St Anton am Arlberg
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Logistics
Getting There
St Anton am Arlberg ski area is located on the Tyrolean side of the Arlberg pass. This pass separates the state of Vorarlberg from the state of Tyrol. The ski area is made up of seven key villages: St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Zurs, Lech, Warth and Schrocken. There are a few different options to reach St. Anton depending on where you are traveling from.
The closest airport to the resort is in Innsbruck, which is about an 75 minute train ride from Innsbruck’s main train station. The Innsbruck airport is very small, so only select locations will have flights in and out of Innsbruck. For those fortunate enough to be able to book a direct flight to Innsbruck, your journey is quite easy (and affordable) if traveling during normal daytime hours. After arriving at the airport, you can catch a bus to the Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof. The journey, by bus, takes about 20 – 30 minutes. If you’re tighter on time or do not want to deal with the bus, you can also grab a taxi which will be quicker but more expensive. Then from the station, you’ll need to take a train from Innsbruck to St Anton am Arlberg. There are direct trains, approx. every 2 hours making the journey smooth and easy. It’s also a nice train ride as you will get to start making your way into the mountains. Alternatively, there will be indirect options as well requiring transfers or train and bus.
For those where traveling into Innsbruck airport is not an option, plan to fly into Zurich, Switzerland. This airport offers convenient train and bus transfers from the airport to the town. The journey takes about 3 hours, but should be a direct option (as well as options with transfers). As Zurich is a very large airport, it’s likely you’ll be able to reach the town rather easily.
Getting Around
If staying in St. Anton, or one of the main towns, you’ll be able to walk to restaurants, ski shops, ski lifts, and grocery stores. However, this is not always ideal if wearing ski boots. With that in mind, it’s helpful to use the local buses. Check the bus schedules, depending on the day and season, to time your journey appropriately. It’s likely there will be a bus stop close to your accommodations taking you to one of the St. Anton lift bases. Not only are there buses to help you get into town or to the ski lifts, but you can also use the buses between towns.
Check bus schedules here. If staying within a given town, the main area should be quite walkable. There will also be ride sharing or taxis available for longer journeys if required.
Accommodations
Consider staying in or around St Anton am Arlberg. The town itself is lively, as this ski area is known for being a big apres ski spot. If you are here to apres, make sure you stay in St Anton itself. There are also a bunch of restaurants and shops to explore in the town, which is nice after a day of skiing.
For those less interested in the apres scene, consider staying in the quieter town of St. Christoph. It is a very small town, but very cute and one big perk is it is very accessible to the mountain with ski in / ski out accommodations. Even though it’s small, there’s one chairlift that takes you right up to the same spot as the main gondolas from St. Anton arrive.
Lech is another alternative, known for being quite a nice area to stay, and likely less apres ski guests. The town is bigger than St. Christoph so offers more to do in comparison to the small town of St. Christoph. After skiing a bit in Zurs, this area is only recommended for families or those with more junior skiers.
Keep in mind, the connected ski resort is very large with 300km of piste trails and 200km of off piste trails. Due to the size, you are unlikely to cover all the areas. Instead, it’s recommended to visit more than once, trying a different base to give easier access to different parts of the mountain.
Apart-bergliebe – This is a perfect place to stay if looking for a spot in St. Anton. They offer a few different room bookings and are located a 10 minute walk from the Nassereinbahn gondola. The accommodations has a separate room for skis, boots and poles, but they also offer a free card which allows you to store your skis at the ski depot at the Nassereinbahn. This is incredibly nice so that you do not need to walk back and forth in your ski boots and with your skis. Just be sure to get there before it closes in the evening! Alternatively, you also are very close to a bus stop if planning to depart directly in ski boots and not worry about using a locker. The hosts are incredibly kind and helpful, making your stay especially comfortable. They offer bread options every day from the local bakery, you just place your personal order the evening beforehand. There are options which are more central, but this was a more affordable location with great perks and very comfortable stay. Book here
Chalet Anna Maria – Located a 10 minute walk from the Nassereinbahn gondola or a 2 minute bus ride, this chalet is perfect for a catered ski trip. With 6 bedrooms, a sauna, big common spaces, and a nice patio, it’s an ideal location for a group holiday. As it’s catered, this means breakfast and dinner are included in the booking price making it especially easy to show up for a ski holiday.
Things to do and see
Skiing and Snowboarding
St Anton Ski Area
The ski resort with St. Anton consists of 7 different areas: St Anton am Arlberg, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zurs, Warth and Schrocken. The resort has over 300 km of slopes and 200 km of trails off piste. It is one of the best ski resorts for experienced skiiers, with excellent advanced options. It is not usually one of the recommended areas for beginners as there is less terrain tailored to the beginner skier.
From the base of St. Anton, there are three key gondolas: Galzigbahn, Nassereinbahn, and Rendlbahn. Galzigbahn is the main gondola from in the town, giving quick access to an abundance of skiable terrain once on the mountain. Nassereinbahn is just down the road from Galzigbahn, and provides access to a slightly quieter entry point; from the top of Nassereinbahn, you can ski over to areas also accessible from Galzigbahn. Rendlbahn is across the Rosanna River and gives access to a quieter, separate area. This is a hidden gem, so not one to miss! It’s perfect for a morning or afternoon and has lots of sunshine for the clear days. Generally, it’s a good place to go for slightly easier terrain as well.
Apres Ski
St. Anton is known for its apres ski, with the party on the mountain being some of the best in Europe. Check out places like Krazy Kanguruh and Mooserwirt to experience the height of apres ski life in Europe.
Rentals
Skiset offers rentals for ski equipment as well with various locations. Look for the most convenient location based on where you are staying and book your rentals.
Jennewein another option for rentals in St. Anton with a few different locations
Intersport offers rentals for ski equipment throughout the area. You can rent in advance for an online discount. Most towns may have a few different options in terms of where to rent – in the town or at the base of the mountain. Be sure to pay attention to opening times. We chose not to go with Intersport as it was closed on Wednesdays, the day we arrived.
Ski passes
Ski passes information can be found here as prices differ by age, time of year, and quantity of days. Tickets can be purchased at the base of the gondolas at one of the ticket counters. Be sure to keep your receipt in case you misplace the ski pass card.
- Single day passes
- Multi-day passes
- Season passes
The Ski Arlberg pass gives you access to the largest connected ski area in Austria with over 300km of skiing terrain.
Ski Map
Link can be found here
Phone App
Download the Ski Arlberg phone app to help with navigation on the mountain, check what lifts and runs are open or closed, and the times when lifts close to avoid getting stuck somewhere.
Food and Drinks
A great perk about this area in Austria is the affordability of the food and going out. Meals are fairly priced and quite tasty, with many of the mountaintop restaurants serving good food, more than just a take-away buffet.
Sennhutte
Lunch and Drinks
St. Anton
Great spot to grab some food on the mountain or a drink. On the way down to the base of the main gondola (on route 50), Galzigbahn, this is the first stop along a path of many apres bars. They have live music playing here often and people start to party as they make their way down to the next stops.
Kapall Restaurant
Lunch or Drinks
St. Anton
Found at the top of Kapallbahn, this is a rustic Austrian spot for lunch. On a clear day, you’ll have gorgeous views of the mountains from up here.
Hospiz Alm
Lunch or Drinks
St. Christoph
Great spot on the mountain to book for lunch. With great indoor and outdoor patio space, it’s a must for lunch. Take a slide down to the restroom here, a luxury when in your ski boots. Be sure to book a table in advance to make sure you can go here!
Ulmer Hütte
Lunch or Drinks
St. Anton
Located just below the top of Arlenmahderbahn, this is an ideal spot for a hot chocolate or beer outside on a bluebird day! They also have good, quick lunch options. Be sure to bring cash to order outside.
Bifang-Alm
Lunch or Drinks
Rendl
Sitting on route 1, down to the base of Rendl’s resort, this is a great place to grab a drink on your way down after a day skiing in Rendl. There’s a big terrace and it’s quite close to the base of the mountain.
Rendl Restaurant
Lunch or Drinks
Rendl
Right at the top of the Rendl gondola is where you’ll find this restaurant. It’s a large cafeteria style lunch, with quite a wide selection of options to choose from. Grab a table in the indoor dining area or out on the terrace.
Arl One
Lunch
St. Anton
After Sennhutte, but before Krazy Kanguruh and Mooserwirt on the way down route 50 to the base is where you’ll find this spot. It’s an apres spot, but also has good view, just notably more expensive than its neighbor at Sennhutte.
Krazy Kanguruh
Apres
St. Anton
Big apres ski spot before the home run into St Anton. You can book a table, which is highly recommended, so you have a designated spot to get the most of this apres experience
Taps
Apres
St. Anton
Another apres spot, found right next to Krazy Kanguruh
Mooserwirt
Apres
St. Anton
Just across the way from Krazy Kanguruh, but slightly down the mountain, this is another big apres ski spot. With outdoor and indoor space, it’s a classic in St. Anton
Basecamp
Apres
St. Anton
True to its name, Basecamp is found at the base of the mountain. Anyone can walk to this one and is great place to grab drinks and keep the party going.
Restaurant Flexenhausl
Dinner to Apres Party
St. Anton
A spot on the mountain for dinner. Take a taxi here and book a table for 8ish, and then watch as the restaurant turns into a party.
Museum Restaurant
Dinner
St. Anton
One of the nicer, if not the nicest, restaurants in St. Anton is found in an old museum. The museum was maintained and then turned into a restaurant. When you visit the restaurant, you can go upstairs and walkthrough the old museum to learn about some of the history of the area. The location is also slightly out of the center off the main street, so a bit quieter. However, it is somewhat close to Mooserwirt so you may still hear the partiers nearby! It’s also found inside the chalet used in the movie Chalet Girl for any fans.
Galzig Bistrobar
Dinner
St. Anton
Easy dinner option just off the main street in St. Anton. The food is good with a variety of options including pastas, burgers, and wiener schnitzel.
Café Schneider
Dinner or Drinks
St. Anton
On the main street in St. Anton, this is a good option for dinner or drinks.
Niki’s Weinbar & restaurant
Dinner or Drinks
St. Anton
Great spot to enjoy a glass of wine and charcuterie or sit down for dinner
Murrmel Bar
Drinks
St. Anton
Fun spot to grab drinks often playing live music. It gets pretty busy after dinner once people are off the mountain and moving into the local bars!
Bar Cuba
Drinks
St. Anton
Bar in the center of St. Anton, open until 1am
Keller Bar
Drinks
St. Anton
Little bar in St. Anton near the Nassereinbahn gondola, often with live music!
Other Notes
Traditional Austrian Dishes
Goulash – hearty beef and onion soup often served with potato or cheese dumplings
Schnitzel – thin cutlet covered in breading usually of veal, pork or chicken
Tiroler grostl – potatoes and beef, sometimes served with a fried egg too
Kasespatzle – cheese pasta
Currywurst – bratwurst
Frankfurter – hot dog
Codron bleu – meat wrapped around cheese
Mixed grill plate – mixture of meats
Kaiserschmarrn – fluffy, shredded pancake (absolute MUST have!!)
Apple strudel – apple pastry dessert often served with vanilla sauce or cream
Purchase Insurance
It is a small additional cost to both the ski passes and rentals, but provides much needed security if something goes wrong. If you are participating in apres ski, definitely an increased likelihood of injuries, accidents, and loss or damage of ski equipment.
Cost Savings
If looking to keep expenses down, consider a few points when planning the holiday. Booking accommodations with a kitchen will help keep costs down as you will have the opportunity to cook meals at home rather than dining out. Compared to some other Alps destinations, Austria is more affordable than its Swiss or French neighbors.
Elevation
St. Anton is a moderate altitude ski mountain, meaning it is risky to book the beginning or end of the season. There are years where there is great snow early and late in the season, but it’s known to be riskier in Austria generally. Keep this in mind when planning your holiday!
Duration
St. Anton is a big resort and one with a massive amount of terrain to cover. For those who love being on the mountain, it’s easy to spend a week here to explore different parts of the resort. Additionally, the apres ski makes this a prime destination for good skiing and post skiing fun. Staying in St. Anton, I did not venture far over into the town of Lech and small surrounding towns. Instead, I felt it would be easiest to visit again and stay in a different town with access to these runs rather than trekking over from St. Anton.
Signage
Better than Italy, worse than Switzerland and France, the maps on the mountain can be a bit confusing. Slopes are named by numbers that lead down to lifts. It can take some time to get used to both the naming convention and the routes. Use the phone app to look at what lifts are open, and also consider carrying a paper map to help plan your routes!
Tyrol Krampus Tradition
In the tyrol area, there is a unique tradition on December 5th of every year. Just as St. Nicholas is making his journey, Krampus also turns up. Krampus is a horned, devil-like creature that hits naughty people with sticks. In the Tyrolean towns, children will dress up on December 4th and then adults on December 5th as Krampus. They will run around town and then participate in a parade. These costumes are a bit scary (look them up for yourself!) and they actually will come up to you and hit you below the knee so be prepared if you are visiting at this time! It is quite a unique tradition to see, but definitely can be off-putting if you are not aware of it.