Arlberg

Arlberg is Austria's most storied ski region, where modern lift skiing was invented in 1901 and the parallel-skiing technique formalised. The area links seven villages (St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben on the Tyrol side; Zürs, Lech, Warth, and Schröcken on the Vorarlberg side) across 305 km of pistes from a base of 1,304 m to 2,811 m at the Valluga. The 2016 Flexenpass lift connection joined Warth-Schröcken to the network, making Arlberg one of Austria's largest single-pass areas. Reputation is built on serious freeride terrain off Valluga and Mehlsack rather than groomed cruising.

Key Stats

Vertical Drop
1,507m (4,944ft)
The height difference between the top and bottom of the mountain
Summit Elevation
2,811m (9,222ft)
How high the highest lift or peak reaches
Base Elevation
1,304m (4,278ft)
Height of the main base village — higher means cooler, drier snow
Annual Snowfall
700cm (276in)
Average annual natural snowfall — higher is better for powder days
Trails
125
Total number of marked runs on the trail map
Lifts
88
Total number of lifts including chairlifts, gondolas, and t-bars
Resort Size
300 km of pistes
Marked piste length across the lift-linked area

Terrain Breakdown

The percentage of marked trails in each difficulty level. A higher beginner percentage means more terrain suitable for novices and families; a higher advanced percentage means more challenge for experts.

Easy
33%
Intermediate
40%
Difficult
27%

Best For

Expert TerrainPowderAprès-skiOff-pisteFamiliesLuxurySki Villages

When to go

Average monthly snowfall and snowpack depth, with the typical operating window shaded.

Arlberg's heaviest snowfall lands in February; the snowpack peaks in March.

snowiestdeepestJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
Snowfall
peaks Feb
Snowpack
peaks Mar
Typical season
Nov – May

Snowfall: GeoSphere Austria, climate normals (1971–2000).

Snow depth: ECA&D, daily station data (1994–2023).

Where to stay

Arlberg is accessed from 7 villages — pick a base.

St. Christoph am Arlberg

Pass-top hospice hamlet: snow-sure, quiet, high-end.

Base elevation1,800m (5,906ft)
Zürs am Arlberg

Exclusive Flexenpass village: 4- and 5-star only, oldest ski school.

Base elevation1,716m (5,630ft)
Warth

Snow-record Vorarlberg-side village joined to Arlberg in 2013.

Base elevation1,494m (4,902ft)
Lech am Arlberg

High-end Vorarlberg village with deep snow records and a quieter pace.

Base elevation1,450m (4,757ft)
Stuben am Arlberg

Traditional Vorarlberg-side hamlet, Albona freeride heritage.

Base elevation1,407m (4,616ft)
St. Anton am Arlberg

Lift-and-après hub of the Arlberg: busy, advanced-leaning, raucous.

Base elevation1,304m (4,278ft)
Schröcken

Quietest Arlberg base: tiny Vorarlberg-side hamlet at 1,269m.

Base elevation1,269m (4,163ft)

Location

Arlberg sits on the western edge of Tyrol, straddling the pass that splits it from Vorarlberg in the Austrian Alps. This is high-alpine, continental terrain, with villages set deep in steep valleys and skiing that climbs well above the tree line.

Getting there

Easy to reach

Fly into Innsbruck (INN), about an hour from the resort by road.

Compare Arlberg to

These are the resorts most similar to Arlberg. Pick one to see a side-by-side.

vs Serfaus-Fiss-Ladisvs Söldenvs Stubai Glaciervs Bad Hofgastein / Ski amadévs Zell am Seevs Saalbach-Hinterglemmvs Mayrhofenvs Ischgl

Explore Further

More ski resorts in Austria →Official website →