St. Anton, Lech & Ischgl Private Transfer

A St. Anton private transfer is a pre-booked, door-to-door chauffeur journey from an airport — most often Innsbruck, about 100 km away, or Zurich — to a hotel or chalet in St. Anton am Arlberg, at the heart of Austria's largest connected ski area. The same gateways serve Lech and Zürs on the Vorarlberg side of the Arlberg, and Ischgl in the neighbouring Paznaun valley. Polidori Exclusive Services has operated private chauffeur transport since 1966, and its winter programme connects these resorts with Austrian, Swiss and German airports and with northern Italy.

This guide covers the gateway airports and drive times, the resorts, Austrian winter rules and the most common combinations. It is part of the wider Luxury Ski Resort Transfers guide covering resorts across Italy, Switzerland, France and Austria.

Definition

What Is a St. Anton, Lech or Ischgl Private Transfer?

It is an exclusive journey in a private vehicle with a professional chauffeur, reserved for one traveller or group, from an airport, railway station or city hotel directly to the accommodation in the resort. Departure follows the actual landing time, there are no intermediate drop-offs, and the vehicle is chosen for the exact number of passengers, suitcases and ski or snowboard bags.

St. Anton am Arlberg lies at 1,304 metres in Tyrol, with lifts rising to 2,811 metres; it hosted the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2001. Lech, at about 1,444 metres in Vorarlberg, is known for the Weißer Ring, a 22 km circuit of runs and lifts. Since the Flexenbahn closed the last gap between Stuben and Zürs in 2016/17, the Ski Arlberg area links St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Zürs and Lech with more than 300 km of groomed slopes. Ischgl, at 1,377 metres in the Paznaun valley, shares its ski area with Samnaun across the Swiss border, with about 238 km of slopes.

Gateways

Which Airport to Fly Into

Airport	To St. Anton	To Ischgl	Best For
Innsbruck (INN)	~1h15 · 100 km	~1h15 · 100 km	Closest airport, winter flights
Zurich (ZRH)	~2h30 · 200 km	~2h45	Long-haul connections, closest major hub for Lech
Munich (MUC)	~3 hours	~3 hours	Long-haul and Gulf connections
Bolzano (BZO)	~3 hours	~2h45	Combinations with the Dolomites, via the Brenner Pass

Lech and Zürs are generally reached from St. Anton over the Flexen road, while Ischgl is reached from Landeck through the Paznaun valley. Drive times assume normal winter conditions and can lengthen with snowfall, Saturday changeover traffic and holiday peaks.

Route

Reaching the Arlberg and Ischgl from Italy

From northern Italy the route follows the A22 Brenner motorway through South Tyrol to the Brenner Pass and Innsbruck, then continues west along the Inn valley towards Landeck, where the roads divide for the Paznaun valley and Ischgl or for the Arlberg. This makes Bolzano a practical gateway for travellers combining the Dolomites with a stay in Austria. Italy and Austria are both in the Schengen area, but passengers should carry a passport or valid identity document on every cross-border transfer.

Planning

What to Prepare Before You Book

• Flight number and arrival time, or the private aviation handler for private jet arrivals.
• The exact resort and address: St. Anton, St. Christoph, Lech, Zürs or Ischgl.
• Number of passengers, suitcases and ski or snowboard bags.
• Passports or identity documents for every passenger on cross-border transfers.
• Any second resort or city stay — Kitzbühel, the Dolomites, Munich or Zurich — during the trip.

Audience

Who This Service Is For

Experienced Skiers

The Arlberg is known for its extensive off-piste terrain and long runs, attracting skiers who travel with their own equipment; a private transfer keeps it in the vehicle from the airport to the door.

Gulf and UAE Families

Lech in particular is a long-established destination for discreet family holidays. The vehicle sizing, discretion and multi-vehicle coordination described on the VIP Chauffeur Italy for UAE and Gulf Travellers page apply in full.

Private Jet Travellers

Travellers flying privately into Innsbruck, Zurich or Munich are met at the business aviation terminal with the vehicle ready for immediate departure. Principals requiring a security-trained driver can add the arrangements on the VIP Security and Close Protection Italy page.

Groups and Corporate Ski Weeks

Groups arriving together are moved in coordinated vehicles, with a dedicated equipment vehicle where needed, following the approach on the Luxury Group Transport Italy page.

Regulations

Winter Driving in Austria

In Austria, cars must be fitted with winter tyres from 1 November to 15 April whenever roads are covered with snow, slush or ice, and snow chains may be used instead only on roads that are continuously snow-covered (Austrian Ministry of Transport). A vignette is required on Austrian motorways. Routes from Zurich also cross Switzerland, where vehicles must be equipped for winter conditions and carry the Swiss motorway vignette. Transfers are planned with the winter equipment required in every country on the route.

Connections

Combining the Arlberg and Ischgl with Other Destinations

Combination	How It Works
St. Anton and Lech	Both in Ski Arlberg, linked on skis and by the Flexen road
Arlberg and Ischgl	Two Austrian ski areas in one trip, via Landeck
Arlberg and Kitzbühel	Western and eastern Tyrol; see the Kitzbühel transfer
Austria and the Dolomites	Via the Brenner Pass; see Alta Badia & Val Gardena and Cortina

Practicalities

Vehicles, Ski Equipment and Timing

An executive sedan suits a couple with suitcases only; an SUV or van is usually needed once ski or snowboard bags are added; and a luxury minibus or a second vehicle is arranged for larger families and groups. The vehicle categories are described on the fleet page.

Christmas, New Year and the February school holidays are the busiest periods, and transfers for these dates are best booked several weeks in advance. Early departures for return flights are planned with an extra margin in case of overnight snowfall.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long is the transfer from Innsbruck airport to St. Anton?

About 1 hour 15 minutes for roughly 100 km, in normal conditions.

2. How long is the transfer from Zurich airport to St. Anton?

About 2 hours 30 minutes for roughly 200 km.

3. How long is the transfer from Innsbruck airport to Ischgl?

About 1 hour 15 minutes for roughly 100 km, via Landeck and the Paznaun valley.

4. Which airport is best for Lech?

Innsbruck and Zurich are the main gateways; Lech is reached from St. Anton over the Flexen road.

5. What is Ski Arlberg?

A connected ski area linking St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Zürs and Lech, with more than 300 km of groomed slopes since the Flexenbahn opened in 2016/17.

6. What altitude is St. Anton?

The village lies at 1,304 metres, with lifts rising to 2,811 metres.

7. What is the Weißer Ring in Lech?

A 22 km circuit of runs and lifts that starts and finishes in Lech.

8. Is Ischgl linked with Switzerland?

Yes. Ischgl's ski area connects with Samnaun across the Swiss border, with about 238 km of slopes.

9. Can I travel from Italy to St. Anton by car?

Yes. The route follows the Brenner motorway to Innsbruck and the Inn valley, about 3 hours from Bolzano.

10. Are winter tyres required in Austria?

Yes. From 1 November to 15 April, cars must have winter tyres whenever roads are snowy, slushy or icy.

11. Do I need a vignette for transfers in Austria?

A vignette is required on Austrian motorways, and vehicles on Austrian routes carry it.

12. How far in advance should an Arlberg or Ischgl transfer be booked?

For Christmas, New Year and February school holidays, several weeks in advance; at other times a few days' notice is usually sufficient.

13. Can the vehicle carry skis and snowboards?

Yes. Declare the number of ski or snowboard bags at booking so that an SUV, van or minibus of the right size is assigned.

14. Are child seats available?

Yes, when requested at booking, so the correct seats are fitted before departure.