St Anton am Arlberg

The Resort

St Anton am Arlberg is unique amongst ski resorts in holding three legendary reputations simultaneously. First there is its world class skiing, second there is the resort’s reputation for the most hedonistic nightlife in any ski resort in the world, and third there is St Anton’s status as a key pioneering resort in Alpine skiing. Marketed as “the cradle of Alpine skiing”, one of the first ski clubs in the Alps was established here in 1901. Appropriately, St Anton hosted the World Alpine Skiing Championships a century later in 2001.

This is a resort of contrasts, the timeless, peaceful village centre contrasts with the resort’s legendary buzzing nightlife (although at the same time, the two seem to complement one another); the prepared trails which cover in excess of 300km of groomed runs in the Arlberg and then the incredible 200km more of ‘unpisted routes’ for experienced skiers to explore. The area was fully lift-linked for the 2016-17 ski season. All this together, but particularly the off-piste opportunities, makes St Anton a magnet for serious winter sports enthusiasts of all ages the world over, in the same unique way as Chamonix in France, Crested Butte in Colorado or Jackson Hole in Wyoming.

When the snow is good, nothing much else matters. St Anton, as far as its marketing is concerned, encompasses the high altitude hamlet of St Christoph (1800 m / 5900 feet) and half a dozen small villages nearby. St Christoph, right next to the historic Arlberg Pass, is particularly noteworthy as there was a monastic settlement here for 500 years. Travellers could shelter here when caught out by the weather front changes at this point: Arlberg is geographically significant as the dividing point between the watersheds of great rivers like the Danube and the Inn to the east, and the Rhine to the west.

24 Ski Resorts in 2024 ❄️

We spent February 8th to 11th in St. Anton am Alberg, and what a ski resort it is! Together with St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken, it forms St. Anton am Alberg, Austria’s largest interconnected ski resort, boasting over 300 km of marked slopes and 200 km of off-piste adventures.

The Skiing

Across the 7 villages (all connected via lifts and cable cars), there’s an abundance of skiing to be done. As an intermediate skier, you’ll struggle to ski every run in a week!  But we gave it our best shot and fell in love with these runs:

⚫️ 52: Steep, long, and perfect for testing your limits. Ben even had a little tumble!

🔴 6 on the Rendl side—brilliant! The conditions here seemed to hold up well in the sun, making it an ideal morning start.

Après Vibes

St. Anton am Arlberg is the absolute après central. If you’re seeking a lively ski resort, this one ranks in the top 5 in Europe! Don’t miss these renowned and infamous spots:

@mooserwirt_official: It’s practically a religion here. Legend has it that they sell around 5000 liters of beer a day during peak season.  And trust us, it looked that way when we were there! Live DJ, an enormous outdoor terrace, and bartenders balancing 20 pints on a tray. Opposite Krazy Kangurah…

@krazykanguruh: This place is something else! Live pumping music, people dancing on tables, all set against the mountainside. And the Austrian bar food? Fantastic! Located at the intersection of 🔴29 and 🔵50—just be careful on the way down!

For a slightly less lively but still great après vibe, we recommend @basecamp at the foot of the slopes.

Restaurants

Fahrner Stub’n: A typical Austrian restaurant with a lovely family feel. Their brilliant aged plum schnapps pairs perfectly with fondue and schnitzel.

 

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