Steep, snowy and endlessly linked, St Anton is where advanced skiers come to test themselves, and where families and beginners find plenty of room too.
Powder in the Arlberg
St Anton is famous for heavy snowfall and some of the best off-piste in the Alps.
St Anton am Arlberg, usually just called St Anton, is a village in Tyrol with a reputation that reaches far beyond Austria. Steep pistes, deep powder and huge off-piste terrain have made it a favourite with skiers looking for something more advanced. Locals like to say that if you can ski St Anton, you can ski anywhere in the world.
It is also one of the historic homes of alpine skiing, which gives the village a proud, slightly old-school atmosphere alongside its modern lifts. Read St Anton: an epic powder adventure for six reasons to book your winter break here.
Planning a ski holiday? We have gathered the pistes, ski schools and hotels in our St Anton ski guide.
St Anton is part of Ski Arlberg, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world. It also includes Lech, Zürs, Stuben, Warth and Schröcken, and with the Flexenbahn and Tunnelbahn lifts you can move between the villages without taking your skis off.
In total, the area offers more than 300 kilometres of marked slopes, around 200 kilometres of off-piste terrain and about 85 lifts. That means you can spend a full week exploring different valleys, and still find new lines on your last day.
A vast lift network
Gondolas, chairlifts and cable cars link St Anton with the rest of Ski Arlberg.
St Anton is best known for challenging terrain, but it is not only for experts. The area has everything from conveyor lifts for children and beginners to gentle blue runs, along with chairlifts and gondolas that make it easy to get around. Many families find that the sheer size of the area means there is room for everyone, whatever their level.
Ski schools and guides are available for all abilities. If you plan to venture off-piste, always go with a qualified guide and check the avalanche report each morning.
The Alps with the whole family
With slopes for every level, St Anton works for mixed groups as well as experts.
The village is at least as famous for its après-ski as for its snow. MooserWirt is the legendary, slightly notorious spot for a proper party in ski boots. For something calmer, Hospiz Alm by the slopes is known for sunny lunches and an authentic atmosphere, and Sennhütte serves alpine dishes with rustic charm and a wine cellar worth asking about.
In the evening, Kaminstube offers a more refined dinner with views of the Alps, while Arlberg Thaja has a warm Tyrolean feel and a large sun terrace.
Après-ski
Sunny terraces fill up quickly once the lifts start to slow down in the afternoon.
The nearest major airport is Innsbruck, roughly 100 kilometres away. From there you can take a taxi, bus, train or transfer to the resort, and St Anton has its own railway station. Zurich, about 200 kilometres away, and Munich, about 250 kilometres, are good alternatives with plenty of flights from the UK.
A car gives you flexibility, and the roads in the region are usually well maintained in winter. Combine your trip with a city break in Innsbruck, or discover more of the country in our guide to Austria holidays.
The season generally runs from late November to April. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and most expensive weeks, and early December can bring limited snow cover. By January more of the area is usually open, and February is a safe bet with cold temperatures and good snow.
March and April are often considered the best months, with a deeper and more stable snowpack and longer, sunnier days. Easter is popular for exactly that reason, so book early if you want to ski over the holiday.
St Anton can work well for beginners, even though it is best known for challenging terrain. There are nursery areas with conveyor lifts, easy blue runs and good ski schools, and the size of Ski Arlberg means beginners can progress during the week. Advanced skiers in the group will never run out of things to do.
Innsbruck is roughly 100 kilometres from St Anton, which makes it the closest major airport. The journey takes you west through the Inn valley by train, transfer, bus or rental car. St Anton has its own railway station, so travelling by train from Innsbruck is easy and relaxed.
The ski season in St Anton usually runs from late November or early December until April. January and February bring cold temperatures and good snow, while March and April often have the deepest snowpack and the most sunshine. Exact opening dates vary, so check the official Ski Arlberg information.
St Anton is known for steep pistes, deep powder and extensive off-piste skiing, as well as some of the liveliest après-ski in the Alps. It is part of Ski Arlberg, one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, and has a long history as one of the birthplaces of modern alpine skiing.
Stay in the village centre near the Galzigbahn, with the lifts, après-ski and restaurants within walking distance. Nasserein is a little quieter and has its own lift up into the ski area. St Christoph and Stuben sit higher up in the same Arlberg area and suit you if you want ski-in, ski-out in calmer surroundings. Read about the hotels in St Anton: an epic powder adventure.
Destinations
"A lot of people say that if you can master skiing in St. Anton, you can ski anywhere in the world." Here are six good reasons to enjoy your winter skiing break in this paradise in Austria.
Experiences
"It's majestic. There are mountains and fantastic scenery in every direction," says Silje Utkilen, from Norway, as she gazes out from a gondola in the Austrian Alps.
Ski resorts
At Bad Gastein, you get guaranteed snow and one of the most modern ski resorts in Europe. No wonder the Austrian village has become very popular with ski tourists from all over the world.
