St. Anton am Arlberg

St. Anton is in Austria Tyrol region, part of the legendary Ski Arlberg area (305km of connected skiing!).

Getting There

• Fly to: Innsbruck (INN) - 1.5 hours by car/train. Or Zurich (ZRH) - 2.5 hours by train.
• Train: St. Anton has its own train station! The OBB Railjet from Innsbruck is scenic and stress-free. Kids love it.
• Car rental: Nice to have but not essential. The village is walkable and lifts are everywhere.

Pro tip: Consider flying into Munich (MUC) - often cheaper flights, and the 3-hour drive through the Alps is stunning.

Language note: English is widely spoken in St. Anton, especially in hotels and ski schools. You will be fine.

St. Anton village is compact and charming. Almost anywhere puts you within walking distance of lifts.

For Families

Hotel Schwarzer Adler - Family-run for 450 years (!). Incredible breakfast buffet, kids program, and that authentic Austrian warmth. Our top pick.

Ski-In/Ski-Out

Hotel Arlberg - Right at the Galzig gondola base. Pricier but you literally ski to your door.

Budget-Friendly

Pension/Gasthof options - Family-run guesthouses with breakfast included. Around 100-150 EUR/night for a family room. Search Gasthof St. Anton.

Real talk: Half-board (breakfast + dinner included) is common here and saves money. The hotel dinners are actually good.

Here is where St. Anton gets interesting. Your Ski Arlberg pass covers 305km of terrain across multiple villages.

Daily Rates

• Adult: 72 EUR/day
• Child (2006-2017 birth year): 36 EUR/day
• Under 8 (with paying adult): FREE

Multi-Day Value

• 6-day pass: 390 EUR/adult (65 EUR/day)
• 6-day child: 195 EUR (32.50 EUR/day)

Compare that to US resorts. A family of 4 skiing 6 days: ~1,170 EUR total (~$1,250). At Park City? You are looking at $4,000+ for lift tickets alone.

Pro tip: Buy your pass at the resort - no need to pre-book unless it is Christmas/New Year week.

Let us be honest: St. Anton is steep. But it is also spectacular, and there IS terrain for intermediate families.

For Learning/Nervous Kids

The Gampen and Kapall areas have the gentler slopes. Ski school meets here. Do not venture to Valluga with beginners (it is expert only).

For Confident Kids

The Rendl area is fantastic - wide blues, great snow, and less crowded than the main mountain. Take the Rendlbahn from town.

Ski School

Skischule Arlberg is the oldest ski school in Austria (founded 1901!). They know what they are doing.

• Kids group lessons: ~280 EUR for 5 days (4 hours/day)
• English instruction available - just ask when booking
• KIKO club for ages 4-6 is excellent

Lunch spot: Hospiz Alm is famous, but pricey. Verwallstube has better value and still great food with views.

Apres-Ski (Yes, Even With Kids)

St. Anton apres-ski is legendary - Mooserwirt and Krazy Kanguruh are basically ski-world famous. Here is the thing: families go early (like 3pm), grab a table outside, have a hot chocolate and beer, enjoy the scene, and leave before it gets wild. It is actually a fun family memory.

Evening Activities

• Night sledding: Rendl mountain offers evening sled runs. Book at the tourist office.
• Swimming: Arlberg WellCom is a public pool/spa complex. Great for tired legs.
• Village stroll: St. Anton pedestrian center is charming after dark.

Food

• Hazienda - Tex-Mex (kids love it, you get a break from schnitzel)
• Bodega - Casual, good pizza and pasta
• Museum Restaurant - Traditional Austrian, excellent Wiener Schnitzel

Grocery tip: SPAR supermarket in town has everything. Austrian chocolate for the kids is a hit.

What Parents Say

We were nervous it would be too advanced, but the ski school was amazing. Both kids (8 and 11) had the best week.

The value compared to US resorts is unreal. We stayed 10 days for what a Colorado week costs.

Fair warning: if your kids cannot handle reds/blues, look elsewhere. But if they can - this is the dream.

The consensus: Not for total beginners, but incredible value and experience for intermediate+ families. The Austrian hospitality is real.