When it comes to a winter fairytale destination, it doesn’t get more magical than the region of St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf. The perfect destination for a wonderful family holiday, the region has its own unique ski area, perfect for stress-free skiing. But there’s also access to much bigger ski regions, with hundreds (or even thousands!) of kilometres of slope.
Downhill skiing is not the only thing this amazing area offers though. The beautiful natural winter world offers dozens of other activities from winter hiking to all-terrain Segway tours and tobogganing as well as biathlon and paragliding, you certainly won’t get bored.
© Yappy Yapadu, Kitzbueheler Alpen St. Johann in Tirol Tourism Association
There are two words and phrases you should know before you arrive. First up is ‘My Yapadu!’ the words used in St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf to explain what it means to deliver a moment of happiness to their guests. Happiness can be found in many places and many ways depending on our personal choices but however it is delivered, here they say “My Yapadu!” to express it.
Town centre of St. Johann in Tirol in winter © Claudia Egger
The other word is “Lebensgefühl” and it’s something similar but different that the people of St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf aspire to provide and always deliver! The Austrian word means everything being right, everything correct, to deliver a perfect moment. It’s that time when you realise you are having a wonderful holiday in the best place because everything is just right. Welcome to St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf!
Villages St. Johann in Tirol and Oberndorf have a family friendly ski area with 40km of slopes that are absolutely perfect for both families who can enjoy the wide, sunny, gentle slopes together and expert skiers who can experience the other side of the mountain – some great steep and deep freeride terrain!
For those who would like to go ski touring, the Dynafit Ski Tour Park provides peaceful marked routes for ski tourers to ascend during the day and on tourer evenings.
Fun on the slopes at Harschbichl with a view of the Kitzbüheler Horn in St. Johann in Tirol © Mirja Geh
In any case, the 40km on the local Kitzbüheler Horn mountain is just the start. The ski bus is free for everyone, the regional bus & train connections are included in the guest card. The ski bus service connects the local slopes to those of the nearby 3-Länder Freizeit-Arena pass which extends the terrain available to 160km in Tirol, Salzburg and over the German border in Bavaria for a few Euros more.
If that still isn’t enough the incredible SuperSkiCard is another option, this time including a world-beating 22 ski regions and over 2,815 kilometres of slopes on the one pass. That includes the runs of nearby KitzSki, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser, Steinplatte/Waidring, Skicircus Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn, two glacier ski areas and, of course, the pistes in St. Johann in Tirol (which conveniently sits right in the middle of them all!) all on the one pass.
In St. Johann in Tirol, you’ll find an unusually high density of cosy, family-run huts and mountain inns to pop into whenever you need a break and fancy some filling, homemade food and a warm welcome. There are 18 establishments altogether, an average of one every few kilometres of slopes! Along with taking in fabulous views of the Kitzbühel Alps and the Wilder Kaiser, look out for regional delicacies such as Kaiserschmarrn, dumplings and more.
Family playing in snow St. Johann in Tirol region © Mirja Geh
Children and families are especially welcome in St. Johann in Tirol and on the slopes, the small ski areas of Erpfendorf and Kirchdorf are the ideal choice. There are three free practice areas at St. Johann and Kirchdorf and lift ticket prices are amongst the most reasonable in the Alps. Special ski classes for youngsters are offered and the region’s mascot and good luck charm, the little Yeti, Yappy Yapadu, is always on the slopes. Children’s ski courses are also available at the Kitzbüheler Horn.
Activities
There’s a big choice of winter activities on offer in the region if you’re visiting with no plans to ski, or if you’re a skier but looking for more to do during your stay.
Balloon rides, biathlon, tobogganing (a choice of two natural toboggan runs), paragliding, ice skating, expeditions by all-terrain Segways, cross-country skiing, winter hikes, snowshoeing excursions or the thrill of the flying fox are all on the menu.
As with ski facilities, the off-slope attractions for families are many. Along with swimming pools, bouldering walls and much more, there’s Murmi’s Kinderland, an indoor playground in Kirchdorf.
The Flying Fox winter course at the Hornpark in St. Johann in Tirol is a big attraction. Descending 531 metres over seven stations from the mid-station of the Harschbichl cable car on the Kitzbüheler Horn. This winter, a new family-friendly winter hiking trail with riddles is available you’ll enjoy excitement galore!
Ice skating is another option with the 1,800-square-metre Panorama Badewelt artificial ice rink floodlit for evening use with skate hire available too.
Snowshoe hiking in the St. Johann in Tirol region © Franz Gerdl
Winter hiking is another popular option with over 100km of cleared paths. You can also go on a snowshoe hike over the snow and guided tours, including moonlit hikes, are offered free of charge to guest pass holders. Guest passes are given to those staying overnight in the region.
Or you can take to the air above the St. Johann in Tirol region, either on a balloon ride or on a tandem paraglider flight.
Cross-country skiing in the idyllic nature of the St. Johann in Tirol region © Mirja Geh
If you want to enjoy skinny skies and cross-country skiing, the St. Johann in Tirol region also has you covered with 170km of wonderful trails through the beautiful winter landscape. You can even get a taster session of the exciting sport of biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing and target shooting if you wish.
Heading indoors the Koasa Boulder indoor bouldering and climbing walls are one of many family-friendly attractions in the region.
Panorama Badewelt in St. Johann in Tirol © Panorama Badewelt
There are also several fabulous indoor swimming pools, including the Panorama Badewelt which has great family facilities including a separate kids pool and long water chutes.
There’s also the WellnessCenter Kaiserquell which has a more adult theme including a fabulous sauna world with multiple experiences.
Shopping is also a pleasure in the region with a great choice of outlets for all tastes and interests.
Dining
There are fabulous dining opportunities across the region of course too, in the town and villages and high up on the slopes in the welcoming huts. Locally produced cheeses, meat, vegetables and scrumptious Tirolean dumplings may all be on the menu.
The Alpengasthaus Stanglalm is a hut not to be missed, it’s been operating for more than a century and has a reputation for its great variety of homemade strudel.
Along with great views, the Harschbichlalm, located by the top station of the Harschbichlbahn cable car, offers a fantastic view of the Kitzbüheler Horn.
The Grander Schupf, located at the middle station of the Eichenhof lifts is located at a spot where ski slopes and snowshoeing routes meet.
For wine lovers, the Angerer Alm is home to the highest wine cellar in the Kitzbühel Alps with up to 6,000 bottles from 400 international wineries to choose from (it’s a big wine list!).
Hearty snack made from regional products in the St. Johann in Tirol region © Mirja Geh
Local cheese, bacon and schnapps along with other natural products have long been homemade in St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf, Kirchdorf and Erpfendorf and there is a culinary demonstration business which shows how these are traditionally produced. Fresh natural produce can be purchased in the farm shops in the region.
Or you can visit the Show Dairy Wilder Käser, a cheese dairy with an exhibition in Kirchdorf in Tirol. Here around 1,200 litres of hay milk are turned into 700 delicious wheels of cheese every day. The cheese can be tasted in the centuries-old farmhouse.
A visit to Aggstein Edelbrände, the schnapps distillery in St. Johann in Tirol, may also be on your wish list. It’s the fifth generation of the owner family running it today, using methods known in the region since the 13th century to produce more than 90 brandies, schnapps and liqueurs, all available to try (though perhaps not all at once!)
Events
Exciting, fun, engaging events run all through the winter.
Sometimes they are magical too, like the St. Johann Christmas Market.
Or they can be just full-on-fun, like the New Year’s Eve Warm-Up Party that follows.
The weekly St. Johann Ski Show, which sees ski schools show their stuff in an exciting display each week from early January to early March sees in the New Year with the first display on the 7th of January, 2025, then repeats every Tuesday for the next few months.
The Yapadu Winter Open Air celebrations are a series of live concerts and other festivities in St. Johann in Tirol, Oberndorf and Kirchdorf in Tirol over three successive Wednesday evenings from 19 February to 3rd March.
Retro Ski Day, actually on two days – March 8-9, 2025, takes us back to the 1980s, or beyond, so it’s time to dig out that garish one piece!
More Info
Main Image St. Johann in Tirol, Franz Gerdl
