Lech vs Zürs vs St. Anton (Which Arlberg Base Should You Choose?)

AUTHOR: Rx Ruby

5 MINUTES

2026-01-14

Lech Travel Guide

The Arlberg is one of Europe’s most storied ski regions, and it offers a rare luxury: you can stay in villages that feel completely different while still skiing the same interconnected terrain. The challenge is that choosing the wrong base for your travel style can subtly diminish the trip. A group seeking quiet comfort can find itself overwhelmed in a party town. A group seeking nightlife can find itself under-stimulated in a resort built for early nights and spa afternoons.

Lech, Zürs, and St. Anton sit in the same ski universe, connected by lifts and united under the Ski Arlberg pass, but they express the Arlberg spirit in three distinct ways.

Lech: The Refined Alpine Village

Lech is the choice for travelers who want an elegant winter lifestyle and an environment that supports restoration as much as athletic effort. It is the village where dinner reservations matter, where hotel wellness is part of daily life, and where the ski day often ends with a quiet drink rather than a loud party.

The skiing in Lech suits intermediates especially well, with long groomers that encourage confidence and flow. It also has a serious off-piste reputation, though the best of that world is accessed through local knowledge and proper safety.

Zürs: The Hotel-Centric Ski Base

Zürs is often the least understood of the three. It does not have the broad village energy of Lech or the nightlife identity of St. Anton. Instead, it is designed for travelers who want skiing to be effortless and who appreciate the predictability of resort-style infrastructure. Many stays in Zürs feel like a week inside a luxury ski hotel, where your day begins on the slopes and ends in spa and dining without much need to travel beyond your base.

It is particularly appealing for strong skiers who want immediate access to terrain and who enjoy quieter evenings without feeling isolated.

St. Anton: The High-Energy Arlberg Icon

St. Anton is the most famous name in the Arlberg for many international travelers, and much of that fame comes from its personality. This is the place where après can define the day, where the village feels more like a ski town than a quiet resort, and where advanced terrain is part of the cultural identity.

St. Anton is also where you will find the greatest variety of accommodation inventory, which can sometimes make it a more flexible base from a pricing and availability standpoint.

How to Choose the Right Base

If your trip is centered on relaxation, premium dining, and a refined village experience, Lech is usually the best match. If your priority is a luxury hotel stay with ski-first convenience and quiet evenings, Zürs can be ideal. If your group wants high energy, lively nights, and a more youthful ski town feel, St. Anton delivers.

The good news is that you are not locked in. The Ski Arlberg system allows you to ski across the region, so your base is more about how you want mornings and nights to feel than it is about limiting your terrain.

AUTHOR: Rx Ruby

Rx Ruby, a seasoned travel content creator, is the kind of traveler who can map out a flawless itinerary—then toss the plan aside if a hidden alleyway or local festival catches her eye. She’s explored the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia (with Japan holding a permanent spot in her heart), and believes the best trips blend structure with space for the unexpected. Passionate about AI tools and smart travel tech, Ruby shares practical ways to design flexible, self-guided journeys that still feel effortless. From clever booking strategies to on-the-go tweaks that turn good trips into great ones, she’s here to help you travel smarter—without losing the joy of discovery.