Nestled in a lovely valley below the Alps, Kitzbühel beckons an international crowd to its charming town year-round. During the winter months, this popular Austrian resort town becomes a haven for snow sports enthusiasts, as Kitzbühel, or simply “Kitz,” boasts some of the best skiing in Europe. Once the snow melts, this winter wonderland transforms into a beautiful destination for outdoors enthusiasts, as the surrounding mountains are great for hiking, biking and even golfing.
On a recent summer trip to Europe, I found myself passing through Kitz. As soon as I arrived to this beautiful alpine town, however, I knew I couldn’t just pass through. I needed to extend my stay so that I could really experience the charm and beauty of this Austrian town, so I pulled up my HotelTonight app and booked a fantastic last-minute hotel in Kitzbühel. Shortly thereafter, I headed toward my hotel to check in so that I could start experiencing the Kitzbühel way of life.
In the heart of Kitzbühel, you’ll find a charming Austrian Old Town. This historic city center features traditional homes from the 15th and 16th centuries and quaint cobbled squares. Since I was in Kitz during the warmer summer months, everywhere I went I saw locals and tourists alike eating on outside patios, enjoying the sunshine and the fresh mountain air. I could picture the Old Town in the winter, as well, when this city center is frosted with snow, looking like the perfect picture of an alpine town. When you visit Kitzbühel, you’ll likely spend a significant amount of time in the Old Town, as this charming district offers great dining, shopping and nightlife. This is the hub of activity in Kitzbühel, and it’s so lovely you’ll have a hard time tearing yourself away.
From many parts of town, you can see the majestic Kitzbüheler Horn in the distance. This striking Austrian peak is almost 2,000 meters tall, and it’s home to some of the best skiing in the country during the winter. While I didn’t get to ski the slopes of this incredible mountain during my stay in Kitzbühel, I was able to experience its beauty by hiking to the peak. Once I reached the top, I had spectacular views of Kitzbühel, the Alps, and the surrounding Austrian countryside. The views from the Kitzbüheler Horn are well worth the climb, but if you want to enjoy the beauty of the Kitzbüheler Horn without the sweat, you can always take the cable car up and down.
While on the Kitzbüheler Horn, I wandered through the Alpine Flower Garden, which is widely considered the prettiest mountain garden in all of Europe. This flower garden spans over 20,000 square meters of mountainside, and it features more than 300 different plant species. If you find yourself on top of the Kitzbüheler Horn, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on the Alpine Garden.
Located just outside of the Kitzbühel’s town center is the Schwarzee, a pretty lake that becomes a popular destination for locals and visitors alike in the summer months. This scenic little lake is perfect for swimming, fishing and canoeing on a warm summer day, and some locals even told me that Schwarzee is known for having some of the warmest water in the Alps. So after a long, sweaty morning of hiking, I decided to spend my afternoon relaxing beside the beautiful Schwarzee. Even on a warm summer day, the lake wasn’t crowded, so I was able to sit back and relax and enjoy a peaceful afternoon in the Alps.
Another famous peak in the Kitzbühel Alps is the Hahnenkamm, which transforms into an outdoor lover’s paradise during the summer months. Whether you want to go for a leisurely walk on pretty alpine trails or you want to hike up to this peak, you’ll find peace and stunning valley views on the Hahnenkamm. Even though I was a bit tired from my long hike the day before, I still managed to lace up my hiking shoes and ascend the Hahnenkamm. Just like on the Kitzbüheler Horn, though, you can access the mountain via cable cars and chairlifts if you don’t want to hike. Either way, you’ll still be able to enjoy the magnificent view at the top.
At the end of my short stay in Kitzbühel, I was so glad that I made the impromptu decision to extend my stay in this charming alpine town. The town of Kitzbühel is charming and enchanting, and the surrounding valleys and mountains are so beautiful they sometimes don’t even look real. I was once again grateful for HotelTonight, which always makes my spur-of-the-moment travel decisions possible. Without HotelTonight, I wouldn’t have been able to change my travel plans at the very last minute so that I could spend more time in the beautiful Austrian town of Kitzbühel.
