St Anton Life

Shopping:

Shopping along St Anton's pedestrianised main street is a holiday must and quite laid-back, with plenty of cosy bars and cafés where shoppers can rest their feet. St Anton's shops tend to be expensive, but the quality of merchandise is good. There are numerous ski wear and ski equipment outlets stocking the name-brand goods, as well as good jewellers, music stores, antique stores and clothing boutiques. It is well worth checking out the local arts and crafts work while in St Anton on holiday, particularly traditional woodcarvings.

Restaurants:

Dining out while on holiday in St Anton is a diverse and satisfying experience, with everything from burgers to vegetarian meals on offer at establishments that keep cooking until well after midnight. For five-star dining in St Anton, try the luxury hotels like the St Antoner Hof or Alte Post. Traditional Austrian fare is sought after by active skiers wanting a hearty meal; some of the best in St Anton is served up at the Sporthotel, where a variety of sausages can be savoured with an accompaniment of potatoes and sauerkraut, all reasonably priced. Game and dumplings also appear on most St Anton menus. Fondue can be enjoyed at The Montjola, one of the oldest restaurants in the area.

Nightlife:

The club and bar scene in St Anton is very lively, and less expensive than some of the other European ski resorts. The 'in' places while on holiday in St Anton are the Krazy Kangaroo Bar on the mountainside, and the Moosewirt Bar, both usually packed with skiers and snowboarders after a day on the slopes. Alcohol flows freely to the tune of rock and hip-hop in St Anton. The night is long at the numerous other discos and clubs, but for those seeking something more sedate there are quieter, more sophisticated bars in the St Anton hotels.

Activities:

Skiing, snowboarding and partying are the main activities on the holiday agenda in St Anton, but the town does offer some vacation alternatives. The ARLBERG-well.com is a venue that offers spas and swimming facilities, and there are indoor sports facilities for racquetball, bowling and tennis. A unique open-air heated pool on the wooded mountainside, with its playground and waterslide, is extremely popular in the summer.

Negatives:

St Anton's south-facing slopes can get slushy by the end of the day, particularly in spring, and the lower beginner slopes can get quite crowded.