Kitzbühel
One of the Alps' most famous ski towns, renowned for the Hahnenkamm World Cup downhill, with a charming, colourful medieval centre and summer mountain hiking and swimming in the Schwarzsee.
Kitzbühel lies in the Kitzbühel Alps in eastern Tyrol, Austria. A medieval market town, it became one of the earliest and most famous ski resorts in the Alps from the late 19th century. The town is set between the Hahnenkamm and the Kitzbüheler Horn, looking north to the limestone ridges of the Wilder Kaiser. Winter (Dec–Apr) belongs to the KitzSki ski area, where the 3S cable car links the mountains into one system, and the Hahnenkamm World Cup downhill in late January draws attention from around the world. In summer (Jun–Sep) the focus shifts to alpine hiking, mountain biking, golf and swimming in the Schwarzsee; in spring and autumn some lifts close. Plan your time as follows: half a day for the old town, churches and museum; a day each on the Hahnenkamm or Horn lifts; a day in the Wilder Kaiser area to the north for the Hintersteiner See, SkiWelt and Hexenwasser Söll; and a day west to Kufstein Fortress and the Kaisertal. Getting there: about 1–1.5 hours by car from Salzburg or Innsbruck, and about 2 hours from Munich; Austrian Federal Railways trains reach the town station via Wörgl. Allow 3–5 days. Accommodation is expensive and scarce during ski season and race week, so book several months ahead; stays often include a guest card with discounts on lifts and buses.
Top sights
- Kitzbühel Old Town – A medieval town ringed by colourful gabled houses, where the two main streets, Vorderstadt and Hinterstadt, gather fine shops and cafés.
- Hahnenkamm & Streif – Home to the world's most famous alpine downhill racecourse. A cable car runs straight to the summit, with views over the town and surroundi…
- Wilder Kaiser – A jagged limestone ridge runs across the north of the town, known for hiking, rock climbing and the scenery of the villages at its foot.
- Kitzbüheler Horn – A viewpoint mountain just under 2,000 meters high east of town, with summit panoramas, an alpine plant garden, and a winding cycling road.
- 3S Gondola – A three-cable gondola spanning the Saalbach valley, up to about 400 meters above the ground, linking Kitzbühel's ski peaks into one system.
- Schwarzsee – A high-mountain moor lake northwest of the old town, warm enough for swimming in summer, reflecting the Kaiser Mountains and the Horn.
- Hintersteiner See – An emerald-green alpine lake at the foot of the sheer cliffs of the Wilder Kaiser, with a gentle lakeside trail and swimming and rowing in…
- Wildpark Aurach – A hillside wildlife park at about 1,100 meters, offering close views of red deer, Alpine ibex, yaks, and marmots.
- Museum Kitzbühel – A city museum in a converted old granary in the old town, presenting ski history and the snowy landscapes of painter Alfons Walde.
- St. Andrew's Parish Church & Liebfrauenkirche – Two churches standing side by side on the slope north of the old town. Their Gothic spire and Baroque interiors shape the town's skyline.
- SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser–Brixental & Hohe Salve – One of Austria's largest interconnected ski areas, with 360-degree views from the summit of the Hohe Salve over more than 70 peaks above 3…
- Hexenwasser Söll – A family-friendly water-themed attraction on the mountainside above Söll village, with splash installations, a barefoot trail and witch leg…
Where to eat
- Huberbräu Stüberl – A local, old-school beer hall in the old town center. Its fried schnitzel and Tyrolean potato hash come in generous por…
- Rosi's Sonnbergstuben – Famous mountain hut restaurant on a hillside outside town, run by the 'singing innkeeper' Rosi and best known for Kaise…
- Gasthof Hagstein – Family-run wooden guesthouse of roughly 200 years on the hillside, serving Tyrolean home cooking made with farm-raised…
Itineraries
- Tyrol & Arlberg Alpine Road Trip – A road trip starting and ending in Innsbruck, connecting Arlberg, Ötztal, and Zillertal