5 reasons why you should never holiday in St. Anton am Arlberg in summer

Taste is a funny thing. What one person loves, another can’t stand. What one person swears by, another simply can’t bear.

A challenge that certainly doesn’t stop at how you spend your leisure time either. After all, there’s a well-known saying: “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” The same question arises in St. Anton am Arlberg: summer delight or holiday dilemma? To settle this, we’ll pit a few scenarios against one another – entirely fictional, entirely fair. Which side wins is for everyone to decide for themselves. So, one or the other?

Endless expanses vs. familiar views

Embracing adventure pays off – ski legend Karl Schranz knew that and led by example. After all, the St. Anton native became three-time world champion, among other achievements, and ranks among Austria’s most successful former ski racers. Adventures for everyone await in his home town: whether it’s the Hoher Riffler, Lisunspitze, Stanskogel, Parseierspitze, Hochkarspitze, Schindlerspitze or the 2.185 m high Galzig – the list of alpine destinations on the Arlberg is a long one. Just the view of the variety of hiking trails and peaks visible from bed at the Hotel Arlmont is impressive! Never has it been easier to break away from everyday life! Yet it’s precisely this feeling of indescribable freedom that scares some people. Some feel more comfortable with the familiar view of the house next door and don’t want to break away from their everyday routine with all its familiar faces and situations.

High-altitude indulgence on your doorstep vs. staying grounded underground

A natural experience for burning off energy and enjoying yourself: what 305 kilometres of marked pistes and 200 kilometres of off-piste descents achieve in winter is matched in summer by the 300 kilometres of hiking trails around the world-famous village of St. Anton am Arlberg. On paths awarded the Tyrolean hiking quality seal, both experienced trekkers and relaxed nature lovers alike will find their favourite. If experienced alpinists are looking for a challenge, the St. Anton Via Ferrata is well worth exploring. It is considered one of the most demanding, yet also one of the most beautiful, in the Alps. Mountain bikers, meanwhile, can carve their own route over rocks and roots along more than 350 kilometres of cycling trails. For some, however, a trip into the mountains like this is pure stress. Everything is new, high and overwhelming. Those who therefore prefer to stay on solid ground and favour clear structures are better off in a metropolis with predefined routes. A ride on the underground, for example, offers clear guidance and no fear of heights.

A riot of colour vs. tone on tone

The rich green of the grasses, the intense yellow of the hawkweed, the pale pink of the alpenrose near the summits, or the bright white of the oxeye daisies, which sometimes resembles snow – St. Anton's blooming summer meadows come in every colour imaginable. Nature changes with almost every metre of altitude, and you encounter new plants along the way. Up on the peaks themselves, diversity is usually scarce, which is understandable enough, since few delicate blooms willingly expose themselves to wind and weather in such exposed spots. All the more overwhelming, then, is the return to the vibrant, glowing valley and Hotel Arlmont, where the scent of summer can be properly savoured on the sun terraces. Is your favourite colour grey on grey? Then the riot of colour on the Arlberg might be a touch too much for you – although perhaps that's exactly when it applies: sometimes it pays to be bold with colour!

Real mountain moments vs. fictional TV worlds

Chilling comfortably on the sofa, a packet of crisps on one side, a can of cola on the other, and a direct view of an oversized TV screen: THE dream of every box-set junkie and fresh-air refuser. Because who wants a priceless Arlberg alpine panorama across the imposing mountain ranges in summer, where modern skiing was invented, when you can binge whole seasons of Big Bang Theory or soppy romances instead? Instead of mountain kitsch by the season, the Arlberg offers a romantic mood with breathtaking panoramic views and shared sporting opportunities. And instead of a box-set marathon, around St. Anton am Arlberg there are "only" endless peaks – a stroke of luck for some, a pointless irrelevance for others. Simply a matter of taste.

Peaceful (Arl-)mountain idyll vs. unmistakable disco beats

From melodic song to chattering group conversations to excited alarm calls – birdsong knows every register. That's what our research in the forests, meadows and mountain peaks of the Lechtal Alps and the Verwall group revealed. This mountain idyll, incidentally, isn't nearly as quiet as you might think, and yet: the sounds of nature are wonderfully relaxing. So while hiking and walking on the Arlberg, simply stop for a moment, breathe deeply and listen closely. Who knows what story the birds or the rustling trees have to tell. A scenario that might be a little too quiet for some. For ears trained on decibels, the nature of the upper Stanzertal might feel a touch underwhelming, but at the same time it's a chance for the whole body to recharge. Or would you rather get excited about a visit to the next disco?

There are many reasons why a holiday in the mountains is pure relaxation for some, and the complete opposite for others. What is certain, though, is that the people of St. Anton themselves are relaxed and content. Whether that's down to the beautiful countryside, the surrounding peace and quiet, or a combination of both?

There are many reasons why summer mountain holidays are pure relaxation for some and the complete opposite for others. The one thing for sure is that the people of St. Anton are relaxed and satisfied. Is that because of the beautiful nature, the tranquility or the combination of both?