St Anton Ski Resort, Austria

Overview of St Anton

St Anton ski resort, otherwise known as the ski capital of Austria, is one of Europe's best-known ski resorts and a mecca for off-piste skiing. With a hefty list of accolades behind it, St Anton is particularly well suited to confident skiers, especially those with the energy to après like it's 1999.

St Anton is unique. Authentic and certainly chic, there is still a wholesome air to the place. Spread out along the valley floor, the resort is actually a large working town, easily accessible by road and rail. It retains a traditional charisma, with a pretty car-free village centre lined with Tyrolean buildings, shops, restaurants and bars. The locals' sunny disposition must have at least a little to do with the resort's sunny position, but it almost definitely has something to do with the heavy snowfalls that are commonplace across the Arlberg. The ski area currently offers 305km of marked pistes and around 200km of deep-snow terrain.

It's said that if you learn to ski in St Anton, the 'cradle of Alpine skiing', you will be comfortable skiing anywhere. The resort has plenty of nursery slopes, but once you move beyond the beginner areas, things can get serious quite quickly. Some runs have a habit of proving harder than you first thought, while busy pistes can get mogully as the day goes on.

For intermediate and advanced skiers, St Anton is a seriously invigorating destination. And if it all looks a bit familiar when you arrive, it could be because you've seen it all before in one of the many films made here. Think Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Chalet Girl and one of the first-ever ski films, Der weiße Rausch (The White Thrill), filmed here in 1931. You can even take part in the annual White Thrill race, which follows the route made famous by the film.

Three things we love about St Anton

1. One of Europe's top resorts for skiing - St Anton is a brilliant choice for confident skiers and boarders, with challenging pistes and an enormous amount of off-piste terrain across the Arlberg.
2. Tyrolean town - St Anton is famous for its après scene, but there's much more to the resort than late nights. The traditional Tyrolean village has plenty of character, with a good mix of smart restaurants, cosy bars and lively après spots.
3. Large ski area - The lifts link St Anton with St Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs and the wider Arlberg, giving you access to 305km of pistes and around 200km of deep-snow terrain on one Ski Arlberg pass.

Snow-sure choice

• Much of Rendl faces north/northwest, particularly the terrain towards Hinterer Rendl. It stays shaded and can preserve powder considerably longer.
• St Anton has one of the most impressive snow-making systems in Europe, with 88% of pistes covered by the 602 snow cannons in resort
• Average annual snowfall is 380cm, with approximately 33 days of snowfall across the year

Skiing and Boarding in St Anton

St Anton is known as the birthplace of alpine skiing and is embedded in a rich history. Today it is one of the largest and most popular ski resorts in the Alps with a variety of pistes and state-of-the-art lifts all accessible on just one ski pass.

St Anton am Alberg has over 300 km of marked pistes, 85 lifts and cable cars, and over 200km of off-piste terrain to explore. The resort is largely considered an advanced skier's resort, with plenty of red and black runs. However, there is still a good selection of nursery slopes for beginners.

Beginner

• The beginner areas at Nasserein and Gampen are good places to start, with wide, gentle slopes and dedicated practice lifts.
• At Nasserein, the Children's World and practice lifts provide a good space for complete beginners to get comfortable before heading higher up the mountain.
• Once you're happy on the nursery slopes, try the blues around Osthang or take the Gampen lift up towards the Plattiwald area.
• The Rendl side of the resort also has some lovely gentler pistes and is worth exploring once you're feeling more confident.
• Be aware that getting all the way back into St Anton from Rendl involves steeper terrain. If you're not ready for a red run, you can ski back towards the Rendl gondola and take it back down instead.
• Run 50 (Happy Valley) towards St Anton and the main après bars can get chopped up, slushy and mogully later in the day, so it can be surprisingly tricky for beginners despite being graded blue.
• Lech is another good option for beginners, with plenty of wide, gentle pistes. It's easily reached by bus from St Anton and the free with your lift pass.

Intermediate

• If you're just moving up to intermediate level, start with the quieter blues and reds around Rendl.
• Head up towards Galzig for some of the classic pistes across the main St Anton ski area.
• The runs around Gampen and Kapall offer plenty of variety, with long reds and steeper sections to test your legs.
• Make your way over towards Stuben for some brilliant cruising and big mountain views.
• With the Ski Arlberg pass, you can also explore St Christoph, Lech and Zürs, with the Flexenbahn making it much easier to ski between the different parts of the area.
• If you're looking for a challenge, try the long descent from Valluga via Ulmer Hütte towards St Anton. The full route is around 7.5km, depending on the route taken, so save some energy for the bottom.

Advanced and Off Piste

• Try the World Cup downhill piste from Kapall if you're after a proper test.
• Make a day of it and complete the Run of Fame, the complete connected circuit of the Arlberg region. Clock up some serious kilometres in just one day!
• Hit the runs around Gampen early in the morning for steep, fast carving before the pistes get busier.
• The terrain around Schindler Spitze and Valluga is among the most challenging in the area, with steep faces and serious off-piste routes.
• There are some classic black runs accessed from Galzig, including the runs towards Mattun.
• Rendl has some excellent off-piste terrain too, particularly around the Riffelbahn lifts when conditions are right.
• Head to Stuben for some of the Arlberg's best powder terrain. It's a Skiworld favourite when the snow is good.
• The north face of Valluga is one of the Arlberg's iconic off-piste descents, seriously steep at the top before giving way to open powder fields down to Zurs.
• If you're heading off-piste anywhere in the Arlberg, check the avalanche forecast and carry the appropriate safety equipment. Local guides and ski schools offer dedicated freeride guiding.

Park

• The St Anton snowpark in Rendl has jumps, boxes, rails, kickers and other features for different abilities, with a smaller beginner area for anyone getting into freestyle.
• Rendl is also home to a halfpipe, making it a good spot for freestyle skiers and snowboarders looking to spend a full day in the park.

Additional Tips

• Zürs is a favourite among our Skiworld staff, particularly for the spectacular mountain scenery and excellent skiing.
• Give yourself time to explore St Christoph, Stuben, Lech and Zürs. The Arlberg is much bigger than St Anton alone.
• Buses from the main terminal and train station make it easy to reach Zürs, St Christoph, Lech and the surrounding villages without needing to drive. If you want to skip the lift connections and start early in these areas, the bus is highly recommened.
• Sonnenkopf is a little further out and isn't part of the fully linked Ski Arlberg area (though still covered under your lift pass), but it's worth considering after fresh snow. It's quieter than the main resorts and can offer some excellent powder.
• If completing the Run of Fame, follow purple signposts from St Anton and orange once you reach Wrath. You'll likely need to ski hard all day to complete with a short break. Once complete, you can collect a stick pole momento, just keep your GPS tracking on throughout! 

When skiing or snowboarding in any unpatrolled or unpisted area, you should always have the correct equipment and employ the services of a qualified mountain guide. Skiing or snowboarding off-piste can result in injury or death even with a professional mountain guide or instructor. Our partner ski school in St Anton, New Generation, offers off-piste lessons and guiding.

Activities in St Anton

Fancy giving your ski legs a day off? St Anton has plenty going on away from the pistes, from night-time tobogganing and tandem paragliding to swimming, climbing and a bit of local ski history.

• Tobogganing - The 4.3km toboggan run runs from Gampen down to Nasserein, taking around 10 to 15 minutes depending on how enthusiastically you attack the corners. Toboggans can be hired from the sports shops or at the Nassereinbahn. You can go during the day or head up for night tobogganing on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when the run is floodlit. Combine it with a mountain meal at Rodel-Alm.
• Paragliding - Take a tandem flight from the mountain and glide above St Anton with views across the Arlberg. Flights are weather dependent and usually land back in the valley around St Anton.
• Arlberg WellCom - The resort's leisure and wellness centre has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms, fitness facilities, massages, ice skating and curling. A good option when you fancy swapping the ski boots for something a little more relaxing.
• Arl-Park - A multifunctional sports centre near the train station with climbing and bouldering walls, tennis, squash, bowling and other indoor activities. There's also a trampoline park, making this a particularly good option for families or anyone with energy to burn.
• Museum - Discover the history of skiing and the development of St Anton, from its early days as a ski pioneer to the resort it is today. It's located close to the Galzigbahn.
• Ice Skating and Curling - Head to the outdoor rink at Arlberg WellCom for an evening of ice skating or curling. A good excuse to stay off the slopes without sitting around the chalet all day.

Après Ski in St Anton

St Anton is famous for its après scene, and for good reason. There are plenty of places to stop for a drink straight from the slopes, with live music, DJs, sunny terraces and the sort of atmosphere that can make getting back to the chalet a little later than planned.

On the piste

• Krazy Kanguruh (AKA "KK's") - A special place and a Skiworld staff favourite. This legendary spot has a lively, international après atmosphere and is an essential stop for anyone who likes their après loud and lively.
• Taps - Right next door to KK's, Taps is a favourite with seasonnaires, with happy hour from 3-4pm daily. Head here for a healthy dose of Europop and a proper après atmosphere.
• Mooserwirt  - Austria's answer to Folie Douce, Mooserwirt is one of St Anton's most famous après bars and it gets very lively. Head here for a big mountain party, with plenty going on both inside and out.
• Arl One - Located on the main slope on Run 50, Arl One puts on terrace parties with DJs and dancers. It's a great place to stop if you want to keep the après going without leaving the mountain.
• Sennhütte - A traditional mountain hut with a sunny terrace and a lively après atmosphere. 

In town

• Basecamp - A large après bar down in St Anton town with a great atmosphere and easy access for non-skiers. If you've started après on the mountain, ski down and keep the party going here.
• Murrmel - A long-standing St Anton favourite with live music and plenty of familiar singalong classics throughout the week.
• Keller Bar - An awesome rock'n'roll bar in Nasserein. The Vagrants regularly get the place singing and dancing, with a cosy, homely atmosphere that feels a world away from the big mountain party spots.
• Square bar - An open-air bar with a glass roof, making it a handy stop-off for a drink when travelling between Rendl and Galzig. 
• Bar Cuba - A popular sports bar serving cocktails, with plenty of live sport and a lively atmosphere.  
• Anthony's - A popular après bar with a large sun terrace, right in the centre of St Anton.
• Smithy's - A lively bar in the centre of St Anton, popular for après and evenings out, with a good atmosphere and plenty of music.
• Fanghouse - A smaller après spot right by the Nassereinbahn, so particularly handy if you're staying on the Nasserein side.

For the evening

• Bar Cuba - A great place to watch live sport, play pool and challenge your mates to a game of table football. As the evening goes on, it gets busier and is particularly popular with seasonnaires.
• Bobo's - A popular spot for a night out, with a late-night atmosphere and opening until the early hours.
• Skiing Budda - A sports bar that gets lively in the evening, with live sport and a good choice for carrying on after après.

Places to eat in St Anton

As in all ski resorts, especially in peak season or when heavy snow brings everyone off the mountain at once, it is best to book your restaurant in advance.

On the mountain

• Rendl Restaurant - A self-service restaurant at the Rendlbahn mountain station, with a large sun terrace overlooking the mountains. There's also the Rendl Beach Bar next door, which is a great spot for a drink while watching the action in the Stanton Park freestyle area.   
• Ulmer Hütte - A traditional mountain hut at 2,288m, sitting directly on the piste between St Anton, Lech and Zürs. There are three cosy dining rooms and a sunny terrace, making it a great place to stop for a proper mountain lunch.
• Hospiz Alm - A legendary mountain restaurant in St Christoph with cosy alpine interiors, a large sun terrace and a rather impressive wine cellar. It's also a fine-dining restaurant in the evening, so this is one for a slightly more special lunch or dinner.
• Albonagratstube - A self-service restaurant just off the piste at the top of the Albonagrat chairlift, making it a handy stop while skiing the Stuben side of the Arlberg.
• Albona Bergesreturant - self-service mountain restaurant with a sunny terrace, located around the Albona lifts in Stuben. A good option for a straightforward mountain lunch.
• Mooserwirt - Not only a legendary après venue, but a good place for lunch too. Food is served daily from 11am, with hearty classics designed to fuel the afternoon's partying.

In resort

• Maximilian - Very popular with locals and visitors, with traditional Tyrolean and Austrian dishes in a cosy, rustic setting. It's located between the town centre and Nasserein.
• Anthony's/Happy Valley Steakhouse - Located in the centre of town, this two-level restaurant offers pizza and pasta alongside a steakhouse menu. Once dinner is over, the bar carries on into the evening.
• Theo's - Located in Nasserein, Theo's is a family-run traditional Austrian restaurant with a wide selection of dishes, including vegan options. They also offer fondue.
• San Antonio - Located in Nasserein, San Antonio serves pizza from a wood-fired oven alongside Italian dishes, with vegetarian and vegan options and takeaway available.
• The Museum - One of the best restaurants in the resort according to our Skiworld staff. It's housed in a beautifully restored historic building close to the village centre and ski lifts, with modern Austrian cuisine and seasonal ingredients. It books up quickly, so plan ahead.
• Pomedoro - A Skiworld favourite for good-value pizza and pasta. It's been serving homemade pizzas and pasta since 1982 and doesn't take advance bookings, so turn up early if you're hungry.
• Café Schneider  - A stylish spot in the centre with modern comfort food, regional produce and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. There's also a good drinks menu, so it's easy to stay for a few glasses of wine after dinner.
• Dolce Vite - A cheap and cheerful pizzeria that's handy when you're after something simple and unfussy.
• Aquila - A good option for vegetarian food, with veggie burgers and pasta among the choices.  
• Fahrner-Stubn - Just a short walk from the Galzig end of town, this traditional restaurant has a cosy, family-run feel and serves Austrian and Tyrolean classics.
• Q Club - Serving Asian and oriental food, this restaurant serves really good sushi. It also turns into a nightclub after dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Fuhrmannstube by Buffy - A traditional St Anton restaurant serving Tyrolean specialities and Austrian dishes in a cosy setting.
• Rosanna Lounge - A quieter option serving pizza and other casual dishes.
• Tenne - Located in St Jakob, Tenne serves traditional Austrian food in a relaxed setting. Tuesday is fondue night.
• Niki's Wine Bar - Primarily a wine bar, but with a select food menu too. A good option if wine is as important as dinner. 

Family Features St Anton

Please also see the Activities and Ski School sections for a wealth of non-skiing and skiing options for families.

Depending on the age of your child, there are a few childcare options available in St Anton.

• Alpine Angels  - Very professional and friendly nanny service. All nannies have relevant childcare qualifications, CRB checks and first aid qualifications.
• Ski Schule / Kindergarten - Ski Schule Arlberg has both a kindergarden and a ski school. Different packages available depending on the age of your child.