Kitzbühel Uncovered: The Streif, Champagne Lunches & Alpine Glamour

Skiing in Kitzbühel

Welcome to KitzSki—Europe’s oldest and most authentic ski resort, named “World’s Best Ski Resort” for the 13th time in 2025. Founded in 1893, this storied resort delivers 145 miles of pristine slopes across 58 lifts with 4,035 vertical feet. The terrain breakdown—54% easy, 35% intermediate, 11% difficult—makes it an intermediate paradise with enough challenge for experts. Fourteen valley runs connect all base stations for village-to-village skiing, while the separate Kitzbüheler Horn adds 13 miles of additional runs.

Conquering the Streif: The world’s most legendary downhill

I’ve skied it—and it’s every bit as thrilling as you’ve heard. Two miles of insanity: 85% maximum gradient, speeds exceeding 90 mph, and the Mausefalle where racers fly 262 feet through the air. Recreational skiers can tackle the Streif with a regular KitzSki pass (closed mid-January for race prep), and on groomed snow it’s manageable for strong advanced skiers. The Mausefalle—where you briefly fly into the abyss before landing on an impossibly steep pitch—stays with you forever.

The Legendary Ski Safari

The world’s longest: 22 miles of ski trails connected by 9 miles of lifts, descending 19,685 vertical feet without ever removing your skis or riding the same lift twice. The route traverses Hahnenkamm through to Pass Thurn on the Salzburg border, stopping at mountain huts for milchkaffee and kaiserschmarrn along the way. At Pass Thurn, a free shuttle returns you to Kitzbühel. For bigger challenges, the KitzSkiWelt Tour connects with SkiWelt resort for a staggering 313-mile circuit.

On-mountain huts & après-ski

With approximately 60 mountain restaurants scattered across the ski area, Kitzbühel transforms lunch into the day’s highlight.

• Berggasthof Sonnbühel is the legendary see-and-be-seen terrace with St. Tropez vibes and champagne.

• Schi-Alm’s rooftop orange cow signals the 4 pm Dance Angels après-ski party.

• Toni Alm’s yellow Veuve Clicquot umbrellas define “Toni’s Winterbeach.”

• Pavillon starts the party from 2 pm with DJs and foam parties.

• The Londoner—opened in 1976 by Rod Stewart’s agent—goes from 4 pm until 4 am with live music and dancing on tables. Not luxurious, but absolutely essential Kitzbühel.

Helicopter to mountain restaurants

The ultimate designated driver: a private helicopter whisks you from hotel to spectacular mountaintop restaurants, soaring over snow-capped peaks before landing at exclusive mountain huts where champagne awaits. Whether celebrating with a private summit picnic accessible only by air or avoiding the gondola queue after a five-course lunch at 6,560 feet, helicopter dining epitomizes alpine extravagance.

Winter activities beyond the slopes

• Private horse-drawn sleigh rides through the medieval quarter using Stanglwirt’s magnificent Lipizzaner horses.

• Hot air balloon flights at sunrise above the Wilder Kaiser with champagne breakfast aloft.

• Cross-country skiing on 70 kilometers of groomed trails around pristine Lake Schwarzsee.

• The world’s longest floodlit toboggan run at Wildkogel Arena, 14 kilometers under the stars.

• Tandem paragliding launching directly from the legendary Mausefalle.

• Snowshoeing with private guides through untouched powder forests to panoramic ridgelines.

Luxury wellness & spa

Kitzbühel’s world-class spas deliver perfect post-slope recovery.

• Grand Tirolia’s 3,000 m² Grand Alps Spa offers Ayurveda treatments and hammam with day passes for non-guests.

• The Kempinski’s 3,600 m² spa features a 20-meter outdoor pool with mountain views and twelve treatment rooms.

• The legendary Stanglwirt Green Spa Resort (13 minutes away) provides 12,000 m² of award-winning organic wellness on a working farm.

Specialized Pilates studios and yoga spaces round out the offerings.

Shopping & medieval old town

The pedestrian Vorderstadt Street is a shopper’s paradise where Hermès and Louis Vuitton sit alongside Bogner, Toni Sailor, and SPORTALM in picturesque frescoed buildings.

The medieval old town—widely considered the prettiest ski town in the Alps—features a 13th-century Gothic church, the Museum Kitzbühel tracing Bronze Age mining through skiing heritage, and the Kitz Galleria for high-end fashion.

Signature special events

• Hahnenkamm Race Week (January 2027) transforms Kitzbühel into skiing’s epicenter with 50,000 spectators, VIP grandstands, heated hospitality tents, and après-race parties with athletes.

• The Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup brings glamorous polo to a frozen lake with champagne, VIP lounges, and invitation-only galas.

• Mercedes-Benz Ice Driving Experience in nearby Saalfelden puts you behind the wheel of AMG vehicles on frozen lake circuits.

Lois Stern: Fusion

Michelin Guide-recommended gem where husband-and-wife team Lois and Maria have perfected Asian-European fusion since 1994. Watch Chef Lois craft impeccable sashimi and richly spiced curries in the mesmerizing open show kitchen. The Tom Yum soup with halibut and signature red curry paired with exceptional wines make this intimate, modern space a local favorite worth booking ahead.

Les Deux Kitzbühel Brasserie & Bar: Contemporary French

From the team behind their Michelin-starred Munich original, Chef Marc Fröhlich delivers timeless French classics—pâté en croûte, steak au poivre—alongside modern creations in a chic atmosphere that deliberately sets itself apart from traditional Austrian dining. The beautiful bar is perfect for champagne and expertly crafted cocktails.

Zuma: Contemporary Japanese/Izakaya

Globally acclaimed izakaya takes winter residency at Hotel Weisses Rössl (December through March), bringing sophisticated Japanese dining to the Alps. Impeccable sushi, robata-grilled miso-glazed aubergine, and a stunning central bar serving hot sake and expert cocktails in sleek, dimmed surroundings that rival Zuma’s London and Dubai locations.

Mocking das Wirtshaus: Modern Austrian/Tyrolean

Michelin Bib Gourmand winner at the foot of the legendary Streif run. Siblings Martin Huber and Andrea Posch reimagine traditional Gasthaus with modern finesse: daumnidei with sauerkraut and apple compote, exquisite spinach dumplings with brown butter and mountain cheese, and playful touches like house-fermented kimchi. Cozy après-ski terrace for toasting your day with Grüner Veltliner.

Neuwirt: Modern Austrian

Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant helmed by Jürgen Kleinhappl—once Austria’s youngest star chef—masterfully bridging tradition and innovation. Classic beef roulade alongside international creations like halibut with peas and grapefruit. Sommelier Martina Feyrsinger delivers charming service beneath the arcades of the beautiful Schwarzer Adler Hotel.

Gasthof Stanglwirt: Modern Tyrolean (Going, 13 minutes)

Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant in the legendary 400-year-old Stanglwirt Green Spa Resort. Chef Thomas Ritzer crafts Tyrolean classics using organic ingredients from the resort’s own 117-hectare farm. The famous “cowshed window” lets diners exchange glances with happy cows while savoring 250 years of culinary tradition and refreshing Kaiserquelle spring water.

Silva: Forest-inspired fine dining (Leogang, 45 minutes)

Worth every minute of the scenic drive. Just 10 seats at Naturhotel Forsthofgut, where Chef Michael Helfrich (ex-Noma, Copenhagen) transforms forest flavors through fermentation, smoking, and preservation using ingredients from the hotel’s 117-hectare organic farm. Michelin Guide-recommended with four toques and 17/20 in Gault & Millau 2026. Book well in advance.

Kirchenwirt: Alpine cuisine (Leogang, 45 minutes)

Dating to 1326 and celebrating 700 years in 2026. Michelin-starred Chef Stefan Birnbacher’s “Shaping the Alps” philosophy delivers cured brook trout in lovage-tomato broth and signature “Black Gold” caviar. Sixth-generation siblings—including Olympic snowboarder and JRE sommelier Hans-Jörg Unterrainer—lead this legendary inn, with a centuries-old wine cellar holding Austrian, Burgundy, and Bordeaux treasures.

Kitzbühel bars: After dark

• The Golden — Jazzclub & Bar: Housed in Grand Tirolia, this 92-point Falstaff-rated venue embodies sophisticated nightlife with live jazz, an exceptional whiskey and tequila collection, and curated DJ sets. Perfect for those who prefer aged single malts and cultural richness over dancing on tables.

• Club Take Five: Legendary nightclub since 1993, member of The World’s Finest Clubs. Three bars, two VIP lounges (Dom Pérignon and Belvedere), and an electrifying atmosphere from 11 pm until 6 am. The epicenter of Hahnenkamm race weekend nightlife, where ski society, celebrities, and international party people converge.

• FÜNFERL — die BAR: Thirty-year local institution where sports enthusiasts, tourists, and locals pack in from 5 pm for cold Stiegl beers and freely flowing champagne. Resident DJs lead dancing on the bar until early morning. This is where you party with locals rather than observe them.