Mayrhofen

Mayrhofen: A Majestic Town Nestled Between the Alps

Nestled among the majestic mountains of the Zillertal Alps. So Mayrhofen is the third largest holiday village in Tyrol, Austria, located about one hour from Innsbruck. It sits at an elevation of 633m (2,077ft), is in the district of Schwaz, and has a total population of 3,794 as of 2016.

Mayrhofen is located near the Hintertux Glacier, sits between the Penken and Ahorn mountains, and embraces the villages of Finkenberg, Lanersbach, and Hippach. It belongs to the Zillertal valley and has been a popular destination spot for decades, due to its thriving nightlife and numerous holiday resorts. It spans across a total area of 178.78km² or 69.03 square miles and is a winter wonderland for winter sports enthusiasts. For those who prefer the summer months, the valley is surrounded by lush green meadows and craggy rock faces, making it a great place for hiking and Nordic walking tours. In Mayrhofen ski areas there is 136km worth of snow runs and 57 lifts in total, with a new 24-seat cabin gondola built back in 2015. The slope runs will vary between 2,500-1,650m and the village is known for Austria’s steepest slope run, the Harakiri.

What Attractions Are Must Sees in Mayrhofen?

Mayrhofen is the perfect destination for those who are looking to get lost on the ski slopes. It is located at the heart of the Tyrolean mountains, has 3,000-meter peaks, breathtaking views, and over 136km of pistes. Regardless of whether you are looking for a sporting adventure or a relaxed pleasure seeking day, Mayrhofen has it all. The two mountains are managed and operated by Mayrhofner Bergbahnen, a company that has been around since 1953. They operate the twenty-two ski lifts throughout Mayrhofen and Hippach.

Penken in Mayrhofen

If fun and thrills are what you are looking for, then the Penken mountain in Mayrhofen is the place to check out. Especially relevant is that has one of the most challenging and steepest slopes in all of Zillertal Valley. Which sits at a gradient of 78 percent, and is known as the legendary Harakiri. If you are looking for a snowpark, then the Penken Park is one of the best in Europe, offering eight different skill level areas for beginners, advanced riders, and professionals. Finally, the Racing Paradise Unterberg has three timed race courses for those who want a little more speed. Penken is connected with the 2,762-meter high Rastkogel Tux Alp and Eggalm, another ski resort.

Ahorn in Mayrhofen

For those who are looking for relaxation, great carving, and leisurely activities, then Ahorn Mountain in Mayrhofen is the place to be. The mountain is known for its wide pistes which are great for beginners who are new to skiing and snowboarding, as well as for those who just want to carve some snow.  There is an Ahorn Fun Ride as well for those who want a long-valley run down to Mayrhofen, which is about 5.5km. For those who don’t want to ski or snowboard, there are winter hiking trails along the Panorama Trail, or you can enjoy the White Lounge and the Igloo Village bar.

Finally, the ever popular Snowbombing Festival in Mayrhofen is a must see as considered the world’s greatest show on snow. So it is a leading music festival that sits above the ski resorts at 8,497ft. It has over one hundred acts, has an unbeatable reputation and always entertains with unmatched world-class talent. What makes it so unique are the venues it provides, think igloo raves, enchanted forest parties, and subterranean super clubs. It is the mother of mountain music festivals, and nothing else in the world even comes close to comparing.

Recommendations for Points of Interest in Mayrhofen

Although there are hundreds of amazing places to check out, here are some of the top destinations that are popular in Zillertal Mayrhofen :

• Grantalm 

  Granatalm by Christa & George is a rustic mountain ski hut. That touts large sun terraces, open fireplaces, rustic dining rooms, and gorgeous panoramic views of the alps. So located on the sunny plateau of the Penkenjoch and completely surrounded by mountains. They serve fresh, local ingredients and their menu has a wide selection of traditional Tirol and international cuisines. Enjoy beef hamburgers, hot chili noodles, spicy cheese Spatzle and more from 2095 meters above sea level.

• Bergrast 

  Bergrast is unique in that it is categorized as a restaurant, lounge and a ski hut all in one. It has a self-service buffet, an a la carte restaurant, and an elch bar.

• Gschosswandhaus

  Gschosswandhaus has a mix of everything, from panoramic views to a large children’s playground, to an e-bike charging area, to light and delicious dishes of crunchy salads and spinach dumplings.  It is accessible to both skiing and bike tours, has a sun terrace, and is located at 1,800m.

• Goldkind Mayrhofen

  Goldkind is known for its cozy design, it’s healthy breakfasts, and a mixture of regional and international menu dishes. From smoothies to fruits, to toasts and natural juices, this lounge has one of the healthiest selections in the area. It is cozy a small restaurant, with a lounge area.

• Hotel & Gasthof Perauer

  Perauer is an honest and pure family hotel, is run by three generations! The rooms are immaculate, cozy, and delightful. The hospitality you receive here is unlike any other place and it fill with a ton of warmth and traditions. They have a wonderful restaurant which uses only the best mountain produce to create their Tyrolean dishes. The butcher that they use for their specialty meats is over 300 years old and all of their flavors are home-made.

• Sonnengartl

  Sonnengartl is incredibly close to Mayrhofen and is great for families and friends who are looking for some of the best pizza in the area. It is located between Ramsau in Zillertal and Hippach. 

• Elchbar

  Elchbar has become one of the most popular Mayrhofen mountain clubs over the past few years. It combines skiing and partying with a lounge, bar, and Apres-Ski area.

• Mo’s Cafe

  The Mo’s considered a burger/restaurant joint and known in Mayrhofen for its nightlife vibes. Whether you want to stop for dinner, lunch, or party. So it will have everything you need including several different genres of music like Blues, Country, Jazz, Tyrolean Music and Rock and Roll. Especially relevant, Mo’s has events, several different dishes all influenced by different regions and a good selection of beers.

• Greenroom

  Greenroom is a ski rental shop and clothing store in Mayrhofen. It has freeski, normal ski, and snowboard rental equipment as well as gear. It has high-quality rental brands like Bataleon, Never Summer, Rome, and Salomon.

• Zillertalerhof

  The hotel Zillertalerhof is a country house style hotel that comes with a spacious spa center. So excellent food, and a heated outdoor swimming pool. It provides all-year-round comfort. A wellness spa, an indoor pool, a steam room, bio-sauna. Furthermore Finnish sauna, infrared cabin, power showers, and a relaxation room with outdoor accessibility.

• Robert Hotel 

  Robert Hotel is a 4-star hotel that has seventeen elegant rooms and two new apartments. It is an idyllic retreat that includes a ski room and ski boot dryer, an underground car park, a passenger lift, a wellness area and fitness room. In addition a breakfast room with a sun terrace and winter garden, as well as a spacious reception hall.

• Alpine Guiding

  Florian provides individuals with the ultimate winter sports experience. From freeriding to unforgettable ski tours, to ice climbing and snow-shoe hiking, they have pretty much every winter sport. What makes them great is that they also offer safety training on emergency management, safety equipment use, strategic avalanche strategies, weather interpretation and terrain analysis.

• ActionClub Zillertal

  Actionclub Zillertal provides outdoor activity programs for everyone of all ages. From canyoning, climbing, freeriding, hiking, paragliding, ski tours, rafting, sports, tubing, ice climbing, snow snowmobiling, and more. They also provide summer activities like mountain tours, trekking, high rope courses, and an action park.

• Fly 2095

  Fly 2095 in Mayrhofen is a professional tandem paragliding company that flies people above Zillertal at 2095meters. If paragliding is something you want to try, or you want to catch a glimpse of the beautiful views from above, then this is a must.

As you can see from the above. Finally Mayrhofen is a wonderful winter wonderland destination teeming with activities, lounges, mountain huts, and gorgeous panoramic views. The Snowbombing winter music festival is more than enough reason to visit, but if you are looking for something a little bit more, Mayrhofen will have it.