A picturesque Austrian town and world-class ski resort, Kitzbühel is all candy-coloured medieval buildings, stylish boutiques and alpine glamour. Just a couple of hours’ drive from Munich, Kitzbühel is the perfect winter destination for an excursion.
Home to the legendary Hahnenkamm downhill race and with 179km of immaculately groomed pistes, it’s no surprise that Kitzbühel is consistently awarded the accolade of ‘best ski resort in the world.’ Visit in January to witness the exhilarating Hahnenkamm spectacle; a perilously steep course (named the Streif) with daredevil drops, twists and turns. The town comes alive with dazzling events and parties over the course of the week-long race climaxing on 21st January 2018.
Whether you’re piste perfect or an enthusiastic amateur, why not take to the slopes yourself? Kitzbühel has 200 days of skiing per year, stunning terrain for all skill levels and there are ski schools and ski hire aplenty. So far in 2018 skiing conditions are good with a snow depth averaging 94cm.
Aside from gliding down slopes back-dropped by Tyrolean mountains, you can discover Kitzbühel’s show-stopping surroundings on foot along scenic hiking trails when the snow has melted.
As well as exhilarating winter sports, Kitzbühel also offers charm in abundance. Explore its gothic churches and pretty cafes, and shop for labels like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana at the chic Helmut Eder store. For some après-ski dining, you’ll find every kind of cuisine at Kitzbühel, from rustic local cheese and wurst in cosy timber lodges to fine dining affairs like Gasthof Auwirt and Neuwirt.
The Charles Hotel in Munich makes a fantastic base from which to visit Kitzbühel and discover Munich’s highlights. Why not combine a stay with an unforgettable trip to the alpine town. Our concierge can arrange every aspect of your excursion. Enquire now info.charles@roccofortehotels.com or call +49 89 544 5550.
Ski Lift Kitzbuhel Austria © iStock/eyerkaufer
Few cities have shaped Italy’s table quite like Milan. Arguably best known for its extraordinary fashion and design scene, the city’s culinary story is one less often told - though no less remarkable. It is one best read on a plate, through recipes handed down over centuries.
In a city with a legacy like Florence, it is only natural for inspiration to take root. And alongside the bigger, global brands, small artisans flourish through their innate ability to tailor their ideas to an individual’s taste and dreams.
For more than thirty years, Mariateresa has dedicated her career as a cultural guide to revealing these secrets, unlocking doors that are usually very firmly closed. We meet her in the heart of the city, where Via della Spiga meets Via Senato, at The Carlton, a distinctly Milanese address surrounded by noble palazzi, designer boutiques, and storied architecture. “My work is to reveal these treasures… so that visitors feel privileged and can truly appreciate the uniqueness of what they are experiencing.”
