Tennerhof is the Kitzbühel hotel to choose if you want Alpine romance with real character rather than a glossy spa block. It is a traditional Tyrolean chalet on the sunniest slope above town, run by the same family since 1929 and now a member of Relais & Châteaux. From the terrace you look straight across the valley at the Hahnenkamm and the Streif, the famous downhill course, with the church spires of the old town below.
The house has 39 rooms in the main building, filled with antiques from the family's collection, painted wood and flowered fabrics. For more privacy there are separate chalet suites and country-house apartments in the Landsitz Römerhof next door. The kitchen has been among the best in the region for more than three decades. The Spa de Charme adds a sauna, steam bath, treatment rooms and indoor and outdoor pools.
It suits couples who love old-world comfort, good food and a quiet garden after a day on the slopes or the hiking trails. It is not a ski-in, ski-out hotel. The main house also closes between seasons, so check dates before you plan around it.
Highlights at a glance
- Family-run since 1929 and a Relais & Châteaux member
- Views of the Hahnenkamm and the Streif
- Gourmet restaurant and the long-running ein Tirol kitchen
- Indoor and outdoor pools with the Spa de Charme
- Private chalet suites for extra privacy
Why Couples Love Tennerhof
Tennerhof was the first five-star hotel in Kitzbühel, but it feels more like a grand family home than a luxury brand. There are rose arches in the garden, shaded benches, a panoramic terrace and a small private chapel on the grounds, which says a lot about how long the family has been here.
The view is the constant. You can watch the floodlit pistes from your balcony in winter or follow the green ridges of the Hahnenkamm in summer. The rooms have historic furniture alongside modern bathrooms, so you get the atmosphere of an old Tyrolean house without sacrificing comfort. One double room is dedicated to Ian Fleming, the James Bond author, who spent time in Kitzbühel as a young man. Couples tend to describe the stay as warm and personal, with staff who remember how you like your coffee by the second morning.
Rooms and Suites to Book
There are three ways to stay.
- Rooms and suites in the main house have the most character, with wooden interiors, big beds and mountain views. Ask for a south or valley-facing room with a balcony so you can see the Streif.
- The Luxury Chalet Suites sit apart from the main building and focus on privacy. They are the best pick for a honeymoon if your budget allows, especially in winter when you want somewhere cozy to retreat.
- The Landsitz Römerhof apartments are spacious and country-house in style. They also stay open outside the hotel's main seasons, which helps if you are traveling in spring or late autumn.
Whichever you choose, request a room with views over the town. The setting is the reason to stay here and a garden-facing room misses the point of waking up to the mountains.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Food is central to Tennerhof's reputation. The main restaurant, ein Tirol, has been one of the region's leading kitchens for over 30 years, with a menu rooted in Tyrolean produce and refined technique. A separate gourmet restaurant serves a more elaborate tasting menu for a special night, while the Römerhof Stüberl is a wood-paneled room for heartier Austrian cooking. In summer, dinner on the terrace with the valley turning pink at dusk is hard to beat.
The Spa de Charme is intimate rather than huge. It has a sauna, a steam bath, quiet rooms and a menu of massages and treatments. The indoor pool is welcome after a cold day on the slopes, while the outdoor pool is the place to be on warm summer afternoons. Breakfast and the wellness area remain available to apartment guests even when the main hotel is closed.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
In winter, the KitzSki area offers about 168 km of slopes. The Hahnenkamm gondola leaves from the edge of the old town, a short drive from the hotel. The long blue runs on the Hahnenkamm suit couples of mixed ability. The Hahnenkamm Races in January bring huge crowds to watch the Streif, so book very early or avoid that week.
Summer is just as appealing. You can hike between mountain huts, ride the gondola up the Kitzbüheler Horn for sunset or swim in the Schwarzsee, a moor lake that warms up enough for an afternoon dip. Kitzbühel has four golf courses within easy reach. Evenings are for strolling the painted streets of the Vorderstadt and Hinterstadt, where cafés, wine bars and boutiques stay busy year-round. Salzburg is about 80 minutes away for a day of Mozart and Baroque architecture.
Getting There
Salzburg Airport (SZG) and Innsbruck Airport (INN) are both about 1 hour 15 minutes from Kitzbühel by car, while Munich (MUC) is around two hours away and has the widest choice of US connections. The hotel can help arrange a private transfer, or you can rent a car, which is useful in summer for lake days and mountain drives.
Trains also run to Kitzbühel station from Innsbruck and Salzburg, with a taxi ride up to the hotel on arrival. In winter, a car is less necessary, since most of what you will do is skiing and dining in town. Bring good shoes for both of you, as the lanes around the hotel slope steeply and can be icy in January and February. Taxis are easy to book for evenings in the old town.
Is It Worth It?
Tennerhof is not the cheapest hotel in Kitzbühel, but it is fair value for a Relais & Châteaux property with this setting and this kitchen. Expect rates for two to start at roughly USD 450 to 550 a night with breakfast in quieter periods, rising sharply over Christmas, New Year and race week. Treat those figures as approximate and confirm directly with the hotel.
It is worth it for couples who want a historic, intimate chalet and good food. Pick elsewhere if you want to ski straight from your door, need a large modern spa with many pools, or plan to visit when the main house is closed. Couples on a tighter budget can stay in the old town and visit Tennerhof for dinner instead, which gives you a taste of the place without the full room rate.
Insider tips
- Request a valley-facing room with a balcony so you can see the Streif from bed.
- Book a chalet suite for winter stays, when privacy and coziness count most.
- Avoid race week in January unless you want to watch the Hahnenkamm Races.
- Ask about the guest card in summer, which can cover some lifts and buses.
