Some people say that skiing was invented in Kitzbühel. One thing is for sure: the annual Hahnenkamm downhill race is without a doubt the most famous ski race in the world. The surrounding Kitzbühel ski resort benefits from this international reputation and offers a wide range of pistes for all abilities.
Which town in Tirol can claim to have hosted ski races on a regular basis as early as the 19th century? Kitzbühel can. In 1893 Franz Reisch became the first person in Austria to win an alpine dowhill ski race, held on the Kitzbüheler Horn mountain. This is the time when the legend of Kitzbühel was born. Today it lives on, fuelled by the annual Hahnenkamm downhill race in January on the infamous Streif course. But it is not only world-class skiers who benefit from Kitzbühel's reputation and infrastructure. The ski resort around the Kitzbüheler Horn mountain is one of the most popular in the Alps thanks to its huge range of pistes catering for all abilities.
Snowboard funparks, excellent off-piste ski touring for freeriders, state-of-the-art lifts as well as plenty of cosy huts and snack stations combine to make Kitzbühel a top winter destination. Experienced skiers should not miss out on the chance to ski the Streif, which is considered one of the most difficult race pistes in the world. Despite the fact that the resort's pistes "only" reach up to around 2,000 metres above sea level, Kitzbühel has snowsure slopes from December through until April.
Further advantages Kitzbühel has to offer include the fact that it is easy to reach as well as its designer shops. The pretty village is home to many exclusive boutiques, fine restaurants, stylish bars and nightclubs which ensure there is plenty to see and do at the end of a great day on the slopes.
Which town in Tirol can claim to have hosted ski races on a regular basis as early as the 19th century? Kitzbühel can. In 1893 Franz Reisch…
