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Introduction
One of the world's leading ski resorts, Mayrhofen is a lovely, comprehensive ski town that has the twin advantages of having maintained its picturesque Tirolean-chalet-style architecture and being located in the beautiful Ziller Valley, close to Innsbruck.
Mayrhofen has a long history as a tourist resort, partly for mountain sports, including summer climbing and hiking, that dates back more than a century. Winter sports development has been a little more recent, with the first ski lifts installed in 1954. In modern times Mayrhofen's comparatively low altitude may be a concern if global warming projections prove correct, but the lifts go very high and the slopes have extensive snowmaking coverage, so long as it's cold enough.
The resort is especially popular, year round, with the British and German markets, along with a large number of Dutch visitors. Less than 10% of guests are Austrians. The constant flow of tourist business has helped Mayrhofen create excellent tourism infrastructure, which many other ski areas that rely on only three or four months a year of steady income, cannot match.
Mayrhofen has a long history as a tourist resort, partly for mountain sports, including summer climbing and hiking, that dates back more than a century. Winter sports development has been a little more recent, with the first ski lifts installed in 1954. In modern times Mayrhofen's comparatively low altitude may be a concern if global warming projections prove correct, but the lifts go very high and the slopes have extensive snowmaking coverage, so long as it's cold enough.
The resort is especially popular, year round, with the British and German markets, along with a large number of Dutch visitors. Less than 10% of guests are Austrians. The constant flow of tourist business has helped Mayrhofen create excellent tourism infrastructure, which many other ski areas that rely on only three or four months a year of steady income, cannot match.
Mountain facts
Resort elevation: 630m (2,067ft).
Top elevation: Mayrhofen: 2,500m (8,062ft); Zillertaler Superskipass: 3,250m (10,663ft).
Base elevation: Mayrhofen: 630m (2,067ft); Zillertaler Superskipass: 580m (1,900ft).
Number of lifts: Mayrhofen: 49; Zillertaler Superskipass: 177.
Number of runs: Mayrhofen: 59.
Average annual snowfall: Unavailable.
Where in the world?
Mayrhofen is located in the Austrian Tirol's Ziller Valley, in the northwest of the country.
Hit the slopes
The local ski slopes are open from mid December until mid April.
Mayrhofen's ski area stretches to two extremes. On the one hand the resort is one of the lowest in the Alps, but investment in some excellent high-speed, high-capacity chairlifts, along with some wise strategic planning, means skiers can ascend a world-class 2,370 vertical metres (7,776ft) to ski on the Tux glacier, one of the most snowsure ski areas in the world and one of the few remaining that endeavours to open every day of the year (weather permitting). Please note however it is not possible to ski that full vertical in one go, and a short bus link needs to be made to get to and from the glacier.
To make the most of this connection you must opt for the full Zillertaler Superskipass (minimum duration four days) which is valid at all 12 or so ski areas in the increasingly lift-linked Ziller Valley. That means nearly 150 lifts servicing more than 635km (400 miles) of trails.
But if all that sounds a little daunting, you may be satisfied just to ski or board on the local Ahorn and Penken mountains, the former with full snowmaking cover. These have a wide range of skiing from gentle, wide, family trails up to 5.5km (3.5 miles) long, to Austria's steepest slope, the Harakiri, which has an average incline of 78%. Snowboarders and freestyle skiers also have the excellent Burton Park Mayrhofen.
Mayrhofen's ski area stretches to two extremes. On the one hand the resort is one of the lowest in the Alps, but investment in some excellent high-speed, high-capacity chairlifts, along with some wise strategic planning, means skiers can ascend a world-class 2,370 vertical metres (7,776ft) to ski on the Tux glacier, one of the most snowsure ski areas in the world and one of the few remaining that endeavours to open every day of the year (weather permitting). Please note however it is not possible to ski that full vertical in one go, and a short bus link needs to be made to get to and from the glacier.
To make the most of this connection you must opt for the full Zillertaler Superskipass (minimum duration four days) which is valid at all 12 or so ski areas in the increasingly lift-linked Ziller Valley. That means nearly 150 lifts servicing more than 635km (400 miles) of trails.
But if all that sounds a little daunting, you may be satisfied just to ski or board on the local Ahorn and Penken mountains, the former with full snowmaking cover. These have a wide range of skiing from gentle, wide, family trails up to 5.5km (3.5 miles) long, to Austria's steepest slope, the Harakiri, which has an average incline of 78%. Snowboarders and freestyle skiers also have the excellent Burton Park Mayrhofen.
Beyond the slopes
The Adventure Pool in Mayrhofen is one of the best in any ski resort. It includes amazing slides up to 101m (335ft) long and a high-quality spa which opened in December 2007. There's also a cinema, bowling, games room and indoor tennis and squash courts.
Outdoor activities available include sleigh rides, ice skating, paragliding, ballooning, horse riding, toboggan runs, tubing and 45km (28 miles) of signposted and cleared winter hiking trails.
Outdoor activities available include sleigh rides, ice skating, paragliding, ballooning, horse riding, toboggan runs, tubing and 45km (28 miles) of signposted and cleared winter hiking trails.
Family fun
Mayrhofen has put a lot of effort into its facilities for families. There's a weekly programme of special activities for families on top of the attractions such as the adventure pool.
Wuppy's Kinderland (Waldbadstrasse 539) is located in the new leisure pool complex and accepts children aged from three months to seven years old. It includes a Sleeping Beauty house, play areas and cosy corners and has its own fully equipped kitchen and professionally trained staff. Older children aged four and older can join ski kindergarten in one of the four ski schools.
Wuppy's Kinderland (Waldbadstrasse 539) is located in the new leisure pool complex and accepts children aged from three months to seven years old. It includes a Sleeping Beauty house, play areas and cosy corners and has its own fully equipped kitchen and professionally trained staff. Older children aged four and older can join ski kindergarten in one of the four ski schools.
Retail therapy
As one of the larger resorts in the Alps, Mayrhofen has a wide range of more than 100 stores. As well as the inevitable extensive choice of ski shops, there's a good selection of craft and souvenir shops selling local needlework, wood carving and woollen goods. Beyond this normal ski resort selection, there are fashion boutiques, photographic stores, a music shop, book shop, florist and jeweller.
If you're a dairy fan, take a trip to the new Sennerei Zillertal dairy on the outskirts of town (Hollenzen 116) to see the production process, sample and buy. It's worth a visit if only to see the large model cows on the roof.
If you're a dairy fan, take a trip to the new Sennerei Zillertal dairy on the outskirts of town (Hollenzen 116) to see the production process, sample and buy. It's worth a visit if only to see the large model cows on the roof.
Après ski
Mayrhofen attracts a lively crowd (as well as the more mature market) and has a dozen busy night spots, including several with a British theme, in name at least. The Prinz Charles Pub (Karg-Haus), Scotland Yard Pub (Scheulingstrasse 372) and Piccadilly (Scheulingstrasse 370) next door are among these.
The giant Strass Hotel (Hauptstrasse 470) has six different bar experiences available including a sports lounge with events on the big screen, the New Speakeasy Arena (one of two nightclubs in town), the laid back lobby bar, an après-ski ice bar, a terrace bar with live Tirolean music daily and, if you bring your swimwear, even an aqua bar.
If you fancy a flutter, head for the optimistically named WinWin Casino (Am Marienbrunnen 346).
The giant Strass Hotel (Hauptstrasse 470) has six different bar experiences available including a sports lounge with events on the big screen, the New Speakeasy Arena (one of two nightclubs in town), the laid back lobby bar, an après-ski ice bar, a terrace bar with live Tirolean music daily and, if you bring your swimwear, even an aqua bar.
If you fancy a flutter, head for the optimistically named WinWin Casino (Am Marienbrunnen 346).
Eating out
There are more than 30 places to eat in Mayrhofen, most of them family-run, traditional restaurants in the hotels serving good, hearty Tirolean cuisine as well as international dishes.
The Pramstaller family's restaurant and pizzeria in the Gasthof Edelweiss (Scheulingstrasse 352) is one of the Italian options. The Hotel-Gasthof-Restaurant Perauer (Ahornstrasse 854) has been refurbished recently and is located right next to the Ahorn cable car. It has both a traditional stüberl and a high-quality restaurant serving Austrian and European cuisine.
The Pramstaller family's restaurant and pizzeria in the Gasthof Edelweiss (Scheulingstrasse 352) is one of the Italian options. The Hotel-Gasthof-Restaurant Perauer (Ahornstrasse 854) has been refurbished recently and is located right next to the Ahorn cable car. It has both a traditional stüberl and a high-quality restaurant serving Austrian and European cuisine.
Getting around
A valid ski pass entitles you to use the local ski buses running between Ahorn, Penken and Horberg lifts. There is also an express ski bus from Mayrhofen direct to Horbergbahn.
Splashing out
Three different companies are keen to take you on a tandem paragliding descent from the peaks above the resort. Simply take three or four steps and you're in the air, or ski off. Insurance and a video film of your heroic descent are provided. Flugtaxi Mayrhofen (website: www.action-club-zillertal.com) is one of the leading providers.
Accommodation
Luxury
Elisabeth HotelThe resort's only 5-star hotel - family run, offering a traditional ambience and total luxury.
432 Einfahrt Mitte
Tel: (05285) 67670.
Website: www.elisabethhotel.com
Moderate
Hotel Maria TheresiaCentral 3-star accommodation in a beautiful wooden chalet style, with sauna and solarium.
Dursterstrasse 227
Tel: (05285) 62433.
Website: www.hotel-maria-theresia.com
Budget
Hotel Garni PöllSmall, traditionally designed and central bed and breakfast.
Förstersteig 231
Tel: (05285) 62412.
Website: http://members.aon.at/hotel.poell.aon.at
Getting there
Nearest airport: Innsbruck (INN).
Distance to resort: 70km (43 miles).
Driving time: 1 hour 10 minutes.
Nearest railway station: Mayrhofen.
Distance to resort: 70km (43 miles).
Driving time: 1 hour 10 minutes.
Nearest railway station: Mayrhofen.
Website
This resort is good for...
Summer skiing, Non-skiers, Experts, Intermediates, Families, Snowboarders, Après ski, Beginners, Snow reliability
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