Kitzbühel

" ,042 km of pistes to discover 

By Michel Côté, GendronSki Group Leader
When it comes to keeping skiers of all levels busy for a week-long vacation, Kitzbühel has got what it takes. With its countless groomed runs and valleys, the resort offer everything you can imagine in the way of both on and off-piste skiing. The addition of several new heated 8-person chairlifts in 2016 provides skiers with a dose of premium comfort. Given all this, it is easy to see why Kitzbühel has earned the title of best ski resort in Europe by Skiresort.fr for the third year in a row. Kitzbühel’s different summits allow you to finish off the day in one of many slopeside villages before taking the free shuttle bus back. The mythical Streif run at the summit of the Hahnenkamm (which happens to the fastest course of the FIS World Cup races) is an absolute must. If this is a little too extreme for your taste, however, there are tamer runs like the Streif-Familienabfahrt, which are perfect for skiers of all levels. What’s more, the Kitzbüheler Alpen AllStarCard provides access to an additional 1,042 km of pistes. Since you can’t possibly explore it all, you will definitely have to pick and choose the areas you want to try. Personally, I would suggest the SkiWelt (Westerdorf, Hopfgarten) and the Saalbach-Hinterglemm Valley. The SkiWelt ski area is accessible from the foot of the Pengelstein chair, a mere five-minute bus ride away. From there, you can ski over to explore two mountains overlooking each side of the Brixental Valley. Getting back to Kitzbühel is a breeze when you hop on the free train from Westerdorf or from the slopeside station in Hopfgarten (€). The Saalbach-Hinterglemm Valley is accessible through the village of Fieberbrunn, about 20 minutes from Kitzbühel, by train or bus (€) or by taxi if you are with a group (recommended). From this resort, you can take a gondola to the Saalbach Valley. The summits of Fieberbrunn (2,020 m) are definitely worth exploring along the way. These two resorts are characterized by the quintessentially Austrian villages that surround them and the refuges tucked away high in the mountains where you will find the best apfelstrudel in the world.
The village of Kitzbühel, with its rich 15th-century mining history, is a showcase of the most authentically Austrian architecture. Food lovers will enjoy Kitzbühel for the variety of culinary options it provides, sure to please every taste and budget (reservations are strongly suggested). Enjoy a day off exploring the town’s museums, brand name stores or just walking through Kitzbühel’s streets. Innsbruck and Salzburg, respectively a one and two-hour train ride away, are also great options to consider.
Kitzbühel offers countless ski areas for you to explore as you hop from one village to the next, not to mention its wonderful valleys that stretch into infinity. It’s all waiting for you to discover…"