If you’ve never skied in Kitzbühel, do it… at least once in your life! This jewel-like town, nestled in the mountains of Austrian Tyrol, is home to some of the world’s most beautiful slopes, host to the most famous championships but also open to anyone who loves having fun in the snow. Kitzbühel was already a well-known place in the Middle Ages, a crossroads of trade and pilgrimage. It became a tourist destination in the early 1900s, when its beautiful landscapes became the backdrop for relaxing holidays.
Welcome to the heart of the Austrian Alps
Kitzbühel is located in the heart of the Austrian Alps and is also known as “the city of chamois” due to the delightful encounters with these animals you might have in the surrounding area. By basing yourself in Kitzbühel, you can admire not only the beauty of the place but also several fascinating tourist destinations, such as Innsbruck, Bolzano, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Munich, Salzburg, and—if you want to travel further afield (a three-hour drive)—even Liechtenstein!
Shops, restaurants, and monuments abound in the center. Tyrolean architecture is an art work in itself (Pfleghof Palace, the Goldener Greif Hotel, the colorful houses of Vorderstadt), dotted with churches like St. Andreas or Liebfrauen, and museums like the Town Museum. Among the many natural wonders of Kitzbühel, in addition to the Alpine peaks that surround it—with Mount Kitzbüheler Horn overlooking them all —and the many trails through the woods, you can also admire the Black Lake (Schwarzsee) and the Giering Pond.
Getting There
The ideal hubs for reaching Kitzbühel from abroad are Innsbruck Airport (INN) and Salzburg Airport (SZG). Innsbruck is directly connected to the city by the E60 motorway and the B174 road. From Salzburg, instead, follow the E641 road. Both airports are an hour and a half away from the town center. Kitzbühel is also easily accessible by car or bus if you are already in northern Italy or Germany.
Kitzbühel’s Famous Slopes
The people of Kitzbühel boast of having “invented skiing” and it’s fair to say they’re right. Winter sports have been fashionable and a daily staple here for a century, the primary driving force for tourism and the focal point of many ski championships, including the World Championships.
The slopes extend over 188 km, with over 50 lifts, rising from 800 meters asl to 2,000 meters. They include a large portion of easy descents (blue runs) suitable for all snow enthusiasts, 66 km of medium-difficulty runs (red), and only 20 km of “black” runs, i.e., professional/competitive runs. There are also 45 km of ski routes, which are ungroomed but marked and monitored. The best off-piste skiing in Kitzbühel can be done along the slopes of Mount Kitzbühel Horn. The most famous runs are found in Streif, Jochberg, Mittersill, Hollersbach, Aschau, Kirchberg, Kitzbühel, and Aurach.
Come ski in Kitzbühel because…
All the slopes, even those off-piste, are safe and monitored.
You might find yourself skiing down the valley side by side with world champions.
The beauty of the town’s old center is unparalleled.
The Tyrolean hospitality is captivating.
You truly are… at the very heart of the snow world!
