Innsbruck to St Anton

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 5 min read

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St Anton am Arlberg is one of the easiest big Austrian ski resorts to reach without a car, thanks to a direct railway that climbs from Innsbruck straight into the heart of the Arlberg region in a little over an hour. Covering roughly 100 kilometres, the trip is short enough to do as a half-day journey and reliable enough that many skiers base themselves in Innsbruck and day-trip to the slopes.

The best way: the direct ÖBB train

ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) runs direct trains from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof to St Anton am Arlberg station roughly every one to two hours throughout the day, with the fastest services taking around 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. The route follows the Inn valley west before climbing to the Arlberg tunnel, a long rail tunnel that carries the line under the pass itself — so unlike the road, the train is largely unaffected by snow on the mountain in winter. Most services are railjet or fast regional trains, and none require a seat reservation, though booking one is possible and can be worthwhile on the busiest winter Saturdays.

St Anton's station sits right at the foot of the village, a short walk from the main lift stations and the centre, which makes this one of the most convenient rail-to-piste connections in the Alps. Interrail and Eurail pass holders can use this train without a supplement, and the Klimaticket, Austria's nationwide public transport pass, also covers it if you're staying in the country longer; see our Austria by train guide for how the ÖBB network fits together more broadly.

Regional and postbus connections

For travellers not going all the way into St Anton village itself, or heading to one of the smaller Arlberg settlements such as St Christoph or Stuben, regional postbuses connect from St Anton station and from towns along the Inn valley. These are mainly useful for local hops within the ski region once you've already arrived by train, rather than as an alternative for the Innsbruck leg itself, since the train is faster and more direct on this corridor.

Driving over the Arlberg

By car, Innsbruck to St Anton is around 100 km and takes roughly 1 hour to 1 hour 20 minutes via the A12 motorway and the Arlberg Road Tunnel, which bypasses the old pass road and keeps the drive largely tunnel-based and weather-proof for most of the year. The tunnel carries a toll in addition to Austria's standard motorway vignette, which you'll need for the A12 itself — see our guide to driving in Austria for how the vignette and alpine tolls work, and vignettes in Europe for the wider picture across the Alps.

In winter, even with the tunnel avoiding the exposed pass road, snow chains or winter tyres are effectively mandatory across most of Austria between around November and April, and mountain approach roads to St Anton and the surrounding villages can still see heavy snowfall and require extra caution. Hire cars picked up in Innsbruck for a ski trip should come fitted with winter tyres as standard, but it's worth confirming this explicitly, and carrying chains regardless if you're driving in a significant snowfall. Parking in St Anton is limited and can be expensive close to the lifts during peak season; several car parks sit at the edge of the village with a short walk or shuttle into the centre.

Private transfers and taxis

Private transfer companies and taxis operate between Innsbruck (including Innsbruck Airport) and St Anton, taking a similar time to driving yourself but without the need to navigate an unfamiliar mountain road or manage winter tyres. This suits groups arriving by air who want a single door-to-door journey with luggage and ski equipment handled for them. Costs are considerably higher than the train, so it tends to make most sense for larger groups splitting the fare or anyone arriving outside train operating hours.

The Arlberg region beyond St Anton

St Anton is the eastern anchor of the wider Arlberg ski area, one of the largest interconnected lift systems in Austria, linking through to Lech and Zürs on the other side of the mountain. Travellers based in St Anton without a car can reach these neighbouring villages by ski lift in season or by regional bus the rest of the year, so choosing the train into St Anton doesn't limit access to the wider region once you've arrived.

Which should you choose?

For most travellers, the direct ÖBB train is the clear winner: fast, frequent, largely weather-proof thanks to the Arlberg tunnel, and it drops you within walking distance of the lifts. Driving makes sense if you already have a car in Innsbruck or plan to explore other Tyrolean valleys, provided you're prepared for genuine winter driving conditions. A private transfer suits groups arriving by air with heavy luggage who'd rather not deal with either. For a look at reaching other Alpine resorts without a car, see our guide to skiing in the Alps without a car, and for a comparable Austrian ski-train journey, see Salzburg to Kitzbühel.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a direct train from Innsbruck to St Anton?

Yes. ÖBB runs direct trains taking around 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, roughly every one to two hours, arriving at St Anton station a short walk from the village centre and lifts.

Do I need a seat reservation for this train?

No, it isn't required, though booking one is possible and can be worth doing on the busiest winter Saturdays when trains run fuller.

Is the road over the Arlberg safe to drive in winter?

The main A12/S16 route uses the Arlberg Road Tunnel rather than the exposed old pass road, but winter tyres or snow chains are still effectively required across Austria in the snowy months, and mountain approach roads can see heavy snowfall.

Can I bring skis on the train from Innsbruck?

Yes, ski and snowboard bags travel free on ÖBB trains with no advance booking needed.