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Why we LOVE St Anton Am Arlberg

Why we LOVE the resort

Known as the cradle of alpine skiing for its pioneering roles in ski technique and tourism, we like to think of St Anton as the home of skiing and a resort where you’ll feel totally at home skiing.

From the opening of its first ski school in the early 1920s, this Tirolean village has evolved into a high quality, cosmopolitan winter destination famed for its off-piste terrain, après scene and historic cobbled centre.

Do you crave a holiday filled with adventure and activity or pure rest and relaxation? In St Anton, the choice is yours. Ski the 85km Run Of Fame, the longest ski circuit in the Alps, hire a local mountain guide to hone your off-piste skills or take some tips (below) from Born2Ski boss Mike to find secret powder stashes or family-friendly slopes on bad weather days.

Get active bouldering, climbing and trampolining at arl.park next to the resort train station or soak your stress away in the indoor and outdoor pools and saunas at Arlberg WellCom. Take a short bus ride down to Pettneu which has remained largely unchanged for decades – there you’ll find Wellnesspark Arlberg and cow barns in the centre of the village.

 

Why we LOVE the mountain

With 300km of pistes and 85 state-of-the-art cable cars and lifts, Ski Arlberg is the largest inter-connected ski area in Austria. And while its vast off-piste terrain ensures its popularity amongst free riders, the area also has plenty to offer families and intermediate skiers.

Ski Arlberg covers St Anton, Lech, Zurs, Stuben, St Christoph, Warth and Schrocken with 129km of blue pistes, 121km of red pistes and 50km of black pistes. In St Anton, much of the focus is on the slopes of Gampen and Kapall while improving skiers and young families will enjoy Lech’s gentle runs and chic riverside setting, or Rendl on white-out days.

With skiing up to 2,800m, Ski Arlberg offers guaranteed snow from opening day on December 4th to closing day on April 25th (2025). Strong-legged skiers and snowboarders will eat up the longest run in the area, the 7.5km slope down from Valluga via the Ulmerhutte which offers a thigh-burning 1,350m vertical drop.

Another must-see is the Valluga viewing platform (accessible via the Galzigbahn and Vallugabahn gondolas) with breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps stretching to the Swiss canton of Grabunden.

Why we LOVE the social scene

If there’s one word that’s synonymous with St Anton am Arlberg après-ski, it’s ‘Moosewirt’. The owners of this slope-side restaurant and bar – formerly a farm – used to joke that they ‘gave up milking cows to milk tourists’. We like their Tirolean style.

Both the Moosewirt and Krazy Kangaruh are après central but you don’t have to go full throttle to enjoy the fun. At Tapps bar next to the KK, you can enjoy live music indoors or sit on the outdoor terrace to observe the Moosewirt scene from a comfortable distance across the slope. Another favourite is Griabli, located between Tapps and the Moosewirt.

At the bottom of the home run, opposite the Gampen chair lift, Basecamp is a must-apres while Fanghouse at Nasserein is popular with locals and workers, with live music on Sundays.

St Anton après doesn’t have to involve busy bars at all; browse the resort’s shops, visit the local museum, enjoy a glass of wine in Niki’s wine bar or sip a coffee in one of the cafes along main street.

 

Why we LOVE the chalets

We can’t think of a more convenient location than the one enjoyed by Chalet Eisfall. It’s situated right opposite the Nasserein gondola and ski rental shop so you’re literally one moment away from getting geared up, getting your lift pass and getting on that lift.

It’s an easy five minute stroll into the centre of the resort and with a couple of bars close to the chalet, you can decide whether you want to go ‘out’ or ‘out out’.

With five double bedrooms and one triple, Haus Eisfall sleeps 13 people. Downstairs you’ll find the kitchen and dining room, a cosy space that fills with laughter and fun when the chalet is fully booked. Bedrooms are on the middle floors while the living room (or den as we like to call it) is on the top floor and stocked with a mini bar.

Last April, ski journalist Catherine Murphy stayed at Eishaus and told us; ‘The chalet is run by Dutch company Wens Chalets and our young Dutch hosts, Igor and Daniela, were brilliant. They were engaging and professional and on over-hearing that I don’t like red meat, they prepared dishes that they thought I might prefer (without even being asked). Daniela baked scones for breakfast, another big treat.

“The chalet location is perfect but my favourite thing about it was the little top floor nook where you could sit with a glass of wine after a day’s skiing and watch the world go by. I chose a bedroom at the back of the chalet but I really liked the size and comfort of the master room – nab it if you can!”

The expert

Born2Ski’s Mike Pritchard has been skiing in St Anton for the past 35 years and has a wealth of Ski Arlberg contacts and knowledge. He also has some insider tips for getting the most from the mountain.

“One of my favourite things is to head to Lech early in the morning” Mike says. “It’s great for families while advanced skiers will also find good off-piste options on the back side. I love the resort’s river-side setting and chic vibes.

“You can ski to Lech via Zurs but to get there early, take a Post bus or share the cost of a taxi with family/friends.

“Rendl is a good option on white-out days with fun intermediate slopes and easy powder runs if it’s been snowing while Warth near the German border is a quiet area away from the busy slopes of St Anton in peak season – perfect for families.

“Many people don’t realise that Sonnenkopf or ‘sunny mountain’ can also be skied on the Ski Arlberg pass. Fresh powder gets tracked out quickly on St Anton’s slopes but if you’re lucky, you can still find powder stashes at Sonnenkopf days after it has snowed”.

Mike’s favourite bars include Tapps, Griapli and Fanghouse at Nasserein and without a doubt, St Anton is his favourite ski town on the snow globe.

Ski Arlberg at a glance

  • Six day adult lift pass costs €401.
  • 300km of pistes with plenty of blue and red slopes.
  • 200km of off-piste terrain, a mecca for off piste fans.
  • Longest ski circuit in the Alps.
  • Longest run 7.5km.
  • Accessible by train from Zurich with a train station in the resort.