Kitzbuhel in Summer: Top things to see and do

The famous winter ski resort of Kitzbuhel is just as beautiful to visit in summer. Cable cars and hiking trails give stunning views of the surrounding mountains, with classic Austrian food awaiting you after a day of exploring. Here’s how to enjoy Kitzbuhel in summer.

Updated: February 2025

Kitzbuhel is located in the Tirol region of the Austria Alps. This part of the Austrian Alps is stunning in the summer. Lush green pastures stretch across the landscape, interspersed with dark trees, then giving way to tall cliffs and mountain peaks. The fresh mountain air just can’t be beat, and the miles of hiking paths just keep on giving better and better views. Kitzbuhel in the summer is beautiful, with cable cars taking you straight up into the mountains.

The town of Kitzbuhel is lovely in the summer as well. Kitzbuhel in summer is lively and bustling in the evening sun, with frequent events and great restaurants.

Where should I stay in Kitzbuhel in summer?

There are plenty of hotels to choose from in Kitzbuhel. In Kitzbuhel in summer the hotels don’t tend to be fully booked, especially if you’re able to visit outside of peak school holidays in mid-July to August.

One hotel I recommend is the Tiefennbrunner Hotel. In the centre of the town, this family run hotel is warm friendly with a great indoor swimming pool. The highlight of this hotel for me is the outdoor restaurant terrace, where (weather-permitting) you can have dinner outside in the fresh mountain air.

Or alternatively, the Hotel Zur Tenne is right in the centre of Kitzbuhel with easy access to restaurants and cable cars as well as an excellent, if slightly more pricey, restaurant.

Weather in Kitzbuhel in summer, and what to pack

The Alps in the summer are renowned for having mixed weather, and the Tirol region is no exception. You can be lucky and have some sunny days with perfectly clear blue skies, and these are definitely the perfect days to take a cable car up to the top of a mountain and enjoy the views.

However, the Alps also have frequent rainy days. There are can be thunderstorms in the afternoons. So when hiking in the Alps around Kitzbuhel, it’s always important to keep an eye on the weather as it can change really quickly. Although the sound of thunder echoing around the mountains is impressive, you don’t want to be exposed at the top of a mountain in a dramatic thunderstorm. So always check the weather forecast and be prepared!

To enjoy Kitzbuhel in summer and make the most of the outdoor activities available, make sure you pack:

• Hiking boots – sturdy hiking boots are best, and make sure you wear them at home a few times before trying a longer hike to avoid blisters.
• Waterproof coat – always a necessity in case of a sudden shower.
• Sun protection – the sun can be strong, especially at higher altitudes, so make sure you have sun cream, sunglasses and sunhat
• Layers for warmth – even if it feels warm in the town centre, it’s surprising how quickly you can get cold at higher altitudes. Always best to have an extra layer just in case.
• Water and energy snacks – always take plenty of water, especially on hot days if you’re hiking uphill. Take some extra just in case you end up being out longer than you expect.
• Basic first aid kit – always good to have one just in case, especially blister plasters.
• Map and compass – you can never tell when your phone battery is going to die or have no signal, so a back up means of navigation is sensible.

Top things to do in Kitzbuhel in summer

Kitzbuhel in summer has a great range of outdoor activities. One of the best ways to explore the region and enjoy the gorgeous views is by hiking. There are lots of hiking trails around, with cable cars and gondolas that can take you up into the mountains. Kitzbuhel is also a beautiful town, with great food and a great, lively ambience in the summer. So here are my top things to do in Kitzbuhel in summer.

1. Take the Hahnenkamm gondola from Kitzbuhel up into the mountains

On the South West end of the town of Kitzbuhel, there’s a gondola goes up to the top of the Hahnenkamm. The gondolas here are small cable cars, generally with about four people in each. The Hahnenkamm is famous as one of the steepest downhill ski races, and it’s a hugely popular place to visit and ski in the winter. But the Hahnenkamm is, it’s also a great place to visit in summer. It’s one of the best places to visit in the Austrian Alps in summer.

The views from the top are just amazing. Make sure you visit on a clear, sunny day for the best views. You can look across to the Mausefalle and the Wilder Kaiser mountains. From the top of the gondola, hiking trails spread out in various directions to take in the views. You can pick a hiking trail and walk along it to enjoy the views.

You can stand at the top of the ski race and see for yourself just how steep the descent is – it looks terrifying!

After enjoying the hiking trails around the Hahnenkamm, you can reward yourself with a drink. There’s a lovely restaurant at the top of the gondola station, which is a perfect place to stop for an Austrian beer after a long hike and continue enjoying the view. I loved spending time here in the afternoon before heading back down to Kitzbuhel.

2. Hike along the trails of the Kitzbuheler Horn

On the opposite side of Kitzbuhel, on the North East side of the town, another gondola goes up to the Kitzbuheler Horn.

The mountain views are stunning from here as well, and there are more hiking options. The hiking trails are well signposted, and the views across the Austrian Alps in summer are just stunning.

There’s also a lovely Alpine garden at the top, near the gondola station. This beautiful garden has a wide variety of Alpine flowers, including the famous Edelweiss.

I loved spending time hiking around the top of the Kitzbuheler Horn and enjoying the views. You can easily spend a whole day here, or even come here multiple times to enjoy different hiking trails.

3. Walk from Kitzbuhel to Schwarzsee Lake

A short walk from the centre of Kitzbuhel town is the pretty lake called Schwarzsee Lake. It’s a great place to relax on a sunny day, and you can sit on the grass next to the lake in the sun to relax

Schwarzsee Lake is also a great place to go for a walk on a more cloudy day. If the weather isn’t good enough to take the cable car up into the mountains, you can still enjoy some lovely Alpine scenery at this lake without being high up in the clouds. It’s an easy, flat walk to walk from Kitzbuhel to Schwarzsee Lake and walk around the lake as well.

4. Spend time in Kitzbuhel town centre and enjoy delicious Austrian food

The centre of Kitzbuhel has an abundance of outdoor charm. Kitzbuhel in summer is a lovely place to walk around, enjoying the ambience of the town. The cobbled street is lined with colourful buildings, and the whole centre really comes alive on a warm, sunny day when pavement cafes spill out onto the pavements. The Church is also really pretty.

There are also many great restaurants in Kitzbuhel where you can enjoy classic Austrian food. I recommend the restaurant in the Tiefenbrunner Hotel for some great Weiner Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel – two classic Austrian foods which are perfect after a long day of hiking.

Kitzbuhel in summer is also a popular place for sporting events. I was there during a bike race and the atmosphere was great. It’s worth checking out whether there are any special events on during your visit. Kitzbuhel in summer is really lively and a lovely, pretty town to explore.

5. Take a day trip to Innsbruck or Salzburg

Kitzbuhel is perfectly located for day trips to towns in the surrounding area. If you’re looking for a break from mountain hiking, or you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day (and being in the Alps, there are frequent rainy days in the summer!), you can take a day trip from Kitzbuhel to a nearby town.

The nearby town of Innsbruck is definitely worth visiting as a day trip from Kitzbuhel. Check out my guiee to spending a day in Innsbruck in summer. Or you could visit Salzburg, with its famous links to the Sound of Music film. Salzburg in the summer is beautiful, and it’s easy to get there from Kitzbuhel – check out my guide to Salzburg in the summer here.

Enjoy your trip to Kitzbuhel in the summer! If you’re looking for more adventures in the Austrian Alps in summer, make sure you also check out my guide to Zell am See in summer, a beautiful lake in the Austrian Alps. Or you could also visit Alpbach in summer, to experience one of the prettiest Alpine villages. Or if you fancy heading to a city, you can explore Salzburg in one day, Innsbruck in the summer, or Vienna is one of the most popular European capitals with vibrant history and culture.