Kitzbühel is primarily a ski and outdoor resort, but the medieval town centre is worth exploring on its own terms. In winter, the ski area — the "Ski Circus" shared with neighbouring Kirchberg — covers over 220 km of runs serviced by the Hahnenkamm and Hornbahn cable cars. In summer, the same mountains offer hiking and mountain biking, and the Schwarzsee lake provides swimming.
The big draw is the Hahnenkamm and its legendary Streif downhill course — in January, the World Cup race week turns the town into a spectacle. Schwarzsee is the swimming lake two kilometres west of town. The Kitzbüheler Horn opposite the Hahnenkamm is higher and quieter. In town, the painted facades, St Catherine's Church, and the Museum Kitzbühel fill a few hours.