St Anton Information

Apres-ski

Before you have even reached the bottom of the mountain, there's the infamous Krazy Kangaruh (tel: +43 54 462 633; www.krazykanguruh.com), a popular haunt for young skiers and boarders. Located on the piste just above the resort, it's definitely not for those in search of a quiet drink, and despite its copious size you may not get in if you don't arrive early.

Late on much of the revelry centres on Dorfstrasse, where you'll discover Bar Cuba's (tel: +43 664 652 3886; www.barcuba-stanton.com) cocktails, panini and pies; Alibi's (tel: +43 664 542 5417; www.alibi.am-arlberg.info) music and draft beers; and The Kandahar (tel: +43 54 463 0260; www.kandaharbar.com), which has a nightclub and serves Thai and Indian food.

Eating out

There's a wide choice of restaurants in St Anton serving food ranging from traditional Austrian dishes (such as venison and Wiener schnitzel) to the more exotic, including Indian and Mexican cuisine.

The Hospiz Alm (tel: +43 54 463 625; www.hospiz.com) at St Christoph, with its extensive wine cellar, is a wonderful spot for lunch – its popularity means it's best to book ahead.

Evening favourites include the Sonnbichl Restaurant (tel: +43 54 462 243; www.dassonnbichl.at) for an excellent five-course dinner, Hotel Raffl's St Anton Hof's restaurant Raffl Stube (tel: +43 54 462 910; www.antonerhof.at) for regional dishes, or the Skiing Buddha (tel: +43 54 462 6252; www.skiingbuddha.at) at the arl.rock for flavoursome Thai food.

The Hazienda in the The M3 Hotel (tel: +43 544 629 6822; www.m3hotel.at) has a reputation for some of the best food in the village, particularly its steak menu.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

St Anton's status as a world-class, year-round mountain resort results in a plethora of activities for visitors away from the slopes.

One key attraction is the superb ARLBERG-well.com wellness centre (tel: +43 54 464 000; www.arlberg-well.com), which houses a pool, ice rink, saunas, massage services, solarium and fitness equipment. The multifunctional sports centre in the arl.rock complex (tel: +43 54 462 625; www.arlrock.at) offers indoor tennis, squash, bowling, climbing, ice climbing and bouldering.

Another indoor activity – although less energetic – is a visit to the St Anton Museum (tel: +43 54 462 269), which showcases the colourful history of the village and the alpine skiing heritage in the region.

Back on the snow, there are 70km (43 miles) of cleared winter hiking trails and 40km (25 miles) of cross-country trails to explore, as well as various toboggan runs in the ski area.

Family fun

St Anton has a mixed appeal for families. The dispersed nature of the village and the hedonistic nightlife sometimes presents a challenge, but there is a good nursery/early learning area on the village side where the pistes from the Gampen and Galzig converge.

Both of the resort's main ski schools, Skischule Arlberg (tel: +43 54 462 526; www.skischool-arlberg.com) and Skischule St Anton (tel: +43 54 463 563; www.skistanton.com) run kindergartens for children aged two-and-a-half to five years of age, as well as introductory ski lessons for three- to five-year-olds with races and ski parties. Older children can learn progressively advanced techniques and skills, including mogul skiing, racing, powder skiing and snowblading.

Retail therapy

Clothing and sports shops abound in St Anton, alongside gift shops in the pedestrianised centre of the village, where you can pick up traditional Austrian woollen jackets among other local knick-knacks. The sports shops also offer excellent quality on rental equipment for skis, boards and boots.

For something a little bit different, take home rowanberry or quince brandy, fruit liquors, or Alpine herbal spirits in decorative bottles from the Drinks Company (Dorfstrasse 27).

Splashing out

A romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride through the local Verwall Valley is a great way to experience the full winter magic of the region. A stop en-route at the cosy Verwall Inn (tel: +43 54 463 249) provides a chance to warm up and enjoy some coffee and homemade cakes. For bookings, contact Mr Thomas Bals (tel: +43 664 530 8441).

Hotels

Accommodation in St Anton is housed in a mixture of traditional and modern buildings, with a wide variety of categories ranging from cheap and cheerful apartments to more luxurious 4- and 5-star hotels. There are also further options on the slopes and villages around the main centre.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap