Discover why Arlberg is a top destination for families

Austria’s Arlberg region is a dream destination for snow-loving families, writes Helen Hayes.

It is something out of a fairytale. We are clip-clopping through a perfect snow-globe scene on a horse-drawn sleigh, breath billowing in the crisp air, eyes drawn to the mountains all around, noses glowing with a distinct Rudolph-like hue. It is heavenly.

We are in the magical village of Lech, one of five villages in Austria’s Arlberg region – the largest ski area in the country. Lech, along with St Anton, St Christoph, Stuben and Zürs, combine to offer an astonishing 300km of groomed runs and more than 200km of off-piste terrain, all linked by 85 high-tech lifts and cable cars. The most famous lift is the Vallugabahn II, a phone-box sized gondola that takes you to the viewing platform at 2811m, with mountain peaks like sharks’ teeth in all directions.

Skiing and snowboarding in Arlberg

The Arlberg has serious ski cred. It’s the birthplace of alpine skiing, thanks to local legend Hannes Schneider, with a heritage dating back to 1901. Its long-standing skiing expertise still shapes the region and the way people ski today. There is a huge variety of runs for all levels, from absolute beginners to thrill-seeking experts. There are excellent ski schools and cool learning zones for kids in Lech, Zürs, Oberlech and St Anton, which also has the fun Hopplweg trail and the Funslope, a mixture of ski slope and snow park, accessed by the child-friendly Tanzbödenbahn chairlift.

Advanced skiers and snowboarders will be in their element; just make sure everyone knows the rules around skiing off-piste. The Arlberg is one of Austria’s snowiest regions, with the slopes welcoming snow lovers from early December to mid to late April.

Just keep in mind that the colours of the runs are different in Austria – blue is the easiest, red is intermediate and black is advanced.

Where to dine in Arlberg

Every day here is an adventure, with excellent on-mountain dining options – have a kaiserschmarrn at Gampen, and a divine schnitzel at Alte Gastube in Stuben, which has been a restaurant since 1739. Be sure to check out the images of local hero Hannes Schneider on the walls.

Snow activities in Arlberg

When not skiing or snowboarding, hike or snowshoe to the Wagner Hütte in the Verwall Valley. This incredibly scenic 45-minute hike takes you past frozen streams and through snow-covered forests with a typical Tyrolean meal your reward once you get there. A good tip is to do it in the later afternoon when the sun sinks behind the mountains, bathing the valley in golden light.

Another great option is to tackle the 4.5km toboggan run from Gampen to Nasserein, with the Austrian sleds way easier to handle than the flat plastic toboggans we have in Australia.

But for me, the highlight is in postcard-pretty Lech, where we climb aboard the horse-drawn sleigh for a wonderful meander down to the tiny village of Zug. Definitely one for the family photo album.

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This article was produced by Helen Hayes partnership with Austria Tourism and is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter below.

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