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8 Reasons Why Mayrhofen is a Great Ski Resort

 

Mayrhofen is found in the picturesque Zillertal Valley and is a hugely popular ski resort 

 

A pretty town, Mayrhofen is one of the most popular Austrian ski resorts, and it opens its doors to all types of visitor, whether you’re a family or a group of young adults looking for some fun.

Nestled in the Zillertal Valley, it’s got a very dependable snow record, meaning you’re very likely to get some good quality skiing during the winter months.

Beginners and intermediates will be well at home in Mayrhofen, while advanced skiers also have a decent range of options. There’s also the opportunity to explore a vastly greater ski area than just the local Mayrhofen slopes.

Meanwhile, party enthusiasts will enjoy the various après and nightlife hotspots in Mayrhofen.

Keep reading to find out all the key reasons why Mayrhofen should be on your list.

 

READ MORE: If you're looking for a large ski area, Les Arcs could be a great pick. Find out all the reasons why Les Arcs is a great ski resort.

Meanwhile, why not check out Italy? Discover all the best reasons why you should visit Cervinia

 

1. Very reliable snow conditions all winter

 

While the town of Mayrhofen itself isn’t the highest at 655m, its ski area is much higher. Jump on the Penkenbahn gondola, which whizzes you up to 1,790m, or the Ahornbahn gondola, which takes you up to 1,980m to a smaller and therefore quieter side of the mountain.

These are essentially the starting points of the ski area, and you can venture up another 700m, with the highest skiable point being at 2,500m on the Penkenbahn side. You can’t ski back into town at any point, but that’s only because the town itself is unusually low for a ski resort - the actual ski slopes are high!

Snowfall is also reliable in Mayrhofen, with January averaging at 22cm of snowfall per week over the past 10 years, while December and February hit 18cm, and March and April receive 16cm and 11cm respectively.

If trends continue, then December through to March will receive an average of at least 3 days where it snows per week - although in April this drops down to 2.

 



 

2. Beginners and intermediates will feel at home

 

Mayrhofen is both a great place to learn and to consolidate your ski skills, thanks to the vast amount of comfortable terrain there is to tackle. Adding to this, the ski schools are outstanding, and will really help you out - including if you’re an adult.

Overall, Mayrhofen offers a whopping 43 blue runs - meaning there’s loads to be getting on with for newbies.

Beginners have a number of choices to aim for. Firstly, the Ahorn area (up the Ahornbahn gondola from town) has lots of quiet, wide pistes interlinked by comfortable, modern lifts. Examples of these include Pistes 1 and 2, which are great for practising and can be found at the top of the 8SB Ahorn lift.

There is also plenty up the Penkenbahn gondola, including the Übungsland Penken, which is right outside of the top station, and has drag lifts, magic carpets and baby slopes. Check out our beginner’s guide to Mayrhofen for all the key details!

Intermediates can get stuck into all those blues, but they’ll also be keen for the brilliant 75 red pistes on offer. The vast majority of the skiing within reach of Mayrhofen is suitable for intermediates, with plenty of lovely cruising runs across the mountains. Piste 77 is a notable one, where you can descend up to 1,000m along a comfortable track.

The fun doesn’t stop at Mayrhofen’s slopes though - there’s loads more to discover nearby…

Mayrhofen (and the Zillertal Valley) is home to plenty of comfortable skiing for beginners and intermediates

 

3. Strong access to a vast amount of skiing along the Zillertal Valley (including a glacier!)

 

The intermediate skiing haven isn’t limited to just Mayrhofen.

If you want to upgrade Mayrhofen’s 139km of local slopes to an eye-watering 548km, then it isn’t hard to do so!

The Zillertal Valley is home to four large ski areas (of which Mayrhofen is just one), all of which are an intermediate’s dream. These include:

  • Hochzillertal-Hochfügen-Spieljoch
  • Zillertal Arena
  • Mayrhofner Bergbahnen
  • Ski & Glacier World Zillertal 3000

The first of these is an intermediate’s dream, with almost exclusively red and blue runs. The Zillertal Arena is the territory of Zell am Ziller, and is useful for all types of skier - including having some rigorous blacks. The last area revolves around the Hintertux glacier, which has a nice mix of blues, reds and blacks, and notably some lovely, wide cruising runs.

You can grab yourself an all-in-one ticket for the entire valley, giving you access to 180 ski lifts in total. The Zillertal Superskipass allows you the flexibility to choose between 2 or 21 days - so if you want to do a couple of days in just Mayrhofen to start your holiday, followed by 2 or 3 for the whole valley, then you can.

To get around, your ticket will give you free access to the buses and most public transport in the valley.

An adult pass for 2 days is €151 for the 24-25 season, while youth go in at €121 and children at €68.

 



 

4. Home to Austria’s steepest ski slope

With a 78% incline and an altitude drop of 375m, the ‘Harakiri’ slope is Austria’s most extreme when it comes to steepness - and therefore arguably its most famous.

Just a chairlift away from the top Penkenbahn station, it starts with a gentle meander, before the drop suddenly starts, taking you 1500m in total.

It’s certainly not one for fresh beginners, although advanced skiers and strong intermediates shouldn’t be too scared - there’s a big levelling off at the bottom which makes it easy to control yourself at the end. Focus on staying on your feet, turning when there’s good snow, and reaching that level off, then you can gradually build your confidence on it.

One of the wonders of the skiing world, plenty of people try it, too - it's not just professional skiers that tackle it.

That being said, Harakiri roughly translates from Japanese as “ritual suicide by samurai”, so it’s definitely not easy! Use your own judgement wisely, and definitely only do it if you feel confident in yourself.

 

Harakiri is Austria's steepest ski slope - it reaches a 78% gradient at one stage 

 

5. Mayrhofen is great for après-ski

 

If you’re after a lively time once you’re off the slopes, then Mayrhofen is certainly a good option. The Austrians are known for having a good time, and this resort is one of their favourites - in fact, it made Iglu Ski’s list of the top 10 après resorts in Europe.

You can start your night in the early afternoon at the top of the main Penkenbahn gondola station, where 2 venues are waiting for you and your mates. The Pilzbar and Elchbar are both big chalet-style buildings with huge sun terraces (and plenty of indoor space, too) in which you can find loud music blazing out to dance to.

From there, jump on the gondola back to town, then head straight to either the Brück’n Stadl or the Ice Bar, where more live DJs and music will carry you through the night. The Arena Nightclub in the basement of the Sport & Spa Hotel Strass is then the place to be, with great musical talent bringing the energy to a bustling dancefloor.

There are also quieter spots and nice pubs and bars to watch sports in and play some games. Have a look at our complete guide to Mayrhofen’s après and nightlife for more information.

Mayrhofen is also home to several festivals, which really add to the going out scene.

 

Mayrhofen's après scene is bustling - the Brück’n Stadl is one such example

 



 

6. It's a proper old town

 

Unlike many modern ski resorts, Mayrhofen has a long history. It was first mentioned in writing in the 1200s, and since has been a farming village. Summer tourism started in the early 1900s, with skiing following on in the 1950s.

This long history means there’s a lovely character and atmosphere, with proper locals living there year-round. The town has a main high street packed full of historic restaurants and cafes, several churches, proper supermarkets and plenty of shops. There’s also a school, and even a local football club if you fancy catching a game.

It’s a really pretty village, packed full of traditional Germanic architecture, giving you a genuine insight into the Austrian alpine way of living.

However, since it’s a proper town, it is located at a fairly low altitude - meaning ski-in/ski-out accommodation isn’t really an option. If this is what you’re hoping for, have a read of our best ski-in/ski-out resorts.


7. You can take the train to Mayrhofen

 

Mayrhofen is also home to a train station, meaning you can quickly get out to Innsbruck and other parts of Austria nearby for day trips - potentially useful for someone on the trip who doesn’t fancy skiing.

It also means you could try a rail ski holiday, rather than flying. While the train is often perceived as being a bit slower, it is also far, far cleaner than air travel in environmental terms.

 

8. There's lots to do when you're not skiing

 

Mayrhofen has plenty to keep you busy once you’re off the slopes. Of course we’ve already mentioned the après scene (Point 5), but this section is for activities other than that.

The town has a lovely open-air ice rink which remains open all through winter. It welcomes people of all abilities and ages - so don’t be shy! The ice rink also has 2 curling lanes, giving you a rare opportunity to have a go at this intriguing winter sport.

Sticking to the outdoor stuff, there are plenty of well-kept walking trails around the hills, and several snowshoeing routes, too. The very adventurous among us might fancy giving paragliding a go, while there are opportunities to go tobogganing and snow-tubing.

If you want to stay indoors in the warm, then the Erlebnisbad Pool and Wellness Centre has an indoor adventure pool fit with crazy slides for all ages to have fun, as well as relaxation areas with a jacuzzi and sauna.

There is also a cinema which plays films in English, and back down the valley in Kaltenbach is a skittles bowling alley. You could also play crazy golf with a beautiful backdrop at the ZweiEnder - not far from the swimming pool.

Meanwhile, a quick trip to the Zillertal Dairy and Show Farm might be fun. This is a live dairy farm which gives tourists a brilliant insight into the way its products are made - with tastings of course. It’s got an average of 4.4 stars from nearly 4,000 Google reviews, so why not check it out?

 

Discover how great Mayrhofen is for yourself

 

If Mayrhofen is sounding like the place for you, then let us help make it the perfect trip.

We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency, with a team passionate about skiing. We’ve all done seasons in the mountains, and our sales team can help you choose the best resorts, accommodation and other little details to ensure you have a great time.

Have a look at our best ski deals in Mayrhofen - you can book online, or if you’d prefer to speak to someone to tackle anything on your mind, then give us a call on 020 3848 3700.

Why not check out our group booking guide as well - it might help you out if you’re in charge and stressed about sorting a holiday for lots of people.