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Table of Contents:
How to get to Mayrhofen from Innsbruck
How to get to Mayrhofen from Munich
How to get to Mayrhofen from Salzburg
When to travel to Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen is located in the heart of the Ziller Valley, about halfway between Innsbruck and Kitzbuhel resort. It is believed that this place has one of the best locations for skiing. The Ziller Valley has such resorts as Zell am Ziller, Zellberg, Rohrberg, Hippach, Schwendau, Finkenberg and, of course, Mayrhofen, which occupies a central place among other resort towns.
Mayrhofen as a ski resort has been known for quite a long time, so the local infrastructure is considered to be highly developed, and the slopes are among the best for skiing. There is also a separate area for snowboarders and freeriders. Mayrhofen is also known as an entertainment center – numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and discos create unique vibes; besides, you can always relax in local spa 7 thermal complexes and health centers.
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 Mayrhofen. I figured out how to get to the ski resort, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Mayrhofen.
You can go to Mayrhofen any season of the year. In winter, Mayrhofen is the center of skiing and snowboarding. In summer, Mayrhofen becomes a place for seasonal sport activities, including hiking, horse riding, rock climbing, tennis, golf, etc. Besides, the period from May to October incl. is the best time for sightseeing. Mayrhofen can boast beautiful natural landscapes, which are definitely worth visiting.
How to get to Mayrhofen
Where do you fly into to get to Mayrhofen? You can get to Mayrhofen from Munich, Innsbruck or Salzburg. These are the three nearest large cities, which have international airports. Flights from various cities of the world arrive to Innsbruck all year round, as well as to Salzburg. Munich also takes direct and connecting flights throughout the year. Flight schedules can be checked at Aviasales booking service and others. I often use this service as it helps me to compare different flight options and to choose an optimal one.
How to get to Mayrhofen from Innsbruck
After some map examining, I figured out that the distance between Innsbruck and Mayrhofen is 70 km. You can get from one point to another by public transport, taxi or transfer service, or by rented car.
By public transport: It is impossible to get directly from Innsbruck to Mayrhofen by public transport; a change is required in the town of Jenbach. Trains run from Innsbruck to Jenbach and then from Jenbach to Mayrhofen there are trains or buses available. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. The total travel time is approximately 1,5 hours + the time to get from Innsbruck Airport to the railway station.
By transfer service: You can get there a little faster and without making a change if you use the services of a taxi or transfer. You can arrange a trip right on the spot upon arrival, or order a transfer service in advance. There are specialized international services, for example, Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others, which allow you to choose a car of a suitable class and size and order it by the appointed time. The total travel time is 1 hour.
By rented car: One more convenient option for those who have a driver’s license is to rent a car. Car rental offices can be found right at the Innsbruck Airport; the process of registration usually takes no more than 20 minutes. To book a car of the required class in advance, you can use specialized international services of Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Based on my experience, both services are very helpful, when planning upcoming trips, because they have a lot of individual settings, using which you can sort the results as you need. Innsbruck and Mayrhofen are connected with motorway No. A12 and Zillertal Str./B169; the approximate travel time is 55-60 minutes (see on the map).
How to get to Mayrhofen from Munich
After some research, I discovered that Munich is 156 km from Mayrhofen. The city and the ski resort are connected with highways No. A8 and A12. As in the case of Innsbruck, you can get to the Mayrhofen resort from Munich by public transport, taxi, transfer service or rented car.
By public transport: There are no direct trains from Munich to Mayrhofen, but every 2 hours there is a train to Jenbach, where you can make a change to another train or bus, running directly to Mayrhofen. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope regularly when planning my trips around Europe and I can confirm it has a convenient search and a lot of options for sorting the results. The total travel time is about 2,5 hours, excluding the travel time from Munich Airport to the railway station.
By transfer service: If you carry ski equipment or a large amount of luggage, then a taxi or transfer service can be a good option. You can order a transfer by the time of your arrival on specialized international services. It can be Intui.Travel, Kiwitaxi and other similar ones. The travel time is a little over 2 hours. Both online services have a lot of positive reviews so I can recommend them.
By rented car: If you have an international driver’s license, then you can get from Munich to Mayrhofen on your own by car. Car rental in Munich is a fairly popular tourist service; rental offices can be found almost everywhere, including the airport. The cities are connected with several highways, for instance, No. A8 and A12; No. A13; No. B181; The approximate travel time is about 2 hours (see on the map). To book a car in advance, you can use various booking services, such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Please, note, you may need to register a cross-border insurance as Munich and Mayrhofen are located in different states – Germany and Austria respectively.
How to get to Mayrhofen from Salzburg
Afer map search, I found out that the distance between Salzburg and Mayrhofen is 180 km. You can get from Salzburg Airport to the ski resort of Mayrhofen by public transport, by transfer service or by rented car.
By public transport: Mayrhofen has its own railway station, so you can get to the resort by train. Trains run from Salzburg with a change in Jenbach or Worgl. The total travel time is 2,5-3 hours. Trains run every hour throughout the day from the Main Railway Station of Salzburg. You can check the timetable and buy tickets online at the Raileurope ticket service. I can recommend this service as I use it very often when planning my own trips and it helps me to compare different available options to choose the most suitable for me.
By transfer service: If you travel with a lot of luggage, then you can get to the resort by taxi or book a transfer service in advance. Such transfer services as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others operate along the route. The travel time from Salzburg Airport to the ski resort of Mayrhofen by car is just about two hours.
By rented car: Such an option as car rental is also suitable for getting to Mayrhofen. You can rent a car directly at the Salzburg Airport. There are rental offices in the city center too. If necessary, you can book the desired car class in advance on specialized international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Salzburg and Mayrhofen are connected with motorway No. A8 (180 km); the travel time is approx. 2 hours 10 minutes (see on the map). To rent a car, you need to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card to pay for services.
Where to stay in Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen is a popular tourist destination, which means that the infrastructure of the resort can accommodate a large number of tourists. As I found out, tourists can stay in Mayrhofen in hotels of various star categories, apartments (studios, apartments or houses), guest houses, B&B`s, vacation homes, etc. The price policy for housing in Mayrhofen is average for ski resorts in Austria, i.е. here you can find both budget options and exclusive ones. Please note that the perfect price/quality option can only be found if you book accommodation in advance (ideally no less than a few months before the trip).
Based on my careful research, hotels in Mayrhofen range from standard options to luxurious ones with a full range of extra services. Regardless of the stars, hotels in Mayrhofen are two-story houses, made in a typical Tyrolean style, and look like respectable country houses. There are no skyscrapers with a million rooms on one floor in Mayrhofen.
As additional services, a number of local hotels offer spa and wellness centers in their area with a swimming pool and sauna, free parking for those who travel by car, relaxation terraces, children’s playgrounds or rooms, restaurants, rental and storage of ski equipment, etc. The vast majority of local hotels offer breakfast included in the price; some offer half board.
Another great option that I discovered is that travellers can also find accommodation in neighboring towns such as Tux (10 km), Zell am Ziller (7.5 km), Ramsau (4 km), Finkenberg (4 km), Hippach (4 km), Schwendau (4 km), but then you need to think about ways to get from these resorts to Mayrhofen for skiing.
For example, popular resort accommodations include:
Hotel Edenlehen 4* – The hotel is located in a quiet area, a 10-minute walk from the center of Mayrhofen. The nearest lift is at a distance of 500 m. The guests of the hotel are invited to use the spa area, including indoor and outdoor pools and saunas. You can stay in rooms of various categories; breakfast or half board is offered. The hotel has ski storage, a terrace, free private parking, free Wi-Fi;
Alpin Lodge Zillergrund 4* – The hotel is located in the closest surroundings of Mayrhofen, in a cozy natural park. The hotel has an extensive wellness center with a swimming pool, saunas, a steam bath, a gym and relaxation rooms. The hotel also has a terrace, a restaurant, a bar, free parking. You can stay in rooms of various categories; breakfast or half board is offered. Wi-Fi is available free of charge. There are also places for ski storage;
Hotel Waldheim KG 4* – The hotel is located within walking distance from the center of Mayrhofen and 200 m from the nearest ski lift. It offers a spa center with a sauna and a steam bath. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Guests can also take advantage of free private parking on site and free Wi-Fi;
Gutshof Zillertal 4* – The hotel is located near the center of Mayrhofen. The hotel has outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a restaurant, and a spa center. In winter, a free shuttle service is provided from the hotel to the ski lifts. You can stay in rooms of various categories; breakfast is offered. There is free public parking nearby;
Hotel Garni Glockenstuhl 3* – The hotel is located in the town center. The hotel has a spa with a sauna, a hydromassage bath and a massage cabinet. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Free private parking and free Wi-Fi are also provided.
Apartments in Mayrhofen are no less popular accommodation options than hotels. You can even say that Mayrhofen is famous for its large range of apartments for renting. You can stay either in apart-hotels or in separate apartments. Aparthotels usually offer studios or rooms with separate bedrooms and an equipped kitchen.
Apartments are, as a rule, detached houses, one or two stories high. The second accommodation option is more suitable for families with children or large groups of people. In both the first and second cases, breakfast or any other meals are not provided. You can eat either in cafes or cook in the fully equipped kitchen.
What to do in Mayrhofen
Mayrhofen is considered to be one of the most popular ski resorts in Austria; this is facilitated by a developed infrastructure, and not only in terms of accommodation and skiing, but also in terms of entertainment. In addition to skiing, snowboarding, freeriding, cross-country skiing, Mayrhofen is able to offer other, less extreme activities, such as sledding and snowshoeing, relaxation in spas, outdoor hot pools, restaurants, shopping, bars and discos. In the summer, people come to Mayrhofen to go hiking and rock climbing.
Still, the main function of the resort is a ski holiday, and Mayrhofen has everything you need for it. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- Mayrhofen has 136 km of slopes;
- 40 km of slopes are for beginners;
- 66 km of slopes are for intermediates;
- 30 km of slopes for experienced skiers;
- 57 lifts operate at the resort;
- 20 km of trails for cross-country skiing are available;
- A park for snowboarding and freeriding can be found in Vans Penken;
- The altitude difference is 1870 m;
- The longest route is 10 km.
Mayrhofen has a large number of equipment rentals, as well as shops for buying your own equipment. The most famous rentals include Uli Spiess SKIZONE, Die Roten Profis, Intersport Bründl and others. Here you can rent not only skis, but also, for example, snowboarding equipment. There are also more than 5 ski schools in the town that will help train beginner skiers. Classes can be group and individual, for children and adults; training is carried out both in skiing and snowboarding. There are also freeride courses.
Based on my research, the cost of ski passes in Mayrhofen is as follows: from 72,50 euros for an adult and 33 euros for a child per day. If you plan to ski not only in Mayrhofen, but also in the entire Zillertal valley, including other resorts, then the rates are as follows: from 143 euros for an adult and 64,50 euros for a child for 2 days; 211 and 95 euros for 3 days; 267 and 120 euros for 4 days; 326 and 147 euros for 5 days; 349 and 156,50 euros for 6 days; 401 and 180.50 euros for a week (it is a subject to change).
Many hotels in Mayrhofen offer a variety of entertainment right in their area. It can be spa areas, and pools, and saunas, and an entertainment program. However, if you are staying at a standard hotel that does not offer these options, then you can go have fun at the local water center of Erlebnisbad Mayrhofen. Here you can find outdoor and indoor pools, saunas, relaxation areas and terraces. The outdoor pool is equipped with slides suitable for children. I found out detailed information for visiting the center:
- The Aqua Center is open all year round;
- The prices for outdoor pool are 9,50 euros for an adult and 6 euros for a child for the whole day;
- The prices for indoor pool are 12 euros for an adult and 6 euros for a child for 2 hours;
- The prices for saunas are 12 euros for an adult and 10 euros for a child for 2 hours;
- Aqua center address is Waldbadstraße, 539.
Among the winter entertainment, the guests of the resort can also try the local skating rink (located next to the water park); the skating rink is open from November to March. On the toboggan run, which is 7,5 km long, evening skiing is possible. You can also try snowshoeing as well as ski mountaineering and paragliding. During the summer Mayrhofen offers tennis courts and horse-riding.
In general, I can say that holidays in Mayrhofen can be very diverse and are not limited only to skiing, you can relax here both passively and very actively, depending on your own wishes. The climate and nature of the area is perfect for winter sports, but in summer Mayrhofen is also an awesome place to stay and relax in the water park and on the tennis courts. You also may like hiking, horse riding and cycling, as well as rock climbing.
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: Frans Berkelaar
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
How beautiful! Austria is near the top of my must see places before 2030 and you’ve inspired to check out this area..whether for skiing in the winter or the beauty of the land in the summer.
When we get back to Austria, this guide would certainly help us to visit Mayrhofen from many different spots. I would certainly look for a spa and wellness centre for my stay. There are certainly a lot of different winter sports if you do not want to ski. And good to know this area is also good for summer visits. Learning about so many great spots to visit in Austria from you.
I’ve been to Austria but it’s not one of my top destinations but the ski resorts looks fantastic so maybe I should change my mind!
Mayrhofen looks absolutely stunning—thank you for sharing such helpful and detailed information!