Similaun, Alpine peak in Ötztal Alps, Austria and Italy

Similaun is an Alpine peak in the Ötztal Alps that rises to 3,599 meters and straddles the border between Austria and Italy. The mountain features glacial systems and offers multiple climbing routes of varying difficulty for experienced mountaineers.

The first ascent was made in 1834 by the priest Theodor Kaserer and the guide Josef Raffeiner, starting from Unser Frau in the Schnalstal. In 1991 the glacier mummy Ötzi was found at the nearby Tisenjoch, not on the summit itself. The name Similaun is recorded as Symelewner in 1470 and as Similaun in 1770.

The mountain is known worldwide for Ötzi, a mummified person from the Copper Age found on its slopes in 1991. This discovery has shaped how people understand prehistoric Alpine life and ancient communities.

Most climbers begin from the Similaunhütte and cross the Niederjoch glacier during summer months when conditions are most favorable. Those attempting the summit should have experience with glacier travel and alpine climbing techniques.

The name Similaun appears in records as early as 1470, as Symelewner, and by 1770 in its present form. Linguists link the stress on the final syllable to an Alpine Romance origin, possibly from summa, "highest point", with the suffix -ōne, giving a sense of "the highest spots of an area". The name has never been translated into Italian.