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Kaprun Ski Resort
Once an old mining village with finds around the village dating back to the Celts, the current village of Kaprun is a quaint little Austrian ski haven. Forming part of the Zell am See Kaprun ski area, the resort of Kaprun plays a sidekick role to its more popular neighbour Zell am See; but do not be fooled by its role, as this resort is probably one of the most balanced ski resorts in Austria. There are three ski areas in Kaprun, each offering a different and unique experience to the other. Kitzsteinhorn, the glacier mountain at Kaprun, is one of the three ski areas at Kaprun and it offers high altitude skiing at 3,09 metres, wide glacier pistes, two modern terrain parks and early to late ski season. Opposite the Kitzsteinhorn is the Schmittenhöhe ski area with up to 77 kilometres of pistes and peaks at 2,000 metres altitude and the third ski area is the Maiskogel mountain, connected to Kaprun via the 3K K-onnection cable car, and which peaks at 2074 metres. Maikogel is the self-proclaimed family favourite with its long gentle pistes and cosy huts on the slopes. In addition, the ski area of neighbouring Zell am See is also accessible to skiers in Kaprun.
Kaprun ski resort welcomes all types of skiers from travelling family groups with young children trying to learn how to ski to advanced and experienced snowsports enthusiasts. Sitting at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Kaprun offers much more than just high altitude skiing and snow-sure pistes; it also offers a traditional Tyrolean village experience. Its old church, 13th-century castle and traditionally styled buildings serve as charming reminders of the area's past yet its Alpine suburban feel balances the vibe quite nicely. Kaprun is generally a calm resort and often lives in the shadow of Zell am See but it does have its own identity and is able to stand on its own merit as a much desired ski destination.
There are a good number of non-activities to engage with when taking a break from the skis and snowboards. Kaprun’s central area is perhaps one of the resort's most pleasant and attractive areas and it makes a great backdrop when walking through the pedestrianised centre. The Salzburger Platz is the main hub of the resort with a few shops and cafes there. The apres here is surprisingly vibrant, given its size and sidekick role to Zell am See but come out on a night in Kaprun and be truly entertained.
Kaprun ski resort welcomes all types of skiers from travelling family groups with young children trying to learn how to ski to advanced and experienced snowsports enthusiasts. Sitting at the foot of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, Kaprun offers much more than just high altitude skiing and snow-sure pistes; it also offers a traditional Tyrolean village experience. Its old church, 13th-century castle and traditionally styled buildings serve as charming reminders of the area's past yet its Alpine suburban feel balances the vibe quite nicely. Kaprun is generally a calm resort and often lives in the shadow of Zell am See but it does have its own identity and is able to stand on its own merit as a much desired ski destination.
There are a good number of non-activities to engage with when taking a break from the skis and snowboards. Kaprun’s central area is perhaps one of the resort's most pleasant and attractive areas and it makes a great backdrop when walking through the pedestrianised centre. The Salzburger Platz is the main hub of the resort with a few shops and cafes there. The apres here is surprisingly vibrant, given its size and sidekick role to Zell am See but come out on a night in Kaprun and be truly entertained.
Kaprun and the surrounding slopes of Scmittenhohe, Kitzsteinhorn and Zell am See have fantastic ski terrain well suited for skiers and snowboarders. Maiskogel also has great ski conditions however it is better known for its gentle slopes, easy blues and fantastic snow park specifically designed for children. The Zell am See-Kaprun ski area has a total of 138 kilometres of pistes between them covering varying terrain from wooded, tree lined runs to wide open slopes with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier also offering high altitude glacier skiing at just over 3,000 metres.
Beginners will probably have the most fun at Kaprun. There are dedicated beginner slopes just next to the village centre to practise the basics before heading up the slopes for application. The Maiskogel will be the best option for beginners just trying to master the basic turns and ploughs thanks to its gentle, wide open pistes.
Intermediates will find a good number of challenging reds on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, however, those interested in just taking it easy can head over to Maiskogel for wide-open reds. Advanced skiers and confident intermediates could head further up Kitzsteinhorn for a bit of a challenge in the infamous, narrow, 63% gradient Black Mamba run, which is the steepest run down the glacier. It gets its name from its winding shape.
There are several off-piste opportunities abound in Kaprun with Kitzsteinhorn having some of the most well known freeride areas across Europe. The conditions are always fantastic for freeriding and off-piste skiing; and you can find almost all the desirable terrain from powder lines, cliff jumps and natural pipes. If visiting for the first time and unsure about the area, ensure you take a local guide.
Kitzsteinhorn has not just one but two snowparks with guaranteed snow reliability and a season that kicks off late autumn in October and lasts until May. Located at 3,000 metres altitude, the snow parks offer varying setups for across snowboard skill abilities from beginners, experts and pros until the beginning of May.
Freeriders couldn’t wish for better terrain with both Kaprun, Zell am See and Kitzsteinhorn having fantastic freeriding terrain. In addition to that, do not miss the five well-signposted freeride routes displayed close to the lifts detailing Kitzsteinhorns freeriding routes across diverse terrain from "Ice Age“ to "Jump Run
Snow Conditions in Kaprun
The slopes at Kaprun benefit from excellent weather and snow coverage from the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. The Snow Parks are open early in autumn and some areas keep the mountain open 10 months every year. The area has received an average annual snowfall of 295 centimetres within the last 4 years.
Get into the party mode both on and off the slopes at Kaprun. To its credit, for its small size and profile, Kaprun does have a lively apres ski scene. Whilst it may not be as glamorous or flamboyant as the larger Austrian resorts of Ischgl and St Anton, Kapruns apres does hold its own. There are a number of huts on the slopes where you can kick off your apres ski evening before heading back to base camp and carrying on for as long as you wish. We have taken a look at a few places you may find interesting on your apres ski crawl at Kaprun.
On the pistes: At Kaprun, you will soon realise that the party does start on the pistes before you get back to the resort below. If you are thinking of stopping by at a few places, consider the Parasol Schirmbar on Kitzsteinhorn which sits at 2,450 metres; it is a large apres-ski tent with lots of outdoor seating, drinks and meals. Kitz900M is also an apres-ski bar on Kitzsteinhorn which offers hot drinks, meals and alcoholic drinks if you want to kick off your night early. Located at 900 metres, it is on the local ski bus/ shuttle route, so if you don’t feel like skiing back down, just hop on the bus for a drive back to the resort.
Off-Piste Bar
Probably the largest and most popular apres-ski bar in Kaprun ski resort. Off-Piste also has other bars in Zell am See and Sallbach. Off-Piste hosts live bands and DJ sets every day of the ski season. Its popularity stems from its relentless party mood. It functions as a bar, nightclub and events hub hosting regional and international bands every ski season.
Kitsch & Bitter
The traditional Austrian Alpine restaurant and bar with a modern and contemporary twist, Kitsch & Bitter is a great place to meet up for an evening of drinks with your ski buddies. In addition to the restaurant and bar, Kitsch & Bitter also has a Vinotheque where you can book a wine tasting. One of Kapruns most popular and well-known bars, Kitsch & Bitter does have a known reputation for crazy DJ sets and parties until early hours. It is centrally located, making it a very convenient pit stop on the apres-ski express.
The Pavillion
The Pavilion is a restaurant, bar and nightclub all rolled into one. Centrally located, it is one of Kapruns most lively and vibrant places to be. Open every day between 10 am until 2 am, Pavilion seemingly has everything to offer. You can start with an early dinner, have one or two drinks and stay on for the party which lasts until the early hours. The pavilion is also known for its friendly bar staff and dancing waitresses in the traditional lederhosen attire. There is also an outdoor heated area for punters who would like a break from the loud music.
Baumbar
Another one of Kapruns most popular, Baumbar is a typical Alpine ski bar and restaurant. It is also centrally located and only a few minutes walk from most of the accommodation and residences on the resort. Open every day until 4 am, Baumbar features DJ sets with dance music, live music including regional and international bands and ski parties throughout the season. Baumbar is also notoriously known to play classic Austrian oompah music where the baying crowd may also join in the singing. Wide range of drinks on the menu from beers, spirits to cocktails. Pizza is also served until 10 pm. Great place to checkout.
Paletti
If you are looking for a cosy, quiet drink and some friendly chatter, Paletti might just be the right place to visit. Popular with locals and groups of friends looking to have a nice calm evening without blaring loud music. It is a friendly, low lit bar with an impressive drinks menu and pizza oven. The TV’s are usually on a snowsports channel or ski-themed movies.
Unsurprisingly, the facilities in Kaprun ski resort are excellent. From a traffic-free resort centre, high-quality accommodation and a wealth of off-ski activities for visitors of all ages.
There are few Kaprun ski equipment shops and operators where skiers can purchase and hire equipment, however, we strongly recommend you consider hiring your ski equipment directly from us online. This can be easily done online during the overall holiday booking process. Just simply select the equipment that you will require and add them to your ski holiday booking. We partner with a number of reputable ski equipment stores all across the Alps including Kaprun. Once your ski equipment is secured online, the only thing you need to do is just pick them up at the store in the resort. It saves so much time especially if you are travelling as a family and with the kids in tow. Pick up the ski equipment, get changed and hit the slopes. You can either complete the order online or over the phone with one of our reps.
Ski passes are traditionally purchased at the resort upon arrival or before hitting the slopes for the day. You can get them at the ticket offices or the ticket machines. However, we can include your Kaprun ski passes as part of your customised ski holiday package. It does not cost more and there are no hidden charges. It is probably the most convenient way to secure your ski pass as you avoid the queues at the ticket machines and frankly, purchasing them online free’s up your daily itinerary at the resort as it’s one less thing to worry about. All you need to do is get to the resort and your ski pass will be ready and waiting for you. You’ll be on the slopes in no time at all.
With a lot taking place every day at the resort, from skiing down the slopes, tabletop dancing, apres-ski drinks and more, at some point one will need to relax, unwind and ease the body. There is no better place for a proper spa and swimming session in Kaprun than Tauren Spa, a 4-star thermal bath and wellness centre and one of the most modern spa resorts in Austria. There are 2100 M² of spa facilities here, the perfect place to recharge and replenish those spent energy reserves. It features a heated outdoor panoramic swimming pool, Finnish sauna, herb baths, bio sauna, brine pool, aromatic steam bath and quiet relaxation areas. Spa sessions include essential oil infusions and calming music. You can also relax in a salt laconium, or breath in healing aromas in herbal baths. There is also a fitness space and gym and indoor swimming pools with children areas as well. As you would imagine, there are a plethora of massage treatments to choose from at Tauern Spa. The possibilities are almost endless at the Tauern Spa. For other spa options away from Tauren Spa, the majority of the hotels at Kaprun have wellness centres and swimming within their premises.
Kaprun has a few essential shops in the resort centre so if you are staying in self-catering accommodation, you will be able to get all you need for your stay. In addition to the few cafes and restaurants around the resort, there are also sports shops, ski equipment stores, an arts and craft shop and a bookstore. There is also Mode Moreau, a small family-run boutique offering a few retail therapy options. Kaprun also has Kaufhaus Neumair, a small shopping “mall” that has a few more essential shops.
There’s a lot to offer for children in Kaprun. The resort has adequate facilities to ensure that visiting children are very well entertained and looked after as well as ensuring the parents and guardians of children can rely on the services and facilities available at Kaprun.
There are a number of Kaprun ski schools and independent ski instructors to choose from, however, you can save time by registering your children's ski school lessons with us directly as part of your customised ski holiday package. We partner with only the best ski schools in the Alps with fully trained and accredited, English speaking instructors who come with bags of experience. It will save you a lot of time upon arrival at the resort and will make for a more relaxed holiday knowing that the children’s classes are booked without any fuss of trying to decide which instructor to go with.
There is more than enough fun to get up to with the children at Kaprun. Both Schmittenhöhe and Maikogel ski areas are very family-focused and have the entertainment to suit the children and keep them engaged. The Maisa park in particular on Maiskogel is the perfect place for children learning to ski and snowboard as they have lots of obstacle courses but more importantly, it has been designed to be a fun-loving experience, keeping them learning and entertained at the same time. While at Maiskogel, take the kids over to the Maisi Flitzer located beneath the MK Maiskogelbahn cable car. The Maisi Flitzer is a mini roller coaster ride that is a huge hit with children. Race downhill through waves, jumps and spectacular spins and top speeds of 40km an hour! The seats on the Maisi Flitzer are perfect to hold an adult and child at the same time. You can also take the children for daytime or nighttime family toboggan rides. Other outdoor activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides under warm blankets and going ice skating. Out of the snow and cold, indoor activities for children include climbing walls and bouldering at the Kletterhalle Kaprun wall climbing centre. There is also a bowling rink which is popular among families, and a local cinema which also shows children’s favourites. Children can also enjoy indoor swimming pool facilities and a special family spa area in the Tauern Spa.
There are several childcare facilities in Kaprun, Schmittenhöhe and Maiskogel. Most ski schools also offer child care and kids clubs as part of the services. BOBO's Baby Club is particularly aimed at the youngest children and offers care services. Check with the local tourist offices for more information on independent nannies and childminders.
The ski area is split into three with Kitzsteinhorn, Schmittenhöhe and Maiskogel. The pistes range from 762 metres to 3,029 metres altitude and a total of 138 kilometres of pistes (including the Zell am See ski area).
