Lech and Zürs am Arlberg

Alpine luxury meets skiing heritage

Lech and Zurs am Arlberg is a small mountain village in western Austria known for its clean air and quiet streets. The area features well-maintained walking paths along the Lech River, offering views of snow-capped peaks and green valleys. Local cafes serve traditional Austrian food like schnitzel and apple strudel, while family-run hotels provide comfortable stays with easy access to ski slopes in winter and hiking trails in summer. Public transport connects visitors to nearby towns without adding traffic noise or pollution.

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Village in Austria

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.3

General Safety:	5
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	10

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken throughout Lech and Zürs, especially in hotels, restaurants, and ski facilities. As internationally renowned resorts, they cater well to English-speaking visitors. Even smaller establishments typically have staff with good English

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Lech and Zürs am Arlberg Summary

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World-class for alpine skiing and luxury resorts. Ski vast Arlberg slopes, enjoy winter hiking and relax in upscale mountain lodges.

Place score

8.2

Best at:

Snow

Skiing

Cosy towns

Spotless

Natural sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 9

Seniors

❤️ 9

Couples

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

Austria – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Austria is a highly cashless society, particularly in urban areas. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, and mobile payment services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are increasingly popular. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Austria. In restaurants, it is common to leave a 5-10% tip, though rounding up to the nearest euro is also acceptable. Taxi drivers typically expect a small tip, around 10% of the fare. Hotel staff and tour guides appreciate small gratuities.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally permitted in Austria, though some areas may have restrictions. Drinking in public spaces such as parks and squares is socially accepted but may be subject to local laws in specific municipalities.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in most indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport. Designated smoking areas are available in many locations.

National Day (October)	A national holiday with many closures, celebrations, and increased domestic tourism.
Christmas (December)	Festive celebrations across the country, with crowded tourist spots and higher prices for accommodation.
Austrian Wine Harvest Festival (September)	Celebration of local wines, especially in wine-producing regions, with festivals and events.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Uber
Other:	Austria is known for its rich cultural heritage, with historical sites, museums, and nature reserves. Its well-developed infrastructure, particularly in transport, makes it a comfortable destination for travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Lech and Zürs am Arlberg, Austria

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High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, July - Sep.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

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Climate details

Ski season runs early December to late April, linked to St. Anton, St. Christoph and Stuben via the Arlberg ski area

Most hotels, restaurants and shops close from late April to mid June and from September to late November

Summer hiking season with open lifts runs roughly late June to late September, with limited services

Don't miss

🎿 Ski the famous White Ring circuit in winter
🚶‍♂️ Hike or bike the scenic Green Ring art trail
🚠 Ride the Rüfikopf gondola for panoramic alpine views
🏡 Visit the Huber House museum to learn local history
🍽️ Experience gourmet dining in Lech's award-winning restaurants

You've been here?

Why travel to Lech and Zürs am Arlberg?

Lech and Zürs offer that rare combination of world-class skiing and authentic alpine village atmosphere that's increasingly hard to find in Europe's more commercialized resorts. In winter, you'll discover some of Europe's finest intermediate skiing across Austria's largest interconnected ski area, including the famous White Ring circuit. The high annual snowfall and elevation ensure reliable conditions, while the new Flexenbahn gondolas connect you easily to St. Anton and other nearby Arlberg resorts, doubling your skiing options. Beyond winter, these villages transform into a summer paradise with 350km of hiking trails through flowering alpine meadows, Austria's highest 9-hole golf course along the Lech river and world-class culinary experiences that have earned the area the title of 'World Gourmet Village.' What makes Lech and Zürs truly special is their commitment to preserving their character despite international fame – you'll find dozens of luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, but also traditional mountain huts and the charm of villages sometimes completely cut off from the outside world during heavy snowfall.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Burgwald Bike Trail
2 Skyspace

🎡Places for activities

1 Flexenbahn

🎈Events

Tanzcafé Arlberg Music Festival (April)
Summer Hiking Season Opening (June)
Golf Tournaments
Vintage Car Rallies
Village Festivals
Summer Concerts
Winter Ski Season Opening
Culinary Festivals
Cultural Exhibitions
Mountain Biking Events

Explore on map

Knowledge before you go

Buy Arlberg lift pass. Access 305km interconnected slopes.
Ski legendary White Ring circuit from Lech to Zürs and back.
Book luxury hotels early; families love Oberlech's car-free village.
Ride Flexenbahn gondola to connect St Anton; freeride powder off-piste.

How to travel to Lech and Zürs am Arlberg

Reaching Lech and Zürs is straightforward despite their mountain location. The nearest train stations are Langen am Arlberg (15km away) and St. Anton am Arlberg (20km away), both with regular connections from major European cities. From Vienna, trains depart hourly (journey time: about 6 hours), from Zurich every two hours (journey time: about 3 hours) and from Munich every two hours (journey time: about 3.25 hours). Regular buses (lines 750/760) or taxis connect these stations to the villages. For those flying, Innsbruck airport is just 1.5 hours away by car, while Zurich airport is about 2 hours away. Private shuttle services like the Arlberg Express offer transfers from surrounding airports.

Access summary

From Zurich Airport (ZRH): Arlberg Express bus or train+bus, about 3–4 hours.
From Innsbruck: Drive or train to St. Anton, then bus, roughly 2–3 hours.
Winter access via Flexen Pass; roads can close temporarily during heavy snowfall.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Lech and Zürs am Arlberg

Lech and Zürs are renowned for their luxury accommodations, with dozens of four and five-star hotels offering exceptional service, gourmet dining and wellness facilities. Despite this high-end reputation, the area maintains a maximum capacity of 10,000 beds, ensuring an intimate atmosphere. While luxury options dominate, there are also more budget-conscious choices including smaller guesthouses and family-run establishments. The villages' popularity means booking well in advance is essential, particularly during peak winter season when the best properties fill up months ahead.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Banyan

8.8

Mondschein Hotel & Chalet

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Lech and Zürs am Arlberg

Getting around Lech and Zürs is surprisingly convenient, with an emphasis on car-free mobility. The villages are compact enough to explore on foot and a free local bus service connects the two settlements and nearby attractions. During winter, ski lifts and gondolas provide additional transportation options, including the Flexenbahn connecting to other Arlberg resorts. In summer, the Lech Card offers free use of select cable cars, making it easy to access hiking trails and mountain viewpoints.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

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To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-5 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 5% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend around the same on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

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-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Sonthofen, Germany - 35 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£114	£212	£488
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£75	£135	£263
🍝 Food per day	£28	£64	£183
🚕 Transportation per day	£11	£12	£42

Notable additional fees: Ski Arlberg day pass about €80 (£66.97), covering Lech, Zuers, St Anton and Warth. Ski, boot and pole hire runs roughly €30 – 45 (£25.11 – 37.67) a day.

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£26
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£13
🍟 Fast food combo	£8.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£10
☕ Cappuccino	£3.10
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£3.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£2.70
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£24
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.50

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£12
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£55
🤧 Cold medication	£8
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Lech and Zürs are extremely safe destinations with minimal crime. The main safety concerns relate to mountain activities - follow ski area guidelines, check weather forecasts before hiking and be prepared for rapid weather changes. In winter, avalanche awareness is important when venturing off-piste.

Health & Medical

Healthcare in Lech and Zürs meets high Austrian standards, with medical facilities available in the villages and excellent hospitals within reach. Altitude sickness is rarely an issue at this elevation. The clean mountain air can benefit those with respiratory conditions, though the alpine climate requires proper hydration.

Accessibility

The villages have made efforts to improve accessibility, but the mountainous terrain presents natural challenges. Most luxury hotels offer accessible rooms and facilities. Winter snow and ice can make navigation difficult for those with mobility issues. Some cable cars and public facilities have been adapted for wheelchair access.

Tap water

Tap water in Lech and Zürs is excellent quality mountain spring water, safe and delicious for drinking. Public water fountains are available throughout the villages. The alpine climate can be dehydrating, especially during physical activities, so regular water consumption is recommended.