Kitzbuhel, Austria
Ski Resort Info
Kitzbühel is Austria’s most famous resort; it is famous for the greatest World Cup downhill race in the world. The one thing that lets Kitzbühel down is the low altitude sitting at only 760m; this has in recent years been helped by major investment in snow cannons. The resort centre is both historic and stylish offering first rate evening entertainment and excellent après ski.
Piste Rating
Beginners:
Intermediates:
Experts:
The Ski Slopes
There are four main ski areas covered by the Kitzbühel Ski Pass, these are: Hahnenkamm, Kitzbuheler Horn, Bichalm and the Jochberg-Pass Thurn Area. This allows you access to endless long wide linking trails. There are also massive open powder bowls, moguls, and fast race courses. All four areas are supported by a recently upgraded lift system. The resort best caters to intermediates with lots of long blue runs. The more experienced intermediate and expert skiers can ski the same terrain as World Cup Downhill Course skiers. The lower slopes have the best facilities for beginners; this is where the children’s ski schools start out, for this the best place to be based is Jochberg. For snowboarders there is a great Boarder X run, a giant snowboarding slalom course and one of the better halfpipes in Europe.
Après Ski
During the World Cup Event, the penultimate week of January, the whole town gets very crowded. The night life in Kitzbühel seems to get going a lot later on and stays open until dawn. There is a great choice of bars and a few clubs to take advantage of if you still have the energy after a day on the slopes. In contrast there is a quieter side to the town with excellent tea rooms and cafes. When you are not skiing the town offers a multitude of activities to keep you busy, there is even an Alpine Zoo a little way out of town, also there is a great range of shops that cater for all tastes.