Visitors driving to Austria’s Mölltaler Glacier this winter will have to pay for parking at the ski area’s valley station, following the introduction of a new digital parking system for the 2026-27 season. The previously free parking area is now subject to a fee, with a day ticket costing €6 ($7) between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The first hour is free. Visitors leaving their vehicles overnight, between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m., will pay €25 ($29). A season parking pass is also available for €60 ($69), although it only covers daytime parking.
The charges are additional to the cost of a lift ticket and are not included in ski season passes. Payment is handled online through a barrier-free system, with no traditional entry or exit barriers. The new tariffs were introduced at the start of the winter season, with the resort listing them as effective November 1, 2026.
- Related: Mölltaler Glacier Resort, Austria, Sets New Snow Farming Record Ahead of 2025-26 Ski Season
The additional charge has not gone down well with some skiers, particularly those who already face a long drive to reach the high-altitude ski area. Comments on social media have questioned the decision to charge visitors for parking on top of their lift tickets, with some regular guests saying they may take their business elsewhere.
The resort’s operators have responded by explaining that the new system is intended to improve parking management. In a statement shared on social media, they cited organizational reasons, including preventing vehicles from occupying spaces long-term, discouraging unauthorized camping and addressing the associated rubbish problem.
There is, however, a small consolation for visitors staying nearby. Sporthotel Mölltal has announced that guests can bring proof of payment for their parking fee to the hotel and receive a complimentary voucher for its hotel bar.
Trending on SnowBrains
-
1
North America’s Best Ski Resorts According to 153,854 Snomad Reviews
-
2
Old Farmer’s Almanac Christmas Weather Forecast 2026 for North America, Region by Region
-
3
Inside Oasis’s Activist Playbook Ahead of Vail Resorts’ Contested Board Election
-
4
KFC Is Bringing American Fast Food to 2 Italian Mountain Restaurants and Locals Are Not Impressed
-
5
Oregon Deputy Follows Barefoot Footprints for Nearly 5 Miles to Rescue Man Lost for 4 Days
.sb-trending-widget {
background: #f8f8f8;
border-left: 4px solid #ea2e49;
margin: 24px 0;
padding: 10px 12px 4px;
width: 100%;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.sb-trending-header {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 6px;
padding-bottom: 6px;
}
.sb-trending-icon {
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 1;
}
.sb-trending-label {
font-size: 12px;
font-weight: 700;
color: #ea2e49;
line-height: 1.3;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 0.05em;
}
.sb-trending-list {
list-style: none;
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item {
border-bottom: 1px solid #e8e8e8;
margin: 0;
padding: 6px 0;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-link {
display: flex;
align-items: center;
gap: 10px;
min-height: 48px;
text-decoration: none;
text-align: left !important;
color: inherit;
}
.sb-trending-thumb {
position: relative;
flex-shrink: 0;
width: 64px;
height: 48px;
}
.sb-trending-thumb img {
display: block;
width: 64px;
height: 48px;
object-fit: cover;
border-radius: 3px;
margin: 0;
}
.sb-trending-num {
position: absolute;
top: 0;
left: 0;
background: #ea2e49;
color: #fff;
font-size: 11px;
font-weight: 700;
line-height: 1;
padding: 3px 5px;
border-radius: 3px 0 3px 0;
}
.sb-trending-num–plain {
position: static;
flex-shrink: 0;
border-radius: 3px;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-title {
flex: 1;
min-width: 0;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 600;
line-height: 1.35;
color: #1a1a1a;
text-align: left !important;
display: -webkit-box;
-webkit-line-clamp: 2;
line-clamp: 2;
-webkit-box-orient: vertical;
overflow: hidden;
transition: color 0.15s;
}
.sb-trending-link:hover .sb-trending-title,
.sb-trending-link:active .sb-trending-title {
color: #ea2e49;
}
/* Desktop and tablet: the sidebar already shows Top 10 Trending, so show only 3 here */
@media (min-width: 768px) {
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item:nth-child(n+4) {
display: none;
}
.sb-trending-widget .sb-trending-item:nth-child(3) {
border-bottom: none;
}
}
(function () {
if (window.sbTrendingInit) return; // only attach the listener once per page
window.sbTrendingInit = true;
// One listener on the whole page catches clicks on any widget link,
// even if a caching or “delay JavaScript” plugin runs this script late.
document.addEventListener(‘click’, function (e) {
var link = e.target.closest ? e.target.closest(‘.sb-trending-link’) : null;
if (!link) return;
var params = {
trending_position: link.getAttribute(‘data-trending-position’),
trending_item: link.getAttribute(‘data-trending-title’),
link_url: link.href
};
if (typeof gtag === ‘function’) {
// GA4 sends events with sendBeacon, so they survive the page changing
gtag(‘event’, ‘trending_widget_click’, params);
} else {
// GA4 runs through Google Tag Manager: GTM needs a tag listening for this event
window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];
window.dataLayer.push(Object.assign({ event: ‘trending_widget_click’ }, params));
}
// No preventDefault or delay: the link opens straight away
});
})();
The offer is intended to return the cost of daytime parking to overnight guests as a consumption voucher. According to the hotel’s announcement, the arrangement applies per overnight stay and vehicle, and is available throughout the 2026-27 winter season. The hotel is located in Flattach, in the Mölltal valley, and also provides complimentary access to the glacier ski area via the ski bus.
The Mölltaler Glacier is Carinthia’s highest ski area, with skiing reaching approximately 2,800 metres (9,186 feet). The 2026-27 season opened in early November, with two pistes initially available following a warm summer. Further terrain is expected to open as conditions allow, and the resort plans to operate through May 30, 2027, snow conditions permitting.
For visitors planning a trip this winter, the new parking charge is another cost to factor into the day. Those staying at Sporthotel Mölltal, at least, have the option of turning the fee into an après drink at the bar. Austria is known as the home of après skiing, with many resorts offering extensive on-mountain bars and wild après parties in the mountain villages.