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With apres ski bars aplentyand legendary piste action, holidays to St Anton are a great way to unwind way up in the Alps.
Perched on the rugged Arlberg mountain range in western Austria –and a longstanding Orient Express stop – glam St Anton knows how to do a party. Grab a cold beer from one of the atmospheric alpine bars and choose one of the resort's top-notch eateries for creamy fondue and melted raclette cheese.
Attracting a lively ski crowd during peak season, this place is famed for its crisscrossing slopes and trails. Beginner-friendly, there's plenty of room to practise putting your best foot forward. And if you're a pro, there are oodles of action-packed advanced slopes for you, too.
It may be the ski capital of Austria, but St Anton's also jammed with Insta-worthy scenery. Discover forest-cloaked mountain slopes and shimmering lakes – all trimmed with wildflower-covered meadows. This hotspot's a true natural beauty – perfect for a spot of biking, fishing or swimming.
Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in St Anton:
• Lakeside path
• Cycle routes
• Indoor pool
• Tennis courts
• Minigolf
• Fishing
The closest place for relaxing by the water is at Lake Constance. See a different way of Austrian life on this 63km lake, which straddles the borders of two other countries – Germany and Switzerland.
Lake Constance is 1 hour 30 minutes' by train from St Anton, to get to the town of Bregenz on the southern shore of the lake, and Lindau in the north. The water is impossibly blue and adds to the dream-like scenery.
The huge lake attracts tons of watersports enthusiasts to try paddle boarding, sailing and kitesurfing. There’s also a whole host of sand and pebble beaches, bathing jetties and grassy lawns to sprawl out on.
For local bargains, check out the market in the town of Strengen, just 25 minutes by bus from St Anton. It's a traditional market selling crafts and food produce, but it doesn’t run that often so keep an eye out in resort for dates.
St Anton has a handful of casual clothing shops, sport retailers and souvenir shops. The Edelweiss boutique is a pretty place, offering an elegant selection of gifts and accessories.
St Anton is perfect for pottering around on foot with an after-dinner ice cream. It’s compact enough that you can easily make your way round, looking at the alpine-style buildings that line the streets.
For reasonably priced drinks in a notoriously expensive resort, visit Scotty’s Bar just off the main street. They specialise in cocktails and stay open late, even in the summer months.
From Tyrolean delicacies and Italian favourites to distinguished Gault Millau-rated cuisine and Mexican or Japanese plat du jours, St Anton has a broad gastronomic choice that could satisfy anyone. The restaurants and cafés are dotted around the resort – there's a couple near the river and at the bottom of the lifts, and even a few authentic refuges up the mountain.
With modern and sophisticated décor, Anthony’s Pizzeria offers good food with a buzzing atmosphere. You’ll have to go early if you want a table, but if you’re not bothered about eating in, you can opt for a takeaway service instead.
In the village centre you’ll find Bodega Tapas, ideal for a casual evening meal with an authentic Spanish feel. There’s an excellent choice of tapas dishes from gambas to calamari – you’ll want to have a bit of everything.
On the main street in town is Arlberger Dorfstubn, serving up traditional flavour of Tyrol from venison ragout to ox fillet. The food is high-quality and the service professional – a pleasant dining experience all round.
St Anton is a relaxed town with a busy main street, full of excellent restaurants and bars. If you’re looking for some time alone, head out in any direction to stroll through open meadows.
This town is on the main railway line so it’s got some great transport links. The train station is next to the activity centre in town, and trains run regularly to Innsbruck (1 hour 20 minutes) and Bregenz and Lindau on Lake Constance (1 hour 30 minutes).
Use of the local buses is free with your St Anton Summer Card, and there are various services to Landeck, Lech, Zürs, St Christoph and St Jakob. However, St Anton is very quiet in early season so the buses may not be running before mid-June.
Your summer card will give you one day’s free use of the summer lifts in the area, but you can purchase a Premium summer card to get unlimited use. Most of the lifts, like the Gampen and Kapall lifts, will not open until mid-June.
St Anton has every type of countryside to explore, from Alpine meadows and gurgling streams to dramatic mountains and crystal-clear lakes. There are around 300km of trails throughout the Arlberg region, with something to suit every fitness level. Start with a stroll around the beautiful village, and wander to the nearby Verwell Resevoir, along the Rosanna Gorge, or along the Sonnenweg or Jakobweg meadow paths. Senn’s Wonder Walking Trail is also a unique and fun experience. Wherever you choose to venture, just take your time and enjoy every step through this truly breathtaking region.
A gentle 30-minute walk along the valley will bring you to St Jakob. From there, follow route 642, which will lead onto route 28. Keep an eye out for the turning back onto route 642, which winds up through the forest to the Leutkircherhutte. Take a break here for lunch and admire the view across the valley. Route 601, a high Alpine path, will take you to the Kaplbahn lift, which you can take back down to St Anton.
Ride up the Galzigbahn lift and then the Vallugabahn 1 & 2 lifts to the peak. Take route 21 and then route 645 along to the Stuttgarter Hutte, which serves tasty local food and has excellent views. Route 643 will take you down to the village of Zürs. Spend some time exploring before catching the local bus back to St Anton.
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