Kitzbühel’s beauty is matched by its exceptional skiing – a place where you’ll find an exquisite medieval village alongside one of the most famous downhill ski races in the world.
Eager skiers can hit the slopes as early as October, as Kitzbühel is the Austria’s only non-glacier ski resort to open at this time.
Whatever time you come, you’ll have 234km of pistes to enjoy amid some of the Austrian Tirol’s most dramatic scenery. Take it further by extending your ski pass into neighbouring regions and even into Bavaria.
Ski thrills
The men’s downhill race at Hahnenkamm is one of the highlights of the World Cup calendar – a mind-blowing whizz down the Streif piste at a vertical drop of 860 metres.
But even if you don’t fancy hurtling down the racing piste, you can revel in views of the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Wilder Kaiser mountains and the Schwarzsee lake. In the evenings, take the Hahnenkamm cable car for night skiing and tobogganing.
If you prefer your skiing off-piste, the Kitzbühel/Kirchberg ski area is very easy to reach thanks to the snowcat shuttle from the Bichlalm chairlift’s top station. It’s a freerider’s paradise, and you can book a freeride guide if you’ve never tried it before and want to give it a go. If you’re after even more thrills, head to the Snowpark at Kitzbüheler Horn, which also features a family park and an Audi Quattro fun slope.
Off the slopes
You can still fling yourselves down the mountain without skis – just follow one of the many toboggan trails, some of which are floodlit at night.
For pure romance, snuggle up in a horse-drawn carriage for a ride through the snowy landscape around Schwarzsee. The lake is also the setting for more winter sports fun, with curling, ice hockey and ice skating on offer.
Fans of cross-country skiing have 70km of groomed trails to explore. You’ll glide through peaceful Alpine meadows and valleys and upwards into those magical mountains.
Fine food
There’s a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach in Kitzbühel’s mountain huts.
Bask in the views of the Kitzbühel Alps from the terrace at Bichlalm, where there’s also a mountain spa. At Berghaus Tyrol, you’ll have wonderful views of the Kaiser mountains to go with hearty wiener schnitzel and Cremeschnitte, a rich and indulgent cake of Chantilly cream and custard.
Enjoy the family atmosphere of Bruggeralm, which has been feeding hungry skiers for more than 200 years.
For more information, visit kitzbuehel.com
