24 hours Kitzbühel

The heart of Kitzbühel is where I love to start my day the most: Pano is my favourite place to meet friends for breakfast, but I also enjoy coming here by myself and enjoying a good morning read in the local newspaper. The place has a huge selection of delicious bread spreads on offer, as well as tasty egg dishes.

Afterwards I stroll through town and check Kitzbühel’s stores, where the prices can be pretty high, but there are also a few more affordable options. Unfortunately, I always feel drawn to the labels which force you to dig deep into your pockets. I’m always glued to the shop windows of Helmut Eder and after a while I’ll go inside, even if it’s only to talk to the ladies in the store about the latest trends. Another place where I like to hang out is the Café Burgstall which is conveniently located close to my home.

Exploring Kitzbühel’s surrounding is a must, as there are so many wonderful things to enjoy in the greater area. The little village of Ellmau, for example, is just beautiful and I love to come here a lot! Especially the café Zauberei is where I always sit down for a lovely piece of cake or cup of coffee.

When I feel like going for a walk or running I like to go to the lake Schwarzsee and burn some energy on the trails. The distance of 3.5 km is ideal for me, as a rather casual sportsperson. There is also a trail where you can do various exercises which is quite fun, too. Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit in summer for a refreshing dip in the lake when you’re finished and all sweaty – great fun!

There is a lake I like even better – the Kirchberger Badesee. It’s cooler, the water is clearer, and you can unleash your inner child on the massive slides.

A quieter although no less enjoyable activity is going for a walk through the wonderful Wildpark in Aurach. Deers frequently cross your path and you forget about time up here. The atmosphere here is very special.

This is what I really appreciate about Kitzbühel: it can get very crowded, busy and wild, but on the other hand, there are so many peaceful and magical spots in the surrounding nature that can calm you down immediately – it’s just the right mix!

A few of my favourite mountain huts are the Gasthof Hagstein, Rosi’s Sonnbergstubn, Hornköpflhütte and the Maierl Alm. They’ve all got great sun terraces where you can indulge in Tyrolean delicacies while taking in the views. One of the most popular mountain hot spots is Bei Tomschy in Hochkitzbühel. This is where the typical Kitzbühel lifestyle is celebrated, at 1700 metres above sea level. The best time to go there is on Saturday afternoon, when you can put on your dancing shoes and party to cool house music all day long!

In the wintertime, I prefer to hit the slopes in the off-season, when it’s not quite so crowded. When I do, I always end up having a chocolate chilli shot at the Hochbrunn hut. Make sure you leave early enough so as not to have to ski in the dark though. A favourite locale of mine to go to for a hearty dinner after a long day of skiing or hiking is the Saukaserstub’n in Jochberg. It’s warm and welcoming, very down-to-earth, and the food is simply divine. I also have to recommend the lobster at 1^st Lobster, the Moosbeerschmarn – a local dessert – at Rosi’s Sonnbergstubn and the Schnitzel at Leo’s Landhäusel, which almost tastes too good to be believed.

Kitzbühel is pretty famous for its party scene as well, and I always like to start a good night out at the Reisch Bar or at the Fünferl and dance away the hours at the Club Take Five afterwards. If prefer some good conversation after dinner, I meet friends at the wine bar Hillinger. Along with its excellent wine, they are delicious cheese platters, with the best chutney I’ve ever tasted. Another cosy bar is the hotel bar of the A-Rosa, where you can sit in front of a big open fireplace.

Kitzbühel is small but big in what it is and there is always something going on here. Three years ago I was about to leave Kitzbühel for good, but then I met my boyfriend and decided to stay on – and I’m very glad I did.