On the expanses of Penken

Mayrhofen . The starting point in the Alps for a large number of mountain skiing enthusiasts. You can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the region for a long time (there are enough of both), but for many it was and remains a place that the skiing heart cares about. It’s like the first love, which may not seem so good over the years, but the enthusiastic feeling from those times of youth continues to pleasantly tickle 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, Innsbruckwith Salzburg and Munich. A traditional Tyrolean village? So! A modern ski resort? That’s right! Here, these two concepts go well together. And the rural smell of manure on some secondary street may well turn into the wonderful smell of freshly prepared food from a haute cuisine 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, happens less and less often in recent years. Unfortunately, the village is located at a low altitude, only 650 meters above sea level. And if once it was possible to go cross-country skiing in the valley almost every winter, now the grass is often greener there.

Kirkha on the square near the Kramevirt hotel

This certainly does not apply to the main skiing area, where there is always enough snow in the season, which is facilitated by the decent heights of the skiing area and a good system of artificial snow. Mayrhofenbelongs to the Zillertal 3000 region, which, in addition to the “home” Penken and Ahorn, includes the Horberg, Rastkogel and Eggalm zones. 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 forty minutes to get there by bus, so we will leave it in parentheses in this description. Also, in the Zillertal valley, in addition to Mayrhofen and the glacier, there are two large skiing areas – Zillertal Arena and Ski-Optimal. The total mileage of the tracks turns out to be very decent, about 500 kilometers. Of course, the zones are separated 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 will be more informative than tiring. Moreover, the buses run according to the schedule with absolutely German precision.

Mayrhofen lies below under the clouds.

View from Knorren (2081 m) to Penken station.

The history of mountain skiing in the region began in 1954 with the construction of the first lift from the city, which, later modified and updated, still gathered large queues, especially in 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 3,840 people per hour significantly eased the situation with “traffic jams” during rush hour.

It is impossible to ski down to Mayrhofen , the slopes of the mountain here are too steep to lay a track. So, the main thing is to climb to the top, and then a modern and powerful system of lifts will take skiers everywhere, each one to the tracks that suit him best. There are practically no queues here. But as far as the quality of the tracks is concerned, perfectly prepared in the morning, by the middle of the day they are usually badly damaged. After all, the region is very compact, and the number of places for guests in Mayrhofen alone is quite large – about 10,000. Of course, this whole crowd quickly and successfully digs up big hills before lunch. So it is better to go up the mountain with the first lift and finish skiing a little earlier than the main mass of people, then you will pass the line for the descent.

Penkenskaya “basin” from the upper station of the 150er-Tux lift

So, having climbed from the top station of the Penkenbahn cable car (1,800 m) further on another lift to the Knorren rock (2,081 m), you can ride in the large, as it is popularly called, the “pit” between Penkene 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 tracks themselves are mostly of medium difficulty and, to tell the truth, very short by alpine standards, only one or two kilometers long. The whole “pit” buzzes like a beehive in the high season: a large ski pole, where beginners may not be very comfortable. In fact, they have nowhere to ride here. On the blue training tracks No. 2 and No. 20, after a few days, every bend is already familiar, and the good blues on the Rastkogel still need to be reached. Then it is better to go to the Ahorn area, which is reached by a separate lift from Mayrhofen, whose station is located four hundred meters from Penkenovska Street. There are several pleasant blue trails serviced by chairlifts and buggies, as well as an interesting Funslope area. And there are always a few people. There is an opportunity to study at a ski school right away, so as not to cross paths with the crowd rushing to Penkene. It is quite possible to devote three days to setting up the basic equipment, and then boldly rush “into battle” to conquer the ski equipment of Zillertal. In general, Mayrhofen has very good ski schools and good work, including with children. It is quite possible to devote three days to setting up the basic equipment, and then boldly rush “into battle” to conquer the ski equipment of Zillertal. In general, Mayrhofen has very good ski schools and good work, including with children. It is quite possible to devote three days to setting up the basic equipment, and then boldly rush “into battle” to conquer the ski equipment of Zillertal. In general, Mayrhofen has very good ski schools and good work, including with children.

Pass in Rastkogel district

Let’s leave the beginners on Ahorn and return to the main skiing area, moving on to explore it. Good interesting slopes are located above Finkenberg. It is always sunny and there are relatively few people here. There is a good wide educational hill, a couple of red and black tracks. It’s worth lingering. For those who like to drive “among the Christmas trees” – an off-piste descent down to Finkenberg itself. The track is nothing interesting, a flat track with many “mother-in-law tongues”.

Such preparation for “festivals” in Mayrhofen is a common thing

So, the entire region has been covered, all tracks, both forest (about 30% of which are here) and open, have been pumped several times, it is time to return down to the city, change clothes, take a shower or go to the sauna, and, having rested a little (and maybe even without rest at all), rush to conquer the heights of apre-ski. What are the possibilities of the town, it must be said, very well located, in the evenings it is even excessively noisy in the center. There are several bars and discos where the fun can start even before returning to the hotel, right in your ski boots. The whole of Mayrhofen in the evening is like a kind of Babylon: a mixture of languages ​​- German, English, Russian, Dutch, the wandering of sometimes inebriated, but very positive, people here and there in search of a place where their soul will truly unfold. Not Ischgl and St. Anton, but also very ironically, many, especially young people, have the best memories of Mayrhofen in the evening. And if you ask them to tell you about their vacation later, you will surely see a meaningful and mysterious smile on their face.

Mayrhofen 2019: how to get there, where to stay, what to see

Mayrhofen

How to get to Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen is located in the heart of the Zillertal valley, about halfway between Innsbruck and Kitzbühel . This place is considered to have one of the best locations for skiing. The Zillertal valley includes such resorts as Zell am Ziller , Zellberg, Rohrberg, Hippach, Schwendau, Finkenberg and, of course, Mayrhofen, which occupies a central place among other resort towns.

Mayrhofen has been known as a ski resort for a long time, so the local infrastructure is considered highly developed, and the tracks are among the best for skiing of any difficulty. There is also a separate area for snowboarders and freeriders, which also boasts ideal conditions for skiing. Mayrhofen is also known as an entertainment center – numerous cafes, restaurants, bars and discos create a unique evening atmosphere, and you can always relax in local spas and health centers.

You can get to Mayrhofen from Munich or Innsbruck. These are the two nearest major cities that have their own international arrival airports. There are flights from Lviv to Innsbruck all year round. There are also direct and connecting flights from Lviv to Munich throughout the year

Innsbruck-Mayrhofen

The distance between Innsbruck and Mayrhofen is 70 km. You can get from one point to another by public transport, taxi or transfer, or by rented car. It is not possible to get directly from Innsbruck to Mayrhofen by public transport, you need to change in the town of Jenbach. Trains and trams run there from Innsbruck. Then there are trains or buses from Jenbach to Mayrhofen. The total travel time will be approximately 1.5 hours + time to get from Innsbruck Airport to the train station.

You can get there a bit faster and without transfers if you use the services of a taxi or transfer. You can arrange a trip with taxi drivers right on the spot after arrival, or order a car with a transfer in advance. For this, there are special services that allow you to choose a car of the appropriate class and size and order it before the appointed time.

An equally convenient option for those who have a driver’s license is to rent a car. The offices of rental companies can be found right at Innsbruck Airport, the procedure itself usually takes no more than 20 minutes. In order to reserve a car of the desired class in advance (and in the “high” season, the option is in great demand), you can use the special services of Rentalcars , Autoeurope and other similar services, which guarantees that you will have the right car upon arrival. Innsbruck and Mayrhofen are connected by highway No. A12 and Zillertal Str./B169, the approximate travel time is 55-60 minutes.

Mayrhofen

Munich-Mayrhofen

Munich is 156 km from Mayrhofen. The cities are connected by highways No. A8 and A12. As in the case of Innsbruck, the Mayrhofen resort can be reached from Munich by public transport, taxi, transfer or rented car. There are no direct trains from Munich to Mayrhofen, but every 2 hours there is a train to Jenbach, where you can then transfer to another train or bus directly to Mayrhofen. The total travel time is about 2.5 hours, excluding the travel time from Munich airport to the train station.

If you are carrying equipment or a large amount of luggage, a taxi or shuttle service can come to your aid. And although their services are more expensive than traveling by public transport, the problem of baggage surcharges, transfers and lost time will disappear by itself. You can order a transfer before the arrival time at special services providing transfer services. It can be Intui.Travel, Kiwitaxi and others similar.

If you have an international driver’s license, you can get from Munich to Mayrhofen by car. Renting a car in Munich is quite a popular tourist service, rental offices can be found everywhere in the city, as well as at the airport of arrival. The cities are connected by several highways – No. А8 and А12; No. A13; No. B181; the approximate travel time will be about 2 hours. Routes between cities are mostly high-speed autobahns, which you can travel quickly and comfortably, in addition, trips on the German part of the route will be free, because there are no toll roads in Germany.

Mayrhofen in winter

Where to stay in Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen is a popular tourist destination, which means that the infrastructure of the resort can accommodate a large number of vacationers. Accommodation in Mayrhofen can be found in hotels of various star ratings, apartments (studio rooms, apartments or houses), guest houses, bed and breakfast hotels, farmhouses, holiday homes, etc. The price policy for housing in Mayrhofen is average for ski resorts in Austria, that is, you can find both budget options and exclusive ones here. Please note that the ideal option in terms of price / quality ratio can be found only if you book accommodation in advance (ideally several months before the intended trip).

Hotels in Mayrhofen

Hotels in Mayrhofen have different star categories, from modest options with no stars to luxury ones with a full range of additional options. Regardless of the stars, Mayrhofen hotels are two-story houses, made in typical Tyrolean style, and look like respectable country houses. There are no skyscrapers with a million rooms on one floor in Mayrhofen.

As additional services, a number of local hotels offer spa and wellness centers on their territory with a swimming pool and sauna, free parking for those traveling by car, terraces for relaxation, children’s playgrounds or rooms, restaurants, rental and storage of ski equipment, sales of skis subscriptions, etc. The vast majority of local hotels offer breakfast included in the price of accommodation, some offer half-board.

Hotels in Mayrhofen

In addition to Mayrhofen, you can also find accommodation in nearby towns, such as Tux (10 km), Zell am Ziller (7.5 km), Ramsau (4 km), Finkenberg (4 km), Hippach (4 km), Schwendau (4 km), but then it is necessary to think of ways to get from these resorts to Mayrhofen for skiing. You can find all accommodation options in Mayrhofen and neighboring towns on special sites Booking , Hotellook and others, which compare all existing offers for specific dates.

Apartments in Mayrhofen

Apartments in Mayrhofen are no less popular accommodation options than hotels. You can even say that Mayrhofen is famous for its large selection of apartments for rent. You can stay both in apart-hotels and in separate apartments. Apart-hotels, as a rule, offer studio rooms or rooms with separate bedrooms and equipped kitchens (there are both appliances and household items).

Detached apartments are, as a rule, whole houses, one or two stories. The second accommodation option is more suitable for families with children or large companies. In both the first and second cases, breakfast or any other food is not provided. You can eat in public catering establishments, of which there are many in Mayrhofen, or cook yourself in the fully equipped kitchen.

Mayrhofen

What to see in Mayrhofen

It is not for nothing that Mayrhofen is considered one of the most popular and sought-after resorts in Austria, the developed infrastructure contributes to this, not only in terms of accommodation and skiing, but also in terms of entertainment. In addition to mountain skiing, snowboarding, freeride, cross-country skiing, Mayrhofen is able to offer other, less extreme entertainment, such as sledding and snowshoeing, relaxation in spa centers, hot outdoor pools, restaurants, shopping, bars and discos to a.m. In summer, people come to Mayrhofen to go hiking and rock climbing. Tennis courts, stables in the summer and skating rinks, sledding tracks in the winter – these are other popular activities at the resort in Mayrhofen.

Mayrhofen ski resort

After all, the main function of the resort is a skiing vacation, and for this Mayrhofen has everything you need: 136 km of trails, 40 km of which are intended for beginners, 66 km of medium difficulty and 30 km for experienced skiers; 57 lifts, incl. cable cars, chairlifts, cable cars, aerial trams; 20 km of tracks for cross-country skiing; park skating in Vans Penken for snowboarding and freeriding with 6 different areas of varying difficulty. The height difference is 1870 m, and the longest route is 10 km.

In Mayrhofen, there are a large number of equipment rental points, as well as shops where you can buy your own. The most famous rental offices include Uli Spiess SKIZONE, Die Roten Profis, Intersport Bründl and others. Here you can rent not only mountain skis, but also, for example, snowboard equipment. There are also more than 5 ski schools in the city, which will help beginner skaters learn. Lessons can be group and individual, for children and adults, training is carried out both on downhill skiing and on snowboarding. There are also freeride courses.

The cost of ski passes in Mayrhofen is as follows: from 53.5 euros for an adult and 24 euros for a child per day. If you plan to ski not only on the territory of Mayrhofen, but also in the entire Zillertal valley, including other resorts, then the tariffs will be as follows: from 105.5 euros for an adult and 47.5 euros for a child for 2 days; 147.5 and 66.5 euros for 3 days; 184.5 and 83 euros for 4 days; 221 and 99.5 euros for 5 days; 256.5 and 115.5 euros for 6 days; 291 and 131 euros per week.

Mayrhofen

Entertainment in Mayrhofen

Many Mayrhofen hotels in the highest star category offer various entertainment right on their territory. These can be spa areas, swimming pools, saunas, and an entertainment program. However, if you are staying in a standard hotel that does not offer these options, you can go and have fun at the local water center Erlebnisbad Mayrhofen. Here you can find outdoor and indoor swimming pools, saunas, recreation areas and terraces.

The outdoor pool is equipped with slides suitable for children. The aqua center is open all year round and is a popular vacation spot, both in winter and summer. The price of the question: outdoor pool – 7 euros for an adult and 4.5 euros for a child (in summer); indoor pool – 10 euros for an adult and 5.6 euros for a child; sauna – 11 euros for an adult and 10 euros for a child (prices are for 2 hours of stay).

Among winter entertainment, guests of the resort can also try their hand at the local ice rink (located next to the water park), the rink is open from November to March; evening skiing is possible on the toboggan run, the length of which is 7.5 km; in snowshoeing and snowmobiling; and also learn ski mountaineering and go paragliding. In the summer, tennis courts and horse riding stables are open in Mayrhofen.

In general, rest in Mayrhofen is very diverse and is not limited only to mountain skiing, you can rest here both passively and very actively, depending on your own wishes. The climate and nature of the area lends itself to winter sports, and in the summer Mayrhofen opens its doors for recreation in the water park, on tennis courts, hiking, horseback riding, and cycling, as well as rock climbing.

Mayrhofen in summer

There are many souvenir shops on the main and nearby streets. There is something to do. Even just walking around the city in the evening, leisurely 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.

This is what the Mayrhofen ski resort looks like . 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 leave a significant impression on the impression. And when you return home and are asked how the trip turned out, you say: “Sunny!”. If not literally, then definitely figuratively. Magic? Mystery? Try to figure it out yourself, come ride in Mayrhofen.