Lech Zürs am Arlberg is a luxury ski resort destination in the Vorarlberg region of western Austria, comprising the connected villages of Lech, Zürs, and Oberlech. Zürs holds a special place in skiing history as the site where the first ski lift in Austria was built in 1937, and the Arlberg region is widely considered the cradle of Alpine skiing, with ski instruction pioneer Hannes Schneider having developed the Arlberg technique in nearby St. Anton in the early 20th century. Lech and Zürs developed as exclusive winter destinations in the postwar period, attracting European royalty, including the Dutch royal family, who have vacationed in Lech for decades.
The ski area is part of Ski Arlberg, which since the completion of connecting lifts in 2016-2017 has become the largest connected ski area in Austria, offering approximately 305 kilometers of marked runs and 200 kilometers of off-piste routes. The terrain ranges from gentle beginner slopes in Oberlech to challenging runs on the Madloch and Zuger Hochlicht. The legendary Weiße Ring (White Ring) ski circuit, a 22-kilometer loop connecting Lech, Zürs, and Zug, is one of the classic ski routes in the Alps and the basis for an annual amateur ski race that is the largest of its kind in the world.
Lech retains the character of a traditional Austrian village, with strict building regulations that preserve its alpine architectural heritage. The village offers a combination of five-star hotels, including the Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, Hotel Gasthof Post, and Aurelio Lech, alongside luxury chalets. Dining in Lech includes several Michelin-recognized restaurants, and the resort has a refined but unpretentious atmosphere compared to some French and Swiss counterparts. Nightly rates at top hotels range from $500 to over $2,000 during peak season, and the resort is particularly popular with German, Austrian, and Dutch visitors alongside a growing international clientele.