  Airport
About MayrhofenNestled low in the beautiful Ziller Valley, the two ski areas of Mayrhofen tower above the pretty village, a mountain looming on either side. The resort has become a major favourite with British visitors, and it's not hard to see why. The two local ski areas are on two separate plateaux - the Penken and the Ahorn. Beginners should head straight to the top of the Ahorn, where the slopes are kind, gentle and perfect for building confidence and experience. There are also good nursery areas at Penken. Intermediates have the run of the mountain, from the fast lift system at Penken to the wide open slopes of Horberg/Gerent and Egglam and Raskogel in the Tuxertal. Penken offers a great mix of terrain, from sunny, treeless summits to wide open carving areas and steeper north-facing slopes. The Burton Fun Park has drawn more and more snowboarders in recent years with decent quarter and half pipes, boardercross and multiple kickers. Advanced skiers will enjoy skiing the Hintertuxer glacier, where top ski and snowboard teams from around the globe come to train. They can also hit the Hara-kiri piste, which the resort claims to be the steepest groomed piste in Austria. Apart from these and a few other runs, experts may need to turn to the off piste or buy a Zillertel SuperSki Pass to access some more steep terrain in a massive ski area. The resort has merged with Hippach, Finkenberg, Tux, Zell am Ziller and the rest of the skiing in the Ziller and Tux valleys to form the giant Zillertal 3000 area, opening up 620 km of pistes with every type of terrain imaginable. Mayrhofen is an extremely popular resort, but its popularity can sometimes be a drawback, with high season sometimes meaning crowds and queues. The village itself is picturesque and bustling, vibrant and busy both during the day and at night. One of its main attractions is its vibrant and boisterous après-ski scene. Each April Snowbombing, a major music and snowboarding festival hits Mayrhofen with live acts and some of the world's top DJs. This draws hundreds of young skiers and boarders to the resort for a giant week-long party. As well as numerous lively bars that stay open well into the night, there are also some great restaurants. If you have time, visit Josef's Bioütte at 2,000 m to dine on succulent prawns and crisp wine. A cool recent addition to the resort is the White Lounge, an igloo bar created out of snow, with a snow bar, comfortable seats and loungers. You can have candle lit drinks in one of the cosy lounges - or even stay the night in an Igloo suite at 2, 000 m. You'll find that the prices at Mayrhofen don't always have to break the bank - just watch the wallet if you're heading out for a big night! For beginners
Mayrhofen is a good resort to choose as a base for your first skiing or boarding experiences. First head up to the top of Ahorn, which is almost entirely devoted to beginners, with gentle, uncrowded nursery slopes and good snow because of the high altitude. Because the focus of most of the area is on learning, it is a confidence-inspiring place to start. There's also Kinder land, a large children's playground at 2000 m. You can also head to the nursery slopes at the top of the Penken Mountains. Most of the slopes also get plenty of sunshine.
For intermediates
Intermediates will love most of the Ziller valley, and Mayrhofen is a classic intermediate ski region, with big sweeping pistes. The Penken is an intermediate favourite, with masses of varied terrain that will mainly suit mid-level skiers and snowboarders. There are many interesting reds snaking across the mountain and the runs are served by one of Austria's most modern gondolas. For les confident intermediates there are the blues of Kaltenbach. The tree-lined reds at Zell am Ziller are also fun. If you like to broaden your horizons, it's definitely worth using the free transport system to access other ski areas and villages. For the advanced
There are some good black pistes at Mayrhofen that experts will enjoy, like the Hara-kiri, which is allegedly the steepest ski piste in Austria. The Devil's Run on the Schafskopf is also thrilling. You can find difficult routes down the Penken Mountains and through the trees from the Ahorn, and there are some good mogul runs at Horberg. There's also good off-piste potential. Apart from these and a few other runs, experts should definitely invest in a Zillertel SuperSki Pass to access some more steep terrain the massive 620 km of pistes at nearby resorts. Ski school
The ski schools in Mayrhofen are widely renowned, with skilled English-speaking instructors who seem to take real pride in teaching. Die Roten Profis Apres Ski
Apres-ski is sparkling at Mayrhofen, its one of the resorts major attractions. There are nearly 30 huts and bars spread across the Mayrhofen slopes. The White Lounge, a six metre high igloo with a lively outdoor bar is a must visit for its cosy candlelit lounges and snowcarvings. Regular parties are held here and you can even stay the night in the igloo suite! The Ice Bar and Nikki's Schirmbar are super popular when you're first heading off the slopes the two places to be for skiers right after coming off the slopes. Later on you can head to British-style pub Scotland Yard for an extensive collection of on-tap beers, or Sporthotel Strass, Win Win or Prinz Charles Pub. There are many charming, rustic Austrian restaurants with reasonable prices and excellent food. Try some traditional dishes at Andrea Restaurant or Fleishhauerei Perauer which serves local cheesy specialty Spätzle. Grillhofalm serves great fresh pizza.
Off the Mountain
There is a fair bit to keep you occupied when not skiing or snowboarding at Mayrhofen. You can take a stunning scenic horse ride in the snow, go ice skating or head to the adventure pool centre. The bobsleigh trip to Igls, near Innsbruck is always popular, or if you prefer something quieter, try a romantic sleigh ride. There's also: Skidooing, snow tubing, paragliding, tobogganing, ice skating, snowshoeing, indoor tennis, curling and bowling. Getting there
By air
The closest airport to Mayrhofen is Innsbruck (75 km), and the closest large international airports are Munich (170 km) and Salzburg (180 km). Many budget airlines fly into both the larger airports.
Airport transfers
If you fly into Munich or Salzberg airports you can take a train to Jenbach which is at the bottom of the Ziller Valley where you can take another short train ride or bus up to Mayrhofen. Alternatively there are many transfer companies running from both airports right up to the town for as little as 40euros. By train
You can easily travel to Mayrhofen by train from the UK. The Eurostar runs twice daily from London to Paris, where you can catch a connecting train to Zürich (either a high-speed TGV, or a later overnight train). From Zürich, several trains go daily to Innsbruck and then on to Jenbach, where you will need to switch to the local Zillertalbahn train which runs up the valley to Mayrhofen, or you can take a bus. By car
You can drive to Mayrhofen from the UK, but it is a bit of a lengthy process, starting with an initial transfer over the English Channel via car ferry, and then a 1,130 km drive from the French port of Calais, mostly along major highways.
Resort rating and reviews
12 August 2008
Traveller rating:
  I say it's got great apres ski ski but the resort is a bit spread out ...
View full review 
Resort ratings out of 10
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