Situated in the Austrian Alps, Kitzbühel has evolved from a mining town into a world renowned ski resort. Despite its reputation as a resort for expert skiers, Kitzbühel’s slopes cater for all abilities. The stunning mountain views combined with a quaint medieval, car-free centre attracts a variety of international winter sports enthusiasts throughout the season.
A walk through the cobbled streets of the town centre provides opportunities to enjoy delicious Tyrolean delicacies served by many artisan cafés, and a chance to browse a variety of designer shops. Kitzbühel’s buzzing nightlife is also not to be missed, with live music and happy hours a plenty providing the perfect way to let off steam after a day’s skiing. Amidst the throng of the action is an abundance of luxury chalets and hotels, meaning guests can enjoy all the town has to offer while also being within near touching distance of the slopes themselves.
The extensive skiing area with over 179 km of pistes is divided into several identifiable areas, providing an endless variation of ski routes for both beginner and expert skiers alike. Due to the resort’s low altitude, most of the skiing is through trees presenting breathtaking scenery that can only be experienced when off-piste in most other resorts. That said, where Kitzbühel’s off-piste is concerned, there are both gentle and more challenging options, which are best explored with a guide.
The legendary World Cup downhill, held in mid-January each year, sees Kitzbühel inundated with ski lovers from across the globe. Many hotels and luxury chalets are booked at this time as guests come to witness some of the world’s best skiers tackle a course known to be one of the most dangerous and challenging in the world. The sport in Kitzbühel is not merely limited to skiing however, there is also the opportunity to both ice skate or curl on the natural ice lake Schwarzsee or even watch the action-packed Snow Polo World Cup, held annually in Kitzbühel every January.
