 90
• Note: Negs: Heavy loads

Vital Statistics

• Length: 65km
• Maximum Altitude: 3,471m
• Level of Difficulty: Difficult

WALK SUMMARY

This marvellous high hutted walk follows a horseshoe-shaped circuit along the mountains which now straddle the border between Austria and Italy. 

It usually takes 6 or 7 days, with between 5-8 hours of walking each full day (5-15km); it varies in difficulty, with some hard, high days to tackle. It leads from hut to hut though a wide spectrum of landscapes from flower-strewn grassy slopes to narrow snow-covered ledges. This route crosses several glaciers, so you need considerable experience unless you have a guide – and all the right kit. It is not for beginners.  

The scenery is spectacular and varied, from vast craggy peaks and high glaciers to lakes, valleys and meadows of tiny alpine flowers, with far reaching views from the Swiss Alps to the Dolomites.

The path takes you up through the steep lower landscape of pine forests to the (relatively) gentler pastureland above, classic alpine scenery complete with grazing animals, traditional farming methods and verdant meadows, decorated by a profusion of wild flowers and streams. As the route reaches higher altitudes the green gives way to harsher mountain scenery.  The rocky tracks cross boulder fields and can climb steeply over slippery shale and loose stone, but afford magnificent views of the high peaks and glaciers and over ridges towards the receding range, or down onto turquoise alpine lakes.   Here the most strenuous parts of the walk negotiate narrow, steep ledges and cross the formidable beauty of vast (albeit tragically shrinking) blue (sometimes dirty) glaciers, a serious undertaking. You will need proper equipment and good experience (or an experienced guide).

This is demanding walking in remote mountains with uncertain weather. Come fully prepared.

An early start each day is advised to allow you to complete the majority of the day’s walking before midday.  The sun can be but the possibility of a sudden snowstorm should not be discounted at any time. The route is marked by cairns, with cables at the steepest parts.

A variety of wildlife can be seen, including loveable marmots, chamois, ibex and various raptors and vultures.

There are welcoming huts on route. Accommodation is generally either in dormitories or twin rooms, and food is plentiful and good. The huts provide a welcome place to relax and meet other walkers, and to plan the next day’s journey.

See our Stubai Alps  page for more information on the area and photos.

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

We have a lot of helpful practical information and tips about this walk , covering everything from the best books and maps, to timing and weather, geting there, possible problems, whether you need a guide and where to find them, and useful websites. This section is only open to members.

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Safety and problems: All walks have inherent risks and potential problems, and many of the walks featured on this website involve significant risks, dangers and problems. Problems of any sort can arise on any walk. This website does not purport to identify any (or all) actual or potential risks, dangers and problems that may relate to any particular walk. Any person who is considering undertaking this walk should do careful research and make their own assessment of the risks, dangers and possible problems involved. They should also go to “ Important information ” for further important information.

Anyone planning an expedition to this place should see further important information about this walk.

COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND PHOTOS

Name: Rudi Posted on: 25/12/2010 Really great walk which can be done in fewer days than the classical 8. Not to technical, yet some ladders and somewhat difficult passages.

See More Your comments on this walk, your experiences and suggestions, and your photos are very welcome. Where appropriate, you will be credited for your contribution.

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Walking with Trees: the Kumano Kōdō Kōhechi    - Stephen Barber's account and photos of one of Japan's great pilgrimage trails. March 2021

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Stubai Glacier

Markus rated this “very good“

Snow report 

Lifts , skiruns , family/children, ski/snowboard.

In Austria's largest glacier ski area, 26 modern cable cars provide comfortable transport to the various slopes.  Between 1695 m and 3210 m altitude, snow is guaranteed from October to June. In the Stubai Glacier ski area, you can therefore get to the top. Since last winter, the new 3S Eisgratbahn has been transporting all winter sports guests barrier-free and comfortably in just 12 minutes to the glacier ski area, which extends to an altitude of over 3,000 metres. There, winter sports enthusiasts can expect numerous slopes of every level of difficulty to conquer on skis or on boards. In addition, there is a race course with 25 gates and time measurement. A highlight for experts is the "Daunhill" slope, the steepest slope in the ski area with a maximum gradient of 60 percent. It is considered a special challenge for experienced skiers. Equally interesting is the extra-long valley run, which connects directly to the "Daunhill" run: Over a total length of 10 km, the "Wilde Grub'n" valley run and ski route leads down to the Mutterberg valley station. This involves a difference in altitude of 1500 m.

The Stubai Glacier takes special care of young skiers. For example, childcare with a children's ski school, a kindergarten and a children's restaurant are offered at the BIG Family Stubai Glacier. The BIG Family Ski Camp with snow carousel, Miniland, BIG Family Slalom and Boardercross will thrill the winter sports enthusiasts of tomorrow. Families and pleasure skiers feel right at home on the "BIG Family Fun Slope". Children under 10 enjoy skiing fun free of charge when accompanied by a paying parent.

Freestylers compete in the Stubai-Zoo snow park with easy, medium and pro lines. The park, which is freshly shaped every day, is one of the top snow parks in the world and a meeting place for the local and international snowboard and freeski scene.

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Skiing and Snowboarding on the Stubai Glacier

The Stubai Glacier in the Tyrol convinces with ist 110km of perfectly groomed pistes and offers a 100% snow guarantee from October until June.

Varied pistes at all levels of difficulty are offered, which makes a skiing day on the Stubai Glacier an experience with a difference. Modern lifts bring you uphill conveniently. Up there you enjoy a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains.

There is also the opportunity to exercise ice climbing on the 20m-high ice tower , to practice new tricks in the snow terrain park and to speed down a special race track .

Suitable equipment for skiing and snowboarding on the Stubai Glacier can be found at  SPORT 2000 Hofer  in Neustift, the ski and mountain sports pro directly on the route to the Stubai Glacier.

Website of the Stubai Glacier  – Here you find up-to-date information on prices, opening times and a lot more. 

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Austria's Stubai Glacier Tour: a perfect summer trekking challenge

Not got any plans for the summer yet? Looking for a challenge and stunning scenery? Then this is the trek for you. Austria is renown for having fabulous mountain treks yet none compare to the Stubai Glacier Tour in the province of Tyrol which you can follow in Trekking in the Stubai Alps by Allan Hartley.

The six day tour links up six fantastic huts across the Stubai Alps and also offers opportunities to visit others via alternative routes.

Although the tour is a considerable hike, the reward for this effort is the infinite variety of glacier scenery from the many peaks and passes that are crossed which begin at the fabulous Franz Senn Hut.

In this context the word ‘hut’ is a misnomer. All the huts in the Stubai as described here are more akin to mountain inns or guesthouses, all providing overnight accommodation and some form of restaurant service.

This generally includes soup, a choice of main meals, cold meats, cheese and sometimes cakes and sweets. The huts are usually open from mid-June to mid-September and all serve drinks, tea, coffee, beer, wine and so on and most will have a small shop where you can buy postcards, chocolate and biscuits. This means there’s no need to return to the valley every few days to stock up.

The Stubai Glacier Tour, as the name implies, involves much glacier work. To do it it is essential that you have the necessary skills to deal with the great variety of terrain that will be crossed. (You must be familiar with the use of ice axe and crampons, be able to belay on rock and ice, have practiced prusiking and crevasse rescue techniques and know all about rope management for glacier travel.)

That said this spectacular route is ideal for climbers visiting the Alps for the first time, just so long as you have done the necessary preparation. It will suit aspirant alpinists wanting to add to their alpine experience without feeling over-committed and out of their depth, as you might find yourself to be in the higher mountains of the Western Alps.

Although there are other routes which skirt round sections of the Alps the very essence of this glacier tour is to traverse them. All in all, it’s six days of superb mountaineering.

There are several ways to arrive at the beginning of the Stubai Glacier Tour from the old city of Innsbruck which are detailed in the book. There is a regular bus service and if there are a few of you, you may want to hire a taxi.

This may seem a bit expensive but is actually good value and will save precious time getting to the hut.

Time better spent having an afternoon stroll on the Sommerwand!

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