Skiing in Austria
Considering Austria for your next ski holiday? Austria’s holiday recipe is quite distinctive. It doesn’t suit everybody but for many skiers no other country will do. Austria is the land of cute little villages clustered around onion-domed churches – there are certainly no purpose-built apartment blocks here.
It’s the land of friendly, welcoming people who speak very good English, great après-ski action, and often great value for money when compared to its French and Swiss counterparts.
In general, Austria may not be the first choice if snow reliability is number one on your tick list, as the Austrian ski resorts do tend to be a little lower. However, that said, many lower resorts have radically increased their snowmaking capacity in recent years should the natural snow be lacking.
It’s the après ski that strikes most first time visitors as being Austria’s unique selling point. Huge quantities of beer and schnapps are drunk in Austria’s ski resorts. German is the predominant language and German drinking songs can occasionally be heard. Skiers pack into mountain restaurants well before the end of the day to enjoy a drink and dance in their ski boots. Nightlife is not limited to drinking and dancing, there are floodlit toboggan runs, ice skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides, bowling and much more.
Best ski resorts in Austria
With near to 80 ski resorts in Austria, it surely speaks volumes that we have chosen to provide holidays in just three resorts. So of course, we would say St Anton, St Christoph and Lech are the best resorts in Austria.
St Anton is an ideal ski resort for accomplished skiers and regarded as one of the best in the world - a playground which is every skiers dream. It also offers legendary après ski. Lech is more suited to the more relaxed of skiers and those looking for style and luxury above après ski and nightlife – although it’s not without a collection of bars and restaurants. St Christoph is small, quiet and exclusive - the perfect choice for those who love the expanse of the Arlberg but prefer a slower pace of life back at the hotel.
All three resorts are linked with a brand new lift system, the Flexenbahn, which makes it even easier to access the huge Arlberg ski area.
Austria for a family ski holiday?
St Anton and St Christoph are great resorts for families. The Arlberg ski school is excellent, and the special slopes for both toddlers and bigger children are ideal. Our chalets in St Anton are located at the Nasserein end of the village, where there is a moving carpet lift on the baby slope. In St Christoph the nursery slopes are a few steps from the hotel.
Lech is also well suited to families, offering a wider range of beginner slopes, child friendly lifts, heated seats and exceptional ski tuition. Our hotel is located just a few metres from the main ski lifts where you can access the whole of the Arlberg ski area.
Hotel Thedoul and Hotel Arlberg have family rooms where the children travel half price, and we also offer a private nanny service or kids club for ski school age children at both hotels.
Our Austrian Ski Resorts
St Anton
St Anton is one of the world’s best ski resorts for competent skiers and snowboarders, with great steep slopes on both its local mountains. The resort may not be a good choice for timid beginners, especially those used to skiing in France, as you could be caught out by the blue pistes that maybe should be reds, and the reds that might be blacks! St Anton is full of character, the traffic-free main street is lined with traditional style buildings and the village centre is a bustling place both day and night.
Lech
Lech is more suited to the less experienced skier, looking to find their feet on wide, flat blues in a smaller ski area. For those feeling a bit more confident, there’s the whole of the Arlberg area to be explored. Lech is brimming with traditional Austrian charm and plenty of activities to keep non-skiers occupied. Whilst it’s après-ski doesn’t compare with neighbouring St Anton, you’ll find plenty of stylish bars and restaurants with live music and open terraces - perfect for enjoying an afternoon drink in the sun.
St Christoph
St Christoph is nestled at 1800m above St Anton. Beginners will love the proximity of our Hotel Arlberg to the nursery slopes, while more advanced skiiers can hop on one of two chairlifts to be whisked up to the top of the Galzig peak. It's easy to reach St Anton by skis or taxi for an apres-ski drink at the Mooserwirt, but you'll soon miss the tranquility of St Christoph.
