St Anton, Austria

St Anton Ski Resort

World championship skiing and world-class apres-ski

St. Anton is Austria’s premier ski resort and ranks among the top five resorts for truly challenging skiing. It is a genuine Austrian mountain town lying on the Orient Express train route with an abundance of nightlife and activity. Nearby Lech is a chic, traditional village offering a sophisticated nightlife, generally fewer lift queues and a more balanced mixture of gentle and challenging runs.

The ski resort of St Anton is known as one of the best ski resorts in the world and is known as the cradle of Alpine skiing. The ski resort of St Anton hosted the World Alpine Skiing Championships in 2001.  This is a resort of contrasts, the timeless, peaceful village centre contrasts with the buzzing nightlife and yet, the two seem to compliment each other. There is a great international feel to the ski resort of St Anton and has a cosmopolitan mix of people, although English is widely spoken.

Skiing in St Anton encompasses the high altitude hamlet of St Christoph at 1800m and half a dozen small villages nearby. 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.

The ski resort of St Anton is the largest of the ski villages and is a bustling and fun resort. This historic ski town is dramatically different now that the main rail line has been moved and no longer separates the village from the slopes. New pedestrian areas are opening up and there are now more facilities for visitors, such as a public swimming pool and activity centre. In St. Anton's pedestrian zone, you'll be able to find something that suits your night tastes by simply taking a stroll. There are dozens of small bars and gasthofs with something to suit all tastes and budget.

St Anton's pedestrianised main street provides plenty of après ski opportunities. Shoppers will plenty of wonderful things to buy too with jewellers, music stores, antique stores and clothing boutiques. Local crafts are also available and the traditional woodcarvings are exported all over the world.

The ski resort of St Anton is the largest resort in the Arlberg ski area, which also includes Lech, Zurs and the village of St Christoph and St Jakob. The combined Arlberg ski area offers hundreds of miles of groomed pistes for skiers and snowboarders. The most prominent point in St Anton is the Valluga summit from which runs one of the best and longest intermediate ski slopes in Europe, taking skiers all the way down to the valley floor.

Skiing in St Anton offers something for all levels of skiers. There are many more choices for intermediate and advanced skiers in Lech and Zurs, which also offer some of the best off-piste skiing in Europe. It's not easy to ski from St Anton to Lech or Zurs and most people take the bus, which leaves regularly from the town centre. Due to their north-facing slopes and position at the end of the valley, Lech and Zurs offer uncrowded slopes and reliable snow. The best skiing for beginners is in St Christoph or Rendl. There are two ski schools in operation, run under the same umbrella, both employing hundreds of instructors and guides with a solid reputation for excellent tuition and service.

The ski resort of St Anton is also known for having some of the best snowboarding terrain in Austria, with a vast array of natural obstacles, steep powder fields and drop-offs providing for thrilling snowboarding. Gampen, Kapall and Rendl are recommended for boarders; Rendl has a terrain park.

Skiing and boarding in st Anton

Intermediates and advanced skiers will find some of their best challenges skiing in St Anton . The ski area is extensive - the Arlberg ski pass covers a total of 86 lifts including the ski areas of St. Anton, Lech, Zurs, Stuben and St. Christoph - with some black runs now classified ‘itineraries’ due to the difficult nature of the terrain.

Ski Leading is not permitted in St Anton.  Ski Away Days with ski leading to other areas in the Alberg are available.  More details and possible costs are available from your Resort Representative on arrival in resort.

apres ski in st anton

Après-ski in St Anton often starts on the slopes at the Krazy Kanguruh or the Mooserwirt. The energetic can spend a pleasant hour tea dancing at the Post Keller. There are many restaurants and bars to choose from - firm favourites are Jacksy’s, Bar Cuba. Resort activities include ice-skating, curling, tobogganing, ninepin bowling, squash and even indoor tennis. Lech also offers some good restaurants and bars although they tend to be more expensive and formal compared to those of St Anton.