Why Kitzbühel remains the ultimate Alpine escape

In the Austrian resort of Kitzbühel, historic colour and character meet contemporary chic and culture. Throw in first-rate skiing, and you have a tantalising Tyrolean experience that’s less than two hours’ drive from Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck airports, and also serviced by rail links.

The work of 20th-century architect and artist Alfons Walde inspired modern Kitzbühel’s famous pastel architecture (as a local cultural officer, he even advised on colours for the town’s houses). Born in the town’s suburbs and influenced by the Vienna Secession movement founded by Gustav Klimt, Walde created still-lifes, landscapes and rural scenes; for Kitzbühel, he designed a series of classic tourism posters (between 1920 and 1938) depicting winter sports and landscapes, and he also created the town’s logo, featuring a red chamois (a kind of antelope), originally designed for the local ski club in 1931. His images shaped Kitzbühel as a winter sports destination; locals call it ‘the Gamsstadt’ – ‘chamois town’.

A century on, the lively and multicoloured chamois town, now 750 years old, presents itself as a community of self-assured diversity, luxurious accommodation, fine food, state-of-the-art winter sports, and vibrant après-ski.

The Streif ski run, a World Cup downhill located on Kitzbühel’s Hahnenkamm mountain, has hosted the famous Hahnenkamm Races since 1937; with an 85 per cent incline, it’s strictly for the adventurous, but you can watch the professionals take it on in the 2026 Hahnenkamm Races, 19-25 January.

Meanwhile, the resort offers world-class skiing and hiking for every visitor. Framed by the mountains of the Kitzbüheler Horn, Südberge and the mighty Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel earns its reputation as one of the best vacation destinations in the Alps. Explore the whole KitzSki area – 58 lifts, 233km of pistes, myriad cross-country trails – with a local pass or the Ikon Pass, which includes resorts worldwide.

The food offering ranges from simple and rustic meals in Tyrolean family-run inns to international-standard gourmet cuisine. Nine restaurants in Kitzbühel collectively hold 15 ‘toques’ (chef’s caps), the awards given by the Gault&Millau dining guide.

There’s also a pair of Michelin-starred options: at elegant one-star Berggericht, the ‘Tiroler Festschmaus’ (Tyrolean feast) is a four or six-course menu that combines classic cuisine, modern accents and regional influences – and is also available in a vegetarian version; or go for French classics and contemporary dishes at Les Deux Kitzbühel, a brasserie and bar with an outside terrace, which has earned its first star since opening in 2024.

Don't overlook Mocking – Das Wirtshaus, awarded a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide, a nod to excellent food and value for money; located at the foot of the Streif run, its rustic charm is matched by delicious, regionally inspired dishes, such as Daumnidei (a kind of local gnocchi) with burnt sauerkraut and apple compote.

Visiting towards the end of the year? Kitzbühel’s Christmas market (from 19 November 2025) – part of a winter programme that also extends to a film festival and an electronic music festival – is sure to lend festive appeal to this classic Alpine escape.

You can book your stay at kitzbuehel.com and also find more information on the resort.