Complete Winter Travel Guide to St. Anton Austria
Check out this post for your complete winter travel guide to St. Anton, Austria
Choosing a place to ski in the European Alps is no easy decision, as the mountainous countries that make up this portion of Western Europe are packed with amazing resorts. But some mountains just stand out among the crowds, and this is the case of Austria’s St. Anton, which is considered one of the top five resorts in Europe.
In an ideal location in Austria’s Arlberg Region in the Tyrolean Alps, which is known for its extensive snowfall, St. Anton is a quaint village that’s filled with Tyrolean style architecture housing chic hotels, nearly 100 restaurants, and some 20 different bars serving locally distilled schnapps for après sessions. And even as it becomes more popular, don’t expect St Anton to grow upwards: zoning regulations and geography keep buildings at five levels or below.
As if this wasn’t enough, the town also boasts some pretty amazing history: it’s the birthplace of Johann ‘Hannes’ Schneider, who is considered the “Father of modern skiing” and it is his technique, conceived here, on which all modern day alpine skiing is based! Schneider began the world’s first ski school here in 1921, using this technique, which is known as the Alberg technique, and taught skiers to turn by transferring weight between skis. He later founded Ski Club Arlberg, which now has 8,000 members, from 61 countires, including Princess Caroline of Monaco. Europe’s first cable car was also built here, and the town is considered the birthplace of the après ski scene, which is continued today at the famed MooserWirt and Krazy Kanguruh bars.
The resort is quick to stay up to speed too, with the recent opening of the futuristic Galzig gondola, with a transparent shell that shows the ferris wheel type system brining skiers across the Moos valley to the Galzig mountain.
And all this is located within a two hours’ drive of three different international airports. St Anton also boasts a railway station, making it beyond accessible and small enough to walk should you arrive by train.
When it comes to skiing, St Anton boasts more than 170 miles of market trails and more than 110 miles of backcountry rails ranging in elevation from 4,200 feet up to 9,180 feet and served by some 97 lifts. With 320 snowmaking machines roaring, there is guaranteed snow from the beginning of December to April, regardless of whether the weather cooperates. Note that this is not a mountain for beginners, however, as some 60 percent of the runs are for intermediate and expert skiers only, and even some of the “reds” (the equivalent of “blues” in the U.S.) may be too steep for less confident snow riders.
Guide to Skiing St Anton
When it comes to conquering the mountain, check out the following areas:
Galzig/Gampen: Multiple high-speed lifts service the ‘main’ side of St Anton. In the morning, avoid the ultra-modern Galzig cable car, opting instead for the Gampen four-person chairlift, which will whisk you up the mountain in half the time. From here, take the Kapall chairlift, which offers access to some of the mountain’s only beginner terrain, as well as more demanding runs. Experts will like Schindlerkar and the Kandahar Run on Galzig, which is used as the trail for the Alpine World Cup held here in January.
Rendl: Take the gondola from the resort to access the smaller Rendl area, on the opposite side of the valley from Galzig. From where there’s a whole host of options waiting to be skied. The red run from the top of the Rendl bubble is one of my favorites, and the perfect way to escape the crowds at the end of the day.
St Christoph: The small village of St Christoph is located up the valley a little ways and is a good option if St Anton is looking crowded. It is also a better choice for beginner skiers, as the runs here tend to be less steep.
Pricing: Pay for bus between St. Anton to Alpe Rauz, Zurs and Lech but free between St. Anton, St. Jakob, St. Christohp, Pettneu, Flirsch, Strengen.
Where To Eat:
The town is home to no less than 90 restaurants! Here are three favorites:
Hospiz Alm.
Sunning in loungers or seated around picnic tables, skiers break here in the afternoon to refuel on some of the region’s best authentic cooking. Craving something savory? Order the enormous plate of wiener schnitzel or the pork spare ribs, which are a house specialty. Also make sure to order wine, as the restaurant is known for its wine cellar, which has the world’s largest private collection of Bordeaux and Burgundy varietals. For dessert, don’t skip the Kaiserschmarrn. It is a caramelized pancake that is shredded into pieces and topped with powder sugar and served with lingonberry jam. It is a distinctly Austrian dish that was named for emperor Kaiser Franz Joseph, who was rumored to have been quite fond of it. At Hospiz Alm, the heaping portion comes served in a large cast iron pan, and mixed with a liquor, set to flame delivered to your table delivered by staff donning bow ties and lederhosen.
Himmeleck
Translated into English, the name means “Heavens Edge” and this giant restaurant (it seats 900 inside and another 500 on the sundeck) goes beyond typical Austrian mountain fare. Look for delicious entrees like a pike perch fillet with butter and basil. Begin with soup: either a Tyrolean soup with bread or an oyster mushroom with roasted radicchio and chicory soup.
The Museum Restaurant
Built as a home in 1912 for a wealthy German family, this place was first a museum, and then transformed into a restaurant in the 1970s. It also served as the set for the Brook Shields movie Chalet Girl. When dining here make sure to look up as there is a different hand carved ceiling in every room. The local book trout with almond butter, parsley potatoes and mixed green salad is what to order.
Where to Stay:
- The Hotel Schwarzer Adler four-star hotel recently re-designed in an alpine boutique style. It’s located at the entrance to the pedestrian area and just a few minutes walk from the cable car. Check online as they offer a number of different packages. They also have a great spa for après ski relaxation.
When to Go:
The season runs from Dec 4 – April 10:
- Arrive before the holidays – namely Dec 5-19 – when there are few crowds and the slopes are empty.
- Come between January 9-30 for powder weeks
- For warmer temps and the best shot of sunshine visit in March or very early April when spring skiing conditions exist.
Getting there:
- The closest airports are Munich, Innsbruck, and Zurich.
- There is also a train station in town, connecting you to towns around Austria and beyond.
More photos from St. Anton:
Related articles:
