Mayrhofen

Understand

The city brochure found in the tourist office is unexpectedly useful and comprehensive—surely grab a copy for your stay. It includes timetables for all trains and buses running from and around the city (including the skibus lines around the Ziller Valley) and lists most businesses you may ever need in the city. It largely duplicates content from the Mayrhofen official site. Russians are the most frequent visitors, followed by those from the UK and Benelux. Tourist Information, Am Marktplatz 219, ☏ +43 5285-6760, fax: +43 6760-33, [email protected]. From Dec 19: open M-Sa 09:00-18:00; reduced hours on 24-26 Dec, 31 Dec, 1 Jan.

When to go Most agents (and therefore hotels themselves) sell lodging in weekly packs, Saturday afternoon to next Saturday morning. This results in higher prices for some services (e.g. private instructors) for Su-Tu, and lowest prices for F-Sa.

Arrival day To get the most of your time at the resort, use your arrival day to prepare everything you need for getting onto the slopes from the early morning of the next day. Plan to arrive at your hotel no later than check-in time, and go for preparations immediately. Here are the average open hours for Saturday of different businesses you will likely need:

14:00: check-in time at your hotel 08:00-18:00 (Su 09:00): business hours for most skiing schools. Allow at least 15 minutes to settle all details. 08:00-18:00: business hours for most ski rental shops. Allow at least half an hour for fitting, plus queuing time. 08:30-16:30: business hours for the skipass sales counter.

Other hours for a typical day breakfast at hotel: 07:00-10:30 skiing schools, group courses: 09:45–12:15 / 13:00-15:30pm (start time is for a meeting point up after ski lifts) dinner at hotel (typical half-board): 19:00-22:00

What things cost Skipass 5 of 7 days: €180; 6 days €205 Ski equipment rental: €50-60 per week per person Ski school (group courses, 2.5 hours per day): €102 / €111 for 3 / 4 days Ski school (pri

Getting there

By train Mayrhofen train station only sells tickets for the narrow-gauge railway, so make sure you purchase return tickets before you travel on ÖBB.

From Vienna Trains to Mayrhofen depart from Vienna Westbahnhof, not from Wien-Mitte Getting in from Vienna to Mayrhofen by train is really comfortable compared to rented car, especially if you book your seats in a carriage with compartments, and is a good option if travelling with children. The journey takes 6 hours and you'll need to make a connection, but the connection in Jenbach is quite comfortable: there are lifts and no stairs to overcome; the train to Mayrhofen departs roughly every 30 min so you won't have to wait long. There is also a restaurant coach on board which is quite comfortable for children.

From Munich Direct trains from Munich Hauptbahnhof to Jenbach. Once in Jenbach go to the Zillerteilbahn platform (ZL), from where the train departs to Mayrhofen every 30 min. The journey takes about 1 hr 30 min and costs around €7. You can buy the ticket directly on the train from the ticket man. The Zillerteilbahn becomes very busy with skiers towards the end; if you have luggage, store it so as to make room for everyone.

From Milan Trains from Milan to Jenbach also are available. Once there, complete the journey to Mayrhofen as above.

By car You won't need tyre chains to drive to Mayrhofen from any major city.

Getting around

Any point of Mayrhofen can be easily reached on foot by an able-bodied person; it takes maximum of 1 hour to walk from one end to the other. There's no need to have a car for skiing on other slopes of the Ziller Valley; ski buses take you everywhere, and for free most of the time. They also don't mind boarding a parent with a toddler and a pushchair, you don't even need to ask nicely most of the time.

Do

Winter sports

There are two ski lifts in Mayrhofen itself: Penken and Ahorn. Besides them there are about dozen ski lifts in nearby villages, all of them easily reachable from Mayrhofen thanks to free ski buses. Those include Hintertux glacier. Skipasses can also be purchased with a discount at Ascent Travel, which can be found in the lobby of Sporthotel Strass. Unlike some other ski resorts, helmets are not mandatory to enter pistes, but as always the common sense thing is to wear it whenever on piste.

Basics of skiing resort Grab a copy of pistenplan at the Skipass sales office or at tourist information; keep it with you while skiing. There are some maps on the slopes, but too few for an inexperienced skier. Ski cellars. Most hotels have a special room called a ski cellar for storing guests equipment. This is also a place to dry your boots overnight, which is absolutely recommended, as otherwise your next day will be uncomfortable skiing in wet boots. The topmost rack is most effective, since the lower racks can be "rained on" from above by snow melting off others' boots.

Skiing schools There are about 10 skiing schools in Mayrhofen. To give you idea of their services, prices and conditions, below are two most widely sold and prominently located schools. Be careful with "the only school with certified instructors speaking your language here" touting: in most cases, it only applies to private instructors who are much more expensive than group lessons.

Die Rotten Profis, ☏ +43 5285 63900, +43 664 2104546, [email protected]. Daily 08:00-18:00. In group courses, those who joined at the beginning of week are forced to repeat the same set of introductory exercises day after day as new members are allowed to join the group every day. Skischule Mayrhofen 3000 (main office), Hauptstraße 455, ☏ +43 5285 64015, +43 664 4637490, [email protected]. M-F 08:00-11:00, 15:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-19:00; Su 08:00-12:00, 13:00-18:00.

With children Skiing sc

Buy

There are five or six equipment stores in the city. They will help to cover a missing piece in your kit, but don't expect to find many serious brands or professional-level equipment. Beyond skiing equipment, there is some choice of perfumes and toys, but prices are generally higher than in Innsbruck or Vienna. There are also several discount stores selling high-street brands.

Food specialities Wine:

wine store, near Gasthof Bruecke. until 6pm. Features ice wine for €12 for a small bottle. There are 2 or 3 pharmacies where you can buy baby food and nappies.

DM Drodgerie Markt (pharmacy), Dursterstrasse 220,, ☏ +43 5285650200. Arguably the best choice of baby stuff: two or three brands of nappies, several brands of baby food, plus fruit puree in speciality packaging.

Eat

Budget

Mid-range Kostner (cafe and confectionery). Probably the most popular in the city among families with young children. Lovely cafe selling snacks and light meals, mostly sandwiches and pasta. The key feature for children is a cave leading to a heated balcony full of toys where "no parents are allowed" (cave is too small). Also features an outdoor terrace open in winter. Try their strudel. Desserts