Kitzbuhel is a historic town dating from the 13th Century surrounding by the amazing Austrian Alps. It is the winter entertainment capital of Austria. Of all the resorts in Austria, Kitzbuhel remains the most glamorous and expensive.
General Information:
Kitzbuhel is a quaint medieval village with charming painted houses and colorful sidewalk cafes. The exterior of the town is old and romantic, but the interior has become extremely efficient. Kitzbuhel is the place to be to rub shoulders with the rich and famous and to be treated like royalty. It is best known for hosting the Hahnenkamm races in late January every year. This event is one of the most prestigious events on the downhill World Cup calendar. The city is international in every aspect, including its restaurants and visitors.
Skiing/Snowboarding:
The Kitzbuhel area has four main mountains--the Hahnenkamm, Kitzbuheler Horn, Bichlam, and Pass Thurn. The resort operates 60 lifts, including five cable cars, a new high-speed quad, 28 chair lifts, a bubble gondola, and 27 ski tows. This transportation system allows you a larger area to ski. Most of the skiing in the area is above the tree line. At the lower elevations, they make snow when needed.
At Kitzbuhel, there is a slope for every level of skier. For the beginner, there are small slopes at the Horn and Hahnenkamm ski areas. The intermediate skier will find that 43 percent of all trails are rated for them. Only eight percent of the trails at Kitzbuhel are designated expert. The expert skiers can still have a great time here.
Snowboarders should head to the Kitzbuheler Horn. Facilities here include free-riding terrain, a half-pipe, a funpark, as well as a boardercross. Freestylers, free riders, and riders on alpine boards will all find a home at Kitzbuhel. There are also lessons for those wanting to try snowboarding.
Night skiing is available in Kitzbuhel, also. There are both cross-country and alpine ski trails that are lit at night. Most of the mountain closes at dusk, but in Jochberg, night skiing and snowboarding is available from 6:30 to 9:30pm, except weekends in December. There are over 75 miles of trails for cross-country skiing in the area. Kitzbuhel alone has over 19 miles of groomed, marked trails.
There is no heliskiing available at Kitzbuhel. Snowmobiling and ice climbing are also not available here.
Children's Ski and Winter Activities:
This area is not the most family-friendly ski resort in Europe and can be a bit expensive for families. The main activity for children at Kitzbuhel is skiing. Ski schools here have programs for children as young as three years old up to teenagers. Some hotels have daycare and babysitting programs.
Discounted lift tickets are available for children. Depending on age, these range from 20 percent off to free. Children who don't ski can go sledding or tubing. There are both indoor and outdoor skating rinks that also rent equipment.
Apres-Ski:
If there is one thing Kitzbuhel is known for, it's the great apres-ski scene. There are more than 30 bars and over 100 restaurants. Happy hour can start off at a ski hut on the slopes or back in town. There is something for everyone in Kitzbuhel--noisy clubs for young people, quiet local spots, and high-class showcases to flaunt your most expensive clothing and jewelry.
Restaurants in Kitzbuhel offer all kinds of food at every price level. In the less expensive restaurants, be prepared for someone to come up and ask to sit in the empty seats at your table. Dinner starts around 7:00pm and runs late into the night.
There are three European movie houses as well as a children's theater. There are festivals that feature live music throughout the year. The casino opens in the afternoon and has a dress code. Ski wear is not accepted in the casino. You will need to stop by your hotel to change before heading there.
Attractions:
Since Kitzbuhel is so centrally located, side trips to much of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland are fairly simple. Munich, Germany and Innsbruck are great cities for day trips.
Just in the Kitzbuhel region, there are many old castles, walled towns, and beautifully painted chalets. The Cable Car Museum in Kitzbuhel is free. The Tratzberg Castle in Stans has an armory worth checking out. The castle was the oldest residence of the Hapsburg family. There are churches in the area dating back to the 14th century.
Lift Facilities:
The chairlifts in Kitzbuhel are the older variety. There are 27 ski tows, 28 chairlifts, five cable cars, a gondola, and a new high-speed quad to get you to the skiing. There are 60 lifts that connect a dozen mountain peaks and over 100 miles of trails. There are also free ski buses that take skiers to each of the vast ski resorts.
Lift Tickets:
The basic one-day pass costs about $14 (15 euros) for adults and youths (16-19), seniors (over 60), the disabled, and children under age 15 pay only $7 (8 euros). Children under six years of age ski for free. The more days you purchase, the lower the per day cost will be. There are also single ride and discounted day passes for sale during the day.
One ski pass covers all of the lifts in Kitzbuhel, Kirchberg, Jochberg, Pass Thurn, Bichlalm, and Aschau. The passes also include the ski buses.
Snow Conditions:
Snowmaking at Kitzbuhel is still fairly new. Only 15 percent of the slopes are covered by snowguns. Since most of the skiing is above the tree line, though, there is usually enough snow at the top of the mountain most of the year. Skiers who are used to skiing in the Rockies may be a bit disappointed with the Alpine snow. The snow here is more like powder found in the east US instead of the powder found out west.
If there has been a lot of snow falling at Kitzbuhel, you can be sure that the skiing here will be excellent.
Travel Time:
Kitzbuhel is located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Salzburg and Innsbruck and the drive takes about an hour and a half by car. Munich is 75 miles (120 kilometers) away and that drive takes about two hours. Traffic in Kitzbuhel can be pretty hectic and renting a car may not be your best bet.
Buses and trains run regularly to Kitzbuhel and, once you are there, the free bus service can help you get around in the Kitzbuhel area.
