Ruqayyah Snyder
Lech am Arlberg is a mountain village and ski resort in the Bludenz district in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is known as one of Austria's top ski resorts, but it is not the easiest to get to without transport arranged in advance. The closest airports are Altenrhein, Innsbruck, and Friedrichshafen, with Zurich less than 2 1/2 hours away. Innsbruck Airport is the closest and most convenient for Lech. Trains from Vienna depart every hour, and trains from Munich depart every two hours. Langen am Arlberg and St. Anton am Arlberg are the closest railway stations. The region also has an extensive public transport network, including the Ortsbus local bus, which is a great alternative to driving your own car.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Closest airports | Altenrhein, Innsbruck, Friedrichshafen |
| Other airports | Zurich, Munich, Memmingen, Salzburg |
| Distance from airports | Altenrhein – 100km; Innsbruck – 100-120km; Friedrichshafen – 128-130km; Zurich – 194-200km; Munich – 190-248km; Salzburg – 270-294km |
| Time from airports | Altenrhein – 1hr 25mins; Innsbruck – 1hr 35mins; Friedrichshafen – 1hr 40mins; Zurich – 2hrs 10mins; Munich – 2hrs; Salzburg – N/A |
| Transport from airports | Train, bus, taxi, shuttle services |
| Rail connections | Vienna, Zurich, Munich, Innsbruck |
| Rail journey times | Vienna – 6hrs; Zurich – 3hrs; Munich – 3hrs 15mins; Innsbruck – under 2hrs |
| Rail stations | Langen am Arlberg, St. Anton am Arlberg |
| Distance from rail stations | Langen am Arlberg – 15-17km; St. Anton am Arlberg – 20km |
| Transport from rail stations | Bus, taxi |
| Transport in Lech | Local bus, night bus, hiking bus, cable cars, taxi |
| Transport to Lech from other locations | Fly and train from Copenhagen – 8hrs 52mins; Bus and night train from Copenhagen – 29hrs 22mins |
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What You'll Learn
Airports and flights
Lech is a village in Vorarlberg, Austria, and is a popular ski resort. The closest airport to Lech is Altenrhein, a small Swiss airport, but it has very few international flights. Innsbruck Airport in Austria and Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany are only slightly further away. Munich Airport is also a viable option, but it is quite a trek from Lech. Innsbruck Airport is the closest and most convenient airport for those travelling to Lech.
From Zurich International Airport, you can take the Arlberg Express airport shuttle bus to Lech. This runs at different times and on different days of the week. You can also take a taxi transfer to the nearest airport or train station.
If you are travelling from Innsbruck Airport, drivers should follow the main Inn valley motorway until the road splits for Ischgl or St Anton. The route through St Anton is much easier now with the tunnels bypassing the small villages along the way. However, in bad snow conditions, the route through St Anton and St Christoph can be closed. Driving time between Innsbruck and Lech should be under two hours in good conditions.
The road route from Friedrichshafen Airport follows the northern shore of Lake Constance and then crosses onto the Austrian motorway system at Bregenz. Driving time should be under two hours in normal conditions.
There are direct rail connections from Vienna, Zurich, and Munich, with trains from Munich departing every two hours (journey time: around three and a half hours). Langen am Arlberg and St. Anton am Arlberg are the closest train stations to Lech, with regular taxi and bus connections.
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Trains and rail connections
Langen am Arlberg and St. Anton am Arlberg are the two closest rail stations to Lech. Langen is the most convenient for the airports of Zurich or Friedrichshafen. The train journey from Zurich takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the ride from Friedrichshafen takes about 20 minutes longer. However, the trip from Zurich is direct, while the journey from Friedrichshafen involves several changes. Langen is also convenient for visitors arriving from the east.
From Langen, you can hire a taxi or take the local bus (which runs every 1 or 2 hours until around 10 pm) to Lech. St. Anton is 20 km from Lech, with regular taxi and bus connections (line 760) and a transfer time of approximately 30 minutes. The train journey from Innsbruck to St Anton takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes, from Munich 4-5 hours (with a couple of changes), and from Salzburg just over 3 hours, frequently with a change in Innsbruck.
During the winter season, a direct Railjet service runs on Saturdays from Munich to the Arlberg. Departure from Munich is at 2:30 pm, and you will arrive at the Arlberg in just 3 ¾ hours. There is also a direct train from Switzerland to the Arlberg every few hours. Travellers who take the Railjet from Zurich at 6:40 am will arrive in St. Anton at 9:01 am. From there, they can easily continue their journey by bus (line 760) or taxi to Lech. Connoisseurs have the option of taking the Eurocity "Transalpin" at 8:40 am from Zurich.
There are frequent fast Inter City rail connections from Zurich, Munich, or Innsbruck to Langen am Arlberg station (17 km from Lech), where there are bus connections and taxis running from Langen to Lech. Trains from Zurich to Arlberg’s two stations depart every two hours (journey time: around three hours).
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Buses and taxis
If you're travelling to Lech by bus or coach, the closest airport is Zurich. From there, you can take a train to Langen am Arlberg, followed by a bus to Lech. The Arlberg Express bus company runs an airport transfer bus service to Lech, which is more frequent at weekends. Alternatively, you can take a train to St Anton, and then catch a bus to Lech.
If you're travelling from Munich, the most realistic way to get to Lech on public transport is to take a train to Innsbruck, and then a fast connection to St Anton, followed by a bus to Lech. There is also a direct Railjet service that runs on Saturdays from Munich to the Arlberg, which takes just under four hours.
If you're travelling from Salzburg, you can take a train to St Anton or Langen, and then a bus to Lech.
Lech can also be reached by taxi. Langen am Arlberg is the closest train station to Lech, and is served by regular taxis and buses. St Anton am Arlberg railway station is also served by regular taxis and buses.
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Driving and road access
Driving to Lech, Austria, is possible via multiple routes. The closest airport to Lech is Innsbruck Airport, which is 120km away. Car drivers arriving on the main motorway routes from the north, east, and south will make their way towards Innsbruck on the motorway. Coming from Innsbruck, drivers should follow the main Inn valley motorway up to where the road splits for Ischgl or St Anton. The route through St Anton is much easier now, with tunnels bypassing small villages. However, in poor snow conditions, the route through St Anton and St Christoph and over the Arlberg and Flexenpass can be challenging. During winter, the road between Lech and Warth is usually closed, so drivers coming from the north of Lech should allow for extra driving time.
Drivers coming from Munich city centre should head through the city and onto the motorway south to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From there, you can head into Austria via Mittenwald and Seefeld or via the Fernpass and Imst, joining the Inn valley motorway in both cases. The total driving time from Munich is around three and a half hours.
If you are driving from Zurich, you will likely take the route via St Gallen, joining the Austrian motorway system at Feldkirch before taking the route up towards the Arlberg pass. The journey from Zurich to Arlberg's two stations, Langen am Arlberg and St. Anton am Arlberg, takes around three hours.
It is important to note that driving in winter conditions can be challenging. From November to March, winter tires and truck snow chains are mandatory in Lech during inclement weather. Vehicles should also have toll stickers, which can be purchased at gas stations, post offices, border crossings, or from the Lech tourism board.
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Travel times and costs
Lech am Arlberg is a mountain village and ski resort in the Bludenz district in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg. It is not the easiest place to get to without transport, and the closest airports are Altenrhein, Innsbruck, and Friedrichshafen, with Zurich less than 2 1/2 hours away.
Innsbruck Airport is approximately 100-120km from Lech, and the drive should take under two hours in good conditions. The road route from Friedrichshafen Airport follows the northern shore of Lake Constance and then crosses onto the Austrian motorway system at Bregenz. This route should take under two hours in normal conditions. Zurich Airport is approximately 194-200km from Lech, and the transfer time is around two hours and ten minutes.
There are several ways to get from the airports to Lech. The Arlberg Express offers an airport shuttle bus service from Zurich Airport to Lech, which can be booked online. There are also several private shuttle services, such as the Arlberg Express, which will take you from the surrounding airports to Lech at affordable rates. The road between Warth and Lech is closed in winter due to the avalanche risk, so if driving to Lech in winter, road access is only possible from the south via Stuben-Zurs-Lech.
If you are travelling by train, there are direct rail connections from Vienna, Zurich, and Munich. Trains from Vienna depart every hour, with a journey time of around six hours. Trains from Zurich to Langen am Arlberg station depart every two hours, with a journey time of around three hours. Trains from Munich depart every two hours, with a journey time of around three hours and fifteen minutes. Langen am Arlberg station is 15km from Lech, with a transfer time of around 20 minutes. St. Anton am Arlberg station is 20km from Lech, with a transfer time of around 30 minutes.
The cheapest way to get to Lech from Copenhagen costs around €172, and the quickest way takes approximately 8 3/4 hours. The cheapest way to get from Copenhagen to Lech is to take the bus and night train, which costs €150-€200 and takes 29 hours and 22 minutes. The quickest way is to fly and then take the train, which costs €120-€400 and takes 8 hours and 52 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
The closest airports to Lech are Altenrhein, Innsbruck and Friedrichshafen with Zurich less than 2 ½ hours away. Innsbruck Airport is the closest and most convenient for Lech.
Driving time from Innsbruck Airport to Lech is approximately 1 hour 35 minutes and should be under two hours in good conditions. You can also take a train from Innsbruck to St Anton and then a bus or taxi to Lech.
The Ortsbus local bus is a perfect alternative to your own car. It offers an environmentally friendly and relaxing way of reaching all districts of the region. The Lech Card, a summer holiday ticket, includes open summer cable cars in Lech, an excursion into the Zugertal valley, and other services. In winter, a night bus serves the various districts in the early hours of the morning. The popular district of Oberlech has been car-free from December to April since the mid-1990s.
The cheapest way to get to Lech depends on where you are travelling from. The cheapest way to get from Copenhagen to Lech is to take a bus and night train which costs €150 - €200.
