Accommodation
Quick answer: St Anton am Arlberg suits serious skiers wanting huge terrain and off-piste, après-ski legends-in-the-making, and anyone who wants to experience the birthplace of Alpine skiing. It is less suited to those wanting a quiet, low-key evening scene or complete beginners.
Quick resort facts
Ski area: Arlberg, 305km of pistes, 88 lifts · Altitude: 1304m, skiing up to 2811m (Valluga) · Ski pass area: Arlberg · Season: mid-November to late April · Nearest airport: Innsbruck (around 105km)
St Anton am Arlberg is unique among ski resorts in holding three legendary reputations simultaneously. First, there’s its world-class skiing; second, its reputation for the most hedonistic après-ski in any ski resort in the world; and third, its 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, and St Anton fittingly hosted the World Alpine Skiing Championships a century later, in 2001.
Together with St Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken, St Anton forms Austria’s largest interconnected ski resort, fully lift-linked since the 2016–17 season, boasting more than 300km of marked slopes and 200km of off-piste adventures. This is a resort of contrasts: a timeless, peaceful village centre alongside legendary, buzzing nightlife, and beautifully prepared pistes alongside vast unpisted routes for experienced skiers to explore.
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Terrain split: across seven interconnected villages there’s an abundance of skiing, from steep, testing black runs like piste 52 to brilliant red cruisers like piste 6 on the Rendl side, plus 200km of off-piste for experienced skiers.
Best for: serious skiers wanting huge terrain and off-piste, après-ski legends-in-the-making, and anyone who wants to experience the birthplace of Alpine skiing.
Not for: those wanting a quiet, low-key evening scene, or complete beginners seeking a resort dominated by easy terrain.
St Anton am Arlberg is what a ski resort should be: a genuine contrast between a peaceful, historic village centre and one of the most legendary après-ski scenes on the planet, all built on top of some of the best skiing in the Alps. Browse more options in our Austrian ski resorts hub, and see our ultimate St Anton bucket list for more inspiration.
Across the seven villages that make up the wider Arlberg region, St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken, 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. Standout runs include piste 52, a steep, long black perfect for testing your limits, and piste 6 on the Rendl side, a brilliant red that holds up well in the sun, making it an ideal morning start. Comparing options before you book? Our ski holiday deals and ski resort search tools make it easy to weigh up St Anton am Arlberg against other Austrian bases.
Beginners: St Anton has some gentler areas suitable for learning, though the resort’s global reputation is built on more challenging terrain, so beginners should expect a more advanced-skewed atmosphere than many family resorts.
Intermediates: with more than 300km of marked slopes across seven villages, intermediates have huge scope for cruising and exploring, including popular runs like piste 6 on the Rendl side.
Experts: this is where St Anton truly shines, with runs like the steep, testing piste 52 and around 200km of off-piste terrain across the Arlberg for those with the skills to explore it.
Off-Piste & Freeriders: the Arlberg’s 200km of unpisted routes have made St Anton one of the most respected off-piste and freeride destinations in the Alps.
The Arlberg is known for generous natural snowfall, and the resort’s high proportion of off-piste terrain rewards visits after a good powder dump, while groomed pistes are well maintained throughout the core winter season.
A single lift pass covers the fully interconnected Arlberg region, including St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken. Current prices are available on the official St Anton am Arlberg site.
St Anton has a long history of ski instruction dating back to its pioneering role in Alpine skiing, with numerous ski schools offering lessons and off-piste guiding for all levels, plus equipment hire throughout the village. Our ski gear guides are worth a look if you’re buying your own kit.
St Anton offers a wide range of accommodation, from traditional guesthouses in the peaceful village centre to hotels closer to the resort’s famous après-ski hotspots, giving visitors the choice of how close they want to be to the action.
St Anton am Arlberg is après central: if you’re seeking a lively ski resort, this one ranks in the top five in Europe. Don’t miss Mooserwirt, practically a religion here; legend has it they sell around 5,000 litres of beer a day during peak season, with a live DJ, an enormous outdoor terrace, and bartenders balancing 20 pints on a tray. Opposite sits Krazy Kanguruh, with live pumping music, people dancing on tables, and fantastic Austrian bar food, located at the intersection of piste 29 and piste 50. For a slightly less lively but still great après vibe, try Basecamp at the foot of the slopes. For dinner, Fahrner Stub’n is a typical Austrian restaurant with a lovely family feel, where the aged plum schnapps pairs perfectly with fondue and schnitzel.
While St Anton is best known for its skiing and nightlife, the wider Arlberg region and its peaceful village centre also offer winter walking and sightseeing options, along with a strong sense of Alpine skiing history for visitors interested in the sport’s origins. Planning a family trip? Our family skiing guide has more advice on choosing the right base.
St Anton am Arlberg delivers on all three of its legendary reputations: genuinely excellent, varied skiing across a huge interconnected region, après-ski that ranks among the best (or wildest) in Europe, and real pioneering history as the birthplace of Alpine skiing. It’s not a resort for a quiet week or complete beginners, but for skiers who want serious terrain by day and serious partying by night, St Anton is hard to beat.
St Anton forms part of Austria’s largest interconnected ski resort, with more than 300km of marked slopes and 200km of off-piste across seven villages: St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, and Schröcken.
One of the first ski clubs in the Alps was established in St Anton in 1901, and the resort hosted the World Alpine Skiing Championships in 2001, exactly a century later.
St Anton has some beginner-friendly areas, but its global reputation is built on challenging terrain and off-piste, so it leans towards intermediate and advanced skiers overall.
It’s legendary, ranking among the top après-ski destinations in Europe, with famous spots like Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh drawing huge crowds from early afternoon.
Innsbruck and Zurich airports are both practical options, and St Anton has its own railway station, making it easy to reach without a car.
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