Kitzbühel, Austria for the Hahnenkamm World Cup Ski Races: What to Know

There are bucket list trips… and then there are bucket list trips. The trips you have dreamed about for years just hoping someday you’ll make it there. For me, attending the Hahnenkamm Races in Kitzbühel, Austria was my number one bucket list item in life. And I finally decided to make it happen!

As an avid ski racing fan, this event has always been the holy grail, aka the “Super Bowl of ski racing.” The Streif downhill is widely considered the most famous and demanding downhill course in the world, and every January, nearly 90,000 fans arrive to this small alpine town to witness history, speed, and spectacle.

This trip wasn’t just another ski vacation for me. I had this trip planned for TWO years and the anticipation and countdown felt like forever.

So, here’s what an unforgettable week in Kitzbühel for the Hahnenkamm races looked like!

Also, hi there! My name is Sydney and welcome to my blog, The Après Society! I cover a variety of travel and skiing related topics, as these are my passions in life, and I am so excited and fulfilled to be writing about them. I hope this blog makes your life just a little bit better either with travel hacks, outfit inspiration, or just pure entertainment.

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Why the Hahnenkamm Is the Super Bowl of Ski Racing

If you follow ski racing even casually, you know the name Kitzbühel. But being there in person makes you realize that this isn’t just a race, it’s a cultural phenomenon. The Austrians LOVE their ski racing. And I LOVE that! In Austria, ski racing is like how football is in America.

The Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm races aren’t simply sporting events; they’re woven into the identity of the town of Kitbühel. There’s statues everywhere of past winners, and history of the sport of ski racing is sprinkled all over the town.

The downhill on the Streif is the crown jewel you can collect in the sport. It’s steep, technical, terrifying, and absolutely legendary. Past winners include the greatest names in the sport, and everywhere you go, gondolas, bars, restaurants, streets; you feel the intensity of the race.

You don’t just watch the Hahnenkamm.
You experience it!

Getting There: Munich to Kitzbühel by Train

We traveled from Munich to Wörgl, then transferred from Wörgl to Kitzbühel by train. Overall, the journey was smooth, scenic, and straightforward, and it’s a great option if you don’t want to rent a car in a foreign country.

Riding into the Austrian Alps by train feels cinematic: snow-dusted mountains, storybook villages, and that cozy European winter energy that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a postcard!

The only hiccup came for us was on the return trip on Sunday.

Because of post-race crowds, the train station in Kitzbühel was absolutely packed. In hindsight, I 100% should have booked a private driver from Kitzbühel to Wörgl, especially since we had suitcases and a tight connection. It was soooo chaotic. Tons of pushing, shoving, and trying to squeeze onto a crowded train.

We made it… but it was so stressful.

Lesson learned: book a driver on departure day if you’re traveling during race weekend.

Where We Stayed: Airbnb Just Outside the Chaos

We stayed in a one-bedroom condo we found on Airbnb, located a few blocks outside of the city center and it was the perfect choice for us.

During Hahnenkamm week, Kitzbühel turns into a full-blown party town. The village center gets loud, crowded, and rowdy late into the night, so being slightly removed gave us the best of both worlds:

• Close enough to walk into town
• Far enough to actually sleep without the crowd noise

The condo was comfortable, convenient, and ideal for decompressing after long days of skiing, spectating, and exploring.

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Skiing in Kitzbühel: Two Days on the Slopes

We skied two days during our trip, and it was fascinating to compare skiing in the Austrian Alps vs. Colorado (where I live).

Snow Conditions & Terrain Differences

As expected, the snow felt much different than Colorado:

• More icy and firm
• Only groomed runs open
• Limited off-piste terrain open at the time

Colorado tends to offer lighter, drier powder and more accessible off-trail skiing, whereas Kitzbühel felt more focused on fast, groomed cruising, which honestly fits the racing culture perfectly. Everyone there had some sort of variation of race ski. No all mountain skis in sight!

Lift Lines & Crowd Management

Despite the massive event happening, lift lines weren’t nearly as bad as I expected. The resort handles crowds impressively well, and we never felt like skiing was a lost cause just because it was race week. The ski resort is also incredibly massive! It felt way bigger than Vail and Whistler, which are some of the largest resorts in North America.

Views That Don’t Feel Real

The views of the Austrian Alps deserve their own paragraph.

I’ve skied all over Colorado, and I don’t say this lightly, but the Austrian Alps looked unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

Rolling mountain ranges stretching into the horizon. Alpine villages tucked into valleys. A more storybook, old-world feel that felt like I was dreaming when I looked out at the mountains.

Lift Culture Shock: The Safety Bar Rule

One of the most surprising differences?

The chairlift safety bar (lol).

In Austria, the bar is lowered immediately after loading, and it’s absolutely required. We didn’t put it down right away one lift and we were immediately being yelled at in German. There’s no debate, no hesitation, no casual “we’ll lower it if someone asks.”

Not sure how I felt about this…

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Ski Rentals & Storage: Intersport at Hahnenkammbahn

We rented skis from Intersport at the Hahnenkammbahn, and the experience was fantastic.

• Easy rental process
• Friendly staff
• They even swapped out skis for us when we wanted to try different ones with no hassle
• Everything felt super streamlined and efficient

We also rented a ski locker, which ended up being one of the best decisions of the trip. Our skis stayed in the same building as the gondola, which made mornings effortless and eliminated the need to haul gear through town.

10/10 convenience!

Riding the Gondola: Surrounded by Racing History

Even the gondola felt like an alpine skiing museum.

On the outside, each displays a past Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm race winner, and it was incredibly cool to see the names and history while literally riding up the mountain where ski racing legends were made.

It just goes to show how deeply ski racing is embedded into Kitzbühel’s identity.

Panorama Alm: The Best Lunch & Après Spot

If you ski in Kitzbühel, Panorama Alm is a must.

Yes — it’s a bit of a ski trek from the main Kitzbühel area.
Yes — it takes effort to get there.

And yes — it is100% worth it!

The combination of:

• Food
• Views
• Après energy
• Mountain atmosphere

…makes it one of the best lunch/après spots I’ve ever been to!

It’s the kind of place where you want to linger, soak in the views, and pretend time doesn’t exist 🙂

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Race Day Tip: Wear GOOD Shoes (Trust Me)

If you’re attending the Hahnenkamm races without grandstand tickets, here’s critical advice:

Wear excellent shoes.

You are basically hiking up a mountain to find a viewing spot.

I truly wished I had:

• Better hiking shoes
• Or even spikes you can attach/detach for traction

Between snow, ice, and steep terrain, it’s not the place for cute boots or casual sneakers (speaking from experience).

Super G Day: Incredible Energy Without Total Chaos

We attended both the Super G, slalom, and the Downhill, and honestly, I loved the Super G day more than I expected!

The crowd had amazing energy, but it felt:

• Slightly less chaotic
• Easier to move around
• More enjoyable as a spectator

And, unsurprisingly, Marco Odermatt won the Super G, proving once again why he’s one of the most dominant forces in ski racing right now.

Downhill Day: Absolute Madness (In the Best Way)

The downhill on The Streif is what I came for… and wow.

The energy was INSANE.

We arrived 1.5 hours before the start, and even then, we barely secured a spot where we could see one of the screens and be able to see the finish line.

The crowd density was unreal. So thick that I couldn’t actually see the course itself. It was more about the atmosphere, the roar of the fans, and the electricity in the air! Absolutely electric.

Drinks of the Day: Glühwein & Gösser

The main drinks flowing were:

• Glühwein (mulled wine)
• Gösser beer

I gravitated toward the warm mulled wine because it felt festive, cozy, and perfect for standing in winter weather surrounded by thousands of fans. And it warmed me up a bit.

Race Results: Odermatt, Franzoni, and a Legendary Moment

Marco Odermatt delivered again, but the true fairytale moment?

Giovanni Franzoni winning the Downhill.

A spectacular underdog story.
Just ahead of Odermatt. By 0.07.
And clearly on an exponential upward trajectory for his season.

It genuinely feels like he’s peaking at the perfect time heading into the Olympics, and watching that breakthrough moment live felt special, like the kind of sports memory you never forget.

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Kitzbühel Village: A Weeklong Party

If the races are the heartbeat of Kitzbühel, the village is the party. And during Hahnenkamm week? It’s a full-on festival.

The Londoner Bar & Celebrity Sightings

The party kicked off Tuesday at the iconic The Londoner bar where people literally line up down the street. We waited 1.5 hours to get in.

That night Ivica Kostelić and Jan Hudec played live with their band and Bode Miller casually showed up to enjoy a few beers.

It felt surreal! Ski racing royalty just hanging out in a pub.

Food Vendors, Music, and Free Concerts Everywhere

Throughout the week:

• 30+ food vendors lined the streets
• Speakers blasted music on every corner
• Multiple stages hosted free concerts

It felt like a blend of ski town, music festival, and sports celebration.

We especially loved the EDM concerts and honestly, the DJs were surprisingly good.

Where We Ate in Kitzbühel: The Hits & Misses

LaMonte Bistro — Italian Done Right

One of our favorites. Comforting, delicious Italian food which was perfect after long days out.

Mocking das Wirtshaus — Michelin Recognized & Worth It

A standout dining experience. Elevated Austrian cuisine with a cozy yet refined atmosphere.

Zinkrugg — Solid & Varied

A good option for variety. Not mind-blowing, but dependable.

Zuma — Overrated & Overpriced

We tried Zuma for sushi, and honestly? It didn’t live up to the hype. Good, but not worth the price compared to other options.

How the Kitzbühel Hahnenkamm Compares to World Cup Races in Colorado

I’ve attended World Cup races in Colorado, and the contrast is striking.

In Colorado:

• Crowds are smaller
• The atmosphere is more relaxed
• It feels more like a niche sporting event

In Kitzbühel for the Hahnenkamm:

• Tens of thousands show up
• The town shuts down for racing
• The energy feels closer to a major global sporting championship

As a ski racing fan, I was honestly shocked, in the best way, by how many people showed up just to watch ski racing.

It reaffirmed just how massive the sport is in Europe compared to the U.S.

Final Thoughts: A Dream Realized

This trip was everything I hoped it would be and so much more!

From skiing in the Austrian Alps…
To witnessing the madness of the Streif downhill…
To partying in the village with Olympians, DJs, and thousands of fans…
To soaking in the history and culture of one of skiing’s most iconic towns…

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am so glad I made it happen!

Checking off my number one bucket list item feels surreal and yet, I already know:

I hope to be back someday.

Because Kitzbühel during Hahnenkamm week isn’t just a trip. It’s a skiing legend you get to step inside. It’s a story I’ll tell for years to come.

For more travel tips, destination guides, and realistic advice for traveling while working full-time, head over to my blog page and start planning your next trip today ✈️