Lyla Lindsey
Known as the 'Cradle of Skiing' or the ''birthplace of alpine skiing', St. Anton in Austria is a popular destination for ski enthusiasts. Located in the Tirol region, it is easily accessible from Zurich or Munich by car or train. The town is surrounded by towering peaks and is positioned on the main east-west rail line connecting Austria and Switzerland. St. Anton offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including skiing, hiking, and tobogganing. The town also boasts restaurants, cafes, and bars that resonate with the spirit of the Alps.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Known as | 'the Cradle of Skiing''the birthplace of alpine skiing'one of the best ski resorts in the world |
| Elevation | 1,304 meters (4,278 feet) |
| Peaks | 2,811 meters (9,222 feet) at Vallugaspitze |
| River | Rosanna River |
| Rail line | Main east-west rail line connecting Austria and Switzerland |
| Cities accessible by train | InnsbruckZurichMunichFriedrichshafen |
| Activities | SkiingHikingBowlingTennisSquashClimbingTobogganingArt walkSpa and wellness centre |
| Attractions | Arlberg Road TunnelGalzigbhan cable carRendl BeachInnsbruck |
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What You'll Learn
Skiing and snowboarding
St. Anton, located in the western Austrian Alps, is known as the "Cradle of Skiing". The resort is famous for its regular snowfall and fresh powder throughout the ski season. It is easily accessible from Innsbruck, Zurich, and Munich by car or train.
St. Anton is one of the best ski resorts in the world for advanced and expert skiers, with numerous black runs and off-piste possibilities. The steepest of these is the Fang piste below Gampen. The off-piste routes are marked as red or black depending on their steepness, with some of the best and most famous routes located in the Valluga/Schindler Spitzer sector. The Arlberg area offers 340km of slopes for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, with 85 lifts and cable cars, and more than 300 km of slopes.
For beginners, there are several slopes at valley level, which are included in a special beginners' lift pass. These include an easy blue run back to the village, as well as some easy runs up the mountain at Gampen and Rendl, which require a standard ski pass.
Stronger intermediates also have a lot of options, including the long piste down to Alpe Rauz from Schindler Spitzer, and the shady reds on the front side of the Stuben area. The best snow for intermediates is often found in sunny conditions, especially later in the season, on the shady Albona run above Stuben, and on the Rendl side, which faces north and retains decent snow quality in warmer weather.
The resort is also known for its lively atmosphere, with a reputation as one of Austria's top party towns. This, combined with its impressive high mountain scenery and alpine charm, makes St. Anton a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders alike.
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Hiking
St. Anton, Austria, is a haven for hikers, with a network of hiking trails spanning over 400 kilometres. The region offers a range of trails catering to different skill levels, from challenging high-mountain adventures to family-friendly walks with stunning views.
For those seeking a strenuous hike, the Eagle Walk is a 33-stage trek crossing Tirol from east to west. This exposed trail leads hikers along a rocky ridge to the Leutkircher Hütte. The starting point for stage 24 of the Eagle Walk is the Adlerblick viewing platform on Kapall mountain, which can be easily accessed via cable car.
The Alpine Rose Trail and the Mountain Spirit Trail are both highly regarded, having received the Bergwege seal of approval from the state of Tirol. These trails showcase the beauty of the Verwall Group and the Lechtal Alps. The Arlberger Bergbahnen can help hikers reach the summits of Rendl, Gampen, Kapall, Galzig, and Valluga, the highest peak in the region at 2,811 metres.
For an intermediate hike, the "Alpenrosenweg St. Anton" trail is a great option. This 19-kilometre trail begins at the top of the Rendlbahn cable car and offers a total hiking time of 7 hours and 15 minutes. It includes an elevation uphill of 950 metres and is rated as intermediate in difficulty.
The "Berggeistweg St. Christoph" trail is another intermediate option, starting from St. Christoph am Arlberg. This 15-kilometre trail involves an elevation uphill of 780 metres and a total hiking time of 6 hours and 30 minutes.
Additionally, St. Anton provides lift-assisted hiking during the summer season, making it easier for hikers to reach higher altitudes and enjoy the surrounding landscape.
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Tobogganing
St. Anton in Austria is a popular destination for skiing and other winter sports. If you're looking for something other than skiing to do in St. Anton, tobogganing is a fun option. Tobogganing, or sledding, is a popular winter activity in the St. Anton am Arlberg region, offering a thrilling and unique way to experience the snow-covered landscapes.
The Gampen St. Anton am Arlberg toboggan run is a renowned spot for this activity. This exhilarating route twists and turns over a distance of 4.3 kilometres, starting at an altitude of 1,850 metres in Gampen and descending approximately 500 vertical metres to Nasserein. It is classified as moderately difficult, making it accessible to beginners and families, with snow bands on the sides for added safety. The run is open daily during the winter season, typically from 12:00 to 16:15, depending on the weather.
For an even more enchanting experience, night tobogganing is offered twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 19:00 or 19:30 to 21:30. The route is illuminated, and the snow walls along the sides ensure a secure ride. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy the thrill of speeding down the mountain under the stars.
Toboggans can be conveniently rented from Thony's barn and various sports shops in the valley. After an exhilarating ride, you can return your toboggan to Thony's Barn, located at the end of the run. The Gampen Restaurant, located along the route, offers regional delicacies, providing the perfect opportunity to refuel during your adventure. Halfway down the course, you can also take a break and warm up at Thony's, inviting you to stop by for a drink or a bite to eat.
The St. Anton am Arlberg toboggan run is renowned for its safety, signposting, and difficulty rating, officially certified by the Regional Government of Tirol. So whether you're a beginner or an experienced tobogganer, you can enjoy the thrill of speeding down the mountain with peace of mind.
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Climbing
St. Anton, a village in western Austria, is a popular destination for skiing and other winter activities. However, there are also plenty of options for climbing enthusiasts.
If you're an experienced climber, you might want to try the Arlberger Winterklettersteig, the only via ferrata climbing route of its kind in Tirol and one of the few in the Alps. This route is open and designed for winter climbing, offering a real outdoor adventure high in the Alps. The summer route above the Stanzertal Valley is also reserved for experts.
For beginners and intermediate climbers, there are practice areas near the Darmstädter Hütte hut and in the Schnanner Klamm gorge. The Schnanner Klamm is also recommended for hiking. The gorge features a climbing practice course where safety equipment is provided.
The arl.rock climbing and bouldering centre is a popular indoor and outdoor climbing hotspot all year round. The centre covers 900 square meters and features more than 100 different routes, including a 17-meter-high tower and an artificial ice climbing wall. The centre also offers an indoor bouldering wall spanning 125 square meters.
For those seeking a serious challenge, the Arlberg via ferrata route in St. Anton am Arlberg demands great physical fitness and inner calm. This three-kilometer-long and 2,500-meter-high route is one of the most difficult Alpine tours, featuring steep rock faces, narrow ledges, and vertical scrambles. Full climbing equipment, including a helmet, is required for this expert-level experience.
With its variety of climbing options, St. Anton offers challenges and adventures for climbers of all skill levels, making it a great destination for those seeking to explore the vertical world.
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Exploring Innsbruck
Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol, located in western Austria. It is easily accessible from Zurich or Munich via car or train. The Austrian rail service runs a train called the Railjet that goes from Innsbruck to St. Anton and Zurich every two hours. The city is surrounded by 40 other towns and villages where you can experience the alpine-urban joie de vivre.
Innsbruck is a city full of contrasts, where the Middle Ages meet the Modern era, and urban bustle meets alpine nature. The city has a semi-circular quarter of the Old Town (Altstadt) enclosed by a ring of streets known as the Graben (Moat), which has now been converted into a pedestrian area. Here, you can stroll through 800 years of history, including narrow house fronts, handsome doorways, oriel windows, buttressed medieval houses, and arcaded facades. The Old Town is filled with fine examples of old Tyrolese architecture and southern influences, as well as Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo buildings. Highlights of a walking tour include the Baroque Helblinghaus, known for its stucco facade with cherubs and other decorative ornamentation, and the 16th-century Golden Eagle (Goldener Adler), a historic inn that was once popular with emperors and writers alike.
Innsbruck also offers a variety of cultural attractions, including music, theatre, and literature. The Imperial Palace, with its magnificent state rooms, halls, and salons, is one of the most important cultural buildings in Austria. The city also has an Alpine Zoo, where visitors can see around 2,000 animals from the Alps.
For those looking for outdoor activities, Innsbruck has 12 ski resorts nearby. The Nordkette ski area can be reached directly from the city centre in 20 minutes and offers freeriding, fun on the slopes, and sun chairs. There are also opportunities for guided snowshoe and winter hikes, as well as cross-country skiing excursions. In the summer, Innsbruck offers lift-assisted hiking and cycling along the Inn, where you can discover beautiful landscapes and villages.
Just a short drive southeast of Innsbruck is the palatial Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras), which was the residence of Archduke Ferdinand from 1563 to 1595. The castle features a fine collection of arms and armour, a valuable art collection, and the bathroom of Ferdinand's wife, Philippine Welser, which is a rare surviving example of a 16th-century private bathroom.
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Frequently asked questions
St. Anton is known as the birthplace of alpine skiing, so it's no surprise that it's a major destination for foreigners coming to Austria to ski during the winter. It is also famous for its regular snowfall and fresh powder throughout the ski season. For non-skiers, there is an indoor climbing wall, bowling alleys, tennis courts, and squash courts. You could also take a day trip to the city of Innsbruck, which is just an hour away from St. Anton by train.
In the summer, St. Anton is a great place to go hiking. The resort uses its lifts to enable lots of lift-assisted hiking. You can also take a ride on the Galzigbhan, a 2.5-kilometre-long cable car that takes you up Galzig Mountain from the town.
There are plenty of nice hotel and restaurant options in St. Anton, although they tend to be more expensive during the winter ski season. One good restaurant is Sennhutte, a traditional Austrian inn that is a popular spot for skiers in the winter and has a nice balcony for outdoor seating in the summer.
St. Anton is easily accessible by car or train from Zurich or Munich. The Austrian rail service runs a train called the Railjet that goes from Innsbruck or Zurich to St. Anton every two hours.
