Kitzbuhel, Austria

Kitzbuhel, Austria

If you ski and haven't heard of Streif, that's okay. However, in Europe, it's the annual televised downhill race on the Hahnenkamm. And that's right here at Kitzbühel.

But don't let that scare you off. Most of Kitzbühel's 150 kms of trails are intermediate. There are also challenges for experts.

Kitzbühel's is considered the "Pearl of the Alps", a charming walled town which was a medieval settlement. The center of town is virtually traffic-free with bus service ferrying skiers back and forth from both Hahnenkamm and Kitzbühel Horn mountains.

Kitzbühel recently added a new gondola which runs between the top of the Jochberg ski area to the top of Pengelstein. This cuts off a lot of time which was spent walking or catching a bus.

A former host of the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, Kitzbühel is the most famous holiday resort in Austria. Skiing began here in 1892.

Two mountains make up the site with Kitzbüheler Horn being a little less challenging than Hahnenkamm. Both have gondola access from the center of town. Kitzbüheler Horn towers over the resort area. The cable-car takes you up 2000m for a breathtaking view of the Alps. But some experienced skiers have been disappointed with Kitzbüheler Horn. It's the more gentle mountain.

Make sure you try the Ski Safari, marked by elephant signposts. This fun trail takes you from the Hahnenkamm, up the Kitzbühel Valley, over to Jochberg, then to Pass Thurn. If you've had a couple of weeks of skiing under your belt, you can manage the blue and gentle red runs. What's more, the new gondola now gives you access to ski back to Kitzbühel.

Snowboarders gather on Kitzbüheler Horn because of the great terrain park which now includes a half-pipe and boarder cross course.

Finally, Kitzbühel's main problem is its lack of altitude. Some seasons the conditions early and late could be a gamble. The last few years the resort has been blessed with good snow cover.

SKI INDEX:

- Lifts: 57 lifts: 6 gondolas, 29 chairlifts, 22 draglifts
- Trails: 150km in linked area (39% easy, 46% intermediate, 15% difficult)
- Closest airport: Salzburg 1½hrs, Innsbruck 2hrs, Munich 2½hrs
- Notes: Recommended. Low queues, but some flat areas before you get to the trails. May require some walking to transportation to the gondolas.