Not far from the border with Germany you can find the best skiing in Austria, or so some say. The twin resorts of Lech and Zurs are located in the Vorarlberg area on the Arlberg Pass and are so close to each other that they are often mentioned together. A smaller area nearby is known as the ‘St Moritz of Austria’ if this rings any bells. Other resorts nearby are Stuben and Oberlech and Zug.
Getting here is easy as you have airports nearby Innsbruck being the closest, just 1 hour away. The Germans usually fly to Innsbruch and the Swiss enter Austria at Feldkirch.
What differentiates Zurs and Lech from the other resorts is probably the glamour and the chic atmosphere that can be found in a large “supply”. But Zurs is probably the more elegant and sophisticated of the two Lech being a more rustic village dating 14th century but which charms its visitors with its location among trees.
Besides the charm and the wonderful background the 2 resorts attract tourists with their limitless possibility for skiing. Imagine 180 km of slopes suitable for skiers of all levels. The variety of the terrain and the many facilities like 83 lifts that range from cable cars to draglifts are equally appealing. You can get from an altitude of 1500 m to 2800 m in no time and you don’t have to queue for long which is quite a relief.
Skiing is a very old tradition in Austria and Lech and Zurs are among the villages where skiing is synonymous with living. Think about that a normal kid’s way of spending his/her spare time in winter is watching TV because it is too cold to go out while here the locals are used to go out skiing and they know the area so well that they know the name of every peak, every turn and every bump! Much better than knowing the name of each character in a movie!
The slopes are like the streets in a city they are so many and so varied. That’s why during winter the best and the most popular way of getting from Zurs to Lech is by skiing. People who ski for recreational purposes can choose one route while the more adventurous ones can choose other slopes. The best skiers come here for the adventure these mountains offer and when there is fresh snow the thrill is enhanced.
And if you want to visit other villages there are Oberlech and Zug, two villages that also offer great opportunities for skiing for all levels. If you want to ski on a great variety and number of slopes you should get the Arlberg ski pass that will allow you to ski on all slopes in Zürs, Lech, Oberlech, Zug and St Anton area. If you add them up you get 260 km of groomed slopes plus the off the track ones. And if you get tired at some point you just hop on one of the lifts and you can easily get to your destination. Actually if you are a non skier you can still travel all those 260 km by hopping from one cable car to another with a bit of walking in between.
You can ski in the area till late in April and this period is the favorite for the ones that like weather a bit warmer and the possibility of sunbathing and getting a bit tanned is increased.
As we said non skiers can do a lot here for fun as the resorts are perfectly designed so that all types of tourists can have the time of their life. And as everywhere you go you need a place to eat here you’ll find not just ordinary restaurants as the locals want to offer the best in gastronomy. Coming here you will taste some of the best wines and dishes.
Fine snow, excellent skiing, great fun, superb surroundings, and first class accommodation appeal to every tourist and they keep coming to Zurs and Lech.
