Resort Information
As well as being very traditional resorts, Lech and Zurs are steeped in luxury. The two villages are certainly the most exclusive resorts in Austria with six five-star hotels between them. Consequently, they attract a higher age group than nearby St Anton.
Both resorts are now connected via the Flexenbahn and Auenfeldjet lifts to Stuben, St Christoph, St Anton, Warth and Schroecken. Together with Klosterle’s Sonnenkopf ski area (which is just a bus ride away), these collectively form the huge Arlberg ski domain.
As well as being an intermediate’s paradise (the piste grooming is immaculate), there are approximately 30 ungroomed ski routes in just the Lech-Zurs area alone, keeping the better skier more than occupied. And for those powder hounds, there is plenty off-piste, including the “must ski” route off the back of the Valuga”.
The villages are different. Lech is very much a town and this is evident at the end of the ski day when skiing is finished and its sophisticated apres is in full swing. Purpose-built Zurs is slightly higher and therefore snowier, and is that bit closer to the the St Anton’s end of the Arlberg region. The resort is really just a cluster of hotels, of which the vast majority are 5-star or 4-star. Do not however that nightlife is very limited.
Both Lech and Zurs are easy to get to with 3 airports within 140km, so for a high end short break, these resorts are real contenders.
Key Facts
Ski Area
303km
Ski Range
1300m – 2811m
Blue Runs
42%
Red Runs
40%
Black Runs
17%
Season
December – April
Accommodation
Hotel Montana
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Hotel Arlberg
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Hotel Erzberg
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Hotel Plattenhof
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Thurnhers Alpenhof
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Hotel Monzabon
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Useful Information
Beginners
The Flehen lift next to the old church is the go to place to learn. There you will find a T-bar and ideal beginner terrain for both skiers and snowboarders. After a couple of days here, beginners in ski school then progress to Oberlech and easy blue runs like Weibermahd. In Zurs the nursery slopes have improved with increased snow-making; beginners can ride the baby lifts near the main car park before accessing blue runs higher up on either side of the valley via Hexenboden and Seekopf chairlifts.
Intermediates
Around 50% of the marked runs in Lech and Zurs are suitable for intermediate skiers and boarders. Like may resorts, a ski route looping round on itself exists and is famously referred to as the ‘The White Ring’. In addition, the bolshie intermediate will love the 30 ungroomed but marked trails. Only five or six of these are classified as Extreme, the rest should be well within the capabilities of the more in intrepid intermediates.
Advanced
Lech & Zurs lack groomed black pistes (there is only one) but they have plenty of powder. As mentioned above, there are 30 ungroomed and unpatrolled ski routes marked on the piste map in just the Lech-Zurs area alone, and over 200kms of ungroomed powder runs across the whole of the Arlberg ski area. For advanced skiers who insist on black pistes, there are 11 in neighbouring, lift-connected Warth-Schroecken.
Snowboarders
Lech & Zurs is good for boarders, especially if you venture over into Zurs. In Lech itself, on Schlegelkopf there is Boardercross, air park, half-pipe, quarter pipe, 360-degree steep-curve, waveride, and funpark with fun boxes, slides, pro-jump, jump, and inverted jump. Advanced boarders should make a day trip to Stuben and of course enjoy the steep slopes of Valluga.
Cross Country Trails
There are lots of cross-country trails around Lech and Zurs, and also various hiking trails. Guided snowshoe tours are conducted during the day or by moonlight. These can be organised through the tourist office. Other outdoor activities include horse drawn sleigh rides. Inquiries can be directed to the stand at the wooden covered bridge in Lech.
Tobogganing
A great family activity is the long toboggan run from Oberlech to Lech which is lit up until 10pm. Toboggans can be hired at the Oberlech mountain railway.
Ice Skating
Ice-skating is another alternative to skiing. There’s a rink in Lech at the Hotel Monzabon and a ‘real’ ice-skating rink in Zurs.
Indoor Activities
Indoor activities include tennis, squash, soccer and a climbing wall. There are also various establishments offering massage and beauty treatments. Lech also has a couple of museums depicting the history of the area but you’d potentially need to be really bored to consider them.
Heli Skiing
Heli skiing is not commonly offered in Austria, but is available in Zurs through the ski school. Be aware that prices quoted for heli-skiing separate the helicopter travel costs from that of the guide.
View the live snow report for Lech & Zurs here
Bockiland (Zurs)
Bockiland is located in Zurs next to the Baby lift and the double chairlift for the practice slope. There are multiple magic carpets and a castle made out of snow and ice. The children will feel at home here.
Kinderclub-Lech (Children’s area in Lech)
The children’s area of the Kinderclub-Lech offers many funny characters and obstacles as well as magic carpets. The little ones will learn to ski in a playful way here.
Area Map
Hotel Montana
Hotel Arlberg
Hotel Erzberg
Hotel Plattenhof
Thurnhers Alpenhof
Hotel Monzabon
Getting There
By Plane
Munich 160 km, Innsbruck 95 km, Salzburg 80 km
About 90 minutes with the train, bus, airport shuttle or hire car to Kitzbühel
By Road
By Car
The road between Warth and Lech is closed in winter because of avalanche risk so if driving to Lech or Zurs in winter road access is possible only from the south via Stuben, Zurs – Lech.
If approaching from the west, take the motorway toll road A14/E60/S16, direction Innsbruck, take exit Langan am Arlberg / Klosterle (before the Arlberg tunnel) for B197 Arlbergstrasse then B198 Lechtalstrasse heads north from Stuben am Arlberg to Zurs then Lech.
If approaching from the east follow the motorway toll road A12/E60/S16 from Innsbruck, take exit St Anton am Arlberg and follow the Arlbergstrasse B197 via St Christoph, then the B198 Lechtalstrasse to Zurs and Lech.
By Bus
As well as private transfers which we would be delighted to arrange, the Arlberg Express transfer bus runs between Zurich airport and Lech – Zurs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the winter season. For reservations and information: Arlberg Express, Tel: +43 (0) 5582 226, E-mail: info@arlbergexpress.comA shuttle bus service is operated by Loacker Tours running from Friedrichshafen to Zurs (post office) and Lech (post office) and to St Anton am Arlberg.
By Train
There are frequent fast Inter City rail connections from Zurich, Munich or Innsbruck to Langen am Arlberg station (17 km from Lech) where there are bus connections and taxis running from Langen to Zurs and Lech. There is no rail transfer between Friedrichshafen and Langen am Arlberg. Click on the links below for train times;
https://www.oebb.at/en/ – Austrian Railways(OBB)
https://www.bahn.de/i/view/GBR/en/about/booking-timetable.shtml – German Railways (DB)
https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html – Swiss Railways (SBB)