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Lech Ski Resort Guide

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Nestled in one of the snowiest in Europe, Lech is a classic alpine resort with amazing skiing and a charm suited even for royals. Although only situated at an altitude of 1450, in recent years it has received up to twice as much snow as some of its French rivals. Lech is part of the Arlberg ski area along with 5 other resorts – St Anton, Stuben, Zürs, Warth, and Schröken.

Skiing in Lech is made easy with its snow-sure location and variety of pistes for all abilities. Intermediates love it here, whilst advanced skiers enjoy giving the itinerary runs a go. Lech boasts modern lifts and great interconnectedness between the rest of the Arlberg area, making more skiing easily accessible.

Crowned the ‘prettiest village in Europe’, Lech is the perfect mix of mountain huts turned boutique hotels and trendy restaurants. If you’re after great skiing mixed with high-end dining and entertainment, Lech might be just the place for you.

Find the lesson that suits you in our Lech Ski & Snowboard School. Skiing elsewhere nearby? We also offer ski and snowboard lessons in St Anton.

Lech Resort Information

Lech Key Facts

  • Altitude 1450m
  • Part of Arlberg Ski Area (Austria’s largest interconnected ski area)
  • Arlberg Ski Area has 305km of pistes & over 70 official pistes
  • Lech was the first resort in Europe to cap the number of day passes issued to 14,000 a day
  • There is a huge variety of gentle blue and green runs
  • The resort boasts 30 ungroomed official off-piste runs covering over 200km (labelled with red diamond signs)
  • Lech has 5 extreme black off piste ski runs

Lech Piste Map

Lech Piste Map

Arlberg Piste Map

Arlberg Piste Map

Click on the images for high res downloadable piste maps of Lech and The Arlberg Ski Area.

Skiing in Lech

The best ski runs in Lech – our pick of the bunch.

Beginners:

  • There is a designated beginner area behind the church in Lech. Perfect for those who want to learn in a tranquil, safe environment that is easily accessible from your hotel.
  • Many people prefer going to Zürs to learn, but that may be because it is a little more trendy! The Fluhen area and Berghof piste. Both are fantastic areas for beginners and have gentle slopes with drag lifts & magic carpets. 

Intermediates:

  • The slopes surrounding Lech itself are ideal for intermediates because of the multiple wide open mellow interlinked pistes. There is a large variety of green and red runs. Mohnenmähder because of its length and views over the valley. 

Advanced:

  • Lech has some demanding red runs and itinerary routes (un-groomed runs that are on the piste map but are neither patrolled nor avalanche controlled) leading back towards Lech.
  • The Weisser Ring (or White Ring) challenge. A legendary 22km circuit over Lech, Zürs, Zug and Oberlech. This will definitely get your legs burning!
  • Fancy a bigger challenge? You can go heliskiing in Lech.

Ski Hire in Lech

Want to know where you can get ski or snowboard hire in Lech?

We recommend getting your ski hire with Hervis in Lech. They offer great quality and a large selection of skis, provide an easy way to book online and best yet – you get an exclusive New Gen discount when you book through our website. Book your ski or snowboard hire in advance via the button below.

Book Ski Hire

Lech Restaurants

Lech is well renowned as a foodies paradise and rightly so. With options to suit all budgets, there’s something for everyone. You just need to know where to look!

Best Cheap Eats

  • Hus Nr 8 in Lech is a tiny wooden house that doesn’t look like much from the outside. It’s a charming cheap place for dinner of fondue, charcuterie and other traditional recipes with a modern twist. 
  • For a cheaper alternative on the mountain, head to Balmalp at the top of the Zugerberg chairlift. It boasts a large terrace, perfect for a long lunch in the sun enjoying rosé with your friends. We love Balmalp because it serves up huge, Italian style sharing pizzas and has daily changing Asian dishes. 

Mid Range

  • Lechtaler Stube in Oberlech is an Austrian & Mediterranean restaurant that has something for everyone. The extensive salad bar and local produce make it a firm favourite for vegetarians and vegans. The Mediterranean cuisine is not to be missed and makes for a lighter option to traditional cheese-based Austrian dishes. 
  • The Rud-Alpe is a restaurant based on the ski slopes with fantastic views and an extensive wine list. The traditional fondue is very popular- and for good reason. Make sure you get in on the cheesy action!

Fine Dining

  • The Griggeler Stuba in Oberlech is a restaurant based in the 5 stars Burgvital Hotel. If you’re looking for creative seasonal dishes, with unbeatable service and tranquil atmosphere then this is the place to be. Although it is more expensive, you will not be disappointed.
  • The Zur Kanne in Oberlech is your go-to place for fine dining on the mountain. Think deckchairs, blankets, outside heaters, and a large terrace. The price tag is high, but the service, food, the wine reflects this adequately.

Lech Après & Nightlife

Lech has some swanky cocktail lounges, clubs, sun terraces, and locals pubs. So whatever your style, Lech has it all.

Après-ski

  • The Schlegelkopf is a mountain restaurant sitting at 1800m high, which is the go-to destination for long lunches followed by a lively apres scene. The huge terrace full of sofas and tables to dance on creates a fun atmosphere for an afternoon on the slopes. It’s only open until 5 pm so we advise booking a table for lunch and enjoying the afternoon there after your morning lesson. You can cruise home on the blue piste or download it on the Schlegelkopf chairlift.
  • The Fux lounge is an Asian style restaurant open for après ski & dinner. The vibe is chilled, and the clientele is exclusive. You’ll frequently see people with cigars, drinking coffee or cocktails in expensive fur coats surrounded by security.
  • The Eisbar offers the best gluhwein in town and has a selection of local musicians playing live from 4-7 pm. This is where you’ll find the locals relaxing after a day on the mountain.

Nightclubs

  • Underneath the Hotel Tannbergerhof is a lively nightclub/bar called the Cottage Bar. It stays open until 3 am and is a second home for all the seasonnaires. With Guinness on tap and new DJs every week, you’ll find yourself dancing in your ski boots till the sun comes up. 
  • The K Club is another swanky club hidden inside a 5-star hotel, open late from 10 pm-4 am. It’s an exclusive club for VIPs sipping on champagne enjoying dance music. It’s also worth checking out the ice bar on their terrace which is pumping at après ski time overflowing with Aperol Spritz! 
  • The Archiv bar serves up cocktails and dance music into the early hours of the morning. Make sure you try the Jägertee (rum, black tea and spices) as it’s the local’s drink of choice

A bit of history

Lech is an alpine village based in the heart of the Arlberg Ski Area was first discovered by farmers searching for new land for grazing their cattle. Lech was originally called Tannberg am Lech until they later shortened its name to Lech. The small community of around 100 people would look after their cattle roaming the high alpine pastures in the summer and tuck inside during the harsh winter months. The cows would live downstairs in their small mountain huts and the farmers would live upstairs using the warmth of the cows to survive the harsh conditions.

In the 20th century, skiing was first introduced by a vicar in Warth. He had read an article in a Norwegian newspaper about strapping wooden planks to your feet to aid them walking in the deep snow. They gave it a go and discovered how useful it was!

Hannes Schneider then went on to create Arlberg Ski School in 1925, making it the oldest ski school to date. Lech-Zürs am Arlberg is said to be the birth-place of alpine skiing. In 1906 the first ski race was held in Lech which brought more and more skiers to the area. 

Nowadays Lech is renowned for its tranquillity, luxury, and fantastic snow conditions. The resort has something for everyone and has extensive off-piste in the powder mecca of Europe. 

Lech Village Map

Lech Village Map

Lech FAQ’s

Fly

Fly to Innsbruck or Zurich and then a transfer to Lech. 

Transfer companies: gettransfer.com, skilifts.com, alpinbus.com, The Arlberg Express bus company

You can also rent a car at the airport and then drive to resort yourself if you’d like. From Innsbruck it’s a 90min drive, and from Zurich is just over 2hrs. Coming from Innsbruck drivers should follow the main Inn Valley motorway up to where the road splits for Ischgl or St Anton.

Train

Innsbruck. The easiest rail route from Innsbruck to Lech am Arlberg is to take the frequent service to St Anton am Arlberg and then use the public bus or a taxi onwards to Lech.

Langen railway station is the closest train station to Lech and is the most convenient for the airports of Zurich or Friedrichshafen. The train journey from Zurich takes around 2 hours and 20 minutes and the ride from Friedrichshafen around 20 minutes longer – however the trip from Zurich is direct and that from Friedrichshafen involves a number of changes.

At Langen, a taxi can be hired or the local bus (which runs every 1 or 2 hours until around 22.00).

Drive

Driving from the UK is quite the trek – it’s over 16hrs from London! So unless you’re staying for longer than a week, it probably isn’t your best option.

Bus

Regular buses from Innsbruck. The Arlberg Express bus company runs an airport transfer bus service to Lech or Zürs. The service is more frequent at weekends, but there is also a single daily bus from the Zurich airport.

Here are some of our favourite places to stay in resort:

  • Chalet Hotel Montfort – (Ski Total- cheap) is just 450m from the lifts and a short stroll away from the shops and bars on the main street of Lech. It has cosy Austrian furnishings with a modern touch. With it only sleeping 35 people, it’s best to get booked early. 
  • Haus Schrofenstein – (mid-price range) A small and attractive B&B, situated just a three-minute walk from the Bergbahn cable car up to Oberlech, and a five-minute walk from the centre of the village. 
  • Hotel Tannbergerhof– (Expensive) is a smart and sophisticated four-star hotel located right next to the church. It was one of the first hotels to be built in Lech.

As well as some agents with whom you can book stays in Lech:

  • The Chalet Edit – The hassle-free ‘little black book’ of luxury ski chalets in Lech.

If you’re staying up in Oberlech, then fear not- you aren’t isolated. The 80 person Bergbahn cable car runs from 7 am – 1 am. Oberlech is car-free and home to the high-end hotels and chalets that have a network of underground tunnels that the staff use for deliveries and luggage.

The town of Lech itself is easy to navigate, as it still remains a small village. The council will not let it expand which makes the furthest lift from the town around 600m away. But there is a free shuttle bus that runs regularly so you don’t need to worry about walking that 600m in ski boots.

Lech on average gets around 10m of snow which is much more than many French resorts. Lech and the Arlberg area is one of the most snow safe places to ski in Europe. With over 60% of the resort covered by snow cannons too, you can be sure to enjoy great conditions. 

For live webcams, click here.

If you’re looking for more information about resort including what’s on during your stay, then try the following website:

Lech Zeurs Website
A helpful site with regular event listings of what’s going on in resort, snow reports and more.

Lech has a mix of high-end clothing brands mixing sport and fashion to one-of-a-kind- gift shops. The Strolz ski shop is an iconic family-run shop located in Lech centre which is worth a look. Walking down the main street of Lech is a truly delightful experience. With many elegant products on offer at the exclusive shops and exquisite boutiques between Rüfiplatz square and the church. As you stroll past the display windows, you’ll see why shopping in Lech is such a special experience.

Whether you’re a non-skier or have one in your party, or you’re looking for something to do when the weather draws in, there’s plenty of non-skiing activities to keep you entertained in Lech.

Snowshoeing 

Swimming 

Spas & saunas, massage 

Ice rink 

Yoga Facilities 

Gym facilities 

Paragliding 

Helicopter tour 

Horse riding/ sleigh rides

Gallery & museum 

Sledding 

In Lech we recommend:

The Kristiania hotel runs a ski nanny service for children over 3 years old. You will need to contact their reception to make a booking. 

Googie’s babysitting company 

For other childcare options, click here. 

We offer private ski lessons in Lech

Looking for ski or snowboard lessons in Lech? We offer private instruction, either one-on-one or book with friends. With loads of local knowledge from our instructors, you’ll be able to experience everything Lech has to offer. Whether you’re just starting out, improving, or looking for an adventure; we’re here to help you improve, build confidence and make the most of your stay.

Find our private lesson prices for our Lech Ski & Snowboard School.

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