Kitzbühel vs St. Anton
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Two of Austria's best-known resorts: a beautiful, upscale Tyrolean town with a famous race course, and a big-mountain, off-piste and après-ski legend on the Arlberg.
At a glance
| Kitzbühel | St. Anton (Ski Arlberg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Piste length | 233 km | 300 km of marked slopes |
| Off-piste | Not stated | 200 km of open terrain |
| Lifts | 58 | 85 |
| Snowmaking | Over 1,260 snow guns | Not stated on the official page |
| Linked area | KitzSkiWelt Tour: 88 km circuit linking KitzSki and SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser–Brixental | Also covers St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth, Schröcken |
| Season start 2026-27 | First skiing weekend 21–22 Nov 2026, then conditions-dependent | Not stated on the official page |
| Lift pass, 6 days, adult | €351 (early/late season) · €387 · €423 (20 Dec–13 Mar) | €395 (low season) · €468 (peak, 19 Dec–2 Apr) – provisional |
| Lift pass, 1 day, adult | Not shown | €80.50 (low) · €85 (peak) |
Data checked 5 Nov 2026 on the official pages: Kitzbühel skiing, KitzSki 2–14 day pass, St. Anton ski resort, Ski Arlberg winter prices (provisional as of August 2026). Altitudes are not given on those pages. Commonly quoted figures are about 760 m in Kitzbühel and 1,300 m in St. Anton, with the Valluga near 2,800 m; treat them as approximate. Always check official pass sites before booking.
Terrain
St. Anton belongs to Ski Arlberg, which officially counts 300 km of marked slopes, 85 lifts and 200 km of off-piste, and links six more villages including Lech and Zürs. It is the bigger and more demanding of the two. Kitzbühel's 233 km and 58 lifts are well suited to confident intermediates, and the KitzSkiWelt Tour adds an 88 km circuit into the neighbouring SkiWelt area. The Hahnenkamm race course is Kitzbühel's famous attraction.
Snow
Kitzbühel sits much lower, and the resort relies heavily on snowmaking: it lists over 1,260 snow guns, and its first skiing weekend is 21–22 November, with later openings depending on conditions. St. Anton is higher and is widely known as one of the snowiest resorts in the Alps, so it is the safer bet for snow, especially in January and March. These altitude and snowfall comparisons are general knowledge rather than figures from the official pages.
Price
Kitzbühel is cheaper on the 2026-27 six-day adult pass: €351–423 depending on dates, against €395–468 for Ski Arlberg. In peak periods the gap is about €45. Kitzbühel's cheapest passes are in early and late season.
Après-ski and village
Kitzbühel is a medieval-style town with upscale shops, restaurants and hotels. St. Anton is a livelier, ski-focused village where the mountain bars are a big part of the evening.
Who should choose which?
Where to stay
Kitzbühel
In the centre of town, with a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine (Zuma) and an extensive wine cellar.
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St. Anton
A 17th-century building, formerly the Imperial Post Office, with a wellness area (indoor pool, sauna, hot tub).
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A cocktail bar with an open log fire and occasional live music.
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Hotel details from SkiSolutions' guide to the best ski hotels in Austria, checked 5 Nov 2026; these are upscale picks and both resorts have many cheaper options. Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no cost to you.