Summer in Kitzbühel – A Vacation That Fulfills Every Wish
Kitzbühel may have earned its international reputation as a swanky winter sports region, but it truly shines in the summer. It presents itself as one of Austria's most versatile holiday destinations. Panoramic hiking trails, mountain bike paths, picturesque golf courses, tranquil moorland lakes, cultural and culinary delights, unique sporting events - summer in Kitzbühel meets the highest expectations.
Summer in Kitzbühel – A Multifaceted Region with Surprising Extras
Natural, sporty, relaxing, traditional, modern, charming – the Kitzbühel region offers everything in a top-notch luxury vacation you could possibly dream of. If you’re someone who appreciates that extra-special “something”, then you’ve most definitely come to the right place.
There are countless natural and cultural highlights that tempt you to embark on day trips in the surrounding area. Located between Innsbruck and Salzburg, both provincial capitals are easily accessible from Kitzbühel. Waterfalls, panoramic trails, lakes, wildlife parks, fortresses and castles, open-air museums, and outdoor cultural events – a summer vacation in the Kitzbühel region is certain to be one for the record books.
Sports fans, in particular, will feel on cloud nine in the Kitzbühel Alps. Active holidaymakers can indulge in just about every sport imaginable. For spectators, there are tournaments and competitions with top athletes from all over the world. The famous Hahnenkamm race draws about 100,000 people to Kitzbühel in winter, but the region also knows how to enthrall with international-caliber sporting events in summer as well.
International Tournaments: Kitzbühel Also Showcases Top-level Sports in Summer
The Generali Open Kitzbühel, taking place in July and August, draws tennis enthusiasts to the courts. The Kitzbühel Triathlon, on the other hand, gathers both pro and amateur endurance athletes around the Schwarzsee. While the elite display their prowess in the Europe Triathlon Cup, hobby and up-and-coming athletes show off their skills in competitions of their own.
In late May, the Kitzbühel Alpine Rally elegantly ushers in the warmer season. This event is one of the most spectacular classic car races in the Alps. When priceless vintage rarities from Aston Martin to Lamborghini drive over the winding mountain roads, you are certain to see the magical wonder in everybody’s eyes.
If you're more a two-wheeler kind of person, you will be able to cheer on thousands of cyclists at the KitzAlp Mountain Bike event in July and the Kitzbühel Cycle Marathon in August. For an even more international and professional atmosphere, there’s the “Tour of Austria”, with one stage passing over the Kitzbühel Horn. Come and share in the feverish anticipation to see who will ultimately earn the Golden Jersey.
Our tip for fans of extreme sports: Red Bull X Alps is considered one of the toughest adventure races in the world. Every day, participants have to cover 160 km on foot or by paraglider. This two-week spectacle extends 1,223 km through five countries, including the Kitzbühel region.
For something a tad more elegant, be sure to check out the Kitzbühel Golf Festival. This sporting event is topped off by exquisite gastronomy offered by select top-tier chefs.
Upscale Active Vacations in the Kitzbühel Region
Try to make the perfect pitch shot. The Kitzbühel region offers optimal conditions for golfers. You can choose between four different 9 and 18-hole courses, beautifully nestled between Kitzbüheler Horn, Hahnenkamm, and Wilder Kaiser. The most extraordinary of these is the Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith golf course, where you'll face the challenge of hitting across water hazards and canyons. During the Kitzbühel Golf Festival, they even open up the legendary Streif ski run for added golfing enjoyment.
Treat yourself to remarkable bathing experiences as the temperatures in Kitzbühel rise during the summer months. The options range from refreshing alpine tarns to moorland lakes in the valley, such as the 20-acre Schwarzsee. Its mineral-rich waters have beneficial effects on your skin and body as a whole. It warms up early in spring due to its high peat content, making it one of the warmest lakes in Austria. Featuring rowing and electric boats, stand-up paddle boards, along with two swim areas, the lake boasts an impeccable infrastructure. The Gieringer Weiher, the Jochberg Forest Pool, and other bathing lakes offer ideal opportunities for fun and sports in and around the water. And if that's still not enough, you can always relax to your heart’s content at our accommodations featuring a private pool .
Let's Go For It! Kitzbühel Alps as a Biker's and Hiker's Paradise
Kitzbühel is the perfect setting for a variety-packed hiking vacation:
- Enjoy never-ending panoramic views on trails over the Kitzbühel Horn or Geissstein, the highest “grass mountain” in Europe.
- Five summer lifts take you all the way up into the mountains.
- Refreshing hikes lead to numerous waterfalls such as Sintesbach Waterfall.
- Set out on leisurely hikes to alpine huts and mountain inns. Book a guided "Schmankerl Tour", which includes informative visits to active cheese dairies and other food producers.
- For hikes with children, we recommend the “Streif” with a 9-station interactive adventure trail, along with Austria's longest barefoot path at Hexenwasser Söll on the Hohe Salve. An alpaca hike is also a beautiful and marvelously unforgettable experience.
- In total, a hiking paradise encompassing over 1000 km and 70 alpine huts awaits you.
- Quality comes first: The Kitzbühel region was actually the first destination to be awarded the European Hiking Seal!
For ambitious cyclists, 800 kilometers of trails promise pure pleasure. For instance, give the Hahnenkamm Trail a try, offering magnificent views along with no shortage of adrenaline kicks. Road cyclists can enjoy 1200 kilometers of relaxed as well as sweat-inducing cycling. Above all, the Kitzbühel Horn, with a continuous gradient of 22 degrees, is renowned as Austria's steepest mountain for cyclists. You will have to tackle an 890 m gain in roughly 10 km.
Kitzbühel is the perfect setting for a variety-packed hiking vacation: - Enjoy never-ending panoramic views on trails over the Kitzbühel Horn or Geissstein, the highest “grass mountain” in Europe.
Open-air museums, castle grounds and adventure parks – Tyrolean cultural highlights that are particularly appealing in the summer:
- Swarovski Crystal Worlds
- Kufstein Fortress
- Open-Air Museum of Tyrolean Farmhouses
- Schwaz Silver Mine
- Schloss Tratzberg
- Hasegg Castle with Coin Museum Tyrolean provincial capital Innsbruck, also home to the "Golden Roof"
- “City of Mozart”, Salzburg, with its imposing fortress
- The city of Kitzbühel, with parks, like the Japanese Garden, in full bloom
For a vacation with children, we recommend a visit to the Aurach wildlife park, the Alpenzoo in Innsbruck, the Alpinolino exploration park in Westendorf, the Fairy Tale World in Marquartstein, and the Triassic Dinosaur Park on the Steinplatte.
In Tyrol, an array of cultural highlights give your senses a treat during balmy summer nights beneath open skies. The city of Kitzbühel alone has something to offer for practically every (musical) taste:
- “Kitzbühel Klassik” and “Classics in the Alps”
- Schlagerboom Open-Air and Kitzbühel Music Festival
- Kitzbühel Summer Theater
- Kitzbühel Film Festival
- Festival of “Stadtmusik Kitzbühel”
- PURA Vida and Culinary Kitzbühel (culture meets cuisine)
There's plenty on offer in the surrounding area too – from the Kufstein Music Festival to the Salzburg Festival. Tip: If it gets a bit chilly in the evening, you can warm always warm up at one of our accommodations featuring saunas before heading to bed.
The Perfect Summer Vacation in Kitzbühel – Accommodations by ALPS RESORT
Two of our ALPS RESORTS are located in the Kitzbühel district, where you can unwind in perfectly equipped accommodations that offer both privacy and pure indulgence.
Our Dorfresort Kitzbühel is just six kilometers from the city of Kitzbühel. The holiday apartments and chalets are architecturally pleasing, arranged around a beautiful green area with a pond and sun loungers. Plus, you will be able to enjoy a spacious wellness area with a bio sauna, whirlpool, Finnish sauna, infrared cabin, and steam bath. Our holiday apartments and chalets in Kitzbühel come with fully equipped kitchens. Spend a beautiful time with your family or perhaps plan a getaway with your dog.
In the Kitzbühel Alps, just 8 km from the Schwarzsee, our Kitzbühel Suites in Oberndorf will be delighted to welcome you. Nestled between the Wilder Kaiser and the Kitzbühel Horn, you'll be exceptionally close to the mountain world. Experience a full range of hiking and water sports. The Bichelbad is only 120 m away (during the bathing season, our guests enjoy free daily entry), and, closer still, is the resort's own wellness area with saunas and relaxation shower. From the premium apartment for 4 people to the premium penthouse with 3 bedrooms, you are certain to find precisely the space you have been looking for.
Lisa Gruber
Content Marketing at ALPS RESORTS
Gen-Z with a penchant for writing and being outdoors. Lisa enjoys discovering hikes and ski resorts for us and offers tips for the perfect vacation.
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