People have skied in Arlberg for more than a century. It’s Austria’s largest—and the world’s fifth largest!—ski resort. The region, dominated by Arlberg Pass, has multiple mountains and valleys that are interconnected by 15 aerial tramways, 45 chair lifts, and 28 drag lifts. Five villages make up this unique ski area: St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech, Zürs, and Stuben.
A single pass gives you access to nearly 190 miles of runs, plus about 130 miles of off-piste (ungroomed) slopes. Don’t miss the Valluga cable car as it delivers you to the top of Valluga mountain, where you get bird’s-eye views of the Austrian, Swiss, and Italian Alps. And don’t forget that skiing means refueling; there are more than 30 Gault Millau award-winning restaurants (most with equally stellar wine cellars) in the region.
St. Anton am Arlberg is home to the Arlberg Ski Technique, developed by the legendary Hannes Schneider in 1912. Schneider’s progressive system of teaching skiing (snowplow, stem, stem Christie, then Christie (parallel turn), helped turn the St. Anton Ski School into the largest in Europe. As such, Schneider is credited for creating professional ski instruction. He became a world-famous ski celebrity and is considered one of the “founding fathers” of U.S. skiing.
Innsbruck has all the storybook charm you seek from a European getaway.Sun_Shine / Shutterstock
Innsbruck
There’s a reason Innsbruck has been awarded two winter Olympic Games (’64 and ’76), and why Austria has won more alpine skiing medals than any other country. Innsbruck is a beautiful medieval town that is surrounded by mountains that are a siren’s song for skiers and outdoor explorers.
The Ski Plus City pass provides access to 13 ski areas (Stubaier Gletscher, Axamer Lizum, Skizentrum Schlick 2000, Kühtai, Hochötz, Muttereralm, Bergeralm, Nordkette, Serlesbahnen, Elferbahnen, Patscherkofel, Rangger Köpfl, and Glungezer); 22 city sights (highlights include Bergisel Ski Jump, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Alpenzoo, and Imperial Hofburg); three swimming pools (think spas and waterparks), and public transportation including a ski bus to all the resorts. It’s easy to fall in love with Innsbruck for its combination of enticing slopes, urban adventure, and beautiful architecture.