Accommodation
Quick answer: Söll suits British and German visitors wanting an easy-to-reach base with a genuine village feel, families, and anyone wanting access to the huge SkiWelt ski area without a big, purpose-built resort atmosphere. It is less suited to those seeking a completely untouched, tiny hamlet.
Quick resort facts
Ski area: SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental, 279km of pistes, 91 lifts · Altitude: 620m · Ski pass area: SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental · Season: early December to mid-April · Nearest airport: Innsbruck (70km)
Located in a wide, sunny valley only 15km from the German border, Söll sits at the western entrance to the Wilder Kaiser region, and its favourable location, both in terms of how easy it is to reach and how well placed it is in the centre of Austria’s largest lift-linked ski area, the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental, has led to its fame greatly exceeding its size.
While Söll is no longer a tiny village, it has successfully endeavoured to maintain a “village feel” while introducing modern leisure and accommodation opportunities for guests. New building has been completed in traditional architectural style, and the village centre is now pedestrianised, making the whole effect even more pleasant. It’s still centred around its impressive onion-domed church and maintains a relatively healthy ratio of almost 1:1 for locals-to-tourists.
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Terrain split: as part of the SkiWelt, Söll gives access to 275km of pistes of all levels, with the free-standing Hohe Salve mountain, right above the village, offering particularly beautiful all-round views.
Best for: British and German visitors wanting an easy-to-reach base with a genuine village feel, families, and anyone wanting access to the huge SkiWelt ski area without a big, purpose-built resort atmosphere.
Not for: those seeking a completely untouched, tiny hamlet; Söll has grown considerably thanks to its popularity, even if it retains real village charm.
Four centuries ago this was a village built on farming, which is now second to tourism as Söll’s major employer. It has long been popular with British as well as German visitors, and English is widely spoken, including by all ski school staff, making it an easy, welcoming choice for UK travellers. Browse more options in our Austrian ski resorts hub.
Söll is one of the nine access points into the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental, giving direct access to Austria’s largest lift-linked ski area: 275km of pistes across 81 lifts. The local mountain, the Hohe Salve, has a free-standing location that provides particularly beautiful, all-round panoramic views, and Söll also benefits from night skiing and weekly evening events in the village throughout the winter season. Comparing options before you book? Our ski holiday deals and ski resort search tools make it easy to weigh up Söll against other Austrian bases.
Beginners: as part of the SkiWelt, Söll benefits from dedicated beginner areas and childcare services elsewhere in the linked ski area, alongside gentler local slopes.
Intermediates: the wider SkiWelt network offers countless groomed slopes ideal for confident cruising, easily reached from Söll’s central position in the ski area.
Experts: more demanding terrain, including the steep Choralpe black run elsewhere in the SkiWelt, is accessible via the connected lift system.
Freestylers: the SkiWelt’s freestyle fun parks and Söll’s own night-skiing pistes add variety for those wanting more than daytime groomed runs.
As part of the SkiWelt, Söll benefits from extensive snowmaking across the connected ski area, helping maintain good conditions throughout the winter season even at lower altitudes.
Söll uses the SkiWelt lift pass, covering all 81 lifts and 275km of pistes across the nine linked villages. Current prices are available on the official SkiWelt site.
Söll’s ski schools are known for being especially welcoming to English speakers, with all ski school staff able to communicate in English, making it a comfortable choice for UK families and beginners. Our ski gear guides are worth a look if you’re buying your own kit.
Söll offers a good mix of traditional guesthouses and modern hotels, with recent development completed in keeping with the village’s traditional architectural style. The pedestrianised centre keeps much of the accommodation within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, and lifts.
Söll’s village centre is built around its impressive onion-domed church, with cafes and restaurants nearby offering traditional Tyrolean fare. Weekly evening events in the village, including the “Zsammkemma” gathering, add to the sociable atmosphere without tipping into the loud party scenes found in some larger Austrian resorts.
Beyond skiing, Söll offers attractions such as Ahornsee Lake, the Hexenwasser adventure world nearby, and traditional cattle drives to the alpine pastures. Night skiing and weekly village events add extra options for families and groups looking for more than daytime pistes alone. Planning a family trip? Our family skiing guide has more advice on choosing the right base.
Söll punches well above its weight: a genuinely welcoming, English-friendly village that sits right at the heart of Austria’s largest lift-linked ski area. It has grown considerably from its farming-village roots, but has managed the balancing act of adding modern facilities while keeping a real sense of place, making it a smart, easy-to-reach base for exploring the whole SkiWelt.
Yes, Söll is one of nine linked villages in the SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental, Austria’s largest lift-linked ski area, with 275km of pistes.
Yes, Söll has long been popular with British visitors, and English is widely spoken, including by all local ski school staff.
Söll is just 15km from the German border, making it one of the more accessible Austrian resorts for visitors travelling via Munich.
The Hohe Salve, which has a free-standing location offering particularly beautiful, all-round panoramic views over the region.
Yes, its village feel, English-speaking ski schools, and central position within the family-friendly SkiWelt make it a solid choice for families.
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