Resort Information
Mayrhofen is both a family resort and also a lively resort in equal measure. During the day, the excellent childcare and ski schools ensure children are looked after throughout the whole day. Apres is fun, with some venues livelier than others, and it is also not ludicrously expensive (the resort is very good value overall). After dinner, the same few apres spots come alive again, keeping the late night revellers entertained.
The resort sits just an hour from Innsbruck airport which makes it very easy to get to. It also is accessible from Salzburg and Munich airport, allowing a wide range of flight times out of the UK and from further afield.
It is worth noting that there are no runs back to the resort itself, which at 630m is too low, but impressive uplift ensures skiers can access high slopes with ease. For those who love a stat, the top lift reaches 2500m, there are 139 kms of pistes and teh resort, whilst predominantly offering red runs, does have Austria’s steepest piste Harakiri). As such, there is enough to satisfy most skiers.
If 139kms of piste is on the low side for your usual holiday destination, be aware that Mayrhofen has connected resorts in the Zillertal valley to explore (easily reached by bus or taxi). These connected resorts include Hintertux, a glacier resort with interesting slopes as well as guaranteed snow. Hintertux combines with Mayrhofen to form a shared ski area called Zillertal 3000. And there are two ski areas down the valley: the unpronounceable Hochzillertal-Hochfugen-Spieljoch and the snappily named ‘Zillertal Arena’ which consists of Zell am Ziller, Gerlos, Konigsleiten, Wald und Krimml/Hochkrimml.
You can ski it all on a Zillertal Superskipass – a worthy investment if travelling to Mayrhofen for a week.
Key Facts
Ski Area
139km
Ski Range
630m – 2500m
Blue Runs
28%
Red Runs
59%
Black Runs
13%
Season
December – April
Accommodation
Hotel Kramerwirt
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Hotel St Georg
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Sport & Spa Hotel Strass
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Elisabeth Hotel
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Hotel Pramstraller
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Hubers Boutique Hotel
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Useful Information
Beginners
The majority of the easy slopes are in the Penken area and you will be pleased to know that they are well placed for the sun – an added bonus. Once the basics have been mastered, it is thought that a third of the slopes are suitable for beginners. The ski school meets at the top of the main gondola – where you can use lockers to change before and after.
Intermediates
Mayrhofen is an intermediate playground with lots of lovely wide, meandering runs above-the-treeline. For those who have invested in the Zillertaller Superski Pass, you have so many options to choose. We think Mayyrhofen suits the adventurous intermediate a little better than the cautious intermediate however, for something slightly less steep, we suggest exploring what Hintertux has to offer.
Advanced
There is plenty of off-piste potential in Mayrhofen including two unprepared but marked ski routes. As well as exploring the plentiful off piste (please take a guide with you), there two unprepared but marked “Ski Routes” which we do suggest you tick off – one from the Penken down to the bottom station of the Horberg cable car in Schwendau 3 km (2 miles) from Mayrhofen and one from the Rastkogel to the Eggalm. These are only opened if there is enough snow. If black runs are your thing, the Harakiri, commonly referred to as “Austria’s steepest ski piste” is one of the main attractions. The ‘Devil’s Run’ beneath the Schneekar lift on the Schafskopf is another one to tick off and you must not forget to ski the resort’s longest run, the 5.5 km Ebenwald piste down the Ahorn, an interesting and thigh busting vertical descent of 1,335 m.
Snowboarding
Mayrhofen is very popular with Snowboarders. the resort itself has played host to international snowboarding competitions. The Burton Funpark, has three different lines (pro line, medium line, and novice line with various jumps) as well as a halfpipe and rails which are shaped daily. The novice line features some new small jumps and rails, as well as a banked slalom.
Evening tobogganing at Gerlosstein
Tobogganing is a popular activity in Mayrhofen for the kids (big or small!). If you head towards Gerlos from Zell am Ziller, you will arrive at the sleepy village of Hainzenberg. It is quick and easy to reach the toboggan run at 1,650 metres using the Gerlosstein lift. There are inns on the way down should you fancy a relaxing break.
Snow-tubing
There are alternative ways to slide down the slopes than skis & boards. The new snow fun at Gerlosstein ski resort in the Zillertal Arena is called snow-tubing. You can try out this new kind of fun in Zillertal down specially prepared tracks (each around 200 m long). The perfect complement to a spot of sledging at the Gerlosstein toboggan run! It is located 100 m from the mountain terminal of the Gerlossteinbahn cable car, head towards the Larchkopf drag lift (next to the conveyor belts).
Swimming/Fitness/Sauna
If you don’t fancy skiing one day or you just want to relax why not head to the Wellness Centre in the heart of Mayrhofen. Over three floors is a Family Spa equipped with a pool, sauna and relaxation area, a Sauna World with ten rejuvenating facilities including saunas, steam baths, an inhalation grotto, laconicum and infrared room. Lastly, there’s the fitness studio, if you want to keep your fitness up while on holiday, then there’s a fully equipped gym with workout classes available and the option for massages. There a plenty of types of massages on offer from aromatherapy massages, sports massages and reflexology.
Altitude Festival
Every year, the 5-day Altitude Comedy Festival brings the world’s biggest names in comedy to one of Europe’s finest ski resorts. Apres and evening shows keep the laughs coming till late, and you could find yourself sharing the slopes with the likes of John Bishop, Jim Jeffries, Marcus Brigstocke, Stephen K Amos and much more.
Rise and Fall Festival
This adrenaline-fuelled relay competition is one of the biggest extravaganzas of the season. In a race against the clock, teams of four take on four sporting disciplines: RISE – ski touring and mountain biking and FALL – paragliding and downhill skiing/snowboarding. And with free admission, this is one show you won’t want to miss.
Snowbombing
Far from your average festival, Snowbombing sees world-renowned DJs and bands take over the mountains of Mayrhofen for six days of non-stop music and partying.During the day, cruise the slopes and listen to music at the mountaintop stages. And when the sun sets, the fun starts, with breathtaking performances in incredible venues, including an igloo village, underground tennis club and forest area.
View the live snow report for Mayrhofen here
There are a variety of ski schools and practice areas, particularly at the mountain stations of the feeder lifts. They offer an easy way for children to become acquainted with the sport thanks to their magic carpets and tow rope lifts. Easy runs lead to most of the lifts.
Children’s area at the Penken lift mountain station
The Ski School Mayrhofen runs a children’s area for children from 3 – 12 years old at the mountain station of the Penken lift (with animation and childcare).
Bobo’s children’s area at the Horberg lift mountain station
The Skischule Fankhauser from Hippach has two magic carpets in their children’s area at the mountain station of the Horberg lift.
Bobo’s children’s area at the Horberg lift mountain station
The Horberg children’s area is located in Stockach, not far from the base station of the Horberg lift. Children can learn to ski right at the base thanks to the magic carpet and tow rope lift.
Children’s area at the Horberg base station
Children’s area run by the Ski School Mayrhofen 3000The Ski School Mayrhofen offers children’s ski courses on Bruno’s ski meadow on the Ahorn.
Children’s area run by the Ski School Mayrhofen 3000
Penkenjoch children’s area run by the Skischule Finkenberg.
Children’s park at the Eggalm lift
The Eggalm lift children’s area is located right next to the mountain station of the Eggalm lift.
Play Arena
2 levels on more than 1,200 m² in Vorderlanersbach-Tux. The kids can really play in the indoor area: climbing wall, cinema, bouncy castle, high rope garden and much more – of course with individualized childcare. Infants are also cared for (as of newborns).
Area Map
Hotel Kramerwirt
Hotel St Georg
Sport and Spa Hotel Strass
Elisabeth Hotel
Hotel Pramstraller
Hubers Boutique Hotel
Getting There
The main gateway airports for Mayrhofen are Innsbruck and Salzburg airports in Austria, and Munich international airport in Germany, which all have transfer times of between one and two hours. Glacius can assist with all road transfer requirements. Another way to get to the resort is by Inter City rail services stopping at Jenbach, then the Zillertalbahn train to Mayrhofen.
By Plane
Innsbruck is well-served by Innsbruck (75 km), Salzburg (175 km) and Munich (196 km) airports with transfer times by road typically between one and two hours with good airport transfer connections from each of these airports as well as from Bolzano and Memmingen to Mayrhofen.
Innsbruck Airport 75km / 1 hour
Salzburg Airport 170km / 1 hour 50 minutes
Munich Airport 196km / 2 hours
Bolzano Airport 189km / 2 hours 10 minutes
Memmingen Airport 240km / 3 hours
By Road
Arriving from the east or north
From Munich / Salzburg / Vienna take the A1, A8 and A93 to Kiefersfelden. Then continue on the A12 to the Inntalautobahn to the exit for Zillertal – then follow the B169 to Mayrhofen-Hippach.
Arriving from the west
Arriving via Vorarlberg in the direction of Innsbruck along the A12 der Inntalautobahn until the exit for Zillertal. Then continue along the B169 Zillertal federal highway to Mayrhofen-Hippach.
Arriving from the south
From Klagenfurt (Carinthia), take the A10 to Salzburg and A9 from Graz to Liezen, and then continue along the A10 to Salzburg and Bischofshofen.
By Train
Rail travellers should take the main lines from Munich or Salzburg and change at Jenbach for a local Zillertalbahn connection. The railway station is served by a local bus service to the resort. Buses also run through the valley on an hourly basis. For train times go to: https://www.oebb.at/