by Mayrhofen has the chameleon quality that is the forte of so many Austrian resorts – whatever visitors want it to be, and very successful too. He can rock, he can rap, he can be the king of cool where even the toughest snowboarders are happy to hang out and rub shoulders with skiers.
For many years Mayrhofen has been one of the most popular resorts in the Alps for Brits, whether on skis or snowboards, and is the heart of a Tirolean valley filled with ski resorts. It has 142km of runs and 60 lifts, and is renowned for reliable snow throughout the season, with the runs mostly between 1,650m and 2,500m despite the village being situated at a modest 630m.
The slopes are well suited to decent intermediates, full of red-quality runs (although there is plenty of blue on the piste map) – but Mayrhofen also has Austria’s steepest slope, the Harakiri.
Stay on track with the essential facts from the resort below, and scroll down for our insider’s guide to a day on the piste, expert ratings and advice. For more Mayrhofen inspiration, check out our guides to the resort’s best accommodation, restaurants and après ski.
In this guide:
Inside the resort
This traditional village in the Zillertal – Ziller valley – was one of the original migration points for British skiers in the seventies, and its allure has faded. In fact holidaymakers have been coming to Mayrhofen for over 100 years and providing hospitality is a way of life for the locals.
Mayrhofen has a busy center and is well served by equipment rental, clothing and high-end winter fashion shops. Après is particularly lively here – it starts in huts up the mountain when lunch is barely over. There are bars, including the Pilzbar with its oh-so-Austrian shade bar, around the top of the Penken gondola at 1,800m, and more await in the village, with Europop throbbing from the speakers.
Mayrhofen also hosts a number of major events, none more so than Snow Bombing, a week-long snow sports and music event held every spring. The Zillertal is also known as one of the most musical valleys in Austria – almost every family has a member of a band, be it folk, rock or oompah. This extends to the mountain, and music wafts across the slopes from every mountain hut.
This is set in a rural, picturesque village of large timber, whose traditional Tyrone architecture has been painstakingly preserved as it has grown.
Off the mountain, there are several toboggan runs, ice skating, winter hiking trails, snowshoeing, ice climbing, paragliding and hang gliding, horse riding and sleigh rides.
New for 2023/24 is Visorium Mayrhofen, a new indoor leisure facility with various activities focused on historical stories, legends and landmarks of the Zillertal region.
On the slopes
It is perhaps surprising that the slopes of Mayrhofen are mostly above the trees, considering that the resort at 630m is moderate. But most of the slopes are between 1,650m and 2,500m, which means they are fairly guaranteed of snow during a long season.
Mayrhofen has 142km of runs and 60 lifts, with Hippach, Finkenberg and Lanersbach interconnected – in the Zillertal as a whole there are 542km of runs and 180 lifts, covering the areas of Fügen, Hochfügen, Kaltenbach, Zell am Ziller, Gerlos, too. Königsleiten and Hintertux. All multi-day passes cover the entire valley.
In Mayrhofen there are 66km of red runs, 44km of blue and 32km of black – although this is in Austria, some of the blues here might be graded red in other resorts. The slopes are particularly good for confident intermediates, and many of the reds are a real challenge.
More expert skiers and snowboarders will find plenty to enjoy – and Mayrhofen has Austria’s steepest slope, the 78 percent Harakiri (obviously it can only be that gradient for a short stretch of the entire run ). And after the fresh snow there is a respectable amount of good piste not far from the marked runs. For good intermediates there are steep options available from all lifts.
Beginners will find designated areas to start their adventures – but not necessarily in places where it’s easy to meet more experienced friends for lunch. The best nursery slopes are on the Ahorn, a separate ski area from Penken. Beginners take a cable car there from town (the Ahornbahn, the largest cable car in Austria, carrying up to 160 passengers), and return home the same way at the end of the day. But there are some beginner slopes near the top of the Penken gondola, and some steep slopes coming down from Ahorn to the town, so there is scope for group bargaining.
For variety, there are other options available for the start of the day. Some people turn over to the Ahorn cable car and have two or three warm-up runs – the slopes west down from Ath Ahorn are extremely steep and deserted in the morning, and usually freshly groomed. The challenging 5.5 km long ValleyRun with its spectacular views over the Zillertal Valley is good for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
Another option is to take the ski bus to one of the other gondolas that go up to the main area. Lanersbach has a gondola up to the remote Eggalm sector, and another to the Rastkogel area in Penken. Finkenberg has one up to the Penken area, and Hippach has a gondola up to the valley between Penken and Horberg.
The Penken Park at Mayrhofen is considered one of the best terrain parks in the Alps. At 2,100m, below the Sun-Jet chairlift on Penken, it is full of kickers, as well as boxes and rails. There is a separate area for children, with its own lift, as well as dedicated spaces set aside for intermediate, advanced and pro cyclists.
More fun can be had with the FunRides on Ahorn Hill and Penken. The RacingParadise Unterberg at Piste 15 offers three gold, silver and bronze giant slalom courses. The SkiMovie Run at piste 16, the BlackAttack at the Möslbahn, provides a filmed passage and you can download a free video based on your ski pass number.
Who should go?
The slopes in Mayrhofen are well suited to moderate intermediates. They are especially good for those who want to build confidence, and many of the reds are a real challenge. With 542km of runs on offer across the Zillertal there are also plenty of miles to be covered. Its location is also very popular for weekends. Snowboarders also love it in Mayrhofen, thanks to its world-famous terrain park. Equally as good is the apres scene, on and off the mountain, and a full schedule of festivals and events, including Snowbombing, which means party animals are well catered for.
Know before you go
Essential information
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British Embassy Vienna: (00 43 1 713 1575; gov.uk), Jauresgasse 12, 1030 Vienna
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Emergency services: Dial 112
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Tourist office: See mayrhofen.at, the website of the Mayrhofen Tourist Board, for weather reports, lift status, webcams, traffic data and lists of local events. Collect maps, leaflets and other information from the office located at the bottom of town in the conference centre.
The basics
Local laws & etiquette
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It’s customary to have formal greetings when you meet someone, and you’ll hear ‘Grüss Gott’ (greetings to the almighty), or the more mundane ‘Guten Morgen/Tag/Abend’, almost everywhere you go, and it’s normal return the blessing. . Locals love their titles, so if you’re meeting someone with a university degree, you’re not only expected to know this, but you’re expected to use it the title while shaking hands e.g. ‘Grüß Gott Herr Doktor’ in cafes and restaurants. the waiter will expect to hear ‘Herr Ober’ (Mr waiter) from guests seeking attention.
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Tips are not counted, and are not usually left on the table. After the waiter gives you the bill add about 10 percent and ask him to add it to the total.
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Thank you simple’Thank you‘; ‘Please both means ‘please’ and ‘you are welcome’.
