Lech resort guide

One of Austria’s most fashionable resorts, Lech offers the perfect combination of traditional charm, excellent snowfall and fabulous hotels.

This chocolate box Alpine village is set beside a meandering river and links to the slopes of Zürs and Oberlech. Those staying here can also easily access St Anton’s ski slopes. It’s great for families who like skiing on uncrowded well groomed, snow-sure runs. And as well as promising superb skiing, Lech may even afford guests a glimpse of a celebrity or royal visitor during a ski holiday here.

Resort facts and figures

Resort altitude 1450m
Highest point 2450m
Average annual snowfall Up to 7m
Season Nov-April
Ski area 2 main areas, Lech and Zürs, which are linked to the huge Arlberg Ski Area. All linked resorts are included in the hands-free Arlberg Card ski pass
Pistes 280km
Pistes available Beginner: 40%, Intermediate: 48%, Expert: 12%
Best for Intermediate to advanced with excellent off-piste, and plenty of choice for beginners, especially if willing to travel around the area

On the mountain

Lech’s well-groomed, cruising pistes provide excellent intermediate skiing with long descents. Among these is the famous 22km-long ‘White Ring’ circuit that runs in a clockwise direction starting from Lech Village and finishing in Zürs. Advanced skiers and snowboarders will love it here too, with 180+ kilometres of uncrowded challenging off-piste terrain including open powder fields and steep mogul fields.The resort is also good for nervous or inexperienced skiers, with plenty of gentle pistes for beginners. Snow reliability is excellent here – so whatever level you are, you’re sure to find some fantastic skiing somewhere.

Mountain restaurants

There are many restaurants to choose from, offering a good mixture of modern and traditional Austrian cuisine. The best are at Oberlech. When the weather’s good you can chill out on the sun terraces at Goldenerberg, Burg Hotel and Burg Vital, close to the base of the Peterboden chairliftor at the Mohenfluh, higher up the mountain. Other possibilities include the Rud Alpe and Kriegeralpe huts or the PalmenAlpe at the top of the Zugerberg chairlift.

Non-skiing activities

Guided snowshoe tours during the day or by moonlight can be organised through the tourist office, and walking tours are also available, as well as horse-drawn sleigh rides. There’s a long toboggan run from Oberlech to Lech which is lit up until 10pm - you can hire toboggans at the Oberlech mountain railway. Indoor activities include tennis, squash, soccer, a climbing wall and an indoor ice rink at the Hotel Monzabon.

Après, dining and nightlife

Lech is well known for being more refined than other Austrian resorts but it does have a reasonable nightlife. There’s a good music scene in various hotels, including zither music on Sundays in the Gasthof Post. Après-ski begins on the slopes in Oberlech with champagne at Hotel Montana, or there’s the Hotel Burg and Hotel Sonnenburg, both close to the tram. Back in town, you can go wild and dance to oompah music at the ice bar outside the Tannbergerhof. Lech has over 50 restaurants to try, mostly in hotels, from high-end establishments to pizzerias. After dinner, jazz enthusiasts head for Fux, a jazz café and nightclub right on the river with two different disco bars and an excellent cigar bar. You can also try the disco the Scotch Club in the Hotel Arlberg or the chic alternative, Hotel Krone’s Side Step disco.

Family and ski school

The general approach in Lech is very family-friendly. Lech ski school provides activities for small children just starting to learn to ski (aged 3+) and there is the Kinderland for the young skiers on their second or third trip. Babysitting can also be arranged through the tourist office on a weekly, daily or hourly basis. As well as several English-speaking ski schools, private guides are also available to help you make the most of the fabulous off-piste skiing tha’ts available in this area.

Useful links

www.lech-zuers.at