St Anton, in Tirol Austria, is one of the Europe’s best known winter sport destinations and is often called the cradle of alpine skiing for its role in inventing the sport. Its fantastic terrain attracts the hard-core skiers, putting it up there alongside Chamonix and Jackson Hole, and it’s also hosted the Alpine Skiing World Championships on several occasions.

Après ski

St Anton’s reputation also extends to its famous après ski scene too with the Krazy Kanguruh a strong contender for the title of ‘the Alps most legendary ski bar’ for nearly 50 years.

Scroll down for more information and images on St Anton Arlberg…

St Anton Arlberg Town

St. Anton isn’t all about skiing and partying, it has reinvented itself as a sophisticated ski resort without losing its spirit of having fun. The public-access Arlberg Well complex is as good as any in a top hotel, you can sink into its pools and steam baths and sweat out tired muscles in the sauna watching the snow drift down. Along the main street there are fashion boutiques and a number of delis providing much temptation.

Ski in St Anton

The regions broad appeal has expanded along with the Arlberg ski area, which now reaches up to 340km which makes it one of the six largest ski areas in the world and offers skiing for all abilities. Off the slopes, you’ll find a wide range of accommodation, shopping and dining with a wide variety of luxury gourmet choices and outstanding leisure facilities.

Where to Stay in St Anton

          

Lux Alpinae is one of the most unique hotels in the St Anton valley. It was designed by Austrian architect Georg Driendl who envisioned the hotel to be different from the rest of the traditional Alpine hotels in the area. The modern industrial style hotel stands out as it features lots of concrete, steel bars, glass, wood and cement giving it a very contemporary, urban feel.

Hotel Lux Alpinae

The interiors of the hotels match its exterior but the added elements of bright colors and walls with art work of local artists make the rooms feel warm and cozy.

Lux Alpinae has 26 rooms, all of which have balconies and have great views of the mountains. The rooms are all the same size and are quite spacious. A glass wall divides the bathroom and the bedroom that is see through, but if you are not comfortable being seen from the bathroom, the glass wall can be frosted at the flick of a switch.

The rooms are very clean, and are equipped with modern amenities such as a flat screen cable TV and wi-fi internet access. The food in the hotel is excellent with a delicious breakfast buffet, the best salad buffet in town. The cheese buffet, and the sumptuous dinner are both fantastic.

Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant ambiance is ultra-modern unlike the stubes found in almost all hotels in St. Anton. The hotel has a bar area and a small wellness area which features a sauna, steam room and infrared sauna. A masseur comes to the hotel regularly and Yoga classes are also held.

Tips

• The hotel is located outside the village of St. Anton. It’s a 10 to 15 minute uphill walk from the village.
• You can store your boots and skis at the sports shop next to the ski lift  so you do not have to carry them back to the hotel
• Request a shuttle to take you to the village or the ski lifts
• Beds can be separated to create a twin room
• All rates are half-board but you can get a discount if you just want breakfast

Location
Lux Alpinae Hotel is located just outside the main village of St. Anton. It will take a 10 to 15 minute uphill walk along a fairly busy road from the village or ski lifts. The hotel has a shuttle if you do not want to walk.

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Arlberg Hospiz Hotel

The historic Arlberg Hospiz Hotel is located up in the peaceful, snowy setting of St Christoph. It’s an excellent place for families due to its easy access to the slopes and great family facilities.

A rich history that dates back to 1386, the Alberg Hospiz is one of the oldest hotels in the Arlberg region. Located high above St Anton in the little hamlet of St Christoph, it was established by Heinrich who envisioned it as a place of refuge for people who were moving their animals across the mountains.

Through the centuries, the hotel has undergone a lot of changes and in 1955, it was sold and extensively renovated but soon after the hotel a fire burned downed the hotel and church. It was in Christmas 1959 that the hotel re-opened its doors. Today, it still has that wonderful old world charm with touches of modern amenities, and a very Tyrolean ambiance.

The Arlberg Hospiz has 87 rooms ranging from single rooms to suites. The rooms are spacious and elegantly furnished with some splashes of colors. Some of the rooms have been more recently updated than others, but most have a traditional Tyrolean style.

One of the best rooms in the hotel is the corner room De Luxe Double Room Riffler which has plenty of space for two people. There’s also a variety of options in nearby chalets and apartments if you are a larger group.

The Arlberg Hospiz Hotel has four restaurants. Each of its restaurant delivers what it promises, heavenly tasting food prepared by its team of culinary experts. The hotel has two wine cellars namely the Big Bottle Wine cellar where you will find the world’s largest collection of wines, and the Brotherhood’s Wine Cellar, one of the oldest wine cellars in Europe.

Children are very much welcomed in Alberg Hospiz. It has a children’s club called ‘Little Hospiz’ where they are given special treatment. It is managed by a child care team which ensures that the kids are pretty busy the whole day so parents can enjoy their skiing adventure or dining without having to worry about their kid’s well-being. They’ll also happily arrange ski lessons with local guides. Just a word of warning though, they might love Arlberg Hospiz so much that they wouldn’t want to leave.

The Arlberg Hospiz sports and spa features an indoor pool, Finish sauna, a bio sauna and a steam bath. There’s also a large gym.

Arlberg Hospiz is not just a hotel, it is an art center too. It promotes the appreciation of arts through its own hotel gallery, and during the winter season, contemporary artists stay and work at the hotel. This provides the opportunity for you to interact with the artists and perhaps commission them to do a painting exclusively for you.

Location
The hotel is located right upon the ski slopes of St. Christoph. It is about a 20 minute bus ride down to St. Anton, or you can ski to St. Anton via the lifts which are located just across the road of the hotel. A public shuttle leaves every 10-20 minutes. The hotel provides shuttle to the train station for a surcharge and free shuttle to Zurs in the morning and afternoon.

Tips

• The wellness area is sufficient in its features but not very up-to-date compared to the other wellness area of other hotels
• A 20 minute bus ride to St. Anton. Public shuttle leaves every ten minutes
• The hotel provides shuttle to the train station for a surcharge and free shuttle to Zurs in the morning and afternoon
• Request for a corner room particularly the De Luxe Double Room “Riffler”
• Dine around package for an additional fee, which allows guests to dine in any of the four restaurants of the hotel

CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE ALL HOTELS IN ST ANTON

Where to eat in St Anton

In St. Anton you have many food choices that include traditional cuisine with apple strudel and escalope or international cuisine with pizza, burgers or steak. You can also enjoy these meals in mountain huts to exclusive gourmet restaurants. A Restaurant that Trafoodel recommends is  Galzig Bistrobar.

Galzig Bistrobar

Galzig Bistro offers great service and fantastic food. It is a place where you can just stop by for a drink after a long day skiing or have an unforgettable lunch or dinner and has a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.

The menu is not large, but everything is delicious! We recommend the rib eye, duck with truffles, filet and Burrata and the yellow thai curry soup where both outstanding. For dessert we highly recommend the homemade Tahiti – vanilla, fresh berries  creme brulee it is a great way to finish a fantastic meal.

Galzig Bistro uses mostly local ingredients in all it cooking and the quality comes through in the taste of the dishes. The bistro is in great location just down the slope at the Ski lifts and is very popular, so at times you need to wait few minutes for a table as the restaurant is small and doesn’t take reservations, so bring your patience and be willing to wait it out if you visit during peak times.

Plangger Delikatessen

For decades, Plangger Delikatessen has delighted both locals and tourists in St. Anton, embracing the vibrant flavors of the region.

Talented artisans meticulously curate a symphony of tastes, showcasing exquisite cheeses and expertly cured meats. They take pride in sourcing fresh ingredients from local producers, ensuring an authentic farm to table experience bursting with incredible flavors.

Plangger Delikatessen also offers a thoughtful kids’ menu, along with engaging cooking workshops that ignite the young ones’ passion for food.

Sit in the cozy nooks and experience the warmth and hospitality of friendly staff, creating an inviting atmosphere reminiscent of dining in the comfort of your own home.

Click here to see the Trafoodels top 10 restaurants selection in St. Anton

Things to see and do in St Anton

Ski, Ski, Ski and Ski the ‘Run of Fame

Since the opening of the Flexenbahn in 2016/17, a new circuit has been created linking 7 resorts in the Arlberg ski area. The 85km long route takes in the entire dimension of the fully connected skiing area.

Tobogganing
A highlight of everyone’s trip to St Anton is the famous toboggan run. To take part you need to pick up a traditional wooden sledge from the bottom of the run or any hire shop in the village and make your way to the Nassereinbahn.

Winter Hiking

St Anton is located in a stunning tree lined valley full of picturesque villages and mountain lakes all of which are easily navigated on the 70 km of maintained walking trails.

Go to Rendl

Do a few ski runs. Pull up a deck chair on Rendl Beach. Admire the views. Bask in the sunshine. Grab a drink from the bar. Get a photo by the St Anton sign. Try your best at the snowpark. The perfect afternoon on the Rendl mountain.

Explore the neighbouring ski resorts
The Arlberg ski area has brilliant transportation routes by ski lifts, bus, train and taxi making it easy to explore the superb surrounding ski resorts. From St Anton you can quickly ski to St Christoph and Stuben, then you can take the new Flexenbahn gondola from Stuben to Lech and Zürs. This new cableway has created Austria’s largest linked ski area and considerably reduced travel time to these resorts. Don’t forget to discover Arlberg’s small gems, Sonnenkopf, Warth and Schrocken to avoid the crowds.

Arlberg Adler
The Arlberg Adler triathlon kicks off with der weisse Rausch (the white thrill) ski race in April; then the Jakobilauf half-marathon in July, and the Bike Marathon in August.

Visit the White Thrill official website for more info, Click Here

Mountain Yoga Festival

Do you know your downward-facing dog from your tree pose? If the answer is yes, head on over to Mayrhofen’s Mountain Yoga festival. Held for the first time in 2016 against the stunning backdrop of the Arlberg Alps.

St Anton Museum
Set in attractive gardens above St Anton and housed in a beautiful 1912 villa, this nostalgic museum traces St Anton’s tracks back to the good old days when skis were little more than improvised wooden planks.

The Arl.rock center

Another of our favourite spots to hang out in is the Arl.rock leisure centre. Here you can take part in indoor and outdoor climbing on their climbing walls. Or if racket sports are more your thing then you have the option of tennis or squash, with equipment hire available if required. There is also a bowling alley at the centre.

Trip to the top of Valluga

Even if you are not skiing, you still need to take a trip into the incredible mountains around St Anton. We recommend that you head to the top of Mt Valluga and take in the stunning panorama of the Verwall range, followed by lunch in the area’s highest restaurant.

Ice Skating

No winter sport destination would be complete without an ice rink and St Anton is no exception. The resort’s ice rink can be found outside the wellness center and is open from 1pm daily.

St Anton town

The village is part of the rich history of the Arlberg and has developed with the popularity of the resort. There’s a mix of traditional and modern architecture as it’s moved with the times without losing its original character. The resort is buzzing with vibrant restaurants and coffee shops where you can lunch or read a book with a warming hot drink. And if you’re into shopping the news is good as more and more boutiques are popping up every season.

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