Sustainable holidays
in the St. Anton am Arlberg region
A contradiction in terms? Not so in St. Anton am Arlberg. Many ecological measures and projects in the region are testament to its strong commitment to the environment – from the green mobility initiative to exemplary slope maintenance and alternative energy production. For guests this means leaving only a small carbon footprint while experiencing the beauty of the Arlberg, along with enjoying a clear conscience and great comfort.
Car-free arrival
Excellent connections between the Stanzertal Valley’s main town and the international rail network ensures the start of your holiday is a relaxed one. As a Railjet station, St. Anton am Arlberg offers seven direct connections a day from Vienna and Zurich. The ICE (Intercity-Express) service facilitates direct travel from Hamburg to your skiing holiday. The Tourism Association's service centre at the officially highest ICE station in the world is available all year round for holiday advice and ticket sales, and accommodation can be reached quickly by shuttle, public transport or on foot.
Short distances
All major facilities in St. Anton am Arlberg are conveniently located within a short radius. Be it the cable car valley stations, shops, hotels, restaurants or bus stops, from where free hiking, skiing and village buses run regularly between the St. Anton districts and St. Christoph, as well as to Flirsch and the entire holiday area.
On site mobility
Holidaymakers can use the well-developed public transport system free of charge. Charging stations for e-cars and e-bikes are available throughout the area, the latter in both the village centre and at many mountain huts in the surrounding vicinity. E-scooters have also been available since 2022, providing quick and environmentally friendly transport from A to B. They are available from June to the end of September and can be rented at designated parking spaces in the municipal area. Minimising individual transport is a central theme in the "St. Anton 2030" strategy concept.
Conservational snowmaking facilities
Snow reliability is a booking criterion for many winter guests, so they will be pleased to know that Mother Holle receives conservational and efficient support in the St. Anton am Arlberg ski area. A total of 88 percent of the slopes are equipped with artificial snowmaking facilities – using only pure water, without the addition of chemicals. All snow canons are powered by green electricity. When the snow melts, the water returns to nature and assists in hydro-power energy production in the valley.
Self-sufficient power supply
St. Anton am Arlberg is one of few places in Tyrol that can call itself practically self-sufficient in terms of energy production. Kartell power plant at the reservoir in Verwall generates around 33.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. The eight-million-cubic-metre reservoir allows for the storage of energy from the summer semester, so that even during the energy-intensive winter season, the entire area of St. Anton and St. Jakob can produce its own energy. The entire storage volume of Kartellsee Lake is then re-used by the Rosanna power plant.
Win-win: both the Kartellsee and the Verwallsee lakes are idyllic excursion destinations and natural “sources of spiritual power" for hikers and cyclists.
Constant climate awareness
Since the Arlberg Stanzertal region was designated a climate change adaptation model region (KLAR! in short) in 2021, many climate protection and adaptation measures have already been put into place. For example, specially trained hiking and biking guides communicate the facts and local effects of climate change in an illustrative way during tours, which enhances the shared experience of nature and raises awareness of the environment.
Clean local heating
A woodchip-fuelled biomass power plant supplies large parts of the St. Anton am Arlberg area with centrally and sustainably generated heat, thus increasing its independence from fossil fuels.
Shaping the future
In future, we strive to bring the intellectual combination of tourism and living environment even closer together. In 2023, St. Anton am Arlberg successfully submitted an application for the worldwide "Best Tourism Village" award. The UN World Tourism Organisation's Sustainability certification recognises villages that are an outstanding example of a rural tourism destination with recognised cultural and natural assets, combined with a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental.
