<p>Discover everything this lively resort has to offer.</p>
Photo: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/Josef Mallaun

The Ultimate Guide to St Anton

Discover everything this lively resort has to offer.

Resort Guides
Published at: 3 Mar 2020
Last updated at: 7 Aug 2023

Explore our definitive guide to St Anton & discover everything you need to know to enjoy a luxury ski holiday in this popular resort famed for its apres-ski.

Serena Norton
Serena Norton

History of St. Anton

Found in the Tyrolean Alps, St. Anton is often referred to as the “cradle of alpine skiing” due to its role as a trailblazer for modern winter sports. Whilst tourism in the Arlberg dates back to the 19th century, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that ski tourism took off. Founded in 1901, it was the Arlberg Ski Club that was the main driver of winter tourism in the region. Ski School Arlberg, founded in 1921 by the father of modern skiing Hannes Schneider, also attracted many budding skiers to the resort.

These days, the resort is renowned for being one of Europe’s snowiest ski areas with an incredible 305 km of prepared pistes to explore.

Located within two hours’ drive of three international airports and with the railway station just a stone’s throw from the resort centre, St. Anton is easy to reach. Known for its epic nightlife and incredible off-piste skiing, St. Anton tends to attract party animals and sporty types.

However, the town itself is charming with a Tyrolean-style car-free centre featuring a 17th-century domed church and many shops, bars and restaurants. The slopes are easily accessed from the town centre as well as the Nasserein area (around 10-15 minutes walk from the centre).

Mooserwirt bar St AntonPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/MooserWirt
Toboggan run in St AntonPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/Arlberger Bergbahnen AG
Luxury Ski Chalets in St Anton at nightPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg

Winter in St. Anton

With 305 km of marked ski runs connected by 88 state-of-the-art lifts, skiers are in for a treat in St. Anton. The resort is part of Austria’s biggest linked area and in addition to the marked pistes, there’s 200 km of off-piste to explore too. St. Anton’s slopes are most suitable for confident intermediates and expert skiers with the vast majority of runs being challenging blues, genuine reds and some steep blacks. However, for beginners, there are a series of gentle slopes next to the village and at mid-mountain on Gampen. The Stanton Park, with kickers, rails and boxers, is ideal for the freestyle community whilst cross-country skiers have a 40 km network of trails to discover.

With an abundance of alternative activities on offer, St. Anton is a great resort for non-skiers. There are numerous walking and snowshoe trails, sleigh rides and a 4.3. Km natural toboggan run from Gampen to Nasserein. To explore the Arlberg from the air, tandem paragliding flights are available from mid-February onwards. You can also don your skates and practise your pirouettes at the ice skating rink at the Arlberg Wellcom Centre.

One of the most popular venues is the Arl.Rock Sport & Climbing Centre which houses a bowling alley, sports courts, squash box as well as a 920m&sup2 climbing area featuring 100 indoor and outdoor routes. Bouldering and Via Ferrata are also available. Endless fun for all ages is the new indoor trampoline park with 13 trampoline fields, bag jump-airbag and air track-ground jump mat.

For relaxation head to the wellness centres at Arlberg Wellcom. If you want to learn more about the resort, pay a visit to the Museum which explores the development of skiing and history of St. Anton.

Skiers standing on a mountain in St AntonPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/Josef Mallaun
Off piste skiing in St Anton with fresh powderPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/ Fotograf Josef Mallaun
Off piste skiing in St. AntonPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/ Josef Mallaun

Where to Stay in St. Anton

Luxury Ski Chalets in St. Anton
Luxury chalet Lena at nightPhoto: Chalet Lena

St. Anton has a fantastic range of luxury chalets and apartments to choose from. If you like a traditional-style Austrian chalet than look no further than Chalet Alexandra with its warm and cosy living area and extensive use of old woods and natural stones.

At the opposite end of the scale is Chalet Lena, a brand new chalet with a state-of-the-art spa. Chalet 47 and Villa Villekulla are also impressive new additions to the rental market.

For large groups, both 10-bedroom Chalet Eden Rock and Chalet Montfort are recommended. Eden Rock can also be divided into smaller apartments with shared spa facilities. For a contemporary twist Chalet Artemis, located in the Nasserein area, hits the spot. Set over four floors, its quirky hexagonal exterior matches its striking cutting-edge interior.

Where to Eat & Drink in St. Anton

St. Anton is well known for its legendary après-scene but there are also some great restaurants on and off the mountain. One of the best restaurants is Verwallstube, an award-winning gourmet restaurant at 2,085m above sea level. Another recommendation for fine dining is Hospiz Alm in nearby St. Christoph, which has an expansive wine cellar. For more traditional fare try Alber’s Rodel Alm and Robi’s Rodelstall, two mountain huts serving mouth-watering local specialities. If you’re in the mood for Asian then head to Rendl restaurant where you can sample made-to-order noodles, burgers and crispy chicken.

In the evening, both Oober im Mooser and Museum are great options if you are looking for something special. The m3 Restaurant at the Hazienda Hotel is another fantastic venue with a more international menu.

Top Events in St. Anton

St. Anton has a packed calendar of events in summer and winter. It all kicks off at the end of November with the opening of the ski area followed by several festive events, including a Christmas market and various carol concerts. St. Anton is the site for several important skiing competitions during the season including the FIS European Cup Ladies Downhill.

Music enthusiasts won’t want to miss out on New Orleans meets Snow, a music festival bringing the sounds of soul, funk and blues from the Southern States to the Arlberg. The winter season is brought to a close with “White Thrill”, a cult ski race pushing participants to their limits.

The fun doesn't stop in summer, with E-Bike Fest in June, the Arlberger Wadlbeisser and Montafon Arlberg Marathon in July and the 27th Film Festival, Arlberg Bike Marathon and ARLBERG Giro in August. The summer season is rounded off with a series of festivals in September - yoga, line dancing and of course, the traditional Alpine cattle drive and country festival.



Summer hiking in St AntonPhoto: TVB St. Anton am Arlberg/ Josef Mallaun

Summer in St. Anton

When the snow melts, the beauty of the countryside is revealed. Explore this beautiful landscape on foot or by bike during the summer months. The Arlberg is a paradise for hikers with a 300 km network of clearly-marked paths to explore. In addition to 350 km of trails, mountain bikers can take on the Pump Track at the EldoRADo - Bike Areal Verwall. The internationally renowned Via Ferrata in St. Anton is a honeypot for keen climbers and is home to one of the most demanding Alpine tours.

Wear your children out on the high-and-low rope course in the Verwall valley followed by a picnic at the emerald green Lake Verwall. You might also consider the varied water-based activities which include kayaking, rafting, canyoning and tubing. Golfers have a nine-hole course at their disposal and for anglers, fishing is possible from June to September.