In this article
From Munich Airport it is 241 km by road to Sölden and 253 km to Obergurgl. On a clear road that is about 3 hours 15 minutes to Sölden and 3 hours 25 minutes to Obergurgl, by way of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Seefeld and the A 12 to the Ötztal exit. The last part, up the Ötztal on the B 186, is the one to allow time for in winter: 38 km to Sölden and 52 km to Obergurgl, on the only road into the valley.
How far and how long
| From Munich Airport to | Distance | Clear-road drive | Height of the village |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sölden | 241 km | about 3 h 15 min | 1,368 m |
| Hochsölden | 246 km | about 3 h 20 min | 2,083 m |
| Obergurgl | 253 km | about 3 h 25 min | 1,907 m |
| Hochgurgl | 254 km | about 3 h 25 min | 2,154 m |
These are driving times with no traffic, from the airport to each village. They are the floor, not a promise. Snow, a busy changeover day or a slow valley road all add to them, which is why we plan every transfer with time in hand and follow your flight, so the driver is in the arrivals hall when you have landed and not when the timetable said you would.
Figures that circulate widely put Sölden at around 210 to 230 km from Munich. Those are measured from Munich city. The airport lies to the northeast of the city, and from there the drive is about 45 km longer.
The road from the airport
The drive starts in the arrivals hall, where your driver waits with a sign carrying your name. Munich Airport to Sölden is the route we have driven more often than any other since 2019, and there are two ways to reach the Ötztal.
- Through Garmisch and Seefeld, the shorter way: around Munich on the A 99, then south on the A 95 to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and on through Mittenwald to the Austrian border at Scharnitz. From there the road climbs to Seefeld, comes down to the Inn valley near Telfs and joins the A 12 for the last stretch to the Ötztal exit. This is the 241 km route in the table.
- Through Kufstein and Innsbruck, all motorway: east on the A 8, the A 93 to the border at Kufstein, then the full length of the A 12 west past Innsbruck to the same exit. It is 292 km to Sölden and about 3 hours 35 minutes on a clear road, longer in distance and in time, but motorway the whole way to the valley.
Both meet at the Ötztal exit, and from there the B 186, the Ötztal road, is the one way in. It passes Oetz, Umhausen and Längenfeld on the way to Sölden, about 40 minutes up the valley on a clear road. We take you to the address on your booking, whether that is a hotel, a chalet or an apartment, so the drive ends at your door and not at a bus stop in the village.
Beyond Sölden: Hochsölden, Obergurgl and Hochgurgl
Hochsölden is a hotel village on the slopes above Sölden, at 2,083 m, reached by a side road that climbs out of the village. It adds about 6 km to the Sölden drive.
For Obergurgl and Hochgurgl the B 186 carries on from Sölden through Zwieselstein for another 14 km. Obergurgl sits at 1,907 m, more than 500 m above Sölden, and Hochgurgl at 2,154 m. Above Hochgurgl the road continues as the Timmelsjoch high alpine road into Italy, but the border crossing is open only from early June until mid or late October. In winter the Gurgl valley is the end of the road, and the only way in or out is back down the Ötztal.
Tolls and the vignette
German motorways are free for cars. Austrian motorways need a vignette, and both routes use the A 12 to reach the Ötztal exit: 21 km of it from Telfs on the Garmisch route, and most of its length on the Kufstein route. The roads through Scharnitz and Seefeld and the B 186 up the valley need none.
On a transfer none of this is yours to arrange. Our prices include all tolls, and the price quoted when you book is the price you pay.
Is the road to Obergurgl ever closed in winter?
Yes, occasionally. The upper part of the Ötztal road is exposed to avalanches. On 22 December 2023 the Land Tirol closed the B 186 between Zwieselstein and Obergurgl, and between Poschach and Hochgurgl, because of avalanche danger and falling trees. There was no way around, parts of Sölden could not be reached by road, and the closure was lifted the next day.
Austria also has a winter equipment rule. From 1 November to 15 April, cars must be on winter tires on all four wheels whenever there is snow, slush or ice on the road. It applies to every vehicle on these roads, ours included.
Good to know
If a closure or avalanche risk makes the journey unsafe, we may cancel the transfer, and you receive a full refund. We are not liable for onward costs such as a missed flight, so on a day of heavy snow a pick-up with extra margin is worth more than any refund.
The drive back to Munich Airport
The way home is the same road with one difference. Germany checks vehicles entering the country from Austria. In September 2026 the German motoring club ADAC reported that the checks are planned to continue until 15 March 2027, and named Kiefersfelden, the crossing on the Kufstein route, as one of the three on the Austrian border most prone to queues. On the Garmisch route the crossing is at Scharnitz and Mittenwald.
So the pick-up time for a departure matters more than the one for an arrival. Road transport in the Alps is affected by weather, traffic and road closures, and we recommend a comfortable margin before a departing flight. From Obergurgl, count the extra 14 km of valley road and the border in when you choose the pick-up time for your flight home.
On the morning itself the driver arrives about 15 minutes before the booked time, and 15 minutes of free waiting are included from the agreed time. Keep passports or identity cards within reach in the vehicle, not in the luggage.
Common questions
How long is the transfer from Munich Airport to Sölden?
About 3 hours 15 minutes on a clear road, for 241 km by way of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Seefeld and the A 12 to the Ötztal exit. Snow, busy changeover days and the valley road add to that, so we plan the transfer with time in hand.
How long is the transfer from Munich Airport to Obergurgl?
About 3 hours 25 minutes on a clear road, for 253 km. Obergurgl is 14 km beyond Sölden at the head of the Ötztal, at 1,907 m.
How far is Sölden from Munich Airport?
241 km by road on the shorter route through Garmisch-Partenkirchen, or 292 km on the all-motorway route through Kufstein and Innsbruck. Distances of around 210 to 230 km are measured from Munich city, not from the airport.
Do we need to buy a vignette for the transfer?
No. Alp Roads prices include all tolls. Both routes to the Ötztal use the A 12, which needs a vignette, and that is part of the price.
Is the road to Obergurgl closed in winter?
Only for short spells. The stretch above Zwieselstein is sometimes closed for avalanche danger, with no way around; the closure of 22 December 2023 was lifted the next day. The Timmelsjoch road beyond Hochgurgl to Italy is open only from early June to mid or late October.
Is there a border check between Munich Airport and Sölden?
Germany checks vehicles entering from Austria, so the check is on the way back to the airport, at Scharnitz and Mittenwald on the Garmisch route or Kiefersfelden on the Kufstein route. Allow for it when choosing a pick-up time for your flight home and keep your travel documents within reach.
Do you drive to Hochsölden and Hochgurgl as well?
Yes. Hochsölden is on a side road above Sölden and Hochgurgl is just past Obergurgl, and we take you to the address on your booking. Enter the address on the booking page to see the price.
