Freshly groomed pistes, exciting terrain, mouth-watering food and après-ski with good company… throw all the right ingredients in the blender and you’ve got the perfect ski day. With 213km of pistes and guaranteed snow, it’s no wonder Mayrhofen ski resort in the Austrian Alps is a top pick year after year among skiers looking for the best snow conditions and the greatest parties. With the recent opening of the new Penkenbahn Gondola, it’s now easier than ever to take full advantage of everything this spectacular ski resort has to offer.
It’s still dark outside when the alarm clock rings, but skiing is one of the only things that is worth getting up for in the morning! If you wake up early enough, you’ll have Ahorn Mountain practically to yourself for the first few runs, leaving you time to grab a quick mid-morning hot chocolate at the nearby Café-Bistro Freiraum while everyone else is still staggering out of bed. You can admire the breathtaking panoramic views and keep an eye on the crowds in the gondola so you know when to head out again.
View from the Freiraum Bistro
Take the spectacular Valley Run back into town and ride the new Penkenbahn Gondola up Mount Penken. Now that you’re nice and warmed up, work up an appetite by daring to try the infamous Harakiri. The steepest piste in Austria at a gradient of 78%, this is on every serious skier’s bucket list. If you’re up for it, the Devil’s Run off the Schneekar lift is a good challenge as well. You certainly deserve a hearty lunch after all this effort, so pop into the nearby Schneekarhütte for some authentic Tyrolean cuisine.
The Harakiri in Mayrhofen
In the afternoon, all the delights of the aptly named Action Mount Penken await you. This is the time to show off your skills at the Vans Penken Park, widely recognized as one of the best terrain parks in the Alps. The Vans Penken Park has rails and jumps for all levels, plus a public race course where you can measure your time. If you want to get to know the rest of the mountain, consider following a pre-planned ski tour of the mountain or creating your own using this piste map, which tells you the current status of all the lifts.
Vans Penken Park
By the late afternoon, it’s high time for a drink - grab a beer on the mountain, or take the speedy Penkenbahn Gondola back to town and freshen up before heading out again. If your hotel doesn’t have one, there are plenty of places where you can find a jacuzzi or a sauna for some pre-dinner relaxation.
Après at the Schneekarhütte
Finally, it’s time to discover why Mayrhofen is renowned for its après-ski scene! The most hoppin’ joint in town is the Brück ’n Stadl, a huge club boasting top DJs and a traditional Austrian après scene. Also worth investigating is the Arena Club, which always has events going on. But there’s no shortage of après-ski joints in Mayrhofen for every taste - which one will you discover?
The Arena Club
Freshly groomed pistes, exciting terrain, mouth-watering food and après-ski with good company… throw all the right ingredients in the blender and you’ve got the perfect ski day. With 213km of pistes and guaranteed snow, it’s no wonder Mayrhofen ski resort in the Austrian Alps is a top pick year after year among skiers looking for the best snow conditions and the greatest parties. With the recent opening of the new Penkenbahn Gondola, it’s now easier than ever to take full advantage of everything this spectacular ski resort has to offer.
It’s still dark outside when the alarm clock rings, but skiing is one of the only things that is worth getting up for in the morning! If you wake up early enough, you’ll have Ahorn Mountain practically to yourself for the first few runs, leaving you time to grab a quick mid-morning hot chocolate at the nearby Café-Bistro Freiraum while everyone else is still staggering out of bed. You can admire the breathtaking panoramic views and keep an eye on the crowds in the gondola so you know when to head out again.
View from the Freiraum Bistro
Take the spectacular Valley Run back into town and ride the new Penkenbahn Gondola up Mount Penken. Now that you’re nice and warmed up, work up an appetite by daring to try the infamous Harakiri. The steepest piste in Austria at a gradient of 78%, this is on every serious skier’s bucket list. If you’re up for it, the Devil’s Run off the Schneekar lift is a good challenge as well. You certainly deserve a hearty lunch after all this effort, so pop into the nearby Schneekarhütte for some authentic Tyrolean cuisine.
The Harakiri in Mayrhofen
In the afternoon, all the delights of the aptly named Action Mount Penken await you. This is the time to show off your skills at the Vans Penken Park, widely recognized as one of the best terrain parks in the Alps. The Vans Penken Park has rails and jumps for all levels, plus a public race course where you can measure your time. If you want to get to know the rest of the mountain, consider following a pre-planned ski tour of the mountain or creating your own using this piste map, which tells you the current status of all the lifts.
Vans Penken Park
By the late afternoon, it’s high time for a drink - grab a beer on the mountain, or take the speedy Penkenbahn Gondola back to town and freshen up before heading out again. If your hotel doesn’t have one, there are plenty of places where you can find a jacuzzi or a sauna for some pre-dinner relaxation.
Après at the Schneekarhütte
Finally, it’s time to discover why Mayrhofen is renowned for its après-ski scene! The most hoppin’ joint in town is the Brück ’n Stadl, a huge club boasting top DJs and a traditional Austrian après scene. Also worth investigating is the Arena Club, which always has events going on. But there’s no shortage of après-ski joints in Mayrhofen for every taste - which one will you discover?
The Arena Club
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
