Kitzbuhel (Austria) is a European ski resort, a center of skiing, and the location of the famous World Cup track. Snowboard enthusiasts, connoisseurs of high-quality descents, decent service and, in general, the atmosphere of charismatic Tyrol rush here. If you want to experience fresh emotions on snow-covered slopes, try out all the delights of winter sports in close proximity to traditional European tourist routes, then you should definitely visit here.
What makes Kitzbühel a popular resort?
Kitzbühel ski resort is a region in the southern part of Tyrol, which is located approximately at equal distances between the cities of Austria Innsbruck and Salzburg. The city is listed in the latest data of 8-8.5 thousand population, which is quite decent for a popular and visited high-altitude settlement. The area of the city-resort is almost 60 sq. km. Such a wide distribution of territories of development with a small number of local residents is due to the presence of many hotels and, mainly, low-rise buildings.
This Austrian ski resort is quite popular as a place for iconic slopes, and it is considered fashionable, with an attractive infrastructure, and it hosts famous competitions, tournaments, and championships. Kitzbühel is also a center for event and festival tourism, with annual celebrations dedicated to vintage cars. The air tram is an interesting attraction for those who enjoy aerial rides. Located at an altitude of 400 meters, it has a record-breaking length of over 2.5 kilometers for cable cars.
Resort attractions
The city of Kitzbühel in Austria has a long-standing cultural tradition. It is the birthplace and creative home of many artists, including sculptors, painters, architects, scientists, writers, poets, and playwrights. The residents honor their contributions by dedicating galleries, exhibitions, and events to their famous compatriots. Kitzbühel is also home to its own monuments, ancient churches, and historical sites.
The city museum is based on the collection of the famous artist Alphonse Walde. The building itself has a unique architecture, and it contains evidence of the history of the city, which was founded in 1271. The museum’s exhibitions are regularly updated with themed displays.
The city also has its own sports history, with a focus on not only winter sports but also other activities such as tennis, golf, and cycling. Kitzbühel prides itself on the achievements of its talented athletes.
Hinterobenau Farmstead Museum
An element of the authenticity of the Austrian Kitzbühel is the Museum of the Hinterobenau Agritourism. This is a typical Salzburg-Tyrolean house with its outbuildings, such as a laundry, a chapel, a stove, a beehive, a threshing floor and a loading hut, surrounded by picturesque meadows and mountain landscapes. Here you can see a variety of interior items, dishes and tools, traditional in everyday life, so foreign tourists and all those interested in ethnography will be interested in visiting the agritourism.
Opening hours: from June to September, every day (except Sundays) from 13:00 to 17:00. During the rest of the year, please make a reservation by phone.
Confessions and ancient churches
Despite its small size, Kitzbühel has several parishes of different denominations and distinctive churches, in keeping with the best traditions of Austria. One notable example is the Church of St. Catherine, built in the mid-14th century in the typical Gothic style of the time. Since the mid-20th century, the city has also seen the establishment of an Evangelical church with its own small church on a hill. Additionally, the local Capuchin monastery has been active for over 300 years. There are other parish churches with towers, chapels, and unique architectural features.
Kitzbühel Ski Tracks
Kitzbühel, Austria, became famous as a ski resort 100 years ago, in the early 1920s. The annual Hanenkamm Race, known for its spectacular events, has contributed to its growing popularity.
The resort’s uniqueness lies in its distinctive landscape, characterized by significant elevation differences that can reach over a kilometer. As a result, the mountain slopes are densely covered with ski trails. There are approximately 60 trails, with a total length of ~170 kilometers. These trails are divided into different zones, including beginner trails, intermediate trails, and advanced trails, as well as trails for skiing on gentle slopes and a 4-kilometer sledding hill.
According to the color coding, the resort’s trails are divided into:
- red – 24, length 77 km;
- blue – 29, length 69 km;
- Black – 13, length 24 km.
They are served by half a hundred high-capacity elevators:
- 28 chair seats
- 21 towbars
- 11 cabins
- 9 funiculars
All year round, professionals and amateurs of alpine skiing, hiking, and other sports flock here, not only for training, but also for active and diverse recreation. For those who prefer untouched slopes, there are special routes with a total length of 32 km.
The Streif run is known worldwide as the fastest, and its difficult terrain is only for the pros. The Kitzbühel run map features a specialized park for those who want to hone their skills in snowboarding, freestyle skiing, and ski jumping. There are also routes for night skiing, and the landscape is still picturesque at night, making it a popular choice for evening and nighttime activities.
The Kitzbühel ski area is connected to the city bus network, and ski pass holders can use the bus service for free. The status and availability of the ski areas can be monitored on the website at https://www.kitzbuehel.com/en, which provides information about the ski areas, weather conditions, online streaming, hotel reservations, sports events, and more.
Types of ski passes
- Adult, children’s, youth
- for 1, 2, 3… 6 days
- for several seasons of different duration
- for comprehensive service, year-round, etc.
Ski areas are also available with a single ski pass.
Cost of ski passes
Ski passes in Kitzbühel are offered separately for adults and children. During the high season, the prices are as follows:
Children aged 3 to 5 usually stay in a ski kindergarten for 50€ per day with lunch.
Please note! The high season starts in late December and ends in late March.
Official website: www.kitzbuehel.com. The website is informative and contains a lot of useful information about sports infrastructure and various entertainment options.
Infrastructure and entertainment
Kitzbühel ski resort in Austria is a hospitable, friendly and modern. The infrastructure of the settlement has many cafes, restaurants, entertainment for adults, children’s recreation.
In particular, the children’s format of skiing is given special attention here. For young athletes, a special children’s center for outdoor activities has been created: with a climbing wall, a curling area, tennis and an ice rink. For holders of ski pass cards, it is open for free. And a few kilometers from the city, a high-altitude nature park has been arranged, where you can get acquainted with wild alpine animals. There is a contact zoo on the territory of the park.
The resort’s evening life offers a variety of activities:
- night clubs
- casino
- more than a hundred bars and cafes
- taverns with their own long history
- city cinema
There are also restaurants with open kitchens, where you can watch the food being prepared. The restaurants offer a variety of cuisines, including traditional Austrian food, Mexican cuisine, and Italian dishes. The average price for lunch or dinner for two is around 30-40€.
Where to stay: resort hotels
Kitzbühel is capable of receiving non-stop streams of tourists, and the ski resort offers a wide range of accommodation options in hotels of various star ratings, formats, and services. There is a vast selection of accommodations to suit every budget and preference, from student accommodations to luxurious luxury resorts.
Kitzbühel’s hotels are diverse, offering family-friendly, luxury, and hotel complexes, as well as guesthouses located in the center with mountain views, swimming pools, and wellness centers. However, they are always traditionally Alpine, comfortable, and modern.
Hotels in Kitzbühel, Austria, offer the following estimated accommodation prices:
- Chalets in Alpenchalet Vils – 160€ per night and 960€ for 6 nights;
- Villa in Luxury Villa Kitzbuhel – 3400€ per night and 20400€ for 6 nights;
- Apartments in Alpbach Lodge Chalet Superior – 310€ per night and 860€ for 6 nights.
Kitzbühel Austria is a place for diverse recreation with an established infrastructure, proven trails, and popular sports competitions. Here, you can always find the necessary services and fill your vacation with walks, city events, and exposure to local culture and customs. Therefore, a trip to this ski resort city will be of interest to a wide range of tourists, expanding their horizons, enriching their knowledge and experience, and providing them with the pleasure of admiring panoramic views and mountain beauty.
How to get to Kitzbuhel
The town is located in the southern part of the state of Tyrol, Austria, at an altitude of 762 m above sea level. Tyrol is bordered by Germany in its northern part, and the distance from Munich to Kitzbühel is approximately 125-130 km. You can reach the town from the German city by train or taxi.
Choosing a train from Munich
The train service between Munich and Kitzbühel is quite frequent, with trains running even at night. The fare is 33-55€ during the day, 60€ or more at night, and the journey time is ~3.5 hours during the day and 7-8 hours at night. Once you arrive, it will take about 20 minutes to get from the train station to your hotel. Trains depart from Munich’s main train station.
It is convenient to travel by train if you have arrived in Munich, Innsbruck, or Salzburg. You will need to make transfers, but the connections are short and convenient. For detailed information about the train schedule in this direction, please visit the Austrian Railway website www.oebb.at.
By taxi
You can get to Kitzbühel from Munich by taxi/ski transfer: minivan fare 213€, minibus fare 286€, travel time up to 2 h. The convenience of getting there comfortably is available at any time of the day. After calling, the taxi wait is a few minutes. At the same time, there is no need to separately take care of luggage, travel with a large group, sports team or family.
There are also other options for getting to Kitzbühel, Austria: the nearest airports are in Salzburg (77 km), Innsbruck (94), and Munich (157).
