Sölden at the end of April and over the May Day weekend: you can still ski here

At the turn of April and May there is no point pretending the Ötztal is in full season. At the end of April and the start of May 2026 only the glacier area is still running in Sölden, namely Rettenbach and Tiefenbach. That means about 35 kilometres of pistes, a few hours of good skiing in the morning, then lunch on a terrace and an evening you can round off at the Aqua Dome. A week ago I checked out the terraces myself and that is exactly how it looked: plenty of sunshine, a gentler pace, people sitting outside and no illusions that it was still midwinter.

May Day weekend on the glacier only

This is the most important piece of information for anyone planning a trip over the May Day weekend. The winter part of the resort ends its season on 19 April 2026, and from 20 April to 3 May 2026 Sölden switches to glacier skiing only. In practice that means one thing: no more classic tours of the whole resort, no valley runs and none of the variety you get in mid-season. What remains is the glacier, but it is not a fallback option. It is simply a different kind of trip.

At the end of April you have to look at places like this realistically. By then Sölden is no longer selling 146 kilometres of pistes, but high-alpine terrain that is still running because it lies high up and holds snow longer than the rest of the resort. And that is precisely why it still makes sense if you want to round off the season without being disappointed on arrival.

How many kilometres of pistes are open at the end of the season

In Sölden's official materials the glacier area is given as about 35 kilometres of pistes. On the Tiefenbach restaurant page the resort also lists specific pistes in this part of the ski area, including 36, 38, 39 and 40, which clearly shows that we are talking about a sector that genuinely works, not a token patch of snow.

That is enough for two or three days of skiing without feeling you are doing exactly the same thing over and over, especially as the terrain is high up and morning conditions are usually still very decent. For a longer stay you simply have to like spring skiing and accept that it will not be a big Alpine tour.

What a day there looks like

At the turn of April and May the day in Sölden starts earlier than in winter. The snow is most reliable in the morning, still firm, and that is when you should do most of your skiing. Later the conditions get softer and the sun starts to work harder. This is no longer the time to count kilometres obsessively, but rather for a few solid hours of skiing, then a proper, unhurried break and a spring tan.

And this is where the terraces come in. A week ago I checked them out myself and they were the most typical image of the end of the season. Normal skiing still on the pistes, but around the restaurants full sunshine, tables outside, open jackets, more chatting than rushing. In February you pop in for a moment and head back to the slopes. At the end of April it looks different. The terrace is not an extra but part of the whole day.

Ski pass prices

For the period from 24 April to 3 May 2026 Sölden's spring season prices already apply. A one-day adult ski pass costs €72.50, three days €187, five days €284 and six days €328. The resort also points out that you can pay less if you buy online in advance, because it runs a system of cheaper early-booking rates.

These prices make most sense for a shorter trip. Two or three days on the glacier is a sensible plan. You make the most of what works best, without feeling that you are paying for a resort half of which is no longer running. Five or six days can still make sense, but rather for people who know exactly why they are going and do not expect the full winter piste map.

Where to eat on the glacier

The most practical option at this time of year is the Tiefenbach Gletscher Restaurant. It is open until 3 May 2026, daily from 09:00 to 16:00, with hot food served until 15:30. It is a large self-service restaurant by the valley station of the 8EUB Tiefenbach, with 900 seats inside and 700 outside. The menu features Tyrolean dishes, pizza, pasta, soups, home-made cakes and strudels.

Aqua Dome after skiing

If after a few hours on the glacier you want to head down to the thermal baths, the Aqua Dome in Längenfeld is still a great choice. A day ticket to the thermal area costs €59 for an adult, a flexible three-hour ticket €44, and the Early Bird three-hour ticket with entry at 09:00 costs €33. The evening ticket from 18:00 until closing is also €44. Access to the Sauna World costs an extra €22, and hiring a bathrobe and towel together €15. The Aqua Dome also says you can save up to 20% by buying online, while at the door there may be a surcharge of up to €4 per ticket that does not apply to online bookings.

The thermal bath is open daily from 09:00 to 23:00, although the pools themselves close at 22:30. The sauna is open from 10:00 to 22:00, and on Fridays there is Moonlight Bathing, when the thermal area stays open until midnight, with the pools closing at 23:30.

On a trip like this it all fits together really well. Glacier in the morning, thermal baths in the afternoon, a quiet dinner in the evening. No need to overthink it. Just a sensible plan for the end of the season.

Is Sölden worth it over the May Day weekend?

Yes, but only if you look at this period honestly. Between 24 April and 3 May 2026 Sölden is no longer a full ski resort, but about 35 kilometres of glacier pistes, restaurants open up high and all the spring atmosphere of the place. For people who want to ski a bit more, sit on a terrace and not head straight home after the last run, it is still a good choice.

For those who expect the full winter piste map, the answer is different. At this stage of the season Sölden no longer pretends to be anything more than it really is. And maybe that is exactly why it is worth going.

Agnieszka Kaszuba / skionline.pl