Zürs resort guide

Zürs is the exclusive little sister of Lech and features superb off-piste terrain for those so inclined. Small but perfectly formed, this hamlet of luxury hotels is seated on the slopes for a quick start each morning. Favoured by the wealthy, Zürs is best loved for its heliskiing, fine spas and stylish nightlife.

Zürs is a 10-minute drive from St Anton and is blessed with the same superb snow record. With a dozen 4-star and 5-star hotels on offer, this resort is perhaps even more exclusive than Lech, but the opulence is understated. As well as boasting an excellent reputation for big powder, in Zürs you’ll also find good cross-country trails and opportunities for ski touring possibilities. Fact of the day for Zürs: it has its own biomass district heating, making the village completely independent of fossil fuels.

Resort facts and figures

Resort altitude 1720m
Highest point 2450m
Average annual snowfall Up to 9m
Season Nov-April
Pistes 280Km
Pistes available Beginner: 40%, Intermediate: 48%, Expert: 12%
Ski area 2 main areas: Lech and Zurs, which are lift linked to the huge Arlberg Ski Area. All linked resorts are included in the hands-free Arlberg Card ski pass
Best for Intermediate to advanced, although there are slopes available for beginners too

On the mountain
The beginners’ area is located just a short walk from the main hotels and is particularly good for children who are learning to ski. Intermediate and advanced skiers will be spoilt for choice, with lots of skiing to enjoy and a fast, efficient lift system with minimal queues to hold them up. If powder is what you’re after, you’ve come to the right place. Zürs’ high altitude and snowy microclimate make it a powder seeker’s dream. The best place to head for powder is off the Balmen trail. With more than 7 metres of snow recorded each season across 180Km of accessible terrain, the off-piste skiing is fantastic. There are also three snowparks (Easy Park, Snow park and Wall ride) aimed at varying levels.

Mountain restaurants
There are 4 mountainside restaurants in Zürs itself including Toni’s Einkehr which serves racelette, fondue and Austrian specialities. Restaurants in nearby resorts are within easy reach. Try the Hospiz-Alm in St Christoph for fine dining; and the Ferwall Stube, a popular service restaurant at the mid-station of the Galzig-Valluga cable car.

Non-skiing activities
Whether on foot or cross-country skis, Zürs’ varied landscapes are well worth exploring, with a 40km-long network of footpaths to choose from. Or, you can watch the feeding of wild deer on a guided sunset walk or have a go at Snowtubing on a giant blow-up tyre along a special track. Zürs also has a natural ice rink open from 15:00 to 22:00, with romantic campfire and mulled wine included. Other activitiesin the area include horse-drawn sleigh rides, a sports centre, parapente and tobogganing.

Après, dining and nightlife
Zürs is fairly quiet but there’s a small selection of bars and disco to choose from. Head for Ambiente and the Sporthotel Zürsersee for après-ski; and for a pleasant relaxing evening, visit the piano bar in the Hotel Thurnhers Alpenhof. If you’re after late night clubbing there is Vernissage bar and club at the Skiclub Alpenrose, currently the “in” venue; or the Zurserl disco in Hotel Edelweiss. Fine dining can be had at Zürserhof and the Lorunser.

Family and ski school
Zürs is extremely family-friendly, with ski-club-afternoons, ski races and festivals for children. The ski school runs the “Little Zürs” nursery, and there’s a Ski Kindergarten in Zürs from Sunday to Friday 0900hrs - 1600hrs for children from 3 years. Babysitting services are available for half or full days and evenings. The hotel we offer here runs a complimentary children’s program from 1700hrs with the option of having early children’s dinner at 1800hrs. Zurs is home to one of the best ski schools in the world, with courses for all levels including heliskiing. Zurs Ski School offers group lessons, and private tuition is available daily, as well as cross-country lessons.

Useful links
www.lech-zuers.at