Where is Mayrhofen Austria?
Mayrhofen is located deep in the Ziller valley (Zillertal) of the Tyrol state in Austria.
The Mayrhofen ski resort is 67km by road or rail south east of Innsbruck. Munich international airport is around 200km by road to the north of Mayrhofen. The train is recommended mode of travel to the resort from the airports. Mayrhofen is the final station on the Zillertalbahn railway line. Lifts & accommodation are within walking distance of the station.
Flights to Mayrhofen Ski Resorts
If flying to ski at Mayrhofen from within Europe or the UK, Innsbruck (INN) airport is the best option. For skiers & snowboarders from other international origins, the best gateway airport is Munich (MUC) in Germany or Zurich (ZRH), Switzerland. Rail connections to Innsbruck from Munich or Zurich and then on to Mayrhofen are simple.
Search & book a great deal on a flight to Innsbruck or Munich.
Flights into Innsbruck Airport
Innsbruck airport is serviced by flights from mainland Europe, Scandinavia, and the UK. Flights numbers and options increase during the winter season. The airport is conveniently located close to the centre of Innsbruck.
The Innsbruck city centre and central bus & train station is a 20min bus ride from the airport via the Route F bus at the terminal. Taxis offer an alternative.
If you are wanting to stay overnight near the Innsbruck airport stay in a fantastic hotel or guesthouse in the centre of the old town & simply get a taxi or bus to the airport. For the best options, see our Innsbruck Accommodation Info page.
Flights into Munich Airport
Munich (MUC) international airport is rated as one of the world’s best. It receives a vast number of flights every day from worldwide destinations.
Munich airport is well served by efficient train transport which link quickly with train services to ski hubs like Innsbruck. Take the S8 line from the main terminal (trains every 10min) to the major Ostbahnhof for trains direct to Innsbruck. Travel time is 2½hr.
At least 8 major car rental companies are available at Munich airport, however the vehicles may not be set up for winter driving (i.e. snow tyres, chains), and one may be better served hiring a car closer to the ski destination. Search for & book rental cars.
Airport Transfers
For a fast & efficient transfer from Munich, Innsbruck or other location to Mayrhofen, a private transfer is the best method. It does come with a financial cost, but for groups of 3 or more people, can work out quite reasonably. Private transfers make sense for post covid19 travel too. To save on costs, organise a transfer from a major train station closer to your accommodation, like at Innsbruck or Jenbach. If looking to save money & the environment, take the train (see further below)
Search & book private transfers to Mayrhofen & the Zillertal.
Train & Bus Transport to Mayrhofen
One of the best ways to access the Zillertal and Mayrhofen ski resort is by train. From Innsbruck HBF (central station), trains leave for Jenbach (direction Wörgl, Kufstein or Salzburg) every 15 to 45min between the hours of 6.10am and 7.20pm. The journey generally takes around 26min.
At Jenbach station, change to platform Z3, where a Zillertalbahn will likely be waiting for you. Trains leave for Mayrhofen regularly, every 22 to 60min (depending on time of day) from 6.30am to 7.56pm every day during the ski season (refer timetable). The 32km journey from Jenbach to Mayrhofen takes about 50mins. From Mayrhofen station, buses and taxis await, or simply walk to your accommodation.
Search & book train tickets to Innsbruck & Mayrhofen.
Getting Around the Mayrhofen Ski Resort
There are six free, local ski bus lines (refer route map) running between the various lift bases and different parts of town in Mayrhofen. Bus Line A and E runs between the Ahorn and Penken lift bases in Mayrhofen every 15 minutes. It is easier and quicker to just walk. Skiing is exercise after all! Bus Lines C and D run between Ahornbahn and the Horbergbahn at Hippach every 20 minutes.
The Green Line from Mayrhofen to Hintertux via stops at Finkenberger Almbahn and Rastkogelbahn and is free. There are serious issues with drop offs on the return journey as it only stops at Raskogeklbahn in Tux, Finkenburger Almbahn and the Mayrhofen bahnhof (train station). You can find yourself stranded if unaware of this deficiency. Also, skis get roughly stacked under the bus and the passengers at the terminus are like a pack of selfish savages, randomly tossing skis and poles aside to get to their own equipment. Awful insight into human nature!
The 4104 public transit bus from Mayrhofen to Hintertux stops everywhere along the way and is usually empty. If you need transport back from Tux or Finkenburg, this is your best ride home. Cost is a few € one way. Around 10 to 12 services run per day from about 8am. The bus driver will ask you if you are on the right bus as they just expect skiers to take the free Green Line bus!
Driving to Mayrhofen
Driving to Mayrhofen from all points of the compass is relatively straight forward. From either west (Innsbruck) or east (Salzburg/Vienna) or south (Italy), one needs to drive on to the main A12/E45/E60 motorway and then take the B169 into the Zillertal and exit at Mayrhofen.
If you don’t have a car and wish to rent, the closest car rentals are in Innsbruck, either at the airport, or in the city centre.
Travel to Nearby Ski Resorts
Whilst a festival of amazing ski resorts are within 2 hours of Mayrhofen, in the Zillertal, several great resorts are within an easy day trip, plus are part of the Zillertaler SuperSkiPass area. The Zillertaler SuperSkiPass includes Hintertux Glacier, Zillertal Arena and Hochzillertal ski resorts.
Hintertux Glacier ski resort at the head of the Tuxertal is the most snow sure of the resorts and has skiing every day of the year. If you don’t have a car, Hintertux Glacier is accessible by various buses from Mayrhofen. The Green line bus from Mayrhofen to Hintertux is free. It has lots of pick up points in town, but it fills quickly and later pick up points can miss out on a seat. Also, the Green line bus only drops off at the train station in Mayrhofen on the return journey.
The local transit bus route 4104 from Mayrhofen to Hintertux Glacier stops everywhere and, unlike the Green Line bus, is usually quite empty. The Powderhounds found it a better proposition even though the cost is a few € one way. Around 10 to 12 services run per day from about 6am to 7.15pm. The local public transit bus between Hintertux Glacier base and Tux (Rastkogelbahn) is free for skiers. From Tux you could have a great ski and après back to Mayrhofen via Rastkogel and Penken.
Hochzillertal ski resort is the last (or first!) resort in Zillertal, & is closest to Innsbruck. Easy to access by train from Mayrhofen. Get off at Kaltenbach station (refer schedule in right column). A short walk will get you to the Kaltenbach gondola base, above which the best skiing is to be had.
Zillertal Arena ski resort is a huge ski area combining diverse towns from Krimml, Wald-Königsleiten to Gerlos and Zell am Ziller. Zillertal Arena is accessible via train or bus from Mayrhofen to Zell am Ziller (refer schedule in right column). If going by train, a bus or taxi will get to the resort base at Zell am Ziller (or it’s a considerable walk). Note that buses are infrequent (refer schedule in right column).
Outside the Zillertal, to the west are the 13 ski resorts of Innsbruck’s Ski+City Pass region (i.e. Stubai Glacier, Schlick, Axamer Lizum, Nordkette, Kuhtai, Patscherkofel) plus the sensational St Anton and vast Ski Arlberg interconnected ski region. To the east are Alpbach, SkiWelt, KitzbĪhel, the superb SkiCircus Saalbach, Zell am See and Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn.