The Arlberg ski area in western Austria consists of the two major resorts of St Anton and Lech as well as a few smaller ones such as St Christoph, Stuben and Zurs; it makes up arguably the best ski area in Austria, if not the whole of Europe, and offers some fantastic facilities for skiers of almost all abilities.
 
Photo courtesy of Sundve
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The stats:
- 84 lifts
- 283km of pistes
- 1075-2650m altitude
- 40% Blue runs
- 48% Red runs
- 12% Black runs
- 65% of the runs have snowmaking facilities
The lifts
The area boasts a modern and fast lift system that is very well connected, which means you’ll be able to spend more time on the slopes rather than queuing.
The piste
What really sets the Arlberg apart from the competition is its varied terrain for the more accomplished skier or snowboarder (beginners should really go elsewhere). Most of the blue runs could be considered to be really reds, and many of the reds should perhaps be blacks, making it a real test for any standard of skier. The high Valluga runs are a treat, with the longest run in resort being a real leg burner at 10.2km from the top.
Off-piste
Many of the black runs are actually unkempt ski routes that offer an excellent start for those wanting to get into off-piste skiing. For the seasoned professional, the Arlberg is one of the world’s great off-piste ski areas with 180km of territory to explore.
The resort is notorious for getting huge snowfalls leading to epic powder days. Heli-skiing is also legal in the Arlberg, which in many people’s opinion gives St Anton the edge, making it the best off-piste resort in Europe over its main French competitors where heli-drops are not allowed.
Skiing from St Anton to Lech
Whilst the ski areas of St Anton and Lech are on the same lift pass and are linked, it isn’t the easiest connection to ski. There are two ways to get from one to the other; for most people, the best route is to get the regular bus service that gets you between the two in 15 minutes. Alternatively, if you have a ski guide (ski patrol won’t allow you otherwise), you can go to the top of Valluga and ski from the back of the mountain on an off-piste run down to Zug.
Freestyle Parks
The Arlberg has two freestyle parks for the avid free rider to contend with; one in St Anton and one in Lech. The St Anton O’Neill Park is a masterfully shaped setup consisting of the Pro-line with huge 15m kickers and rails, the Kicker-line with medium sized kickers for intermediates, and the Jib-line for those new to freestyle.
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Photo courtesy of John Lemieux
The Snowpark Lech also has easy, a medium and a pro runs available, and is slightly larger than the park in St Anton with more features to contend with.
Après-Ski
The fantastic skiing is not the only reason that people head to the Arlberg ski area – the bars on the mountain and in the resorts are another major plus to visitors. If you like to ski hard and party harder, look no further than St Anton. The Mooserwirt is without a doubt the best après party in the world: dancing on the tables in the glorious winter sun to crazy Tirolean dance music is something everyone should experience at least once. For something slightly more understated that is still great fun, Krazy Kangaruh’s offers an excellent alternative.
The Resorts
St Anton sits at 1305m and is one of the most popular ski destinations in Europe. There are hundreds of different options of places to stay, from super luxury large hotels all the way down to small budget chalets. The car free village centre is lovely and holds onto a lot of the traditional Tirolean charm, whilst the rest of resort is every party goer’s paradise.
Lech is a much more picturesque and traditional village at 1450m. There are some lovely places to stay in the resort and whilst it is quieter than St Anton, there is still a good après and nightlife scene.
Sonnenkopf
Another resort that is often overlooked in the Arlberg area is Sonnenkopf. It is the hidden gem of the area with 10 lifts, 31km of piste and a freestyle park. There are a number of fantastic intermediate slopes to enjoy with 97% of them being blue or red, the highlight being the 8km Vermalen run. It is a relatively young resort at just 38 years old, and because of this it boasts fantastic modern facilities and a great high-speed lift system.
Amy Fry is a joyful stay at home mum who likes writing about different topics and industries including personal finances, business and travel. Amy likes spending her winter holidays in Austria. For more information about ski holidays in Austria visit http://www.catered-ski-chalets.co.uk/austria.
