December in St. Anton am Arlberg: The start of the season, Advent, and peaceful days
31.08.2026 · 3 min
There’s a time of year in Arlberg that we particularly love, yet hardly anyone seems to be aware of it: the weeks between the start of the season and Christmas. The snow is fresh, the slopes are empty, and the village is quiet. And in the evenings, the park smells of punch.
When Winter Begins
The ski resort opens for business on Wednesday, December 2, 2026. The following weekend, from December 4 through December 6, St. Anton am Arlberg will celebrate the official start of the season with the Stanton Ski Open: free ski and snowboard testing, live music on three stages, food trucks, plus the Arlberg Safety Camp and an avalanche update presentation. Admission is free.
We’ll kick things off on Sunday, December 6. By then, the biggest festival crowds will have passed, the slopes will be open, and the mountain will once again belong to those who came to ski.
We’re located about 100 meters from the Nassereinbahn; from there, you can head straight to the Gampen and on to the entire Arlberg ski area.
Why We Love the Weeks Leading Up to Christmas
What makes early December so special? The space. On the slopes, in the restaurants, in the gondola. You hit the slopes in the morning and often have the whole slope to yourself. After Christmas, it’s different—that’s peak season, and it has its own charm. But it just doesn’t have that same tranquility.
Plus, during Advent, our prices are lower than they are after Christmas. If you’re flexible, you can get the same apartments here under more relaxed conditions.
Advent Magic in the Park: Dates for 2026
Advent Magic will take place on five evenings in the park near the Museum St. Anton am Arlberg:
Sunday, November 29, 2026
Sunday, December 6, 2026
Sunday, December 13, 2026
Saturday, December 19, 2026
Sunday, December 20, 2026
Starting at 5 p.m. each day.
December 6 is therefore a special day: the last Ski Open day, Advent magic in the evening, and our season kicks off.
This isn’t a big Christmas market—it’s quite the opposite: a storytelling hut, a Christmas bakery, a petting zoo, elves, and angels among the trees. What does Grandma Ela like best there? The big live Christmas tree that you can see from far away. And the Kiachln with lingonberries.
Convenient: Starting at 3 p.m., you can park for free at the old Rendlbahn valley station. But it’s only a few minutes’ walk from us anyway.
And after that: sauna
That’s the part where December works especially well for us. After a cold day on the mountain, you head back to your own apartment, turn on the sauna, and no one’s waiting—no one has a curfew. You decide when.
Good to Know
Ski resort opens Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
Stanton Ski Open from December 4–6; free admission.
Here at Omaela, the festivities kick off on Sunday, December 6.
Advent Magic in the park by the museum: November 29, December 6, December 13, December 19, and December 20, 2026.
During Advent, our rates are lower than they are starting at Christmas.
It’s about 100 meters to the Nassereinbahn for skiing.
If you’d like to experience the Arlberg when it’s not at its busiest, these are the weeks for you. Just get in touch—we’d be happy to let you know which days are still available.
Lisa and Martin
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