family travel guide
Kitzbühel is a famous resort town. It's known not only for its quality skiing, but also for its abundance of restaurants, casinos, expensive boutiques and posh crowds.
At first glance, it may not seem like the place for a family holiday. However, the resort's excellent conditions for beginners, excellent tourist infrastructure, a wide range of children's ski schools and a varied family entertainment programme attract many families with children. Experience shows that they are very happy with their choice.
Why is Kitzbühel so popular with families? See all the benefits of the resort in our overview.
Kitzbühel is a ski resort in western Austria, in the state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Kitzbühel district. The distance from Kitzbühel to Salzburg is 83 km, to Innsbruck — 92 km, to Munich (Germany) — 127 km.
The resort includes the town of Kitzbühel and the villages of Kirchberg, Aurach, Jochberg, Pass-Turn, Anschau, Stukogel, Resterhoche and Wright. They are linked by a common ski lift system and a free ski bus service, and Kitzbühel and Kirchberg are also connected by rail.
The Kitzbühel region is home to several major winter resorts, including Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Wilder Kaiser - Brixenthal or SkiWelt.
They all host major competitions, and Kitzbühel is known for hosting one of the most prestigious World Cup downhill races every January on the Streif course.
You may find that once your family has joined the cheering section, your children will be even more eager to learn to ski and strive for sporting success.
The ski resort of Kitzbühel is a shining star in the Austrian Alps. It knows how to kick up dust, and rightly so: it has a strong winter infrastructure, modern, expensive hotels and a beauty that can only be found in the mountains.
Kitzbühel is a holiday destination for skiers who know how to ski and don't want to miss out on comfort (or even luxury).
But Kitzbühel is also worth visiting with children, especially because of the ski schools. The kids have a lot of fun in the lessons, but after a few days they are skiing pretty well and are ready to go out on the real slopes.
Half of the resort's pistes are designed for beginners, so the whole family can work on their skills.
There are no high altitudes or severe frosts in Kitzbühel. Even young children can easily acclimatise and are almost immediately involved in active activities.
Summer holidays in Kitzbühel are usually spent hiking, cycling and sightseeing. At the same time, the resort is quieter than in winter, so it is safe to come here with a baby.
Accommodation in Kitzbühel is quite expensive, dominated by four-star hotels with a high level of service.
However, it is always possible to find budget hotels or apartments where it is pleasant to stay with a child. Unfortunately, the hotels in Kitzbühel have very few attractions for children — in this respect the resort is inferior to the family hotels in Serfaus or the Stubai Valley.
This is compensated for by the fact that the whole family can relax in the resort's sports and leisure facilities.
Another big advantage is that the airports in Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich are not too far from Kitzbühel, so the usually tedious transfer from the airport to the hotel is a short, pleasant journey.
The main season in Kitzbühel is, of course, skiing. The first skiers hit the slopes at the end of November and the last ones leave in May.
Christmas is considered the opening day of the season in Kitzbühel, when there is a thick layer of snow on the slopes. Until mid-March, the flow of tourists is almost uninterrupted and accommodation prices are high.
The second half of March and the beginning of April are ideal for a relaxing holiday with a child. In spring there are few cold spells and the weather is clear, but the surface of the slopes does not suffer.
From mid-April it can start to rain and skiing has to be replaced by other activities.
Spending the summer in Kitzbühel is a good idea if you like outdoor activities and are not afraid of the changeable weather. There is no heat in Kitzbühel (an argument for a trip to Kitzbühel with a toddler) and if it rains, the resort offers indoor activities.
So when is the best time to go to Kitzbühel? Detailed information about the weather in the resort can help you decide.
Kitzbühel's winters are frosty, its summers are cool and rainy, and you can only enjoy your holiday if you are well equipped.
On the other hand, the long, snowy winters are a treat for skiers, and the cooler summers are perfect for those who can't stand the heat.
Winter arrives in Kitzbühel as early as November. Thermometers still reach +3-4°C during the day and drop to -2-5°C at night. The first snow falls, although the cover is unstable until December.
In December, temperatures remain almost the same, except that the nights are a little colder. Heavy snowfall begins and by the end of the month the mountains are already covered with a 40 cm layer of snow.
January brings frost. Daytime temperatures remain at -2-7°C and at night they drop to -12-15°C. Temperatures occasionally drop to -22-27°C, but this cold spell is quickly followed by a period of warmth. February continues with the same weather.
March is the last month of the cold season, with temperatures rising above freezing during the day (and dropping to -5-10°C at night). After a dark winter, the sun shines and March is considered the best time to take your children to Kitzbühel.
In April the air warms to +4-10°C, but there is still snow on the slopes. In May the temperature rises to +12-16°C and the rain starts to fall.
Rainy summers, a feature of the climate in Kitzbühel and other Alpine destinations, are no threat to relaxation. The weather is clear and dry for half the summer.
The average temperature during the summer months is +18-22°C during the day and +6-12°C at night. In September, the weather can remain summery or cool down to freezing at night.
In October, the daytime temperature stays between +8-10°C and at night you can feel the frosty breath of the approaching winter.
Public transport in Kitzbühel is one of the resort's advantages. The town has a bus and train station, which makes it easy to travel to Austria and Germany.
For example, a train ticket to Innsbruck costs around €16 and there is a 50% discount for children.
In winter, the main form of transport in and around Kitzbühel is the ski bus. They run between Kitzbühel and Kirchberg. There are also ski buses from St. Johann in Tirol, Mitterziel and Pillerzeetal.
The timetable varies according to the season and is available on the resort's tourism website.
If you are travelling to Kitzbühel in your own or a rented car, you can leave it in the car park near the lower lift stations.
A family holiday in Kitzbühel is not just about skiing. From morning to night, it's the perfect place to stay toned.
The Kitzbühel Sports Park, which has been opened in Kitzbühel especially for all outdoor enthusiasts, is a great place to start. There are curling lanes, a climbing wall, an outdoor ice rink and tennis courts.
The Aquarena water leisure centre, with its pools, saunas, steam baths, solariums, children's playroom and bars, is another great place for family fun. With a valid ski pass, your Aquarena holiday is half price.
Children will love the Alpeniglu Ice Village, which opens every winter in the neighbouring resort of Brixenthal. Every year the village builds ice houses and ice sculptures.
Kitzbühel also has toboggan runs. Actually, they are serious slopes up to 3.8 km long — rent a big family sledge and slide down one of these mountains together.
You can also simply take your child for a walk through the streets of Kitzbühel, which look very smart in winter, or through the mountains, with cross-country skis or snowshoes for ease of movement.
A great activity for children is the 500-metre KitzSki Bären Funslope, each stage of which is decorated with wooden bear figurines. The trail is located in the Jochberg - Resterhöhe skiing area.
For more information on what to do in Kitzbühel with a child, visit the Kitzbühel website. In high season there are free walks, games and competitions for children.
Kitzbühel's groomed slopes are suitable for both expert and beginner skiers. Beginners can learn their first skills on the gentle blue slopes of the Hahnenkamm - Pengelstein and Jochberg - Resterhöhe ski areas.
Alongside the easy slopes are the challenging, interesting black and red slopes: spend time with the kids so that you don't forget your own enjoyment.
The sunny slopes of the Kitzbüheler Horn also offer gentle, short and uncomplicated runs. Freeriders and snowboarders love this area too — there's a big snow park here.
The Gaisberg area is not just for beginners: there is a FIS-certified giant slalom course. For evening skiing, Kitzbühel has several slopes, all in the Gaisberg area.
Experienced skiers will be attracted by the Ski Safari: 120 km of interconnected slopes with an altitude difference of 800-2,000 metres. Professional skiers and freeride enthusiasts alike ski in the Bichlalm area.
If you are coming to the resort without any skiing experience, we recommend that you take lessons with professional instructors. Kitzbühel's ski schools offer programmes for both adults and children.
The Rote Teufel and Element3 schools offer a particularly interesting programme for young skiers, with children's parks with gentle slopes and colourful training equipment.
If you are holidaying in Kitzbühel with a child under the age of 3, the kindergartens at the ski schools are a great help.
| General season | End of November - April |
| Elevation difference | 800 m-2004 m |
| Ski slopes |
170 km — total |
|
Ski lifts |
55 total, incl. |
| Ski routes | 62 km |
| Snowboard Park | 1 |
| The longest ski run | 8300 m (KitzSki Extended) |
| Interactive scheme of ski slopes and lifts | https://map.kitzski.at/de/winter/ |
High season in Kitzbühel runs from 23 December to 9 March. During this time, a day pass costs around €65 for adults, €49 for teenagers and €33 for children aged 6-15.
The approximate cost of ski passes for 2-6 days is €129-332 for adults, €96-249 for youths, €64-166 for children.
From 9th to 22nd December and from 10th March to 22nd April, prices are slightly reduced: a one-day ski pass for adults costs around €60, for young people €45 and for children €30. Multi-day ski passes start at €118 for adults (2 days), €88 for young people and €59 for children.
Until the 9th of December and after the 22nd of April, the price of a one-day ski pass is around 54, 41 and 27 euros.
It is also possible to buy ski passes for individual areas. For example, a day pass for the Kitzbüheler Horn area costs 44, 20 and 10 euros.
Kitzbühel's ski hire shops offer a range of equipment for all levels, from basic skis and boots to professional equipment.
A day's ski hire for adults costs around €22-37 depending on the class, €15 for children aged 11-14 and €10 for children under 10. Boot hire starts at €10 for adults and €5-7 for children. Hiring a helmet costs around €7.
A summer holiday in Kitzbühel will please those who are used to active holidays. There are over 1,000 kilometres of hiking trails and over 90 tours of varying length and difficulty.
Mountain biking is well represented in the region with 800 kilometres of mountain bike trails and 1,200 kilometres of road bike trails.
You can enjoy the beauty of the summer alpine scenery by climbing the panoramic road to the summit of the Kitzbüheler Horn.
Kitzbühel is also known as the Alpine centre of golf. Five of the golf courses are located in the town itself and 19 courses have been built close to the town centre. During the warmer months, you can visit one of the amusement parks in the Kitzbühel area.
Familienland and Ruhpolding parks are full of modern attractions, while Kaiswerwelt in Scheffau or Ellmi's Zauberwelt in Elmau are areas for active play.
5km from the centre of the resort, in the village of Aurakh, there is a wildlife park where children can meet and even feed many animals. There is also a large playground.
It's easy to organise an itinerary for a family holiday in Kitzbühel. The two beautiful Austrian cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg are close by, and the sights of Bavaria are within easy reach.
So what can you do in and around Kitzbühel?
Highlights in Innsbruck include Ambras Castle, the Alpine Zoo and the Swarovski Museum. If you are travelling by car, the castles of Kufstein and Trazberg are well worth a visit, as is the open-air museum of Tyrolean village life in Kramsach.
One of the most interesting places for children is the silver mine in Schwaz. Tourists dress up in miners' uniforms and ride underground in an old wagon before the tour.
What to do with children in Salzburg? The list here is quite impressive:
Also not far from Kitzbühel, but in Germany, is Berchtesgaden National Park. Its main attraction is the salt mine.
Kitzbühel is made up of several towns and villages. When choosing where to stay in Kitzbühel with children, either Kitzbühel itself or the small town of Kirchberg should be preferred. Both towns have the best possible infrastructure and are connected by ski bus routes to the lower lift stations.
Kitzbühel is the centre of the resort, a cosy and very beautiful town with well-preserved medieval streets and colourful houses. The old pedestrian area is closed to cars.
There's a lively après-ski scene, leisure and sports centres and comfortable four-star hotels. More lively and "party" than Kirchberg. Recommended especially for holidays with school-age children.
Kirchberg is ideal for a relaxing holiday. A great option for families with young children.
This village is not as busy and lively as Kitzbühel and the tourist infrastructure is very well developed. Accommodation in Kirchberg is cheaper than in Kitzbühel.
If you don't have a car, look for hotels and apartments close to the Mayerl chairlift (this will save you morning waits and daily ski bus rides) or in the centre of Kirchberg (around Kirch or Dorf) and closer to the ski bus stops.
The Sud and Nord districts are behind the railway and a long way from the centre.
The outskirts of Kitzbühel are ideal for summer holidays. The villages in the resort do not have entertainment centres, but offer a comfortable holiday. It is also possible to look for accommodation close to Kitzbühel.
What should you choose for a family holiday — hotels or apartments? The hotels in Kitzbühel offer great service, but there are relatively few facilities for children.
Only a few hotels have a children's playroom, and cots are often not available free of charge. A few offer a children's menu or a children's corner. Meals in hotels are usually half-board or breakfast only.
Apartments are more suitable for a self-contained holiday in Kitzbühel with children. As there is no shortage of restaurants and shops in the resort, it is not difficult to organise meals for children.
The nearest airports to Kitzbühel are Salzburg (80 km), Innsbruck (100 km) and Munich (160 km). Salzburg and Munich have the most international flights.
How to get to Kitzbühel from the airport
There are only one or two transfers from Salzburg to Kitzbühel, with a total journey time of 2.5 hours. The journey from Innsbruck takes about an hour and there are direct connections between the cities.
There is a fast train from Munich to Kitzbühel without changing trains, but only twice a day; all other trains have one or more changes (once an hour). Connections are made at Wergl, Kufstein and Rosenheim stations.
The timetable can be found on the ÖBB website: https://www.oebb.at/.
From Salzburg take bus no. 260 to Lofer and from there bus no. 4012 to Kitzbühel. Timetables and ticket information can be found at http://www.vvt.at.
How to get to Kitzbühel
From Germany: Take the motorway Munich - Kufstein - Wörgl (exit: Wörgl Ost, turn left at the junction St. Johann i.T./Felbertauern), continue in the direction of Brixen until you reach Kirchberg or Kitzbühel;
From Austria: take the A1 towards Linz to Salzburg - exit: Walserberg/Lofer - Bad Reichenhall (D) - Lofer - Waidring - St. Johann in Tirol - Kitzbühel (take the Brixental main road) and continue towards Kirchberg or Kitzbühel.
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