While we still have to wait for good skiing in many places, in Oberhof, Germany, you can ski year-round. Head to the ski tunnel for a long weekend. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know.

The first kilometers on snow are the best investment for the whole winter. In the ski hall you can work on your technique, test new skis or waxes, and get your legs used to snow before it falls at home. When the first tracks open in the mountains, you will be one step ahead.

A ski hall that makes its own winter

The LOTTO Thüringen Skisport-HALLE is on the edge of Oberhof at 810–830 m above sea level, right next to the biathlon stadium that regularly hosts the World Cup. Longtime visitors know it by its former name, DKB-Skisport-HALLE.

Construction took only 14 months and cost just under 14 million euros. There are 10,000m² under one roof, and the building is 400m long and 150m wide. The first to test it, in July 2009, was the German women’s biathlon national team.

The snow is made by four snow guns under the ceiling of the central section, where the water has enough height to form crystals. The air is constantly −3 to −4°C, the snow −5 to −7°C, and humidity 80–100%. Staff can produce light, dry powder or heavier, wet snow as needed.

In 2011, a wing with four shooting lanes for small-bore and air rifles was added. This made it the world’s first year-round biathlon hall.

Just under 2km of tracks

The full loop is 1,754m long and follows the natural terrain, so it is far from flat. Climbs and descents reach up to 12%, the height difference is about 13.75m, and the total climbing on one lap is 24m.

The track is 8m wide, so there is enough room to pass. For about 60m, the two tunnels run side by side into a double track 16m wide, and in the central section the hall widens to 35m.

As a guide: in 1.5 hours, a recreational skier at an easy pace covers around 6–8 laps, or 10–14km. Faster skiers can do more and have their laps timed, as the hall offers timing and 32 fixed cameras for technique analysis.

Opening hours

In the winter season, the hall is open to the public six days a week and closed on Mondays. Outside these times, the trail is reserved for elite athletes and young athletes from sports centers.

Last entry is 1.5 hours before closing, and the tracks close 15 minutes before the hall closes. If you want to ski without rushing, note that Tuesday and Thursday afternoons offer only two hours, while Wednesday and Friday offer a full eight.

Shorter hours apply on holidays: December 24 and 31 from 11:00 to 14:00, and December 25, December 26 and January 1, 2027 from 11:00 to 16:00. The operator reserves the right to make changes because of races and training camps, for example around the Biathlon World Cup (March 1–7, 2027). Always check the current opening hours page before you travel.

Prices

A standard adult ticket costs €18 for 1.5 hours, and children up to and including age 14 pay half. If you plan to come several times, a 3-hour or 10-hour pass is worth it; both are valid for a full year from purchase.

Time is counted by the minute from when you step onto the snow. Changing and showering are not included. You check in and out of the timing system with your ticket.

If you go over your time, you pay €6 (children €3) for each additional half hour or part of it, cashless at the exit machine. Adults with disabilities (from 50% under the German GdB) get a 25% discount, and a companion with a B marking enters free.

Tickets can be bought in advance in the online ticket shop. School classes and groups of 20 or more must register in advance at [email protected]. Holders of the Oberhof guest card use the side entrance.

Rentals, ski school and biathlon taster

You do not need your own skis. Right in the hall is the Nordic Center of the Sport Luck shop, which rents classic and skate skis and suitable cross-country clothing.

Bring your own gloves, hat, and sportswear, however, as these are not available to rent.

Cross-country ski lessons in both classic and skating are led by instructors trained by, among others, the German Ski Association (DSV). They are offered by Sport Luck in the hall (including a children’s ski school and private lessons), Sportwelt Oberhof and Nordic Academy. Lessons must be booked in advance.

For groups of friends or companies, biathlon is an attractive option. A two-hour beginner package includes shooting with a real biathlon rifle, ski instruction and a race with a prize ceremony. For groups of 10 or more, it costs €89 per person, or €99 for advanced skiers, including equipment.

The hall has a large changing room, two showers, and more than 150 lockers with a €1 deposit. If you do not want to ski, you can watch from the spectator balcony for €1.50 or through the large windows in the entrance hall. Parking is cheap along the access road.

Where to stay

The hall in Oberhof is at Tambacher Straße 44, a short distance from the biathlon stadium. Oberhof has dozens of hotels, guesthouses and apartments, which you can find through the town’s accommodation search. Overnight guests receive a guest card with local benefits, which also gives access to the hall through the side entrance.

Practical tips before you go

A few rules from the hall’s regulations and some experience that will save you time and stress:

• Dress as for winter training. Winter sportswear is required on the trails. It is −4 °C inside with high humidity, so layers, gloves and a hat or headband are useful.
• Only cross-country skis on the snow. Outside events, only cross-country skis are allowed in the hall; other equipment only with staff approval.
• Children under 14 only with an adult. They are not allowed in the hall without an adult.
• Plan for capacity limits. When it is very busy, entry is temporarily closed, and a display at the entrance shows occupancy. Wednesday and Friday offer the most time on the trail, with continuous opening from 12:00 to 20:00.
• Buy your ticket online. A 1.5-hour ticket from the online shop is valid for 60 days; one from the machine only on the day of purchase.
• Watch your time. The clock starts when you step onto the snow; changing is not counted. Each additional half hour or part of it costs €6.
• Wax for cold artificial snow. The snow is −5 to −7°C. If you are unsure about waxing, ask at the service desk; the hall also runs waxing courses.
• Food only in the rest area. Eating and drinking are allowed only at the visitor entrance.
• Check for changes the day before. The operator may shorten public hours because of races and training camps and announces this on its website.

What else to do in Oberhof

After training, you can warm up in the saunas and pools of the H2Oberhof wellness center. If you want to try shooting without skis, you can use the hall’s shooting range on its own. Right next to the hall is the Snowpark alpine slope on the Fallbachhang, and after the first natural snow, trails open in the area along the Rennsteig ridge trail.

And if you fall for Oberhof, you can come back in the spring. At the local biathlon stadium, which usually draws more than 100,000 fans, this season’s World Cup will be held two months later than usual because of poor snow conditions in January (March 1–7, 2027).

Also Read – Torsby Skidtunnel & Sportcenter: The training destination for the whole family

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