Skiing at the Arlberg
Where else?
The Arlberg,
the cradle of skiing
Around 140 years ago, the first skiers ventured up into the Arlberg region. Since then, new advances in skiing have been made time and time again between Lech and St. Anton: from Austria’s first T-bar lift to the world’s first heated chairlift. Today, the Arlberg – the cradle of alpine skiing – is one of the largest and most modern ski resorts in the world, where the hearts of winter sports enthusiasts beat faster with excitement.
Idyllic ski resorts attract skiers from all over the world year after year. And no wonder, because here you’ll find the perfect mix for your winter holidays in Austria. A mixture of sporty challenges on hundreds of kilometres of slopes and moments of silent marvelling at the glistening white beauty of nature. A mix of alpine cuisine and unrivalled hospitality. And, of course, to round off your skiing holiday at the Arlberg, relaxing spa experiences are sprinkled in as well.
Oberlech in Vorarlberg
A special spot for skiers
Winter after winter, the Arlberg mountain pass puts on its fluffy white coat and becomes perhaps the most beautiful ski resort in Austria. Up in Vorarlberg in Oberlech, winter sports fans make their turns in the fresh snow, completely undisturbed by roads and traffic.
At 1,750 metres above sea level, there is no need to worry about green meadows: During the long skiing season snow is guaranteed from November until well after Easter. As a result, ski hotel Sonnenburg at the Arlberg is a paradise for carefree skiing holidays. Over 300 kilometres of slopes, state-of-the-art lifts and mountain cableways await skiers in the border region between Vorarlberg and Tyrol.
The variety of options makes the region around the Arlberg the ideal destination for skiing holidays together with your family, alone or with friends.
A vision in white
Good reasons for skiing at the Arlberg
- snow guaranteed at 1,500 to 2,811 metres above sea level
- no traffic, no road noise: Oberlech is car-free in winter
- ideal infrastructure for a relaxed winter holidays
- cosy ski hotels directly at the slopes for ski-in/ski-out at the Arlberg
- Austria’s largest ski area right outside Hotel Sonnenburg
- beginner & family-friendly slopes throughout the Arlberg region
- great variety of winter sports, even off the slopes
- delicious Austrian cuisine & spa offers to round off your skiing holiday at the Arlberg
Skiing in the Alps? Skiing at the Arlberg!
In search of the extraordinary
130 blue, 122 red, 51 black kilometres of slopes as well as 200 km of freeride routes make a strong statement for a skiing at the Arlberg. However, there are three special highlights that really set the ski area apart from the ordinary.
These include “Der weiße Rausch”, which translates to the “White thrill”. Behind the telling name: a 9 km long downhill run and perhaps the toughest ski race in the Alps. Every year in April, this cult event draws the crowds to the start at the Vallugagrat, where anyone can register for one of the 555 starting places.
"Der lange Zug"
With an incline of up to 80 %, “Der Lange Zug” (eng. “The long run”) is one of the steepest groomed slopes in the world. At the steepest section at the start of the ski run there are 373 metres of altitude to overcome on a route of 852 metres. The speed record has been held by Tyrolean ski racer Harry Egger for over 20 years: He reached a speed of whopping 248 km/h. If you have good control of your skis and are brave enough, you can embark on this unique adventure yourself and ski down Arlberg’s steepest slope.
"Der weiße Ring”
It is truly a ski journey through the vastness of the Lech Zürs ski resort that “Der weiße Ring” (eng. “The white ring”) takes you on. The 22-kilometre ski circuit spans over 5,500 metres in altitude and around the Omeshorn. If you want to give it a go, you should plan in half a day to complete the “ring” of six lifts and six easy to intermediate slopes. And don’t forget to take a breather in one of the traditional ski lodges. Unlimited carving fun and the view of the Ski Arlberg region will make the “journey” worthwhile.
Ski mecca & wellness heaven
Ski hotel Sonnenburg at the Arlberg
If you can still feel “Der lange Zug” or “Der weiße Ring” in your legs and if you have ticked off a few more slopes of your long list of must-dos, then it’s best to return to Hotel Sonnenburg in Oberlech – on your skis, of course, because you only need to take them off at the entrance to our heated ski cellar. The ski hotel Sonnenburg at the Arlberg awaits you with a spa area with an indoor pool, saunas and relax areas, our restaurant with a sun terrace and several small libraries that invite you to linger in cosy reading nooks.
from the Sonnenburg
At hotel Sonnenburg there is often something new to tell, read for yourself...
