Hiking boots or dinner suits? In Kitzbühel, you can pack both. Come summer, the snow disappears from this famously luxurious ski resort – but the boutiques, swish hotels and Michelin-approved restaurants remain. Walking holidays to Kitzbühel look further abroad to the 1,000 kilometres of marked paths that trail between the mountain pastures and panoramic routes of the Kitzbüheler Alps and Wilder Kaiser massif. Hiking isn’t the only way to explore this great outdoors. There are also 800 kilometres of off-road cycling, via ferrata, paragliding schools, canyoning and paddle boarding lakes… and a summer diary filled with festivals and concerts.
Kitzbüheler Horn and Hahnenkamm
A gondola climbs to the Kitzbüheler Horn mountain peak on the eastern side of town. Get off at the midway station for trails up to the summit – or jump on Gipfelbahn (summit lift) to get to the top effort-free. There’s an Alpine flower garden up here too with 400 species of high mountain plants, including the beloved Austrian edelweiss. Elsewhere, walking paths take wanderers to waterfalls, valleys, pastures and forest tracks dotted with mountain huts serving traditional specialities - head to the famous Hahnenkamm mountain for more lift-accessible walking trails and fantastic views.
Wild swims and luxury spas
The black lake of Schwarzsee, on the north-western edge of Kitzbühel, is a popular swim spot surrounded by trees and a nature reserve, the jagged limestone peaks of the Wilder Kaiser Mountains in the distance. The deep colour is down to the minerals in the water – said to be a balm for bathers’ skin. The temperature helps too; waters can hit a toasty 27°C. The spas in town offer more soothing swims, with saunas, steam rooms, and pools wrapped in mountain views.
Kitzbühel old town
Take to the streets of the old town for a stroll along cobblestone roads lined with buildings painted in wildflower hues. This is a car-free zone, so cafés and bars relax out onto the pedestrianised streets. It’s easy – and lovely – to spend a day dipping in and out of churches, museums and galleries… although you might have to factor in more time for popping by the likes of Louis Vuitton and boutiques specialising in chic mountain wear. As for dinner: will it be a candle-lit banquet at a Michelin-starred restaurant or a no-nonsense bowl of dumplings and an elderflower fizz on a sunny terrace?
Summer in Kitzbühel
Kitzbühel doesn’t hit the snooze button when the busy ski season is over. Instead, it lines up a series of film and food festivals, classic car rallies, mountain biking celebrations and marathons. A market pops up every Saturday too, with stalls piled high with handmade jewellery, mountain sausages and cheese, and orchard fruits. For explorations further afield, head to Kitzbühel railway station, where trains make tracks for Innsbruck in an hour and Salzburg in two – or take the chance to hop off at the little mountain villages en route.
Why book a summer holiday in Kitzbühel with Inghams?
At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of Kitzbühel’s best walking routes and activities at your own pace.
With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Kitzbühel include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.
