All about the Austrian resort of Mayrhofen. You will learn about the local slopes, slopes and entertainment. How to get to Mayrhofen from the airport and where to stay.
Mayrhofen, located in the picturesque Tyrolean Ziller Valley, is known as a very popular and beloved winter resort. It lies at a low altitude, only 630 m, so the climate here is especially mild and pleasant. Tourists are attracted by amazing mountain panoramas, sky-high Alpine peaks and a large selection of good ski slopes. The resort has 11 ski areas, which are united by a common ski pass system and bus routes. The tourist season usually lasts four months - from December to April.
In the resort you will find many entertainments, restaurants and cafes with ski schools. Near Mayrhofen rises the Tuxer glacier - an amazingly beautiful peak, where it is snowy even in summer.
Mayrhofen resort on the map of Austria
How to get to Mayrhofen
The nearest international airports to Mayrhofen are located in , and Vienna (in ascending order of mileage).
We note right away that the most profitable air travel options for Russians are Moscow-Munich and Moscow-Salzburg. And do not be embarrassed that Munich has nothing to do with Austria (except that it is located almost on the border). The lowest prices for air tickets can be found exactly in Munich. Already in place, depending on which arrival airport you choose, you will have several options for how to get directly to the ski resort. It can be public transport, taxi, transfer or even your own car rental.
We have written detailed instructions to help you plan your trip.
Where to stay in Mayrhofen
There are many housing options in the Tyrolean town - small hotels, guesthouses, five-star hotels. We studied many hotels in Mayrhofen (including on booking.com) and came to an unexpected conclusion: most of them have a democratic pricing policy.
So, where to stay in Mayrhofen - inexpensive, but comfortable?
- Hotel Rose 4* . One of the skiers' favorite hotel in Mayrhofen. Located in a quiet location, 5 minutes from the center. There is a ski bus stop nearby (however, 10 minutes to the ski lift with a calm step). A huge plus is the presence of underground parking and delicious home-style cuisine. Ideal for a family, relaxing holiday.
- Gutshof Zillertal 4* .
One of the best guest houses in Mayrhofen. Just over a kilometer to the Penkenbahn cable car. There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas, solarium and fitness center. Own bar, restaurant and of course free parking.
Gutshof Zillertal - Tyrolean classic! (Mayrhofen, Austria)
- Hotel Neue Post 4* .
An option for those who value comfort. A hotel with a stunningly beautiful interior, terraces and balconies overlooking the Zillertal Alps. Spa center, bath, sauna, gym. Hotel in the very center, ski bus stops in the immediate vicinity (you can go to the Hintertux glacier, Mayrhofen-3000, etc.).
Terrace at the Hotel Neue Post (Mayrhofen, Austria)
- Hotel Garni Glockenstuhl 3* .
Quality, stylish 3-star hotel. Near the railway station and bus stops. Spa and free parking. Even the standard rooms at the Hotel Garni Glockenstuhl are wonderfully good (fresh renovation, design)!
Standard double room at Hotel Garni Glockenstuhl
- Hotel-Garni Almhof 3* .
Inexpensive, but convenient in every way. Ski bus stop at the entrance of the hotel. Comfortable rooms (no frills) with balconies, hearty breakfasts and, last but not least, great reviews.
Where to stay in Mayrhofen: Hotel-Garni Almhof
- Hotel-Pension Strolz 3* .
The center can be reached on foot in 5 minutes; indoor swimming pool, steam room and sauna. On the hotel page they write that "the rooms are decorated in the Tyrolean style." In our opinion, they are standard, but clean and comfortable. A good offer for little money for Mayrhofen.
All rooms at Hotel-Pension Strolz have a balcony
Mayrhofen resort - length of pistes
The Mayrhofen ski area is located at an altitude of 630 to 2500 meters, the total length of tracks of various categories is 160 km. Most (59%) are for intermediate skiers, 27% of high-quality slopes are organized for beginners. Professionals will be pleased with 14% of well-equipped "virgin land"! Of the total area of the ski area of 143 hectares, just over 100 are equipped with an artificial snow system.
On the main street of Mayrhofen is the main lift that will take you to the main ski area. In total, the resort has 61 lifts (of which 27 are rope tows, 23 chairlifts and 11 gondola lifts). With their help, you can reach various heights, up to 3200 m.
Popular slopes of Mayrhofen:
- Ahorn Slope beginners will like it, besides, its slopes descend directly to Mayrhofen;
- Slope Penken only experienced athletes will be able to conquer. For lovers of cross-country skiing in the Penken area there are 30 km of the corresponding track;
- Another interesting area for skiers is "red" track in Finkenberg in Mayrhofen;
- The trails are located on slope Gerent;
- For young athletes, simple zones in the area are suitable Eilsenalm. There is also a long cable car and an incredibly steep descent.
Snowboarders and freestylers are in for a delightful holiday in Burton Park Mayrhofen which is equipped with everything necessary for excellent skiing. It offers its own long lift, ski jumps, rails, half-pipe. In the middle of the park there are two parallel tracks, which are built in the form of three jumps.
Mayrhofen for children
There are several children's ski schools in Mayerhofen, where you can send your child for the whole day and ride quietly. If you are planning a joint pastime, then, in addition to skiing, you can go to the skating rink, play squash or tennis, ride on a closed arena or in a horse-drawn sleigh. After active leisure in Mayrhofen, water procedures are provided, from which children are absolutely delighted! We are talking about a huge pool in the center of the resort, with waterfalls and grottoes.
Attractions Mayrhofen
Vintage steam locomotive cruising through the Ziller Valley
There are many historical, cultural and architectural sights in Mayrhofen:
- Zillertal narrow gauge railway. Twice a day, an old steam locomotive with wagons runs along it, and everyone can ride it, and even visit the driver's cab. One of Mayrhofen's most striking landmarks was built in 1902;
- Marienbrunnen fountain. Very beautiful and therefore popular with guests is the Europa fountain located in the center of the resort and the Marienbrunnen fountain located in front of the parish church. The parish church itself, the first mention of which dates back to the 14th century, is admired for its paintings and the altar, which were created around 1740, when it was restored and enlarged;
- Mayrhofen National Park. No less exciting will be a walk through the natural alpine park, which is located at an altitude of 1000 to 3500 meters. Rising above the Ziller Valley, there are glaciers and steep cliffs, majestic peaks and narrow gorges.
Apres-ski - leisure and entertainment
Main street of Mayrhofen with shops, restaurants and hotels
Rest is necessary for all active and cheerful tourists. Saunas and spa centers with massage rooms will give you real relaxation and rejuvenation. It is nice to take a lunch break in one of the restaurants or cafes. There you will be offered Tyrolean homemade dishes, masterpieces of world and Austrian cuisine, traditional schnapps and. Musical delicacies are also rich and varied - Tyrolean folk tunes, sophisticated jazz, popular hits. Winter Mayrhofen will swirl in a whirlwind of fun festivities, sports competitions, concerts and fireworks. Theatrical performances are regularly held, national Austrian evenings are held.
In total, there are 28 restaurants and cafes on the slopes of Mayrhofen. In the evening, discos, nightclubs and entertainment centers start working. Mayrhofen is considered a youth resort, it is always noisy, fun and relaxed there.
Mayrhofen resort - weather and climate
The ski season in Mayrhofen starts in early December and ends in the last days of April. You can ski on the glacier almost at any time of the year. Since Mayorhofen is located only 600 m above sea level, the climate is quite mild, and the temperature rarely drops below 5-10 degrees. The weather does not always please ski lovers and those who come to see a real snowy winter, but instead have to get an umbrella.
Winter holidays in Mayrhofen - conditions that you can dream of!
But snow cannons do the job, and snow is always provided on the slopes.
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10 km south of Zell am Ziller and Gerlos lies a mountain village Mayrhofen(Mayrhofen) www.mayrhofen.at/, which is one of the largest resorts in Austria.
Almost completely dependent on tourism, it cannot boast of the special aesthetics of its quarters or national color, but remains an ideal place for a holiday in the mountains. Gondola penkenbahn(from the end of May to the beginning of October and from December to April the whole daylight hours are open, the cost of the lift is 9.3 euros, round trip - 14.4 euros) climbs the slopes Penken Massif from the terminal at the southern end of Hauptstrasse, providing access to numerous routes and routes in three valleys at once. The Ahornbahn gondola (from mid-June to early October and from December to April; prices are the same) rises from the southeastern edge to the opposite side of the valley to Pike Ahornspitze(Ahornspitu, 2973 m) with an excellent observation platform and the same variety of routes. The main ski areas here are - Mount Ahorn with many trails for beginners and Penken with numerous short slopes, but more experienced skiers will definitely choose difficult "black" slopes Hintertux Glacier, lying 20 km southwest, or no less interesting slopes Tuxertal Glacier where skiing is possible until the beginning of summer.
Ski holidays
In total, here, along the slopes of a small basin at the confluence of Ziller and Zemmbach, 159 km of ski slopes were laid (27% "blue", 59% "red" and 14% "black") with heights from 600 to 2500 meters. Together with the year-round trails of the Tuxertal (Tuxertal, 10 km southwest) and Hintertux (Hintertux, 9 km southwest) glaciers, as well as the slopes of the resorts Finkenberg (Finkenberg, 1 km southwest), Rastkogel (Rastkogel, 6 km northwest) and Eggalm (Eggalm, 6 km southwest) this gives almost 300 km of a wide variety of trails with a maximum height of 3250 meters!
There are three main ski areas in Mayrhofen. slopes Ahornspitze(2973 m) are recommended for beginners and skiers with little experience, and the longest track here is 5.5 km, and it leads directly to Mayrhofen. Region Penken(Penken) on the slopes of Mount Penkenjoch (Penkenjoch, 2095 m) is more suitable for experienced skiers. The slopes here are mostly "red", as in the adjacent ski areas of Pinkenberg (Pinkenberg) and Hippach (Hippach, halfway between Mayrhofen and Zell am Ziller). A southwestern region Finkenberg offers short but rather steep slopes with a southern exposure, most interesting in high season.
The slopes are great for freeriding Gerenta(Gerent), professionals will also appreciate the steepest track in Austria - Harakiri(in some sections, its slope is 78%!), And lovers of long routes will certainly be interested in the "around the world" Höhenmeterfresser Runde, which is a whole chain of successively arranged lifts and slopes with a total length of about 46 km.
All this is serviced by 53 modern lifts, and here is the longest cable car in Austria - Ahornbahn (from mid-June to early October and from December to April it works all daylight hours; the cost of the lift is 9.3 euros, round trip - 14.4 euro), leading from the southeastern outskirts of Mayrhofen to the peak of Ahornspitze (Ahornspitze, 2973 m) with an excellent observation platform and the same variety of routes of all kinds. The Penkenbahn gondola (from late May to early October and from December to April open all daylight hours, prices are the same) climbs the slopes of the Penken massif from the terminal at the southern end of Hauptstrasse, providing access to numerous routes and trails of three valleys at once.
For lovers of cross-country skiing, there are more than 30 km of marked trails in the vicinity of the resort. There is a snowboard park Burton Park Mayrhofen, special areas for carving and "powder", several ski schools and kindergartens, 3 discos, many rental offices, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. More than 60 km of hiking trails have been laid, most of which are actively used in winter, there are several tennis and squash courts, 4 swimming pools plus two pools with hydromassage and a waterfall, two water slides, several saunas and baths, an outdoor skating rink, a paragliding club and aeronautics, a bowling alley, a fitness center and other elements of a modern recreation infrastructure.
Travel passes
The Zillertaler Superskipass winter pass system provides access to all ski lifts of the Zillertal valley and the Tuxertal glacier (4 days - 118 euros; 7 days - 185 euros). There is also a reduced version only for the Ziller Valley (1 day - 32.5 euros, three and a half days - 103 euros), a subscription to the Hintertux Glacier (1 day - 35 euros, 3 days - 94 euros, 6 days - 165 euros) and other options. At the same time, the Zillertaler Superskipass includes free travel on all types of public transport (except taxis) in the Ziller Valley and even on the railway from Jenbach to Mayrhofen. However, local buses do not differ in pedantry, and they finish their movement quite early - at 19.00-19.30.
You can use a separate Mayrhofen Lift Pass, which is valid for the lifts in the Mayrhofen ski area only (Ahorn, Penken, Rastkogel and Eggalm). A one-day ski pass will cost about 41.5 euros for an adult, 33 euros for a teenager and 18.5 euros for a child aged 6 to 13, seasonal - 467, 375 and 210 euros, respectively.
The skiing season is from December to the beginning - mid-April.
How to get there
The nearest airports are (51 km) and Munich (146 km). Further along the Inntalautobahn (Inn Valley Motorway, A12) and the federal highway B169, you can get to the slopes of the southern part of the Zillertal by bus or taxi. You can also take the train via Jenbach (21 km on the modern A12 motorway).
Around the city
Valleys fan out south of Mayrhofen Zillergrund(Zillergrund), Stillupgrund(Stilluppgrund, River Stillup-Bach), Zemmgrund(Zemmgrund, Zemmbach river) and Tuxertal(Tuxertal, Tuxbach river). Served by regular buses departing from Mayrhofen station, they all have their own set of trails, hiking trails, mountain huts, lakes, rivers and other beautiful places.
The Ziller Valley has long been famous for its ski resorts, the largest of which is Mayrhofen. The slopes of Penken and Ahorn attract top-class skiers who are not constrained by money. Mayrhofen boasts a variety of entertainment, excellent infrastructure and rich nightlife.
We will tell you about the hotels and slopes of the resort, study the prices for ski passes and look at ski equipment rentals. Everything you wanted to know about Mayrhofen is in this article.
How to get to Mayrhofen and where to stay
There are various ways to get to Mayrhofen, but the simplest solution is air travel. There are three international airports nearby:
- Munich (190 kilometers);
- Salzburg (170 kilometers);
- Innsbruck (60 kilometers).
Direct flights are established between Moscow and the cities listed, so you will not have any difficulties. All ski airports in Austria.
Taxis and buses run regularly from Salzburg to Mayrhofen. Communication has been established with the nearby.
The plane is not the only option for the inquisitive traveller.
In whatever Austrian city you are, you can take the train and safely get to the Jenbach station. There you will be transferred to the train to Zillertalbahn, and now the tired traveler is approaching the goal - only 35 kilometers to Mayrhofen. Then there are three options - train, taxi or regular bus.
If you are traveling in a rental car, take the Inntalautobahn. The next landmark is the Zillertal exit, which takes you to the B169 highway. Thirty kilometers and you are there. In one of our articles, we noted that without a vignette (special pass) you will not be able to travel on Austrian roads. You can buy a ten-day vignette for 8 euros. In the same text you will find information about the conditions and.
Mayrhofen Hotels
Like other resorts in Austria, such as or, Mayrhofen is dominated by hostels, family hotels, villas and private apartments. Prices depend on the level of comfort and the service offered. It should be borne in mind that at the height of the ski season it will be problematic to rent a suitable room.
Resort to online booking - this method will greatly save your savings and nerve cells.
Using the booking.com resource, you can choose a lot of acceptable options. It is better to do this in advance, taking care of renting housing 2-3 months (or even six months) before the expected date of travel.
Consider the most popular hotels:
Resort Features - Ski Infrastructure Overview
The ski season in Mayrhofen starts on November 30th and runs until April 21st. As for the glacier, here tourists even ride all year round.
The total length of the tracks is 159 kilometers, the altitude difference reaches 1870 meters.
The resort is not only for lovers of difficult slopes - 27% of the slopes are suitable for beginners.
Here are the main features of the resort:
- black runs - 20;
- red - 94;
- blue - 45;
- the number of lifts of different types - 42 (chair, tow, air trams and cable cars);
- throughout the area - artificial snow;
- 45 kilometers of trails for hiking;
- sections for cross-country skiing - 20 kilometers.
Mayrhofen will appeal to snowboarders, as well as newschool, freestyle and cross-country skiers. Several fun parks have been created for these guys and there is even a snowboarding town called Zillertal Arena.
For better orientation on the terrain, we lay out a map of the routes, which should be carefully studied.
Note that Mayrhofen's sports opportunities are not limited to purely "winter" types of entertainment. You are expected:
- horseback riding;
- tennis courts;
- squash;
- open ice rinks;
- solarium;
- sauna;
- indoor pool (waterfalls, grottoes, massage showers);
- paragliding center;
- toboggan runs;
- badminton;
- curling;
- rock climbing;
- speleology.
The Harakiri track is a pleasure for the elite
Mayrhofen is home to the legendary Harakiri track, the steepest (in every sense) ski slope in Austria. This is a "black" track, the slope of which is 78%.
Beginning skiers are not allowed to meddle here - you will break your neck. Actually, you will not be allowed here until you talk to the ski instructor Stefan Wierer and pass him a kind of exam on similar “black” slopes.
Warning signs are scattered everywhere. You should be wary of the Dutch extreme people - they often overestimate themselves and strain those around them.
Medics are constantly on duty at Harakiri.
How much snow for the people - prices for ski passes
If you are going on a two-week trip, it is worth taking a long-term ski pass - then skiing will be cheaper. Also, local prices directly depend on the age category of the skier.
In 2015, the price range is as follows:
- adults. For a day of skiing, get ready to shell out 48.5 euros, a six-day ski pass will cost 230 euros, and for a 13-day pleasure you will have to fork out 425 euros.
- Teenagers. A one-day ski pass costs about 38 euros, a two-day one - 75, a six-day one - 184. For 13 days of skiing, teenagers pay 340 euros each.
- Children. Everything looks democratic here - 21 euros / day. Further prices fluctuate between 42-191 euros.
Fans of skiing and just lovers of this type of recreation are constantly looking for new slopes that can give them the thrill of the descent or allow them to hone their skiing technique. However, as in any other branch of the tourism industry, such classic bison stand out among the ski resorts, which have long gained fame and established themselves as the most famous points for skiing. One of these centers is the resort of Mayrhofen.
Where is Mayrhofen
The village of Mayrhofen is a commune in the Austrian Alps, in the province of Tyrol. It was formed here a very long time ago, and became widely known thanks to the networks of ski slopes spread on the surrounding slopes. All of them are part of the largest ski resort in this region, so the name of the settlement Mayrhofen has become a household name among fans of this type of mountain vacation.
The resort is located in the Ziller Valley at an altitude of only 600 meters. Of course, the lifts on the slopes of Ahorn and Penken, which frame the valley, work up to much higher heights, but the village itself is at a level where vacationers practically do not need additional acclimatization. This is one of the reasons why the Austrian village is so sought after by skiers of all ages.
Young people find here space for skiing, a vibrant nightlife and an exciting "party". Representatives of the older generation - the classics of alpine slopes and cozy mountain boarding houses. Families with children also manage to have a good rest, because the resort has a system of kindergartens and other exciting entertainment for children. The child will enjoy spending time while adults ride on difficult tracks.
The recreational cluster of the ski resort, in addition to the core - Mayrhofen, includes the villages of Finkenberg, Hippach and Ramsau. There is a transport connection between them, so you can quickly and without experiencing any difficulties get to any point of the complex. It must be said that the rich infrastructure and internal communication of all downhill slopes over a large area is the hallmark of the old Alpine ski centers, and here it is implemented at the highest level. Tourist buses run between the villages around the clock, and for ski pass holders, travel on them is free in unlimited quantities.
The most convenient way to get to Mayrhofen is by train from Innsbruck. From here, for 6 euros, a comfortable train runs to Jenbach station, which is just an hour's drive from the desired point. You can also drive to the resort from Munich or Vienna, but it will be a little longer. We will tell you more about accommodation and skiing features in the following sections of the article.
Accommodation
Finding a place to stay in the valley is not difficult. Here you can find both expensive luxury hotels and cozy mid-range hotels. In the village of Mayrhofen itself, hotels are usually booked by tourists for many days in advance, so you should do the same. If you want to be accommodated upon arrival without burdening yourself with a room reservation, then it will be more convenient to find a room in Finkenberg or Ramsau.
The rate per day starts from 30 euros (but it is almost impossible to find such an option on the spot) and reaches very impressive amounts in fashionable hotels. Since the transport infrastructure in the resort is excellent, you can worry about your immediate location to a lesser extent and choose “from the wallet”. Moreover, in the current currency conditions, even a mediocre holiday in Europe costs a pretty penny.
skiing
The total length of the ski slopes in the Zimmertal is over 160 km, which far exceeds the slopes of many other recreational centers, even in the Alps. In the resort of Mayrhofen, the route scheme is arranged in such a way that you can not choose a specific target for skiing, but arrange ring routes for yourself every day, and in a week of skiing you will never repeat even parts of your route.
Mayrhofen is a ski resort where every skier will find a slope to their liking. The tracks here are divided according to the degree of difficulty into many gradations - black, blue, red, green and special skis for beginners. According to the degree of difficulty, the regulars of the village of Mayrhofen share the slopes as follows - Ahorn for amateurs and those who study, Penken - for more experienced skiers. In general, the Penken spur for skiing is considered one of the most interesting places in the entire Alpine region.
There are many ski schools here. In some, future professionals are trained, in others, everyone can teach the skills of gaussing along the slope and correct canting. Whether children or adults, Mayrhofen will put anyone on skis in the shortest possible time, literally in one season.
In addition to the usual well-groomed slopes, you can also find space for freeride here. 30 minutes from the village there is a year-round free skiing area - Tuxer Glacier. The resort has grounds even for cross-country skiers, although it is rather problematic to imagine such people framed by gorgeous slopes. Such skiers can run 30 kilometers of a marked and specially prepared track near the village of Mayrhofen.
Skiing for snowboarders
Burton Park Mayrhofen was built for board adherents. It has its own lift and two parallel tracks. The park is equipped with everything necessary for both beginners and professionals - ski jumps of different sizes and lengths, half pipes and rails. For extreme athletes, they built big air, on which freestylers can turn the most sophisticated somersaults.
A pleasant nuance is the fact that you can purchase a single ski pass immediately for the entire territory of the Zimmertal Valley and make trips to neighboring resort complexes on free buses: Lanersbach or Hintertux.
What to look out for
The most important thing, especially for a domestic tourist, is to learn the schedule of shops. People here work in a European way, that is, on weekdays everything closes at 18:30, on Saturday - at 17:00, and on Sunday it does not work at all. Therefore, it is better to purchase all the necessary products and other goods in advance and not to postpone until the evening. As for ski equipment, you can buy it here at prices close to Moscow, or rent it. Please note that before and after the skiing season you can find quite impressive discounts in stores.
In addition to skiing, you can treat yourself to varying degrees of difficulty with guided trekking along mountain trails, visit a water park or a skating rink. Of the cultural attractions - mills, estates and old churches that have been standing here since the time when "mountainous" Austria hotels have not yet preferred the usual way of life without the tourist fuss.
So, to summarize the content of our article, Mayrhofen stands out as follows:
Convenient infrastructure inside the resort;
varied skating;
availability of kindergartens in schools for skiers;
excursion and trekking routes;
suitable for all ages.
All this makes Mayrhofen one of the flagship ski holidays in the Alps and maintains its popularity among both "old-timers" and young people. A lot of positive emotions after the rest here is guaranteed to you.
Mayrhofen. Starting point in the Alps for a large number of ski lovers. You can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the region for a long time (there are enough of both), but for many it has been and remains a place to which the skiing heart is not indifferent. It's like first love, which over the years may not seem so beautiful anymore, but the enthusiastic feeling from those times of youth continues to tickle pleasantly inside to this day.
Mayrhofen is a small Tyrolean town, the length of the main street here is only one kilometer. It is located in the valley of the Ziller River, thirty kilometers from the entrance to the valley and from the highway connecting the capital of Tyrol, Innsbruck, with Salzburg and Munich. Traditional Tyrolean village? Yes! A modern ski resort? Also yes! Here, these two concepts coexist perfectly together. And the rustic smell of manure on some side street may well turn into the wonderful smell of freshly prepared food from a gourmet restaurant on the main Hauptstrasse. All this is very cute and looks like the same New Year's fairy tale that we loved so much in childhood. The main thing is that there should be snow in the city, which, unfortunately, has been happening less and less in recent years. Alas, the village is located at a low altitude, only 650 meters above sea level. And if once almost every winter it was possible to cross-country ski in the valley, now the grass is often green there.
This, of course, does not apply to the main ski area, where there is always enough snow during the season, which is facilitated by decent heights of the ski area and a good artificial snow system. Mayrhofen belongs to the Zillertal 3000 region, which, in addition to the "home" Penken (Penken) and Ahorn (Ahorn), includes the zones Horberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm. All of them, with the exception of Ahorn, are connected by a single network of lifts. Formally, the Hintertux glacier also belongs here, but it takes about forty minutes to go there by bus, so we will leave it out of brackets in this description. Also in the valley Zillertal, in addition to Mayrhofen and the glacier, there are two large ski areas - Zillertal Arena and Ski-Optimal. The total mileage of the tracks is very decent, about 500 kilometers. Of course, the zones are cut off from each other and to move from one to another, you will have to use a ski bus or train (free for ski pass holders). But these half-hour journeys through the valley are more educational than tiring. Moreover, buses run on schedule with completely German accuracy.
The history of skiing in the region began in 1954 with the construction of the first ski lift from the city, which, later modified and updated, still attracted large queues, especially during the high season. However, by the 2015-2016 season, investors invested heavily in its modernization: 33 gondolas with 24 seats (plus 8 standing) with a capacity of 3840 people per hour significantly relieved the traffic jams during rush hour.
It is impossible to ski down to Mayrhofen, the mountain slopes here are too steep to pave the track. So, the main thing is to go upstairs, and then a modern and powerful system of lifts will lead skiers in all directions, each to those tracks that are more suitable for him. There are almost no queues here. But as for the quality of the tracks, well prepared in the morning, by the middle of the day they usually break badly. Still, the region is very compact, and the number of places for guests only in Mayrhofen is quite large - about 10,000. Of course, this whole crowd quickly and successfully picks up large mounds for dinner. So it’s better to go up the mountain with the first lift and finish skiing a little earlier than the bulk of the people, at the same time you will skip the queues for the descent.
So, having risen from the upper station of the Penkenbahn cable car (1800 m) further on another lift to the Knorren rock (2081 m), you can ride in a large, as it is popularly called "pit" between Penken and Horberg. The slopes of Penken here have a northern orientation and are mostly in the shade, the slopes of Horberg, on the contrary, are southern and sunny. The pistes themselves are mostly of medium difficulty and, to tell the truth, are very short by alpine standards, only one or two kilometers long. The whole "pit" buzzes like a beehive in the high season: a big ski pandemonium, where beginners may not be very comfortable. They really don't have anywhere to ride. On the blue training trails no. 2 and no. 20, every bend is already known in a few days, and the good blues on Rastkogel still have to be reached. Then it’s better to go to the Ahorn zone, into which a separate lift throws from Mayrhofen, the station of which is located four hundred meters from Penkenovskaya. There are some nice blue pistes served by chairlifts and ski lifts, as well as an interesting Funslope area. And there are always few people. There is an opportunity here to study at a ski school, so as not to intersect with the crowd chasing Penken. It is quite possible to devote three days to setting up the basic equipment, so that later you can boldly rush “into battle” to conquer the ski expanses of the Zillertal. In general, Mayrhofen has very good ski schools and good work, including with children.
Let's leave the beginners on Ahorn and return to the main ski area, moving on to explore it. Good interesting slopes are located above the Finkenberg. It is always sunny and relatively uncrowded here. There is a good wide training hill (where your humble servant, the author of this article, got up for skiing for the first time), a couple of red and black slopes. It's worth the delay. For those who like to ride “among the Christmas trees” there is an off-piste descent down to the Finkenberg itself. As a track - nothing interesting, a flat track with a lot of "mother-in-law's tongues". But the absence of people, the singing of birds and the crazy aroma of conifers, which open up especially strongly in a slight thaw, are more than worthy compensation. A wonderful opportunity to leave the crowd and be alone with nature. For fans of jumping at the bottom of the basin between Penken and Horberg, there is a very good snowboard park Vans penken park, some hang out here all day.
Now let's move to the slopes above the town of Lanersbach. To do this, we will go up on a large funicular 150er-Tux and, having crossed the top, ride on the slopes of Rastkogel. There are already more significant elevation changes, trails up to 3-3.5 kilometers long. Mostly blue and simple red, no black. Descending on a simple beautiful forest ski-route, we will climb to the top of Egalm (2300 meters), the farthest skiing point of the associated region. Most of the skiers do not reach here, so it is quite spacious here, you can enjoy the long red-blue trail down to Lanersbach with a height difference of 1000 meters. Wonderful views, silence, the smell of cows from farm huts next to the slopes. Alpine romance as it is. The journey from here back to Mayrhofen will take about two hours, plan your time. And be aware that the red ridge drop from the top station of the 150er-Tux funicular is quite narrow and steep, and at the end of the day also covered with large bumps, which can be a problem even for intermediate skiers. Then it is better to go down on the funicular itself, pulling up to it on a rope yoke.
So, the whole region has been passed, all the tracks, both forest (of which there are about 30%), and open ones, have been rolled out several times, it's time to go back down to the city, change clothes, take a shower or go to the sauna, and, after a little rest (and maybe even without rest at all), rush to conquer the heights of après-ski. Why the possibilities of the town, I must say, are very conducive, in the evenings in the center it can even be too noisy. There are several bars and discos where you can start the fun even before returning to the hotel, right in your ski boots. The whole Mayrhofen in the evening looks like a kind of Babylon: a mixture of languages - German, English, Russian, Dutch, fermentation of sometimes drunk, but very positive people back and forth in search of a place where their soul will truly unfold. Not Ischgl and St. Anton, but also very provocatively, many, especially young people, have the best memories of the evening-night Mayrhofen. And if you ask to tell later about the rest, you will surely see a meaningful, mysterious smile on their face.
The city has a large number of good restaurants. Both with simple and tasty food, and haute cuisine, for example, the restaurant of the Kramewirt 4 * hotel. Food prices by European standards are very humane and quite comparable with Moscow (lunch on the mountain 15-20 euros per person, dinner in a restaurant about 25-30).
In addition to gastronomy, there are good opportunities for cultural and sports activities. If, for example, it turned out to be a bad day, you can visit a good local Erlebnisbad water park or a thermal complex in Fügenlocated twenty kilometers away. There is also an ice skating rink in the city. There are many souvenir shops on the main and adjacent streets. There is something to do. Even just walking around the town in the evening, slowly absorbing its rhythm, is a very pleasant pastime. Excursions to Innsbruck and the Swarovski Museum, as well as Munich will be an excellent addition to your stay in the area.
So here it is, it turns out, the Mayrhofen ski resort. Bright, lively, cozy, sunny. Although, according to statistics, the sun does not always shine here and there are often foggy days with precipitation, but this does not significantly affect the impression. And when you return home and they ask you how the trip turned out, you say: “Sunny!”. If not literally, then figuratively for sure. Magic? Mystery? Try to solve it yourself, come ride in Mayrhofen.
