The Ski Resort
Whilst St Anton may provide the wildest ski New Years Eve party in Austria, Arlberg neighbours Lech and Zursrobably provide the most sophisticated and classy celebration.
Unlike St Anton, Lech and Zurs are very sophisticated New Year ski destinations, probably the most famous and favoured in Austria amongst royalty, counts and countesses. As such celebrating the New Year amongst the rich and famous in Austria does not come without a suitable price! This aside (if you need to ask how much it is not a ski resort we would recommend), the New Year skiing is excellent and Lech simply perfect. Dominated by traditionally styled chalet hotels and the river running through the centre, Lech is one of the most picture perfect ski resorts in Europe, let alone Austria. With its high-end bars, restaurants, and boutique shops, as well as the festive decorations, music and snowy scenery, it really is a very special New Year ski holiday destination that is hard to beat.
The New Year skiing in the Arlberg is of course some of the best in the world. Lech is geared very much for its sophisticated skiers who have no reason to ruin the latest designer ski suit prior to lunch in town. The pistes are therefore always carefully prepared and you can have a great days skiing above or in the trees just above the town. Beginners and intermediate skiers will particularly like the groomed slopes and the relaxed New Year skiing. Zurs is a little higher and a little more challenfging although good for beginners and intermediates as well. Pistes here are well maintained but not to extent of Lech and there is some advanced skiing New Year as well. For the best advanced skiing New Year then St Anton has few rivals. Here there really are some of the most challenging skiing anywhere in Europe.
In summary, New Year ski holidays are not a low cost option, but if money is not an issue, few ski resorts come close to rivaling these two.
Worth Knowing
Many visitors arrive in Lech and Zurs at New Year by traveling down in a 4x4. This is beneficial as the road between St Anton and Lech-Zurs is prone to closing and bad weather. 4x4 is as we have said is beneficial, but snow chains should also be carried and ideally winter tyres also fitted.
Off Piste Skiing
New Year at the top of the Valluga is something else. The run down to Zurs is something again! What we mean by something again depends on ski ability but it is not in our opinion something that should be embarked upon lightly or without a guide.
Ski School
Lech and Zurs Ski School Arlberg comes well recommended. The New Year ski holidays being such a popular time, we do however recommend booking in advance, particularly for private ski lessons.
Snow Boarding
Lech-Zurs are a great snowboarding resorts with great snowboarding terrain before you even go across to St Anton. Very welcoming towards snowboarders too, Lech has its own snowpark above Schlegelkopf.