Kitzbuhel
47°27′ N 12°24′ ETownPop. 8,239Tyrol
Kitzbuhel (Kitzbühel) is a medieval ski town of about 8,200 people in the Kitzbühel Alps whose Advent market fills the old town and the Stadtpark, and it suits couples and families who want Christmas and the slopes in one trip, though the market closes on Mondays and Tuesdays. In 2026 the Kitzbüheler Advent runs from 18 November to 27 December, Wednesday to Sunday 14:00–20:00.
Photo Ricardalovesmonuments · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Stay in Kitzbühel if you want a mountain resort with its own Advent market in the medieval centre and skiing within reach once the season starts. The Kitzbüheler Advent runs from 18 November to 27 December 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, so it covers the Christmas holidays when many other markets have closed. Overnight guests during the market get two Advent mugs with a hot drink each per person and a discount at the KitzShop stall.
The name
Chizbuhel
The name joins Chizzo, a Bavarian family name, to Bühel, a word for a hill where people settled.
german
The name first appears as Chizbuhel in a 12th-century document of the Chiemsee monastery.
SourceKitzbühel is famous for the Hahnenkamm downhill race, and in Advent its old centre turns into a market town. The stalls run along the Hinterstadt and into the Stadtpark, and makers like the Hauser woodturners work at their stands.
The market runs later into the season than most. It opens on both Christmas holidays and closes on 27 December, so a family arriving for a ski week over Christmas still finds it open. Kitzbühel Tourismus also lists Advent programmes in the neighbouring villages of Reith, Aurach and Jochberg.
Worth knowing
- Ask your hotel about the Advent offer for overnight guests, which includes two Advent mugs with a hot drink each.
- Plan market evenings for Wednesday to Sunday.
Quick answers about Kitzbuhel
Does Kitzbühel have a Christmas market?
Yes. The Kitzbüheler Advent runs in the Hinterstadt and the Stadtpark from 18 November to 27 December 2026, Wednesday to Sunday 14:00–20:00, with extra openings on 8, 21 and 22 December.
What does the name Kitzbuhel mean?
Kitzbuhel comes from the local name Chizbuhel, meaning the name joins Chizzo, a Bavarian family name, to Bühel, a word for a hill where people settled. The name first appears as Chizbuhel in a 12th-century document of the Chiemsee monastery.
Is Kitzbuhel a good place to stay?
Stay in Kitzbühel if you want a mountain resort with its own Advent market in the medieval centre and skiing within reach once the season starts. The Kitzbüheler Advent runs from 18 November to 27 December 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, so it covers the Christmas holidays when many other markets have closed. Overnight guests during the market get two Advent mugs with a hot drink each per person and a discount at the KitzShop stall.
