Thoughtout the new ski season, we will be highlighting ski resorts from around the world! Today we explore Kitzbuhel ski resort in Austria. One of the worlds most well known ski destinations with avid British skiers and snowboards with so much on offer. Whilst your here make sure you check out our fantastic Kitzbuhel ski resort guide full of useful information to help you make the perfect choice for your next ski holiday! If you are eager to get away make sure you check out of Holiday Offers where you will find some of the best holidays available across the Alps and beyond!
Kitzbühel is without a doubt, one of the most famous ski resorts in the world. Renowned for its winter sports venue for the Hahnenkamm races, visitors have flocked to the resort for its annual Alpine World Cup competition since 1931.
Let’s Talk Skiing in Kitzbühel
There is a definite draw to expert skiers at Kitzbühel. Its infamous Streif course on the Hahnenkamm in particular is especially popular for its challenges. The main ski area of the Kitzbühel piste can be reached from the centre of town via the Hahnenkamm gondola. You’ve got two areas of Kitzbühel slopes to visit – at the north-east you have the Kitzbüheler horn, and at the south-west you’ll find the Hahnenkamm-Pengelstein-Resterhohe linked area. There are 230km of pistes in total for visitors to discover.
Beginners don’t have a lot of nursery slopes to choose from in this resort and they can be affected by poor quality snow, despite attempts for best snowmaking. This can also be the case for other areas on the Kitzbühel piste map. If you head to the Kitzbüheler Horn, you’ll find decent gentle slopes, which once you’ve found your confidence, will lead you nicely to the longer blues. Intermediates have lots of choice when it comes to the slopes, however they do have a tendency to become very busy. We recommend that you try the Pengelstein sector in particular, and ski down to Skirast. If it’s a quieter slope you’re looking for, head towards Pass Thurn via the 3S, and you’ll find the highest Kitzbühel piste – the Zweitausender.
For expert skiers, you’re best to look for the Steinbergkogel which you can reach via the main Hahnenkamm gondola. You’ll find two eight-seater heated chairs with bubbles that will get you to the slopes quickly. Make sure you look out for the 33, 34 and 51 ski routes which are particularly exciting, however they do depend on there being fresh powder and a sufficient amount of natural snowfall.
The Resort of Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel is a large and particularly stylish ski resort. Since the year 2000, there has been a massive investment in the resort, in the form of £280m. Visitors love the fact that Kitzbühel has retained its wonderful medieval town centre. There’s also lots of choices for non-skiers in Kitzbühel too. It’s a shoppers’ paradise, with different boutiques, ski shops, jewellers amd many more. Kitzbühel restaurants and bars are plentiful too. There’s lots for every taste, whether you’re looking for a coffee shop that has the authentic Austrian charm, through to gourmet restaurants. To add to the evening entertainment there is also a casino to visit.
There’s a huge variety for non-skiers to enjoy in Kitzbühel, including indoor tennis and a toboggan run. You’ve got a great indoor pool complex called the Aquaarena where you’ll find spa facilities, a 25m competition pool, and a leisure pool. Many of the 4- and 5-star hotels also have spa centres as part of their facilities too. Alternatively, the Mercedes-Benz Sportpark is a great place for ice skating or curling. Another place worth visiting is the SALEWA KletterKlitz climbing gym. This gives you a great climbing area of 850m² which reaches a maximum height of 17 metres.
Staying in Kitzbühel
Ski accommodation in Kitzbühel is definitely varied to meet the wide demographic of guests who come to the resort. It’s mainly hotels here, but you’ll also find guesthouses and apartments. Self-catering chalets and holiday homes are available. It’s definitely a more expensive resort, but you will find Kitzbühel accommodation for most budgets.
Kitzbühel Snow Conditions
When you’re looking at Kitzbühel weather, as it’s a lower altitude ski resort, the snow isn’t quite as good, however they’ve made a real effort to improve this. You’ll find an average of 2.9 snow days per week, with just over 17cm of snow per week on average in the resort. In addition, over half of the 192km of the slopes have 780 snow cannons.
Kitzbühel Resort Life
The Kitzbühel resort is made up a large valley town. It has its major ski area which spreads from south-west on Hahnenkamm on one side, with some smaller ones on the other side. If you’re looking to make use of the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllstarCard lift pass, this will give you access to seven different ski areas in the region. In particular, the SkiWelt region can be reached from the Ki-West gondola which is only a short bus ride from the Skirast Kitz lift system.
Kitzbühel’s beautiful medieval centre is well worth a visit. Think cobbled streets, a quaint church and pretty painted buildings. It’s definitely a great resort if you’re looking for lots of life both on and off the slopes, with visitors loving the upmarket feel to the resort.
What’s Good About Kitzbühel?
We’re particularly impressed by Kitzbühel due to the way they particularly cater for beginners. All of their lifts for beginners can be used for free which is a great benefit. You’ve got ski buses included for all skiers too. The après ski is a huge part of Kitzbühel’s charm, with more than 60 mountain huts and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.
The SnowResort Verdict
We love Kitzbühel as it offers an extensive range of exciting, attractive and varied slopes. However, its low altitude does mean that the lower slopes can deteriorate in warmer weather. Due to its popularity, you are likely to find the resort quite crowded on the piste. Thanks to the huge investment in the resort, you’ll be able to make the most of your Kitzbühel lift pass that gives you access to the increasingly slick lift system. There’s no doubt that the town centre is beautiful; they’ve really preserved the medieval area. It’s also pretty much traffic-free so it’s great for a mooch after skiing and in the evenings. Kitzbühel delivers for visitors who don’t want to hit the slopes too; with lots to do off of the slopes and its vibrant après-ski and nightlife. The Kitzbühel hotels are aplenty, with something to suit every pricetag.
If you like the sound of Kitzbuhel do not forget to check out our fantastic La Plagne ski resort guide! If you do fancy making Austria your next ski destination then also check out our St Anton & Kaprun resort guides.
