There are two sides to Zürs. On the one hand, Zurs is heaven for freeriders, whilst at the same time, on the other hand, it is also perfect for those that enjoy the finer things on ski holiday. It’s the location high in the mountains near the centre of the Ski Arlberg region that provides for the first hand, and the fabulous hotels in the village that provide for the other. And the fantastic lift & piste connections out of Zurs provide for both!

The village's relatively high altitude above the tree line ensures it is snowclad for the entire season. The hotels are of the highest standard. Its location and interconnected lifts & pistes give the best possible access to anyone wanting to ski the finest terrain in the Arlberg without the crowds (or at least before the crowds arrive from Lech & St Anton!). For novices & children, the learn-to-ski area is quite good, perhaps surprisingly so, but sadly only when the weather is clear. On gloomy, poor visibility, or windy days, Zurs’ location above the tree line is not the place for beginners. Overall if bringing the kids or adult novice, Lech is more appropriate.

For us Zurs is all about off-piste freeride. There is so much terrain to explore that attempting to describe is simply inadequate. If exploration is not your thing but you love skiing untracked powder, get a good guide. We know a few…!

Zurs is where we would stay every time we visit if we could afford it (and there was availability!). Strangely quiet after dark as everyone settles into their dinner, but we don’t mind that. Still has the scent of dairy cows on the fringes, which we love.

A recent (& welcome) addition to the village is ‘Karls Craft Bier & Snacks’. Providing two of our favourite things (craft beer & delicious snacks), it is the most economical place to eat & drink in Zurs if you want a quick lunch or in the evening if you aren’t indulging in the local hotels’ utterly divine half-board dinner extravaganzas. Tasty wholesome food & good brews that won’t require you to sell a kidney to pay for it (this is Austria after all, not Switzerland, and I like having both kidneys!). Live music is often playing in the evening as well and the crowd can be quite lively. How very un-Zürs!

As a transport hub in the centre of the ski region, Zurs is a fabulous place to stay for an extended period, and Lech is just a short free bus ride down the hill if you need anything from a larger town.

We love Zurs, and as long as you are happy in a quieter ski resort village, we reckon you will too.

You can see our thoughts on the pros & cons of the ski resort via the Zürs overview page. For info on the broader interlinked ski region see our Ski Arlberg overview page.

Forget St Anton, St Christoph, Lech, Warth Schroecken, isolated Zug & chilly old Stuben. For the best Ski Arlberg experience, Zuers is far & away the best place to ski & stay. Quieter & more refined than its larger neighbours, Zurs is far enough away from the crowds to be a haven in the Ski Arlberg sea of humanity.

We stayed at the old traditional Hotel Flexen. Its creaky floors could be forgiven as the price, ski-in ski-out location, comfort, food, staff & fellow guests more than made up for its dated facilities. The half board option at Hotel Flexen provided a feast for breakfast & dinner that belied the price. (Note: sadly this hotel is no longer in existence - a victim of bloody covid!)

Skiing out of Zuers is sublime. We loved it ........ at least until the St Anton & Lech crowds arrived after 11am. We rode perfect piste, deep powder & completed fascinating journeys. The mountain huts are as good as anywhere in Austria (which means they are awesome).

After skiing, the village is quiet, but with loads of bars & restaurant options.

If you are a party animal - go to St Anton. If you love all that is good about skiing go to Zürs