1. Climb to the Top of Kitzbüheler Horn
The 1,998-meter-tall Kitzbüheler Horn to the northeast of Kitzbühel is one of the best known of Austria’s many mountain peaks. Summit highlights include the picturesque old house known as Gipfelhaus, a chapel, and the Alpenhaus restaurant, all of them easily reached by cable car via the 1,273-meter Pletzeralm.
For the more adventurous, there’s a spectacular four-hour climb to the top from Kitzbühel’s town center. Those arriving by car in the warmer summer months may wish to take the spectacularly steep and windy 7.5-kilometer panoramic road to the aforementioned Alpenhaus at the top of the mountain. Only open during daylight hours from May to November (yes, it’s that steep!), it’s also a popular route for cyclists, too – or at least those with nerves of steel!
However you choose to get here, glorious views await at the summit. To the south, you can see from the Radstädter Tauern all the way to to the Ötztal Alps; to the north, the nearby Kaisergebirge; to the west, the Lechtal Alps; and to the east, the Hochkönig.
Location: Kitzbüheler Horn, Kitzbühel, Austria
2. Go Skiing in Kitzbuhel
South of Kitzbüheler Horn rises the equally impressive 1,772-meter Hornköpfli. Also reached by cableway during the ski season, together it and the other mountains in the immediate vicinity make up one of the top ski destinations in Austria, if not Europe. In fact, once the snow flies, Kitzbühel and its surrounds are thronged with skiers from around the world.
It’s a skier’s paradise, with the many slopes – whether beginner or expert – catered to by numerous cableways and ski lifts on the slopes of the Kitzbüheler Horn, the Hahnenkamm, and the Steinbergkogel. And you’ll never get bored, as all told, Kitzbühel boasts 170 kilometers of skiable terrain. Add to this nearby SkiWelt with its 90 lifts and 280 kilometers of slopes, and you’ll be kept busy.
Die-hard skiers are particularly spoiled for choice. If that sounds like you, be sure to include the 3.5-kilometer Hahnenkamm Ski Run on your «must-do» list. One of the most famous ski runs in the world, it’s the scene of many international races each winter. Equally well-known among skiers is the Streif, considered one of the world’s most challenging downhill slopes.
If the history of ski sports is your thing, be sure to also pay a visit to Legendenpark Kitzbühel, located in the heart of the town, just a short walk from the lifts. Here, you’ll find interesting monuments and information commemorating some of Austria’s best known ski celebrities.
Location: Kitzbuhel, Tirol, Austria
