Kitzbühel
A medieval walled town that happens to host the hardest downhill race in skiing, and still functions as a town in summer.
Kitzbühel was a mining town with a walled medieval centre long before it was a ski resort, and it is one of the few Alpine resorts whose old town would be worth walking through even with no snow on the ground — painted facades, arched passages, a main street that isn't purpose-built for ski traffic.
Its reputation rests on the Streif, the Hahnenkamm downhill course, generally considered the most dangerous race on the World Cup circuit. Recreational skiers can ski the Streif when it isn't set up for racing; most of the mountain is far less alarming than that implies, with the bulk of the terrain rolling and intermediate.
Race week in January fills the town completely and prices follow. Any other week is a quieter proposition.
Where to stay in Kitzbühel
Stays shown via Stay22 — booking through the map supports the log.
