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- Written by: Roger Fulton
- Last Updated: 15 Feb 2021
Kirchberg ski resort in Austria is renowned for its lively cosmopolitan après ski and is a key sector of the extensive Kitzbüheler Alpen ski area. It's ideally placed for its ski-lift and piste links to the more famous and fashionable neighbour Kitzbühel, and for nearby access to the vast SkiWelt ski domain.
Geographically just around the corner from, Kirchberg is a good lower-cost alternative to Kitzbühel, offering the same great ski area and an equally lively après ski scene, but attracting a younger and more informal clientele.
The village of Kirchberg in Tirol, to give Kirchberg its full title, is located midway between Kitzbühel to the east and Brixen im Thale to the west, at the confluence of the Brixental and Aschauer valleys. This presents a good base for intermediates who are keen to cover as much ground as possible in exploring a number of regional resorts.
Kirchberg is physically linked into the Kitzbühel ski area, but is officially a member of the distinct Kitzbüheler Alpen resorts group that covers Brixen im Thale, Kirchberg, and Westendorf (the former and latter of which also belong to the vast SkiWelt linked ski domain). Visitors can choose to purchase a Kitzbühel-Kirchberg-Pass Thurn lift pass (KitzSki) for that adjacent linked area alone, or opt for the regional Kitzbüheler Alpen SuperSki Card that also includes the SkiWelt area. Altogether, more than 518 km of optimally groomed and supervised pistes for all levels are available to you - so we'll just let that one sink in...
Kirchberg - Ski Map & Pistes:
Kirchberg's principal ski area access points are the Fleckalmbahn and Maierlbahn gondolas, each based just a couple of ski-bus stops away from the centre of Kirchberg village and both serving the Ehrenbachhohe sector of the Kitzbuhel-Kirchberg-Pass Thurn ski area.
This area's Hahnenkamm sector, home to the infamous downhill race run that separates the men from the boys on the World Cup Circuit, needs no introduction, offering a classic direct descent to the resort of Kitzbuhel. In the opposite direction the Pengelstein sector offers some even tougher terrain and is the site of the impressive peak-to-peak 3-S-Bahn gondola that provides the key link with the Wurzhohe sector above Jochberg. This in turn is linked with the higher-altitude Resterhohe sector at Pass Thurn.
This entire area is prime intermediate cruising territory, with a number of short black runs and a couple of ungroomed 'ski routes' to entertain more advanced visitors too. Returning to Kirchberg, the main home runs from Ehrenbachhohe are lovely long cruise-able blues, with a choice of more testing sections to keep them interesting.
On the opposite side of the valley lies Kirchberg's separate local Gaisberg ski hill, where a sole 4-seater chairlift serves just two pistes, one red, one black, equipped with floodlighting for night skiing and used for major slalom races. There's also a small beginners' area here too.
The iconic Kitzbüheler Horn that pierces the horizon directly north-east of Kirchberg is another nearby ski area, of particular interest to freestyle enthusiasts as it houses a decent snow park. Accessed via a gondola based in the north-eastern suburb of Kitzbühel, this separate zone is covered on the same area lift pass.
Other options from Kirchberg include the Ki-West gondola further along the Aschauer Valley to the south. This serves the Gampenkogel sector of the Westendorf ski area in the SkiWelt domain, home to one of the best snow parks in the region. Westendorf is linked via Brixen im Thale into the core SkiWelt circuit, but a more convenient access route is simply to take the short bus or train journey from Kirchberg directly to Brixen.
All ski-bus services, plus limited daytime train services between Kirchberg and Kitzbühel, are free-of-charge to area lift pass holders.
Kirchberg - Off-Piste, Backcountry & Ski Touring:
As part of the KitzSki area, Kirchberg's off-piste skiing is essentially the same as Kitzbühel, with the addition of access to terrain in the Ski Welt. Kitzbühel offers access to an expansive backcountry stretching out over 200 square kilometres - more than enough to find yourself some fresh tracks in.
For ski tourers, the Bichlalm ski touring area is a slice of heaven. A chairlift runs up to the Bichlalm mountain hotel and restaurant but the peak itself can only be accessed on touring skis.
Kirchberg - Restaurants, Bars & The Town:
Kirchberg is an attractive but somewhat rambling riverside village centred on a picturesque 'church on a hill' from which it derives its name. The place is big enough to develop a buzz - with plenty of shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars around its central quarters - yet small enough for everything to be within walking distance.
A few of the resort's larger sport-hotels have swimming pools and spa facilities, but the nearest leisure centre is the excellent Aquarena complex at Kitzbühel. Alternative activities include the 3.5km toboggan run on the Gaisberg hillside, served by the canopied chairlift there and with lighting for evening use. There are ice-climbing towers also sited there, close to the mid-altitude Obergaisberg mountain restaurant.
Kirchberg is renowned for its very lively nightlife, and the après ski gets going from mid-afternoon onwards at slope-side mountain bars. The Schneebar Oberkaser on the home-run from Maierl is the best place to start, before you gradually gravitate towards the popular ice-bars and pubs of the village after the lifts close.
Everything from laid-back cosy pubs to packed venues featuring live bands, DJs, and even dancing on tables is catered for, and a number of the liveliest venues morph into clubs later in the evening, keeping the party atmosphere going until well into the night. Our top tips include the renowned London Pub (aka The Londoner), the Kuhstall and the Tiroler Disco.
Kirchberg - Ski Hire:
There are multiple outlets for ski hire in Kirchberg , including Skiverleih Kirchberg, Sport Rudi and Ski Sport Andi.
Kirchberg - Ski School:
The options for ski schools in Kirchberg are good - including the Skischule Kirchberg, the Skischule Kirchberg Aktiv and the Private Ski School Kirchberg. All offer ski lessons in Kirchberg at competitive prices.
