Ski Arlberg
Ski Arlberg
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
61 within 3 miles
Attractions
20 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
745 reviews
Excellent
532
Very good
144
Average
43
Poor
13
Terrible
13
theskibob
Yorkshire Dales32 contributions
Apr 2022
Lech is a great place to ski the Arlberg even if you can't afford the top class hotels. There's good value accommodations too. Nicely positioned to take advantage of the extensive Ski Arlberg region, and a quieter more sophisticated place than St Anton. Enjoy a Champagne Aperol at the Hotel Krone.
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
About Globe
Vilnius, Lithuania14 contributions
Mar 2023
Super nice environment, wide slopes. The best blue slopes I have ever met in Austrian Alps. But the big issue is the maintenance of them. You should consider skiing till noon, because later slopes become not appropriate for relaxing and fast skiing. And no one cares about the quality of the slopes till the end of the day. The same situation in St. Anton.
Written March 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian R
Portschach am Worther See, Austria19 contributions
Dec 2019
The best skiing in the Alps and where alpine skiing was born. Something for everyone. Great pistes, great ski routes. Lech-Zürs is more suited for families, St. Anton for the younger crowd. Crowd is not really the word to use, as the pistes are very rarely overcrowded.Most of the lifts heave seat heating and the panorama is breath taking.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PGTravelTips
United Kingdom58 contributions
Feb 2022 • Couples
First of all the area is stunning, the scenery the buildings - everything is like something from an Alpine postcard.
Every restaurant we ate in over a week long trip was fantastic, however expensive, with the Post and Hotel Krone being our favourites.
Our hotel, Garni Schneider, was in a perfect location for the ski lifts and restaurants. One thing the resort overall is is missing is bars and a bit of nightlife.
Now the important part, skiing. This is 100% not a resort for beginners. If you read some of the reviews at 3 stars and below you will see the same comments. I class myself as a beginner having learned on artificial snow slopes and then having been on two prior ski holidays to Morzine, France. In Morzine I was comfortable on ALL of the blue slopes and even managed to challenge myself on a couple of red slopes. In Oberlech I couldn’t do the blue slopes, or when I did some of the “easier” ones (210) I was not able to enjoy them. The run down to Lech town was very steep and by 2pm covered in moguls (see photos). There are also a lot of really experienced skiers there who will zoom past you on the blue slopes. Nothing at all against them, but it does make it even harder. There are other things to do like nice walks, gondola rides, tobogganing and St Anton is a nice little town not too far away.
Another tip is to bring cash, anything under 10 Euros and they don’t accept card in Austria. Taxis and buses are cash only.
If you are an experienced skier, you will love this place! I was jealous of all those making it look so easy! :-) If you’re not and you want to enjoy the skiing, don’t go. Lots of the reviews on websites will say that it is good for beginners, it’s definitely not. Also worth noting that there are no green runs in Austria.
Every restaurant we ate in over a week long trip was fantastic, however expensive, with the Post and Hotel Krone being our favourites.
Our hotel, Garni Schneider, was in a perfect location for the ski lifts and restaurants. One thing the resort overall is is missing is bars and a bit of nightlife.
Now the important part, skiing. This is 100% not a resort for beginners. If you read some of the reviews at 3 stars and below you will see the same comments. I class myself as a beginner having learned on artificial snow slopes and then having been on two prior ski holidays to Morzine, France. In Morzine I was comfortable on ALL of the blue slopes and even managed to challenge myself on a couple of red slopes. In Oberlech I couldn’t do the blue slopes, or when I did some of the “easier” ones (210) I was not able to enjoy them. The run down to Lech town was very steep and by 2pm covered in moguls (see photos). There are also a lot of really experienced skiers there who will zoom past you on the blue slopes. Nothing at all against them, but it does make it even harder. There are other things to do like nice walks, gondola rides, tobogganing and St Anton is a nice little town not too far away.
Another tip is to bring cash, anything under 10 Euros and they don’t accept card in Austria. Taxis and buses are cash only.
If you are an experienced skier, you will love this place! I was jealous of all those making it look so easy! :-) If you’re not and you want to enjoy the skiing, don’t go. Lots of the reviews on websites will say that it is good for beginners, it’s definitely not. Also worth noting that there are no green runs in Austria.
Written February 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
simon50
Twickenham, UK89 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
Might be the best ski area in the world, but when the lift company closes more or less every lift in Lech/Zürs 2 days running because of high winds, whilst St Anton is opening their lifts then something is seriously wrong. 1 x antiquated short 2 man chair lift for one afternoon out of 2 days is taking the piss when there is a 4 man lift parallel and closed next to it. Be warned. 300 Euros for a 6 days lift pass. Any bad weather and Lech and Zürs lifts close. And it costs you on the bus even if you wanted to go to St Anton.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hamiczech
Ostrava, Czech Republic548 contributions
Jan 2022
Great and really biiiig ski area, around 350 km of slopes, and Lech is the best, the most slopes are on the sun. It is also the most expensive area of all, I think, in accommodation and in restaurants. But it was great experience. Read on my blog hamiczech.tips or on my Insta hamiczech, which hotel to choose and watch all the photos. Thanx.
Written January 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen O
Cheshire, UK37 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
I would highly recommend Lech as a family Ski destination. The views were amazing, pistes are fab and well looked after, restaurants were lovely (we didn’t have one rubbish meal up on the hills), and the service offered throughout the resort was excellent. Thank you for a great holiday, we will be back.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wombatinlondon
London, UK41 contributions
Feb 2012
We try to ski somewhere different every time. With two children, we are tied to school holidays at the peak times of Christmas and Feb half term. Never in all the many ski schools we've used have we experienced the choas like Lech Ski School. It's really just a free for all. Everything started well, I booked on the interent and picked up the ski school card at the office on arrival. There was no follow up from my interent booking about what level my kids might be but that's not unusual as many places give you a trial run on the first day and then sort you so I thought nothing. You meet at a cleared area away from the lifts. There are no organising people at the enterance to help you, you basically wander (with all the other parents and kids) trying to find someone to ask. The first two intstructors told me that they were busy, the next just barked a rude No! Finally someone listened to what I thought about my kids and pointed out two instructors that might be OK. Has noone thought that some signage might be really good idea????? Pay careful attention to the head wear of your instructors, just like those penguins coming back to find their partner, you'll need to locate your instuctor in what amounts to a penguin colony.
The kids are given a waterproof disc where the instructor writes the child's name and the instructors phone number for when the kids get lost. And they do get lost. Be sure to send your child off with your contact details too!! Don't worry about the huge group of learner skiers that seems to be attached to the ski teacher, the group will soon thin out as they get lost. I'm aware that the Austrians have a tough approach to learning to ski, we've skied there many times, but this was beyond anything. Seriously a case of sink or swim (or ski).
Despite the losing of kids issue, I thought the instructors were otherwise very good and friendly. I really liked skiing at Lech and Zurs and am even considering breaking my rule and having a repeat visit next year but I will be changing changing ski schools. And don't hire your skis at SportAlp, terrible.
The kids are given a waterproof disc where the instructor writes the child's name and the instructors phone number for when the kids get lost. And they do get lost. Be sure to send your child off with your contact details too!! Don't worry about the huge group of learner skiers that seems to be attached to the ski teacher, the group will soon thin out as they get lost. I'm aware that the Austrians have a tough approach to learning to ski, we've skied there many times, but this was beyond anything. Seriously a case of sink or swim (or ski).
Despite the losing of kids issue, I thought the instructors were otherwise very good and friendly. I really liked skiing at Lech and Zurs and am even considering breaking my rule and having a repeat visit next year but I will be changing changing ski schools. And don't hire your skis at SportAlp, terrible.
Written February 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CodyMav
Gold Coast, Australia27,708 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
Pros.
Backside of Lech & Zurs have some fun runs, but not many.
Scenery & Landscape is quite nice
Lifts are mostly quick, and some have nicely padded & heated seats
Cons.
Connections between lifts are often flat or require walking.
Ski map is poorly illustrated and hard to follow until you are on the mountain.
Lech is more afluent and attracts the "entitled". Rude, pushy, no manners, crushing lift queues, no ski etiquete, like standing/stopping middle of a narrow run, skiing whole run width unpredicably,
or speed demons who are out of control down crowded Blue (supposedly easy) runs where poor beginners are trying to enjoy their first experiences. There is absolutely no way those speedsters could react in time to a change in direction by someone in front.
Seemingly frequent organised events close off large sections of popular public runs limiting what you have paid access to enjoy.
Popular runs are more a run of crowded Dodgems than an enjoyable ski experience.
Front side of Lech is all beginners and bedlam, even given how broad it is.
Food & drinks on mountain are horrendously priced and crowded.
Lift tickets are very expensive, even for a ski resort.
Free ski bus (Blue) is a joke, you end up paying for crowded Post Buses (yellow).
You can Piste ski from Lech to Zurs but not from Zurs to Lech (that I could find easily).
Run grading is totally hopeless. Often steep & moguled blue (easy) runs.
Groomed so much it's often skating on packed ice rather than snow.
They should add the (otherwise) worldly accepted Green grading to truly designate a slope a beginner could handle. (I am not a beginner BTW)
I know a resort can not help who it attracts, so perhaps it turns even polite people into dog eat dog just to survive; but it starts with a culture, and even after a saturday mountain change, it's the same crowd of pushing, impolite, loud and obnoxious. I would like to say it's only 1 or 2 experiences, but unfortunately it has been every day that a number of experiences have spoiled would could have been an enjoyable mountain range.
If the Alberg region is the best of Europe, then save your money and Ski BC Canada or the USA Rockies, or the very polite Niseko Japan and let the rude people that St Anton, Lech & Zurs attracts have to deal with each other.
I have no doubt I will get flamed by the haters for this review, but its a true experience from a normally very positive person, of what could have been so much better by the resort and people.
Backside of Lech & Zurs have some fun runs, but not many.
Scenery & Landscape is quite nice
Lifts are mostly quick, and some have nicely padded & heated seats
Cons.
Connections between lifts are often flat or require walking.
Ski map is poorly illustrated and hard to follow until you are on the mountain.
Lech is more afluent and attracts the "entitled". Rude, pushy, no manners, crushing lift queues, no ski etiquete, like standing/stopping middle of a narrow run, skiing whole run width unpredicably,
or speed demons who are out of control down crowded Blue (supposedly easy) runs where poor beginners are trying to enjoy their first experiences. There is absolutely no way those speedsters could react in time to a change in direction by someone in front.
Seemingly frequent organised events close off large sections of popular public runs limiting what you have paid access to enjoy.
Popular runs are more a run of crowded Dodgems than an enjoyable ski experience.
Front side of Lech is all beginners and bedlam, even given how broad it is.
Food & drinks on mountain are horrendously priced and crowded.
Lift tickets are very expensive, even for a ski resort.
Free ski bus (Blue) is a joke, you end up paying for crowded Post Buses (yellow).
You can Piste ski from Lech to Zurs but not from Zurs to Lech (that I could find easily).
Run grading is totally hopeless. Often steep & moguled blue (easy) runs.
Groomed so much it's often skating on packed ice rather than snow.
They should add the (otherwise) worldly accepted Green grading to truly designate a slope a beginner could handle. (I am not a beginner BTW)
I know a resort can not help who it attracts, so perhaps it turns even polite people into dog eat dog just to survive; but it starts with a culture, and even after a saturday mountain change, it's the same crowd of pushing, impolite, loud and obnoxious. I would like to say it's only 1 or 2 experiences, but unfortunately it has been every day that a number of experiences have spoiled would could have been an enjoyable mountain range.
If the Alberg region is the best of Europe, then save your money and Ski BC Canada or the USA Rockies, or the very polite Niseko Japan and let the rude people that St Anton, Lech & Zurs attracts have to deal with each other.
I have no doubt I will get flamed by the haters for this review, but its a true experience from a normally very positive person, of what could have been so much better by the resort and people.
Written January 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelgurudoctor
Montreal, Canada174 contributions
Mar 2011 • Couples
Over the last 30 yeras, my wife (who has been skiing since the age of 5 and taught me how to ski) and I have travelled to every major ski area in North America and Europe.
Yes, Utah may have the best quality snow; Zermatt may be quaint and romantic; Vail is superb; Val d'Isere has fabulous terrain; Whistler is good skiing and good value (but often bad weather); the Dolomites are vast and have great food; Trois Vallees can be good; but there is no question that the absolute greatest ski vacation in the known universe is had in the Arlberg region of Austria, specifically in Lech.
That's why we go every year for 2 weeks (first 2 weeks of March - when the weather is generally good, the snow is great and the days are long) and we've been visiting for over 20 years.
What makes this area the best is the vastness of terrain (hundreds of kilometers of perfectly groomed runs and hundreds of acres of off-piste skiing), the sheer physical beauty, the ultra-modern equipment, the rapid ascents to mountaintops and long descents, skiing from town to town, the fantastic food and lodging, the best ski school anywhere, skiing for every level of skier and something which loses in the translation called GEMUTLICHKEIT - a wonderful feeling of welcome, warmth, pleasure, perfection and hospitality.
The six towns that comprise the region are: St. Anton (the largest and closest feel to an American ski resort), Stuben (very small and good for the budget-minded), Zurs (tiny, quiet and exclusive), St. Christoph (very tiny with excellent food and lodging, but no action) Oberlech (which is a collection of many hotels and restaurants right on the mountain) and our favorite ... Lech. They are all interconnected and the same pass allows one to ski anywhere (plus another ski area down the valley called Sonnenkopf).
Lech is postcard perfect. Nestled in a gorgeous valley, it straddles a small river and has everything to offer skiers and nonskiers alike. The hotels and restaurants are generally fabulous. When we arrive every year (an easy 2 hour drive from Zurich or Munich), we feel like we are returning home !
The hotel we stay in (a secret for now, but I will review it seperately) is a family owned and run establishment (as are most of the hotels in Lech); it is a 5+ Star hotel, with the best location (ski-in, ski-out virtually - right in the centre of town), services and food. The family makes improvements annually and today it has become a center of unsurpassed hospitality, luxury, gastronomy and comfort. I cannot express in words how much we love it. Because this hotel is so magnificent, guests return every year; many of the guests have been coming the same time each year for decades and many even have been coming for generations. Each year, we are welcomed by the owners with hugs and kisses and when we enter the dining room the first night, we see all our aquaintances from previous years - that's how we know that all is in balance and is well with the universe.
If the best ski vacation is what you seek, this is the place for you.
Two VERY IMPORTANT pieces of advice: remember that you get what you pay for (especially lodging) and if it's your first time in the area, hire a guide for 2-3 days to show you around.
If you can afford my services and if you are there when I am, I am one of the best guides in the Arlberg; I even take locals to places they've never been to !
Yes, Utah may have the best quality snow; Zermatt may be quaint and romantic; Vail is superb; Val d'Isere has fabulous terrain; Whistler is good skiing and good value (but often bad weather); the Dolomites are vast and have great food; Trois Vallees can be good; but there is no question that the absolute greatest ski vacation in the known universe is had in the Arlberg region of Austria, specifically in Lech.
That's why we go every year for 2 weeks (first 2 weeks of March - when the weather is generally good, the snow is great and the days are long) and we've been visiting for over 20 years.
What makes this area the best is the vastness of terrain (hundreds of kilometers of perfectly groomed runs and hundreds of acres of off-piste skiing), the sheer physical beauty, the ultra-modern equipment, the rapid ascents to mountaintops and long descents, skiing from town to town, the fantastic food and lodging, the best ski school anywhere, skiing for every level of skier and something which loses in the translation called GEMUTLICHKEIT - a wonderful feeling of welcome, warmth, pleasure, perfection and hospitality.
The six towns that comprise the region are: St. Anton (the largest and closest feel to an American ski resort), Stuben (very small and good for the budget-minded), Zurs (tiny, quiet and exclusive), St. Christoph (very tiny with excellent food and lodging, but no action) Oberlech (which is a collection of many hotels and restaurants right on the mountain) and our favorite ... Lech. They are all interconnected and the same pass allows one to ski anywhere (plus another ski area down the valley called Sonnenkopf).
Lech is postcard perfect. Nestled in a gorgeous valley, it straddles a small river and has everything to offer skiers and nonskiers alike. The hotels and restaurants are generally fabulous. When we arrive every year (an easy 2 hour drive from Zurich or Munich), we feel like we are returning home !
The hotel we stay in (a secret for now, but I will review it seperately) is a family owned and run establishment (as are most of the hotels in Lech); it is a 5+ Star hotel, with the best location (ski-in, ski-out virtually - right in the centre of town), services and food. The family makes improvements annually and today it has become a center of unsurpassed hospitality, luxury, gastronomy and comfort. I cannot express in words how much we love it. Because this hotel is so magnificent, guests return every year; many of the guests have been coming the same time each year for decades and many even have been coming for generations. Each year, we are welcomed by the owners with hugs and kisses and when we enter the dining room the first night, we see all our aquaintances from previous years - that's how we know that all is in balance and is well with the universe.
If the best ski vacation is what you seek, this is the place for you.
Two VERY IMPORTANT pieces of advice: remember that you get what you pay for (especially lodging) and if it's your first time in the area, hire a guide for 2-3 days to show you around.
If you can afford my services and if you are there when I am, I am one of the best guides in the Arlberg; I even take locals to places they've never been to !
Written January 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justin O.
5 contributions
I'm looking into a ski trip in the Arlberg area in early 2019. I'm guessing February or early March for 5 nights. Getting there is easy to plan. I'm having trouble finding hotels. I'm happy to stay anywhere in the valley, so long as I'm walking distance to the shuttle of the slopes themselves. Ideally, I wouldn't like to spend more than $300 per night. I'm open to vacation rental as well. Vielen dank!
David M
Taunton, UK3,330 contributions
I was in exactly the same position as you last year. I ended up booing three of us into the Grieshof hotel in the centre of town. Walking distance to the slopes and the night life. I found it on a site using the word booking in its title
carolinenyc2015
New York City, NY28 contributions
We are looking for a place to ski the 3rd week in March for our family. What will the conditions likely be like? We're coming from NY, so I'd hate to get there for slush. If you think it will be too slushy, I welcome another recommendation. Thank you.
patrick2042016
Perth, Australia776 contributions
There hasn't been much natural snowfall in Europe this year. Arlberg has snow making and so far there is adequate cover. Season does not close till May, it should be OK but can't guarantee.
Go to Niseko, Japan - 3-4 metres so far.
Patrick H
Antwerp, Belgium13 contributions
I am going for the first time to this ski area St-Anton - Lech . Any suggestions for mountain restaurants to have lunch?
Sourabhraj
London, UK48 contributions
Hi, I am planning to visit Lech with my wife in mid-October, 2015.
Would there be snow during this period?
We are not into Skiing, is this a place worth coming to?
Heard that this place is beautiful, if we do not ski would we be able to explore?
Our aim is to visit a soothing, relaxing and quite place for 3-4 days.
LizhLondon
london87 contributions
It would be unusual to have snow this early (usually starts mid-late November). I know it's a well-organised year-round place for walkers, there are plenty of spa facilities and the mountain views from the tops of the chair lifts and cable cars are spectacular . The lower village itself isn't bijou Tyrolean although plenty of wooden chalets. We stayed up at OberLech (it has it's own little cable car) and you step directly out onto the mountain meadows. Totally relaxing up there.
Ski Arlberg (Lech) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Ski Arlberg
- Hotels near Ski Arlberg:
- (0.26 mi) Hotel Bellevue
- (0.25 mi) Hotel Antonius Lech am Arlberg
- (0.27 mi) Hotel Haldenhof
- (0.33 mi) Hotel Jagdhaus Monzabon
- (0.34 mi) Hotel Arlberg Lech
- Restaurants near Ski Arlberg:
- (0.03 mi) Rud-Alpe Gastronomie
- (0.30 mi) Schneggarei
- (0.21 mi) Gourmet Restaurant Aurelio's
- (0.35 mi) Hus Nr. 8
- (0.29 mi) Fux Restaurant+Bar+Kultur
Ski Arlberg Information
Excellent Reviews | 532 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 144 |
Ski Arlberg Photos | 355 |