2 Guests

Mayrhofen Ski Holidays

One of Austria's top ski resorts, Mayrhofen has a magnificent medley of varied terrain, Austrian charm and lively après ski. From families to party-lovers and non-skiers to hardcore athletes, this laid-back destination warmly welcomes everyone and rarely disappoints – a fantastic place to ski that Brits return to year after year.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboard

At a glance: • Hintertux glacier • Tyrolean charm • Snowbombing festival • 100% artificial snow coverage

Great for: • Families • Groups • Après ski

One of Austria's top ski resorts, Mayrhofen has a magnificent medley of varied terrain, Austrian charm and lively après ski. From families to party-lovers and non-skiers to hardcore athletes, this laid-back destination warmly welcomes everyone and rarely disappoints – a fantastic place to ski that Brits return to year after year.

Mayrhofen Resort

Near the end of the stunning Ziller Valley, Mayrhofen exudes Austrian charm in a lively, cheerful atmosphere. Dating back to 1511, its architecture's charmingly old school, yet all mod-cons are present and correct. The resort's location is fantastic: Only an hour's drive from Innsbruck airport.

The family-friendly nature doesn't stop with its convenient location – restaurants cater for children excellently, kids activities are abundant, and the ski schools are well known as some of the best. Not only appealing for those with children in tow, but Mayrhofen has also long been a popular holiday destination for Brits due to its wild and wonderful après ski. From merry chaos to sophisticated cocktail-sipping, the host of Snowbombing serves up fantastic après for all palates.

The terrain here's another ski holiday clincher. 139km of pistes overall provide for all levels, and piste conditions are insured with snowmaking technology that covers a noteworthy 100% of the area. The resort sits between the beautiful Ahorn and Penken mountains which together offer a diversity that's hard to match. The south-facing Ahorn offers some lovely sun-drenched, cruisey runs. Things are a bit more adventurous over on the northerly Penken' Action Mountain'. Besides the infamous Harakiri, you'll find freestyling heaven in one of the best snowparks Europe has to offer, as well as some super racetracks. If this isn't enough, get the Zillertal Superski pass where you'll discover a whopping 671km of marked runs including 4 different areas, the snow-sure Hintertux glacier, the Zillertal Arena, Hochfügen-Hochzillertal and Spieljoch.

Stats & FAQ

Location: Austria, Alps.

Established: 1954

Open: December – April

Downhill: 139km

View our detailed Mayrhofen snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Mayrhofen snow history.

Nearest Airport & Transfer Time:
Innsbruck70km, 1h
Salzburg170km, 2h
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
  • 40km 29%

  • 66km 47%

  • 33km 24%

Top Altitude:2500m
Bottom Altitude:630m
Resort Altitude:630m
Longest run:5.5km (Valley run)
Slope Orientation:N S E W
Vertical Drop:1870m
Skiable Vertical:1870m
Night Skiing:No
Glacier:Yes

Snow Report

  • Top
  • 50cm
  • Base
  • N/Acm
  • Forecast
  • 100cm

Web Cam

Mayrhofen web cams
Downhill Runs:139km
Beginner slopes:29%
Intermediate:47%
Advanced slopes:24%
Lift Pass Price: Adult Mayrhofen pass: €72.50 (1 day)
Adult Zillertaler Superskipass: €349 (6 days)
Nearby resorts: Finkenberg, Zell am Ziller

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Mayrhofen

There's oodles on offer in Mayrhofen whether you ski or board and whatever your level. If you prefer a leisurely cruise down the piste, the Ahorn's your mountain, while those who like to get the heart pumping will love north facing Penken's white-knuckle steeps, moguls, powder and terrain park.

Mayrhofen is highly recommended for beginners who can learn under the excellent tuition of local instructors on both the Ahorn and Penken mountains. The nursery areas are large, gentle and snow-sure, offering some fantastic views of the Ziller Valley and there are some lovely wide, gentle blues on the Ahorn.

Intermediate skiers and boarders will find excitingly varied terrain, including some fantastic steeps and off-piste. Penken has tons of great reds including 'race pistes' where you can time your descent.

Don't mistake the Ahorn for being mere 'leisurely' – there are some challenges here too, including the 5.5km Valley run. The family park includes the Fun Ride Ahorn and Albert Adler Tour.

Expert skiers with a taste for adventure should head to Penken, Rastkogel and Eggalm section of the resort. Here you can find some memorable descents including Austria's steepest slope. The notorious Harakiri is 2 miles long with a thrilling 78% gradient - the steepest ski run in Austria. At the same time, another adrenaline-pumping must is the infamous Devil's Run.

Snowboarding in Mayrhofen

Affectionately nicknamed the 'Big M' and with some of Europe's best freestyling terrain, Mayrhofen is a worldwide snowboarding destination. There's also freeriding galore, and with only 16 drag lifts, the area is very snowboard friendly.

The huge Penken snowpark is one of the best you'll find in Austria if not Europe and with 8 different areas and a brilliant halfpipe, it caters well for everyone from children to pros. With tunes pumping out of the multi jib Beastbox, which draws the crowds in. There's a kid's park, fun park and obstacle park as well as medium, advanced and pro' areas with kickers ranging from 5 – 20m, rails up to 12m long and tubes of all shapes and sizes. All of this is maintained by a group of park shapers who makes sure the park is in tip-top condition all season long.

Mayrhofen Apres Ski

With a famously lively après ski scene, Mayrhofen's a place to eat, drink and party after a day on the snow. You'll find a range of restaurants to suit all budgets serving great food from schnitzel to chow mein. Ahornhuette is one of many family friendly restaurants with a great kids menu, the Thaler family provide a traditional Austrian dining experience at Wirtshaus zum Griena and the Sportsbar & Grill keeps everyone happy with a fantastic range of food including burgers, kebabs and pizza.

With a variety of bars, Mayrhofen has plenty of places to socialise, unwind and enjoy the schnapps. On the Ahorn, the Igloo Bar is a unique location where you can relax with a drink, good music and a spectacular view. For a more traditional après, you'll find table-top dancing at the lively Ice Bar or a great home-from-home atmosphere in British themed Scotland Yard. Later on in the evening, the Speakeasy Arena is a popular nightclub where you can party into the early hours with themed nights, great DJ's and lots of dancing. Bruck n Stadl is open for apres and the party keeps going until the early hours.

Whether you're a non-skier in Mayrhofen or just fancy an alternative activity, you'll find a lot on offer. Experience of the beautiful Ziller Valley is not limited to those on skis - Mayrhofen offers snowshoeing, ice-climbing, paragliding, tobogganing and horse-riding as alternative ways to discover the valley. There's a great outdoor ice rink for skating, curling and ice hockey as well as a Nature Park Exhibition which families will love. In terms of indoor activities, the Erlebnisbad Mayrhofen has a leisure pool, gym and wellness facilities including a sauna, steam room and solarium where you can play, exercise or be pampered to your heart's content.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Mayrhofen

Best time to visit & ski Mayrhofen

The ski season here runs from December through to April. With 123 snow cannons and 35 snow lances, the resort boasts that 100% of the area can be covered by artificial snow if the weather isn't up to scratch. 75% of the Zillertaler SuperSkipass domain can be covered this way too and with the snow-sure Hintertux Glacier (skiable all year), you're bound to find quality terrain throughout the season.

Mayrhofen has hosted the Altitude comedy festival in the past, with a line-up of some of the best comedians around in December / March. The legendary Snowbombing festival takes place here too towards the end of the season, with music from top artists including Example and Kasabian. Over these dates as well as Christmas, New Years Eve and school holidays, Mayrhofen is buzzing and, if you prefer a quieter experience, try early December and January and avoid school holidays.

Peak Dates

With Mayrhofen's Advent celebrations, the resort is filled with festive spirit throughout December. Christmas concerts, special events and lots of fun snow activities will ensure everyone enjoys a magical Christmas in Mayrhofen. Mayrhofen Christmas ski holidays ‣

The party starts early during New Years Eve in Mayrhofen with the annual pre-New Years Eve party on the 30th. There's plenty of choice for the night itself, with New Years Eve celebrations at Mayrhofen's après ski bars. For a real treat, book a ticket on the Zillertal New Years train and enjoy quality music, food and drinks. Mayrhofen New Year ski holidays ‣

A very family-friendly ski destination, Mayrhofen's marvellous during February half term. Snow conditions are at their peak and all ages are sure to be entertained with tons of fun family activities. Mayrhofen Half Term ski holidays ‣

If you're spending Easter in Mayrhofen you'll be pleased to hear that 100% of the pistes have snowmaking technology, giving you great odds for a sunny ski holiday with snow coverage even later on in the season. Mayrhofen Easter ski holidays ‣

Mayrhofen Ratings & Customer Feedback
Superb
25
Good
12
Okay
4
Poor
0
Awful
1
Average Rating 4.4 out of 5
Mayrhofen is a great place, in fact I’ve just got back from a skiing holiday somewhere else and I was disappointed that it wasn’t as good! The village itself is super lively with plenty of good bars and really good places to eat. There’s a place at the bottom of the gondola station in main Mayrhofen that did... + more
Carl Norman, Norwich
5 out of 5
Sensational holiday! Given it was technically coming to the end of the season, the snow coverage was pretty good/excellent with some icy patches. The slopes you go down to get into town were getting very patchy but otherwise it was fine. It’s definitely good for snowboarding with not many flats. We didn’t s... + more
Andrew Hennessy, Putney
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen has a lot for everyone, I like it because it’s snow sure and you have a massive variety within the Zillertal ski area, you can use the pass to go up and down the whole valley. If you ski/snowboard in Mayrhofen itself, you can ski through 3 or 4 areas just from the main lift; if there isn’t good weat... + more
Duncan Bowtell, London
4 out of 5
We’ve been to Mayrhofen a few times and would again, we like that it’s a nice big ski resort so there’s lots to explore. We’ve got someone who comes with us who’s a non-skier and it’s good for that too because it’s a real town, so there are lots of shops and things like that. It’s nice to return somewh... + more
Mr & Mrs Kelly, Haywards Heath
5 out of 5
Overall we all thoroughly enjoyed our week in Mayrhofen. I couldn’t ski due to injury from a previous ski holiday but my son’s a very good skier and said the area was very varied and that he really liked it. It seems to consist of two big ski areas, one much bigger than the other. Everyone who skied enjoyed t... + more
Mrs Maples, London
5 out of 5
We love Mayrhofen, we like to go down the valley and utilise the whole area. The train goes up and down the valley every 15 minutes and is included in your ski pass. You could easily ski a different area each day of the week. We like Zell am Ziller and Kaltenbach is lovely. There’s also a little place called R... + more
Mr Osgood, Carlisle
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen’s a nice little town – not like Tignes which is quite concretey. It has a nice feel to it and the town’s got everything you need there – there’s lots to do. By pure fluke it was the Altitude festival the week we were here, where they had comedians like Bill Bailey and Marcus Brigstocke performing... + more
Paul B., Hertfordshire
5 out of 5
There’s lots and lots of skiing on the overall pass so you can do long days of skiing but also stay local if you’re a beginner (although they did have a bit of a capacity problem on the main lift). Because you’re in Austria there’s not much skiing connection between the different areas, so you have to go ... + more
Matthew Webb, London
5 out of 5
Our group’s first trip to Mayrhofen, it’s a great place with a short transfer and the town itself is very pretty and well looked after, with plenty of après ski bars if you want to get involved in those. The ski lifts are all very modern and in good condition. We all ski together for the whole week and enj... + more
The Dream Team, Aberdeenshire
4 out of 5
Mayrhofen’s ski area is really good – you can go up both sides, one which had the main pistes and the other a little area with some nice blues and reds. There are a few decent black runs but they weren’t open as there wasn’t enough snow. Other than these runs there was plenty of snow and we had a really nic... + more
Daniel Mounter, Newquay
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen was amazing! We’re big foodies and loved it here. Gasser’s opposite the main chair lift (you can’t miss it) does nice hot food which was really cheap – you get a lot for your money. We really liked what we had and went back every day. There are only a couple of places I’d avoid, there was an Ital... + more
Mrs Hall, West Midlands
5 out of 5
I was here with my husband who was a beginner and my son who was a beginner boarder... we were heading to the Penken area on the first day but got a tip from someone on the bus to stay on the bus to the Ahorn, and I’m so glad we did! The area was very quiet and exactly what we needed, whereas the main section ... + more
Mrs Simmonds, Tockwith
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen is lovely, we were there as a family and I would definitely recommend it to other families. We were there for the week of the Snowbombing festival which was fantastic. On the last night we watched Kasabian from our chalet balcony and there was a firework display which our children loved! + more
Mrs Newey, Knowle
5 out of 5
A very good week with the family in Mayrhofen. It was very warm the week we skied here (end of March 2016) but that barely affected the slopes at all. Mayrhofen is quite a low town and we couldn’t ski a scrap of snow, but up on the mountains not a single run was shut! I would say it’s a place for intermediate... + more
The King Family,
5 out of 5
We had a brilliant week away! Mayrhofen’s a wonderful town – when I last visited it was quiet but it’s now a lot more lively (in a good way!) with lots of things do. We’re a group of fairly beginner boarders and there was enough for us to do. It had snowed the week before we went and although there wasn’t ... + more
Nigel, Bournemouth
5 out of 5
I had very good weather all week. Obviously there’s a new gondola which gets you up the mountain very quickly indeed, there was never any queueing even at the weekend. It’s also really good that the ski pass takes you to all of the resorts right around the whole valley – on a couple of days I took the bus (f... + more
Glyn Smith, Lancashire
4 out of 5
Returned to Mayrhofen after 15 years out of curiosity to see if it had changed – liked the town, though up on the mountains there wasn’t a lot of snow and probably not enough skiing for me (last time I was here I was more of a beginner). I still enjoyed myself though, it was the Altitude week and I’d definit... + more
P. J.,
5 out of 5
Brilliant week, I would definitely go back to Mayrhofen – we had an excellent holiday across the board. The location is great as there are so many different areas to try and everything is very affordable (nowhere near as expensive as Verbier the year before). + more
Lee, Isle of Man
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen is very picturesque; when we first landed we thought there wasn’t going to be much après ski, but all of a sudden the place comes alive when the lifts start to close. If you’ve only done France, you’ve not lived from an après ski point of view! The big round bar at the top, before you get the cab... + more
Richard, Leeds
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen was great, we’re used to skiing in France and staying up on the mountain so this was something different, but we really liked it. We could ski lots of resorts down the valley because the ski pass covered the train, buses etc. so we had something different to ski every day. Everything was a lot cheape... + more
David & Leon Clements, Edinburgh
5 out of 5
I’ve been to Mayrhofen quite a few times and as a resort it’s really nice. The ski region is really good, you can get on the train and go to all different areas. There’s a new gondola which makes getting on the mountain so much quicker than it used to be, and the majority of lifts are 8 man lifts with heated... + more
Anonymous,
5 out of 5
I’ve been to Mayrhofen quite a few times and normally stay in one of the villages on the outskirts – in Finkenburg you can get straight on the mountain, but in Mayrhofen the queue for the Penken lift is usually chocka. However the new gondola has been finished there and it’s definitely improved things. It’... + more
Andrew Dunstan,
4 out of 5
Mayrhofen is interesting, it takes a bit of getting used to as it’s a different type of resort. The Austrians have a much better service than you get in French resorts, they treat their business seriously and are always so pleased to see you. You’ve got to travel to get the best of it or you end up stuck ... + more
Ray Codona, Glasgow
4 out of 5
Mayrhofen was great; there are about 5 different ski areas that you get access to. We didn’t go to the glacier (which is up the valley) but we did 3 of the other 4 areas and really enjoyed them. There’s a lot of scope for different places to ski or snowboard and you have complete coverage with the ski pass. T... + more
Andrew Gardiner, Larbert
4 out of 5
We had a lot of fun in Mayrhofen. As a resort, it has a good combination of adequate skiing at different altitudes, with some lovely views of the scenery. It’s not as expensive as places like Switzerland and Courchevel 1850 either – everything’s very good value for money. It’s a great place if you have teen... + more
Colin S., Fife
4 out of 5
We’d never really taken to Austria before coming to Mayrhofen – before we’ve always experienced bad snow conditions because the resorts are so low and it’s taken a long time to reach the lifts because the accommodation tends to be right at the bottom of the valley. Here, being so close to the lifts (we stay... + more
Chris & Katie, Essex
4 out of 5
I’d been to several Austrian resorts before and thought Mayrhofen was great, the après ski is incredible. The only downside is the fact that you can’t ski back into the town. We had a good mix of all sorts of weather: light snow one day, then a day of heavy snow, followed by a day of blue skies, which then r... + more
Stuart, Cardiff
4 out of 5
Because of the time of year we skied in Mayrhofen it wasn’t very snowy – it’s always nice to have the snow reaching down to where you’re staying and I imagine that at other times of year it would be really nice. We had decent enough snow on the mountain and the skiing was good for all ranges with quite a de... + more
Pete Monaghan, London
4 out of 5
Unfortunately we didn’t have good weather at the end of March, there were a couple of days of complete white out. They closed the mountain one of the days and scooped everyone off the slopes, it’s probably the least amount of skiing we’ve ever done in a week. We’re not into the bars and clubs but we found o... + more
Ian Holford,
3 out of 5
We had a great time in Mayrhofen. It was all getting a bit warm and slushy in the middle of March. There was a funny mix in town, it seemed to be split 50/50 between stag parties and people our age. The place has become fairly commercialised and lost all its charm, these days the majority of shops are ski renta... + more
Stewart French,
3 out of 5
The town itself is really nice, it was very pretty as we had quite a lot of snow while we were here. We went to a couple of different bars and spent a lot of time in the Edelweiss (really nice food). For New Year’s Eve, they did a street party with loads of fireworks. The only thing I didn’t like was having... + more
Georgie, Hampshire
3 out of 5
The resort itself is really nice, nothing was expensive and the night life and choice of restaurants and bars are very varied. The lift system that goes out of the town gets extremely crowded, so even when it’s not the ski holidays you can be waiting for over an hour. We worked out that it was actually fas... + more
William Evans, Chester
3 out of 5
It’s a bit of a mission to get up to the mountain every day, Mayrhofen is set quite low in the valley, but it was fine. It’s a great resort. I wouldn’t shoot back straight away but I’d certainly come here again. There are lots of bars and restaurants, we ate out most nights. + more
Dr. Davina Wilson, London
5 out of 5
The ski conditions were great and the area will be even better when the new lift is open later this year – they’re adding a double capacity gondola right next to the existing lift. We had to queue a bit to get up the mountain in the morning but the new lift will make a massive difference. We’re a mixed gro... + more
Andrew, Newcastle
5 out of 5
First time skiing Mayrhofen and really liked it! There’s quite a lot of skiing in different areas and you can get the train to different places so you couldn’t get bored there. We were fairly lucky with the weather, with it being quite early in the season and other resorts struggling for snow. There are a l... + more
Lauren, Greater London
5 out of 5
This was our first time away over Christmas as well as my first time in Mayrhofen – my girlfriend had done a season here so knew the area well. The snow wasn’t great at the beginning of season but it snowed in the middle of the week and there was enough open to ski for the week, with good snow it would be sup... + more
Lauren & Ollie, Greater London
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen’s a really good resort. I went by myself and it was very friendly, not too lively and not too quiet. I would definitely go again. The fact that you get the whole valley in the ski pass is great. I would say it’s a ski resort for intermediates and upwards as it can get quite busy. + more
Sam,
5 out of 5
Mayrhofen is great, a lot cheaper than resorts in France with enough places to eat out and a really good social scene, we went to loads of bars throughout the week. For me and my mate it was just what we needed. We were snowboarding and there were enough red runs to keep us occupied for the week. + more
Niel, Uxbridge
5 out of 5
We had too much snow which was mental for the end of March! We still managed to get out every day but the only problem with Mayrhofen is that they close the lifts a lot, even if it’s not that bad. We got a bit left in the lurch when we made our way over to one of the ski areas only to find the lifts closed bec... + more
Stephen Platt, Greater London
4 out of 5
Mayrhofen’s a cool place with a lively atmosphere. We had summer holiday weather with temperatures around 21 degrees every day. It meant there was very little snow, and what snow was left got slushy - but I enjoyed the sunshine nonetheless! + more
Colin, London
4 out of 5
As a bunch, we’ve been all over the place when it comes to ski resorts. If I had to say our favourite resorts, St Anton’s always a good one, as are Sauze d’Oulx and Livigno in Italy – these are the ones we return to every few years but Mayrhofen didn’t go down as well. It was really, really busy – I haven... + more
Jason Thoday,
1 out of 5
Set fairly low within the valley, Mayerhofen is a sweet little town with access to a huge ski area. It’s a good option if you want to bring your car with you as it is easy to drive to. We went to the brilliant ‘Snowbombing’ festival which takes place every year in April. It’s a dance music and ski extravaga... + more
Louise Duffel, Sno Staff
5 out of 5
Have you stayed in
this resort?
Write a Review

Families in Mayrhofen

Families are well looked after in this charming Austrian resort, where quality time together is widely encouraged. The accommodation here is well suited to families. There is a large range of hotels, one of the most popular being the Strass Hotel with amazing facilities for the whole family. Location can be a key part of keeping everyone happy for the week, and the hotel is right in the centre of the town, very near to the Penken gondola which leads directly to the ski school meeting point and nursery slopes, making them ideal if any of your clan are booked into lessons.

As well as benefitting from excellent ski schools, children learning to ski will enjoy Mayrhofen’s lovely nursery slopes with conveyor belts and magic carpets to make skiing easy. If you’re travelling with children who are too young for ski school, ask us about accommodation with childcare facilities if this is an important factor of your holiday, several hotels offer kindergarten from the age of 3 and upwards.

Our best package holidays include accommodation, flights and transfers. They’re 100% ATOL protected and make a booking and travelling swift and hassle-free. Select your nearest airport below for the most convenient holidays. Self-drive holidays are popular for families who don’t mind the journey – pick self-drive instead of an airport below to find our best packages with channel crossings. You can also select independent travel if you’re sorting it all out separately.

GroupsGroup Holidays Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen has something for groups of all ages and abilities, and there are indoor and outdoor activities aplenty for any non-skiers tagging along.

Hotels offer an authentic and relaxed place to stay, ideal for groups looking to spend some quality time together. Alpenhotel Kramerwirt boasts friendly service, family ran and excellent location right in the middle of town, just a short walk to the gondola station. With Mayrhofen's lively Austrian après right next door for groups looking to party - for some homely après head to British pub Scotland Yard for live music or for Austrian merriment head down to Bruck'n Stadl.

Groups of all shapes and sizes are likely to find somewhere to suit in the Strass Hotels. This complex includes 2 hotels and 2 interconnecting properties: the Apart-Hotel Strass and Hotel Strass Garni. As well as boasting a central location, all Strass properties are right by the Penken gondola which takes you directly to the nursery slopes and ski school meeting point – ideal if anyone in your group is taking lessons. Any latecomers wanting to join the party, later on, can look for availabilities in any of the Hotel Strass accommodation and you can all join together communal spaces shared by all the properties.

Wherever you select to stay, our accommodation comes with flights and transfers for a money-saving deal that'll get you all on the mountains before you know it. Self-drive packages are available for groups planning to drive, and if it's proving too difficult to find a package that suits everyone, accommodation-only deals are also available.

Which are the best ski holidays in Mayrhofen?

Accommodation Number of nights Price (per person) from
Neuhaus Zillertal Resort 7 £ 829
Hotel Strass 7 £ 834
Elisabeth Hotel 7 £ 929
Sporthotel Strass 7 £ 939
Hotel Berghof 7 £ 1009
Alpenhotel Kramerwirt 7 £ 1199
Sport & Spa Hotel Strass 7 £ 905
Hotel Neuhaus - St Josef 7 £ 1023
Hotel Rose 7 £ 1133
Hotel Neuhaus 7 £ 1176

← online or call ↴
020 7770 6888
more