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Table of Contents:
How to get to Kitzbuhel from Munich
How to get to Kitzbuhel from Salzburg
How to get to Kitzbuhel from Innsbruck
When to travel to Kitzbuhel
Kitzbuhel is the oldest ski resort in Europe, located on the border of Austria and Germany and at an equal distance from Salzburg and Innsbruck. Kitzbuhel is famous for its developed infrastructure for skiing, for instance, even serious sport events have been held here. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, you can try Kitzbuhel thermal & spa complexes, numerous cafes, restaurants and shopping. In addition, Kitzbuhel has a lot of historical and architectural attractions.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Kitzbuhel. I figured out how to get to the resort town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Kitzbuhel.
You can visit Kitzbuhel all-year-round. The ski season lasts from the end of November until the beginning of April (sometimes even until the beginning of May). During the summer time you can try hiking, rock climbing, horse riding and other seasonal kinds of sport, as well as traditional sightseeing and gastronomic tourism. The choice is up to you.
How to get to Kitzbuhel
Where do you fly into to get to Kitzbuhel? You can get to Kitzbuhel from Salzburg, Innsbruck or Munich. These are the three closest cities with the international airports. You can find available flights to these cities on Aviasales search service and on the other similar services. Then from these cities, you can get to Kitzbuhel by public transport, by taxi, transfer service or by rented car.
How to get to Kitzbuhel from Munich
By public transport: The distance between Munich and Kitzbuhel is 127 km; they are connected with the highway # A8. To get to Kitzbuhel by public transport, firstly you need to get from Munich Airport to the Main Railway Station. Then take the train to the Austrian station called Worgl Hbf (the travel time is just over an hour). After that take a direct train to Kitzbuhel from Worgl Hbf; it takes you another half an hour. In total, you can get from Munich to Kitzbuhel approximately in 3,5 hours by train. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. Based on my experience, I can recommend this service for searching and comparing different available train options. Raileurope has a convenient search with a lot of information, e.g. duration of the trips, departure and arrival stations, number of changes, etc.
By transfer service: Many tourists also take a taxi right at the airport after arrival or order an individual transfer in advance. In this case, the trip usually takes a little less than 2 hours. You can book a transfer on specialized international services like Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and other similar ones. In my opinion, both services are good for searching for alternatives to public transport. You can order a transfer in advance and not look for a taxi car on the spot.
By rented car: Another convenient option to get to Kitzbuhel is a car rental at the Munich Airport. There are 9 + more different car rental offices at once at the airport, so you can easily find what you need. Renting a car in Munich is a quite popular option that is why it is recommended to book a car in advance. You can use various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others to book a car in advance. Munich and Kitzbuhel are connected with the A8 highway; the approximate travel time is about 1 hour 40 minutes (see on the map). Please note to drive to Austria from Munich (which is in Germany), you may need to register for cross-border insurance.
◊ Also, take a note, that to drive on Austrian roads, you need to buy a toll sticker. Based on my research, you can either buy a sticker right at the border or from a local tobacconist, as well as online. Between the period of November to April, cars must be equipped with winter tires in Austria. Depending on weather conditions, snow chains may be necessary as well. In addition, it is mandatory to have one high-visibility vest per person on board.
How to get to Kitzbuhel from Salzburg
By public transport: There are direct trains to Kitzbuhel from the railway station of Salzburg; the journey time is 2 hours 5 minutes. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I often use Raileurope to check out available train connections. I like the possibility to sort the results by duration of the trip, time of departure and arrival, price, etc.
By transfer service: You can get to Kitzbuhel from Salzburg by transfer service or by taxi in just 1 hour. Traveling by taxi or transfer car will be more convenient than by public transport if you are carrying equipment or a large number of baggage pieces. You can order an individual transfer on special services like Kiwitaxi and other similar ones or order a taxi at a registration desk at the airport.
By rented car: You can drive to the Kitzbuhel resort on your own if you have an international driver’s license. You can rent a car both at the Salzburg Airport and at the city center. You can book a car in advance on specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and the others. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the most reviews are positive so I can recommend both of them. Salzburg and Kitzbuhel are connected with highways #B21 and #B178 (the distance is about 83 km; see it on the map).
◊ Please, take a note, that to drive on Austrian roads, you need to buy a toll sticker. You can either buy a sticker right at the border or from a local tobacconist, as well as online. Between the period of November to April, cars must be equipped with winter tires in Austria. Depending on weather conditions, snow chains may be necessary as well. In addition, it is mandatory to have one high-visibility vest per person on board. All additional equipment may be booked in advance as well and taken at the rental offices.
How to get to Kitzbuhel from Innsbruck
By public transport: There are direct and indirect trains with a change at the Worgl station, running between Innsbruck and Kitzbuhel. The total travel time varies from 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes, depending on the duration of a change. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope regularly to check out the current train timetable throughout the whole of Europe. In my opinion, it is a very convenient service, because tourists can compare different routes, duration of the train journey and many other useful options.
By transfer service: You can also get to Kitzbuhel from Innsbruck by taxi or by transfer service. The travel time is approximately. You can book an individual transfer service at Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and other international services. I read the reviews of the services and most of them are positive. You also can order a taxi at a registration desk at the airport.
By rented car: The other option is to rent a car at the Innsbruck Airport or at the city center. You can also book a car in advance on specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Innsbruck and Kitzbuhel are connected with highways #A12 and #B170; the distance is 91 km (see on the map).
◊ Please, take a note, that to drive on Austrian roads, you need to buy a toll sticker. You can either buy a sticker right at the border or from a local tobacconist, as well as online. Between the period of November to April, cars must be equipped with winter tires in Austria. Depending on weather conditions, snow chains may be necessary as well. In addition, it is mandatory to have one high-visibility vest per person on board. All additional equipment may be booked in advance as well and taken at the rental offices.
Where to stay in Kitzbuhel
Since Kitzbuhel is considered to be the oldest resort in Austria, the hotel infrastructure is very well developed here, and tourists can find a variety of accommodation options from standard rooms to apartments, guest houses, B&B`s and holiday homes.
Based on my research, most of the hotels in Kitzbuhel are made in the traditional Tyrolean style; they are equipped with everything tourists may need and have many additional options. For example, here you can find swimming pools, spa and wellness centers, fitness rooms, relaxation terraces, saunas, hydromassage, etc.
The guests of the resort can also rent apartments in Kitzbuhel. The apartments are presented by chalets. These are full-fledged one-story houses. Renting a chalet can be more convenient if you travel with your family or by a large group of people as chalets are much more spacious. Most often, houses are rented either by families with children or by large group of friends. You can also find apartments in the neighboring towns such as St. Johann (8 km), Brixen im Thale (9 km), Jochberg (8 km), Kirchberg (6 km), Westendorf (12 km), etc.
Popular accommodation places in Kitzbuhel include:
Tennerhof Gourmet & Spa 5* -This is a spa hotel with its own indoor and outdoor pools, a restaurant and a spa center. You can stay in rooms of various categories; breakfast or half board is offered. The hotel has a terrace, ski storage, and free private parking. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge;
Landsitz Romerhof 4* – The hotel has a picturesque location; the ski bus stops nearby. The nearest ski lift is located 450 m from the hotel. Guests of the hotel can use the spa center of the neighboring hotel. You can stay in apartments of various categories; many have their own balconies. Breakfasts are included in the price. Private parking and wi-fi are free of charge;
Hotel Maria Theresia 4* – The hotel is located in the center of Kitzbuhel. The nearest ski lift is 350 m. The hotel has a spa, a restaurant and a bar. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast or half board is offered. Paid private parking is available nearby. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge;
Bichl Alm – The hotel is located close to the ski slopes which can be reached by lift. There is a restaurant for guests. You can stay in rooms of various categories; most of the rooms have mountain views. Breakfast or half board is offered. Guests are provided with ski storage, free parking and free Wi-Fi.
What to do in Kitzbuhel
Kitzbuhel is a resort for skiing and snowboarding, however, even in the summer, the town is full of tourists as there is a lot of other activities, such as hiking, sightseeing, gastronomic tourism, shopping, summer kinds of sport (tennis, horse riding, golf, rock climbing, etc.).
After examining some information, I discovered that in total, there are 60 pistes in Kitzbuhel, of which almost 70 km are for beginners, almost 80 km for intermediates, and 25 km for advanced skiers. Tourists are served by 54 lifts. For snowboarders, there is 1 fan park and 2 half-pipes. Travelers who avoid extreme sports can go cross-country skiing in Kitzbuhel (the total length of the route is about 40 km), go hiking or visit the local water park.
If you are a beginner skier and you don’t have your own equipment, there are 3 rental companies and 5 shops in Kitzbuhel, where you can buy all you need for skiing. The resort also has its own ski schools, the most famous of which are Skischule Kitzbuhel – Rote Teufel, Skischule Element3 and Snowsports Kitzbuhel. There are classes for adults and children, you can also learn additional courses in slalom and free ride here. Besides, snowshoe trips are organized in Kitzbuhel too.
The cost of ski passes varies depending on the number of days and seasonality. The peak season is the period of the Christmas holidays from December 23 to January 9; during this period the cost of the ski pass is usually increased. In the “low” period until December 8 and after April 24, prices are the most budgetary.
Activities in Kitzbuhel are not limited to skiing and extreme sports; you can relax here with maximum comfort in one of the spa complexes or at the water park. Many hotels offer their guests to use their own water complexes and spa areas.
For example, the Aquarena Water Park is open in the center of Kitzbuhel. So, what does the Kitzbuhel water park offer? In fact, it is a multifunctional wellness center. There are pools with waterfalls, a Turkish hammam, lymphatic drainage service, a Kneipp bath, children’s slides, a foot massage area, a children’s room, a terrace and a restaurant. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- A visit to the sauna is paid separately;
- The entrance ticket costs 19,5 euros for one adult (for children – 9.80 euros);
- The entrance ticket to the sauna complex and the indoor pool is 25 euros for an adult and 11,80 euros for children;
- Prices are for a full day visit;
- Three-hour tickets cost 16,20 euros for the saunas and 13 euros for the pools area.
During the summer, Kitzbuhel also offers a wide range of sport activities. So, for example, there are 2 golf clubs, rafting routes, an adventure center, which, in turn, organizes such exclusive activities as paragliding, climbing, paddle, canyoning and much more. Less extreme activities are also at your service, for instance, hiking or cycling.
You can find a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and bars in Kitzbuhel. Here you can taste both local Tyrolean cuisine and international dishes; many restaurants are elegantly styled in traditional Tyrolean decor. Of the dishes that you should definitely try in Kitzbuhel, you can’t help but try a Royal omelette, a schnitzel and a strudel. Also, Kitzbuhel is full of small cafes and bakeries that produce local delicacies. To my mind, Kitzbuhel perfectly suits for both active sport time and relaxing in spa centers and restaurants.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Austria, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Jernej Furman
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
Having visited Austria many times I was surprised I hadn’t heard of Kitzbuhel before. The photos shows it’s as beautiful as the rest of Austria and makes me long to visit again. The buildings are amazing and appear to be from a fairy tale. Thank you for sharing 😁
I’d love to visit Kitzbühel! I used to think of it as a winter destination, but after reading your post, I realized it could be just as epic for hiking in the summer. My kids would also enjoy the waterpark! Thanks for sharing this helpful guide.
I always associate Kitzbühel with ski racing, though I know we also visited in summer when I was younger. It sounds like public transport is the best way to get there. Once in town, is it easy to explore the area without a car?
Hello!
I would say it is prefferable to explore the town without a car.
Cheers,
Badenguide
Kitzbuhel sounds lovely and I need to include it on my next visit to Austria. I would probably prefer to go in Summertime. Lots of useful info here.
I am learning so much about great ski areas in Austria from your posts. This post is a great resource for planning a visit to Kitzbuhel. I love the traditional Tyrolean style hotels to stay. And that there is such to do in all seasons.
Never been to Kitzbuhel, only Bavaria and Salzburg but it was lovely so I would love to see more, especially during the snowy season. Thank you very much for the detailed guides on how to get there!