Tyrol in May

December through February brings the snow that built Tyrol's reputation. Kitzbühel's Hahnenkamm downhill happens in January – book accommodation a year ahead or forget about it. But summer hiking season runs June through September, and honestly? July mornings on the Stubai Glacier beat crowded ski slopes any day. September delivers golden larches and empty trails, though some mountain huts close after mid-September. Here's what guidebooks won't tell you: November and April are shoulder seasons for good reason. Rain, slush, and closed cable cars make for miserable mountain days. Christmas markets run through December, but expect crowds and prices to match. May works for valley hiking, but snow lingers above 2000m until June.