Snowsure: 4.0
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Kitzbühel is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Kitzbühel Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
January 08, 2011
Tina Newman from
Austria
Tina Newman from
Austria
I live part of the year in Key West...part of the year in Kitzbuhel. Kitzbuhel is a wonderful town in any season. In the warm months of summer there are small lakes to visit and swim in. There are "tiny" gorges called "klamms" to explore within a 20 minute drive. There are summer rodelbahns...downhill thrill rides. In winter,there is skiing of course. The Hahnnkamm ski race is one of the biggest events in Kitzbuhel and has a carnival atmosphere and tons of people. The town is great for sitting at a cafe and people watching because it IS a small, old Austrian town with typical folk going about their business. It is also a resort akin to Gstadd or Aspen in the wealth of many visitors. If you want to see the most current ski wear Kitzbuehl is the place. There are also many fantastic restaurants in town, up on the mountains and in the towns around. Regardless of your age there is a pub, bar, club for everyone. If you are younger than say, 25-The Londoner is THE place! Taxis are abundant so there is NO reason to drink and drive.Shopping is fantastic in the small boutiques such as Freauenschue and Prader's. Resorts/Spas are everywhere and one can find any kind of treatment desired at any time. If Kitzbuhel is your ski destination...I suggest later in the season...late February into March is the best snow and the least amount of people. The ski schools are great with instructors that speak ANY language required. Some things can be a bit pricy...but hey! It's an European ski resort...what would you expect? There is NOTHING to not recommend Kitzbuhel! It's been around since the 700's...they must be doing something right!
December 15, 2010
Dennis from
Sweden
Dennis from
Sweden
I really love Kitzbühel. I´m from Sweden and ski a lot and I´ve been to other resorts like St Anton etc but I like Kitzbühel best. The slopes are always in perfect condition in the morning and still in the evening you can find slopes that are still good if you know the right places to look. I also like that the whole system is connected with lifts, its good variation on the pistes and that almost all lifts are new and some even have bubbles and seatheating. There is both good skiing above the tree border and good skiing in the wood so in bad weather it's possible to have a nice day in the mountains. It´s also easy to find off-piste without walking and all over the system there are nice huts to eat and drink. When I go there we buy the All star card which also makes it possible to ski in the Wilder Kaiser system, Saalbach, Zell am See and St Johan. More skiing than anyone can wish for and I'm going back in March. Think it´ll be my 10th time in Kitzbühel! =)
October 16, 2010
Neale from
Pakistan
Neale from
Pakistan
I've been going to Kitzbühel for the last 8 years, instructing and for pleasure, so lets get to the nitty gritty here ... Kitz is a ski town and skiing here is a way of life. It's not purpose built so has real character but there are some flat runs that boarders hate. It's a great resort but you have to seek out the best places. If you're a beginner go to the Kitzbuheler Horn: lovely big sunny bowl with great progression in one area. Not scary not narrow, then go to the main area after a couple of days or so.
If you are an intermediate then Kitz is a great playground but remember this is Austria - no green runs so some of the runs are harder than you think! But it is mostly intermediate.
The person who said there is not much off-piste is talking rubbish! Not the massive alpine vertical that you get in some places but remember ... lower altitude means you don't get so tired! But seek and you will find! The obvious places are on the map but do try the route from under the 3s to Aurach and also from the top of the steinbergkogel chair into powder heaven and also down to Aurach. But for the best places go further afield... like Zweitausender. At pass turn go off the marked run in several directions for more great pow. And don't forget the Schwartzkogel hike around the ridge towards the Hochsaukaser or further across towards Aschau... nobody can be bothered 'cos it is a ski bus ride out! Make the effort. Also on the Horn side there are many opportunities.
Don't go here at Easter as half the place closes at the end of March but from xmas to early March conditions can be great. They had had 2 record winters in the last 5 years so don't believe the bull about low resorts and global warming!
Kitz has a good nightlife so ski down the Hannenkahm, go to the Londoner and dance on the tables! And if you think you're too good for Kitzbuhel try doing it in under 5 mins!
April 10, 2010
Dejan from
Croatia
Dejan from
Croatia
August 10, 2009
Ben Warren from
Austria
Ben Warren from
Austria
We went to Kitzbühel at the beginning of January 2009. We were very disappointed with the resort. The most depressing part was not being allowed to use the button lift next to the board park. The guy on the lift did not allow any snowboarders on it one day because he was "fed up of boarders and hated them". I wrote a letter of complaint asking for money back for losing half a day in the board park. They did not apologize or offer any money back. The resort is not snowboarder friendly, there is not much off-piste at Kitzbühel and lots of the runs are too flat. The town is extremely expensive (more so then Val d’Isere). I would only go here if you are a skier with loads of money. If you're a snowboarder avoid Kitzbühel at all costs. If you want to ski Austria go to Mayrhofen; it’s an excellent resort for boarders and skiers.
April 05, 2009
Andy S from
United Kingdom
Andy S from
United Kingdom
Just arrive home from a great week in Kitzbühel. There was a good dump in the days before we arrived and a little more in the first fews days which resulted in very low visibility. Lucky for us the last 3 days was just pure sunshine so we were able to ride in T-shirts even though it got very slushy.
Kitzbühel resort was quiet when we were there. Can't say I waited once for a lift all week which is nice.
Resort negatives - lots of flat spots all over the resort which is very annoying for a boarder like me. Even the skiers were complaining about it. Also there are not many runs suitable for learners at Kitzbühel. My girlfriend was learning and was freaked out by the narrow runs with 'drop offs' to one side. It seems that all the flat runs had this and the rest were too steep for beginners.
Smoking is still allowed in the bars and they are not familiar with the concept of 'extraction'. We even had to move seats when having lunch in the swimming pool cafe due to some shirtless bloke puffing away.
Resort positives - the town of Kitzbühel was ok with just enough bars for a night out but didn't find anywhere to have a dance but then it was quiet. Some places had reasonable prices like the Irish bar: 4 euro's for a vodka.
Fantastic opportunity to catch some powder.
Lots of places to eat all over the slopes with toilets too.
Austrians are much more friendly than the French.
In summary, I would say that I enjoyed it but won't be heading back there anytime soon.
Look out for the 8000 Euro handbag in the shop in the 'high street'.
March 13, 2009
David Pomeroy from
United Kingdom
David Pomeroy from
United Kingdom
Our party of 8 spent a week at Kitzbühel over half-term. 4 adults and four kids under 6yrs old.
The transfer was effortless, just about 1 1/4 hours from Salzberg - in heavy snow.
We needed to hire skis for the kids and for one adult. The Intersport hire shop (at the bottom of the Hahnemkamn gondola) was chaotic and it took well over an hour to get our pre-booked stuff. When we got to the front of the queue the selection of equipment was then extremely limited and not at all acceptable - even in half-term week.
The ski-school appeared a bit disorganised at the start and no-one knew where we had to go - could have been our fault as we were late due to the ski-hire situation above. Once everyone was in, it was a very different story - the two boys (both 5 1/2) thought it was fantastic. They had both skied before but came on leaps and bounds here. They were true skiers by midweek and loved their 'race' at the end of the week - I have never seen either of them looking so proud of their achievements.
My wife also attended ski-school for the week and after not skiing for 7 years had her best ever weeks skiing - thanks to her tutor, Carmen - I have never seen her so happy and capable on skis.
We found the snow conditions at Kitzbühel amongst the best European conditions that we have ever had. Over a 1m of snow fell in the resort whilst we were there - much more up on top.
We had probably the best weeks skiing that any of us have ever had. The resort itself was excellent with great alpine charm.
One minor point - the Hahnenkahm gondola in the morning had horrendous queues from 9am until about 11am. My advice here is get out early - or lie in - and don't come back into Kitzbuhel until the end of the day. For some of us dropping kids off at ski school, this, however, couldn't be helped.
I was expecting the prices in restaurants etc, to be expensive - especially with the Euro being so strong against the GBP. I was pleasantly suprised and even came back from the holiday with money left over - unheard of usually.
I am now a real convert - having skied most of my ski life in the three valleys and other parts of France - I am pleased to say that I will be returning regularly to Kitzbuhel. The boys are desperate to go back.
January 04, 2009
Eric from
USA - California
Eric from
USA - California
Snow conditions at Kitzbühel cannot be assured and the snow bosses do a good job of making sure the marked runs are covered. Now for the downside:
The trails are horribly laid out, most runs are cat tracks. Off-piste amounts to, at most, 400 meter runs which end in one of the cat tracks.
Drinking is the major sport they cater for here. I have never seen more bars per run except at Davos which is another story.
The ski school here is a horror story. After 25 years of teaching in major and minor resorts I can actually say I have seen I have seen some of the worst teaching I have ever seen in North America, Europe or Asia (Japan). Customer service from the supervisor on down is abysmal. If you want a paid guide with minimal feedback sign up here. Note I shadowed my wife's class. Complaints are answered with a brush off.
If one likes fur, fashion, and a high sounding name then come here. If one wants skiing try Val, Cervina/Zermat, or Les Arcs in Europe. After four areas in Austria, I have found the worst of the worst I have ever skied.
November 29, 2008
Paul from
USA - California
Paul from
USA - California
Was in Kitzbühel late March ’08 and was absolutely shocked to find some of the best conditions in all of Europe. We had blue bird powder days, enjoyed vast off-piste terrain, the town, the nightlife, and after reading the reviews on this board, visited Rob Graham at DaleBoot to learn more about his custom made ski boot. The boot is fit from your foot outwards to the shell and delivers the best performance I’ve ever had out of a ski boot. Rob’s extremely passionate about his product and after skiing it I know exactly why! The compromises made by ‘mainstream boot companies’ to merely drive business volume only result in pain & ruined vacations for the rest of us. Not so with the DaleBoot. This is truly a high performance ski boot that fits comfortably all day, from the first to the last lift. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my thirty-five years on skis. I’d highly recommend Kitzbuhel as a resort destination and if you go, do yourself a favor and stop by DaleBoot for some custom made ski boots; you won’t regret it & they’ll be the last brand of boots you ever buy..!
September 29, 2008
Joe Adams from
United Kingdom
Joe Adams from
United Kingdom
I have visited Kitzbühel for the last 10 years, and have lived there seasonally for two years, the resort is stunning, with a beautiful medieval town centre. The snow is usually excellent and the pistes are well laid out, every destination has easy runs and hard runs, meaning all abilities can ski in Kitzbühel. As for the runs for advanced skiers, off-piste is excellent especially at pass Thurn; the runs are excellent and perfect for carving. If one is in need to challenge themselves massively then the off-piste kickers at the top of the C1 or the Steinberkogel lift are very tricky, and there is a natural half pipe available.
Kitzbühel is an amazing town with great skiing and a super night life.
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