Just add it to the list! I've been dying to ski in France (Courchevel, Val d'Isère, Méribel and Megève; I can confirm Chamonix is beyond!), Switzerland (Zermatt, St. Moritz, Verbier, Crans-Montana), Italy I already know is a dream (see previous newsletter from the Dolomites), and now... enter Austria: Lech.

As the birthplace of alpine skiing, this charming Austrian village has shaped winter sports for more than a century. Lech offers you the chance to carve your own tracks through the same pristine slopes that has defined a sport for generations. Perched high in the Arlberg region, Lech enjoys one of the most reliable snow records in the Alps. Whether you seek early-season turns or spring sunshine skiing, perfect conditions are practically guaranteed.

Lech is a paradise for every kind of skier. With over 186 miles of interconnected runs and 87 lifts, the resort offers effortless access and shorter lift lines to a stunning variety of terrain. Cruise smooth blue and red runs, find your rhythm on beginner slopes, or push the limits with world-famous off-piste routes and the White Ring circuit—the longest ski circuit in the world.

As if this wasn't enough, more reasons I can't wait to go to Lech:

Best Ski Guides

Lech's ski guides are renowned not only for their technical mastery of the Arlberg terrain but for their warmth, intuition, and hospitality. With some of the highest ratings in the industry, Lech guides know every run, every snow pocket, and every panoramic lookout. Whether perfecting runs or venturing off-piste, their expertise transforms a great ski day into epic stories told around cozy fireplaces.

Dining + Aprés

Lech’s culinary scene rivals its mountain scenery, blending refined Austrian tradition with world-class creativity. Cozy alpine huts dish out hearty fondue and local wines, and the Michelin-starred Rote Wand Chef’s Table offers a taste of elegance. As the lifts close, the village comes alive with understated après-ski charm. Picture sun-drenched terraces, the soft glow of late-day light—a scene straight out of Slim Aarons’ iconic 1960 photograph taken at the Ice Bar of the Hotel Krone.

Day Trips & Proximity

Getting to Lech is easy. Just 2.5 hours from Zurich and 1.5 hours from Innsbruck, it’s ideally situated for day trips or multi-stop Alpine itineraries. Yet once you arrive, you’ll feel worlds away, in a storybook valley surrounded by soaring peaks and timeless charm.

Accommodations at The Height of Elegance

Lech’s lodgings are as legendary as its slopes. Hotel Arlberg Lech, once host to Princess Diana, William and Harry, embodies the warmth of a traditional alpine chalet with its wood-beamed ceilings, flickering fireplaces, and cozy rooms dressed in pine and fur. Mornings begin with breakfast on the terrace overlooking snow-dusted peaks; evenings end in the heated outdoor pool carved from stone.

Just above the village, Aurelio Lech offers a more contemporary indulgence. Its elegant rooms and chalets connect through a sleek underground passage, leading to a striking spa and a restaurant celebrated for refined alpine cuisine and one of the best wine lists in Austria. Together, these ski-in/ski-out properties capture the essence of Lech.

Bring on ski season 2026! Here's to plenty of powder and blue-bird days.