In the very heart of the Bavarian Alps is the Reit im Winkl ski resort, which has been very popular for many years, thanks to its low prices and well-developed infrastructure. The atmosphere of a winter fairy tale reigns here: the cleanest air, cozy houses on the slopes, silence and picturesque surroundings provide tourists with a wonderful vacation. The resort’s territory is covered with forest slopes and huge snow fields, passing between three regions: Tyrol, Salzburg and Bavaria, so vacationers can freely move along the slopes of both Germany and Austria. It will be comfortable here for both families with children and noisy companies.

Previously, Reit im Winkl was a small village, but it gradually grew and, thanks to its large and picturesque territory, became a popular ski resort. Now it is a zone where cars and all buses are prohibited from driving except for special vehicles, so vacationers can not only enjoy the cleanest air, but also start skiing right from the hotel doorstep. This resort will be interesting for those who prefer a variety of comfortable slopes: it will be interesting for both beginners and experienced skiers and snowboarders.

How to get there

By plane

The nearest airports are Salzburg (67 km), Innsbruck (115 km), Munich (147 km) and Linz (203 km).

By car

From Munich, you need to take the A8 highway towards Salzburg, where you can stop by Lake Chiemsee and the most beautiful palaces of the Bavarian monarch along the way.

By train

The Prien am Chiemsee railway station is located near the resort, from where buses run to Reit im Winkl.

Ski slopes and lifts

Reit im Winkl is divided into several different skiing areas: Dorflift, Benzeck-Lifte and Winklmoosalm, which intersect with the Austrian ski resort of Waidring. Each area is suitable for different types of vacationers. For example, Winklmoosalm is an ideal area located at the bottom of the resort, suitable for beginner skiers and snowboarders, as well as children. For more experienced skiers, it is worth going higher, where there are many “red” slopes.

The main skiing center of this region is the Steinplatte plateau, located in the altitude range from 1100 meters to 1800 meters. Most of the plateau belongs to Austria, where the Austrian resort of Waidring is located, so every climb means crossing the border. There are slopes of all levels of difficulty on the Steinplatte plateau. In the lower zone, easy “blue” slopes prevail, closer to the upper part of the slope there are more difficult “red” ones, and there is also a “black” descent. There are also quite long descents on the plateau for lovers of virgin snow. The slopes of the resort are equipped with snow cannons, and the lifts are mainly high-speed chairlifts, so there are no queues here.

The resort of Reit im Winkl is also interesting for lovers of cross-country skiing: there are 90 km of trails here.

The longest difficult slopes:

-in the lower part of the region – 3 km, at altitudes from 650 meters to 850 meters (“black”);

-on the Steinplatte -15 km, at an altitude of 1100 meters (“red”);

-on the Winklmoos plateau – 15 km at altitudes from 1000 meters to 1200 meters (“red”).

Parks for snowboarders

Information for those who have given their heart to snowboarding: despite the small size of the resort, you have huge opportunities here:

A large half-pipe for practicing jumps
A fun park for a variety of difficult snowboard “figures”
You can enter with your ski pass.

The slopes are suitable for beginners. Professionals can use off-piste slopes and create their own long-distance skiing scheme. This is convenient because all the routes overlap with each other.

Slope scheme

Ski schools and equipment rental

For those who want to learn to ski, improve their technique or ski with an experienced instructor, ski schools operate on the territory of the resort. One of the best children’s ski schools in the world, led by three-time Olympic medalist Rosie Mittermeier, deserves special attention.

The resort also has a rental service where you can rent all the necessary equipment. Professional consultants will help you choose the right equipment.

Hotels and cottages

Reit im Winkl has a wide selection of hotels, guesthouses, private houses and cottages. It is especially convenient that the hotels are located as close as possible to the ski lifts and there is practically no need to walk, and long-distance travel is carried out on special ski buses.

One of the most popular accommodation options is the guest house Gästehaus Pretzner, located 100 meters from the ski lift and two kilometers from the Austrian border. For guests, there is a bakery on site, where fresh pastries are prepared every day. And the rooms of the guest house have a private balcony or terrace with a picturesque view of the mountains and the surrounding countryside.

Another popular place is the family-run Haus Ruebezahl, located 30 kilometers from Lake Chiemsee. It offers free Wi-Fi and a public pool, which is included in the price of accommodation.

Hotel Unterwirt 4 star hotel

This 4-star hotel is located in the centre of Reit im Winkl. It offers a large spa area, a heated outdoor pool, a terrace, and an à la carte restaurant. The bright rooms at the Unterwirt feature free WiFi.

The Unterwirt’s welcoming, traditional restaurant serves regional and international specialities. Guests can enjoy a wide range of wines from the wine cellar and try original cocktails prepared at the bar.

The hotel’s rooms are decorated in warm colours and feature a seating area with armchairs and satellite TV. Most rooms open out onto a balcony or terrace.

The spa area offers a wide range of facilities, including an indoor pool, a Finnish sauna, a Turkish steam bath, and a hot tub and shower. Physiotherapy, beauty and massage treatments are also available.

The beautiful countryside surrounding the hotel is ideal for hiking, cycling and skiing. Guests can visit the picturesque Chiemsee Lake, which is approximately 30 km away.

DEVA Villa Mittermaier 4 star hotel

Villa DEVA Mittermaier offers a restaurant, a tennis court, and country-style rooms with free WiFi. The villa is 7.6 km from the Rossalmbahn Ski Lift and 7.7 km from the Seegatterl Gondola Lift.

All suites feature a TV, a bathroom with hairdryer, and a furnished balcony with mountain views.

Guests can prepare their meals in the well-equipped kitchenette, which includes a toaster and a kettle.

Villa DEVA Mittermaier also has a communal sauna. The villa also features water sports facilities, ski storage and a children’s playground. The area is ideal for skiing and hiking in the warmer months.

If you feel like visiting the surroundings, check out Schwarzlöfer River Area (7.9 km) and Mesernbahn Ski Area (9.5 km).

Neumaier Ferienwohnungen 5 star hotel

The Neumaier Apartments offers free bicycle rental, a free shuttle to the ski slopes, and spacious apartments with a cozy fireplace. It is located in the Chiemgau region and offers scenic views of the Bavarian Alps.

All apartments are decorated in neutral tones and feature wooden furniture and a homely feel. They feature a flat-screen TV, WiFi in all areas, and a balcony or terrace with garden views.

The fully equipped kitchen is ideal for preparing home-cooked meals. In fine weather, guests can use the barbecue facilities outside.

The surrounding area of Reit im Winkl offers activities such as skiing, hiking and cycling. In summer, guests can use the outdoor pool 300 metres away for free.

Free private parking is available at the Neumaier Apartments. The Austrian border is 2 km away.

Beim Rottmeister

Beim Rottmeister is located in Reit im Winkl, 2.1 km from Benz-Eck Ski Lift and 6 km from Steinmelmo Salm Cable Car. It offers rooms with a garden, free WiFi throughout the property and free private parking. The inn is 10 km from Rossalmlbahn and Rossalmlift, and features ski storage space and a terrace. The property features mountain views. A children’s playground is available.

At Beim Rottmeister, all rooms include a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. The rooms are equipped with a microwave.

Guests at Hotel Beim Rottmeister will be able to enjoy activities in and around Reit im Winkl, like hiking, skiing and cycling.

Kurvenlift Ski Lift is 10 km from the property.

Restaurants and cafes

The resort has about 60 restaurants, cafes and bars where you can taste national and European cuisine. There are places for all price categories.

The most popular place among vacationers is considered to be Dorf Stadl, where a cozy and homely atmosphere, low prices and large portions make you come back again and again. The best national dishes are prepared here, which are definitely worth trying. Vacationers can also visit the small atmospheric restaurant Seegatterl Alm, decorated in a rustic style. Here you can have a tasty and inexpensive snack.

Another popular place is the restaurant Gast Stuberl, where the restaurant staff does everything to make visitors feel as comfortable as possible. They serve national cuisine at quite reasonable prices.

Sights and entertainment

The town is small, but it is impossible to call it boring. The first thing I would like to note is that there are many traditional restaurants with authentic Bavarian cuisine. Tasty, plentiful, satisfying – this is the right “mountain” cuisine.

A great start to Apres-Ski, as the French say. This is the term true fans of alpine skiing call the time when they take off their skis or snowboard and go out into the city.

Souvenir shops are not the cheapest. Buying ammunition and equipment here is expensive. Although, everything you need is available in the shops. After training, it’s good to walk around the shops. In addition to souvenirs, you can buy food, delicacies and local drinks here.

Reit im Winkl is a very quiet and peaceful place, so the entertainment here is appropriate – the resort is more suitable for family vacations than for young people. There are no noisy nightclubs and discos in the resort, but there are many options for how to spend the evening: visit the theater or go to a concert. During the day, vacationers can play bowling, tennis or curling, as well as swim in the pool or relax in the spa center. For romantics, there is also a special entertainment here – a horse-drawn sleigh ride, which will leave a lot of impressions.

Since Reit im Winkl is located between Germany and Austria, vacationers have a lot of options for sightseeing tours to nearby cities, where you definitely won’t have to get bored. One of the most striking sights in the area adjacent to the village is the picturesque Lake Chiemsee. This is the largest lake in Bavaria, called by its inhabitants nothing other than the “Bavarian Sea”. On the largest island, called Herrenchiemsee, right in the middle of the flat expanses of ice and snow, stands the castle of King Ludwig II, built in 1878. Not far from it is the “monastic” island of Frauenchiemsee with a beautiful church that has survived to this day almost unchanged. In frosty weather, you can skate on the lake and enjoy the view of the surrounding landscapes. Other excursion routes include Ruhpolding, Kitzbühel or Kufstein.