Kitzbühel, a Medieval town in Austrian Tyrol, is among the country’s top winter-sports resorts. Set at the Kitzbühler Ache river, and between the Hahnenkammand Kitzbühler Horn mountains, this settlement dates back to the 9th Century, when it started off as a copper mining town. Skiing was introduced here in the late 1800s, and quickly gained in popularity. The town has substantially grown over the past decades to become Austria’s most commercial and expensive resort. Kitzbühel, however, retains much of its rustic Alpine character, and is an après-ski haven. The slopes are suitable for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers as well, with many snowboarding, cross-country and off-piste options. Non-skiers can just soak up the atmosphere of this scenic town, enjoying its great restaurants and luxury accommodation.
The town combines a rustic setting with modern and efficient interiors. Kitzbühel's nightlife scene remains hectic throughout the season. The resort is often dubbed “Austria’s winter entertainment capital”, as it often hosts top European musicians on its stages. Although it’s a largely upscale facility, Kitzbühel remains a place where tour operators can save you a lot of money. Rental apartments also make for an affordable holiday. Grand Hotel Kitzbühel is today a private training and conference facility. Another sight is the 3S Aerial Tramway, known for the highest span in the world.
The Hahnenkamm hosts Austria’s annual world cup ski races and the downhill race on the well-known Streif slope. During the summer, Kitzbühel becomes home of the ATP tennis tournament, Austrian Open. The Kitzbüheler Alpenrallye, an annual festival of vintage automobiles, is another activity to be found here.
The 3S gondola connecting Pengelstein and Jochberg, as well as several other new lifts, provide for considerably faster travel between villages. Highway B161, connecting St. Johann in Tirol with Mittersill, passes through the town, intersecting with highway B170 to Wörgl. The train stops operated by the Salzburg-Tiroler-Bahn include Kitzbühel Hauptbahnhof, Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm and Kitzbühel Schwarzsee. The nearest airport is Salzburg (SZG, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Airport), providing regularly scheduled services, which also include low-cost airlines. From there, the town can be reached in an hour by car. Further international airports offering quick access to the resort are Innsbruck IA, a one-hour drive to Kitzbühel, and the Munich International Airport, which is two hours away by car.