The Stubai Valley is only a bus ride from Innsbruck, but it’s a journey into another world. A world where the traditions of Tyrol thrive in the middle of the pretty Alpine villages clinging to the bottom of this valley. A valley which constitutes a paradise for lovers of winter activities.
Ever since the Romans established a trade route along the Stubai Valley and Emperor Maximilian crossed the Brenner Pass, metalworkers, pilgrims, spa guests and walkers have flocked to the valley. Ease of passage was greatly increased by the establishment of the Stubai Valley Railway, the Stubaitalbahn, in 1904. This eighteen-kilometer scenic route from Fulpmes to Innsbruck is still popular today. The railway brought more visitors to the Stubai Valley, which was already known as a popular summer destination. By the mid-19th century, the Austrian Alpine Club had begun training locals as porters and mountain guides, building huts and creating trails. As infrastructure improved, the valley attracted more visitors, but it was not until 1960 that ski tourism began to develop with the construction of a ski lift at Fulpmes.
Fulpmes and the Schlick 2000 ski area Since the 14th century, Fulpmes has been associated with a metallurgical industry. There was no real mining of metals, as there were only small deposits of iron ore here which were quickly exhausted. But the manufacturing of metal objects is a tradition that still continues today. Over the centuries, production has included tools, tower clocks and, more recently, mountain sports equipment. The Fulpmes Smith Museum (Schmiedemuseum) tells the story of the Stubai tool industry. It is housed in a former blacksmith shop – one of 45 blacksmith huts that once existed along the Schlickerbach stream. Another equally fascinating museum located in the center of Fulpmes is the Crib Museum (Krippenmuseum), housed in the 500-year-old Platzwirt-Haus. Fulpmes has been known as the Village of Nativity Scenes since 1909 and the museum tells the history and explores the construction techniques of the Christmas nativity scene. Today, Fulpmes is better known as the base of the Schlick 2000 ski area, one of the most popular ski areas around Innsbruck with very secure snow conditions.
The Tyrolean crèche of Fulpmes, in the Stubai valley
The opening of a single-seater chairlift from Fulpmes to Froneben in 1960 caused great excitement and long queues. One user reports that “if someone lost their balance, it was just bad luck.” Then, the chairlifts and ski lifts It was only in 1973, with the construction of the double chairlift from Froneben to the Kreuzjoch, that the ski area became accessible up to the summit. Before that, skiers were crammed into all-terrain vehicles to be transported between ski lifts. In 1977, the panoramic restaurant was opened in Kreuzjoch, which would become the heart of Schlick. The newly renovated panoramic restaurant Kreuzjoch offers delicious traditional cuisine and wonderful views. Today, a modern gondola takes skiers from the modern valley floor to Kreuzjoch via an intermediate station. In total Schlick 2000 has 25 km of varied slopes on north-facing slopes which, with good artificial snow facilities, are very safe. It’s a fun place for skiers of all levels and great for families. Other activities include a toboggan run (only on Wednesdays and only at night) and paragliding. Where else could you get a tap on the shoulder and an invitation to float tandem down to the valley (for an additional fee)? But Elferbahnen, the ski area above the village of Neustift, is considered the center of paragliding in the Stubai Valley.
Schlick 2000 ski area in the Stubai Valley
Neustift and the Elferbahnen ski area Neustift, like Fulpmes, is a traditional Tyrolean village in the Stubai Valley. It is also easily accessible from Innsbruck, but for some these villages might be more attractive as a base for skiing in the Stubai Valley. Both ski areas are included in the Innsbruck Ski plus City package, but the Stubai Valley also has its own ski passes that include free use of the ski buses. Neustift, like all the villages in the Stubai valley, is grouped around a magnificent church. These churches are the work of pastor and church designer Franz de Paula Penz and were built in the 18th century. The rococo St. George’s Church in Neustift is the second largest village church in Tyrol (the parish church in Zirl is the largest). The simplicity of the exterior hides the magnificent baroque interior. The small Elferbahnen ski area above Neustift is accessible by the Elferlifte gondola, a short distance from the village center.
Interior of St. George’s Church in Neustift, Stubai
Skiing began in Elfer in 1964 when the first ski lift, a T’bar, was put into operation. Since then, this ski area has evolved into a winter sports center popular with locals and visitors. The gondola makes it accessible to everyone offering breathtaking views and a sundial at the top. Three of the ten toboggan runs (rodelbahn) in the Stubai Valley start from the summit. Some toboggan runs are lit and opening times are split between Neustift, Mieders, Schönberg and Schlick 2000. The other resort which has three toboggan runs is Serlesbahnen which, like Elferbahnen, offers steep descents down to the valley and practice runs at the top. Deeper in the Stubai Valley lies the most magical ski area, the Stubai Glacier.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026 The Stubai glacier While the rest of the Stubai Valley was beginning to realize the opportunities offered by winter sports tourism, the barren Stubai Glacier remained dormant during the winter months. It was thanks to the vision of one man, Dr. Heinrich Klier, that the glacier’s potential for winter sports was developed. It was a huge project. Klier had already founded Wintersport Tirol AG when he set about the task of bringing together friendly investors who believed they could transform a barren region into a popular winter sports resort. In 1973, the first section of the Eisgratbahn began carrying visitors to the glacier. The top of this first section is very close to the Dresdner Hütte. This cabin was the first built on the glacier in 1875. It has since been expanded and renovated providing year-round accommodation for visitors.
Klier did not only focus on the development of the glacier, he also recognized the need for 4-star hotels, restaurants and sports shops both in the Stubai Valley and in Innsbruck. His achievements were recognized with a statue at the top station of the Eisgratbahn on the Stubai Glacier.
Today, two cable cars connect the valley to the highest point of the glacier, more than 3,000 meters above sea level. At the top, a long metal staircase leads to the Schaufeljoch viewing platform offering views of both sides of the mountain. The Schaufeljoch Chapel was built here in 2012 in memory of the comrades of Dr. Heinrich Klier. Made of raw concrete and steel, it has been placed here in the middle of the bustling ski area, providing a space for remembrance and quiet contemplation. Across the glacier there is a good variety of runs for skiers of all abilities, excellent free riding (best done with a local guide) and a lovely beginners area including three magic carpets and an easy run with a ski lift. Snowboarders can hone their skills at the Stubai Zoo Snowpark in Gaiskarferner and there is a twenty-metre ice tower for climbing enthusiasts.
A visit to the Stubai Valley is not just a winter sports adventure but a real Tyrolean experience. The warmth of its culture will envelop you while you relax in one of the many mountain restaurants offering traditional cuisine.
Click here for more information about the Stubai Valley and here for more information about the Ski plus City Stubai Innsbruck Pass.
Valery Collins Valery Collins is a travel writer from the South West of England, United Kingdom. His passion for travel ranges from luxury safaris to stylish ski goggles. Valéry, a passionate photographer, uses her own images to illustrate her writings and her publications on social networks.
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