From Zurich to Stuben: the routes at a glance
Stuben is a small village at around 1,400 metres, on the old pass road between Vorarlberg and Tyrol. From Switzerland you reach it without going through the Arlberg tunnel. The Klösterle/Langen exit comes before the tunnel, and from Langen it is three kilometres uphill.
Which route suits you usually comes down to three questions. How much luggage is travelling with you? When do you want to arrive? Do you need a car on the Arlberg? The table shows times from the ÖBB journey planner for January 2027 and from a route planner based on OpenStreetMap.
| Route | Distance | Travel time | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car from Zurich main station | around 185 km via the A1, A14 and S16 | around 2 h 15 without traffic | families, lots of luggage |
| Car via Liechtenstein | around 174 km via the A3, A13 and Vaduz | around 2 h 20 without traffic | a stop in Vaduz |
| Train Zurich main station to St. Anton | Railjet, no change | 2 h 21 | no change, shuttle from St. Anton |
| Train Zurich main station to Langen | one change, often in Bludenz | 2 h 45 to 3 h 22 | the shortest way from the station |
| Train from the airport to Langen | usually two changes | around 3 h | arriving by plane |
| Arlberg Express | shuttle bus from Zurich Airport | as per current timetable | a guaranteed seat, booking required |
The driving times apply to clear roads. In snowfall and on winter weekends, allow extra time, as conditions on a pass road change quickly.
By car from Zurich to the Arlberg
Via St. Gallen and St. Margrethen
The usual route takes the A1 towards St. Gallen as far as the border at St. Margrethen. In Austria you follow the A14 through the Rhine valley, past Dornbirn and Feldkirch to Bludenz. There you switch to the S16 into the Klostertal.
At the Klösterle/Langen exit you leave the expressway and follow the Arlberg road up to Stuben. You do not need the toll Arlberg tunnel from this direction; it links Langen with St. Anton on the Tyrolean side. From Bludenz it is around 30 kilometres through the Klostertal to Stuben, just under half an hour.
Via Sargans and Liechtenstein
The second route follows the A3 along the Walensee to Sargans and the A13 down the St. Gallen Rhine valley. At Buchs you cross the Rhine into Liechtenstein and drive via Vaduz to the Austrian border at Feldkirch. The route planner shows around 174 kilometres and just over 2 hours 20. The route is shorter but a little slower than the one via St. Margrethen.
For a stop in Vaduz, this is the better route. Liechtenstein forms a customs and currency union with Switzerland, and you pay in francs. From Vaduz to Stuben it is around 65 kilometres, a good hour's drive.
Vignette, winter tyres and chains
For the Swiss motorways you need the vignette for 40 francs. The 2027 vignette is valid from 1 December 2026, as a sticker or as an e-vignette registered to your number plate.
In Austria, motorways and expressways such as the A14 and S16 require a vignette. From the 2027 vignette year, the Austrian vignette is only available in digital form. For a ski weekend the ten-day vignette is enough, and it is valid immediately after buying online. A two-month or annual vignette bought online is only valid from the 18th day.
From 1 November to 15 April, winter tyres are compulsory in Austria in wintry conditions. Snow chains may also be required on the pass roads. So put the chains in the car before you leave Zurich.
Parking in Stuben
Ski Hotel guests park in the large municipal car park, with a parking ticket from reception. Alternatively, book a space in the underground garage. There are charging points for electric cars. After check-out your car may stay in the car park, so you can make the most of your last ski day.
By train: Railjet to St. Anton or Langen
From Zurich main station a long-distance train runs over the Arlberg towards Innsbruck and Vienna every two hours during the day. In January 2027 it leaves at 40 minutes past every even hour, from 6.40 am to 6.40 pm. The line runs via Sargans and Buchs, crosses Liechtenstein without stopping at Schaan-Vaduz and reaches Feldkirch after just under an hour and a half.
St. Anton or Langen?
The Railjet stops in St. Anton am Arlberg 2 hours 21 after leaving Zurich, with no change. From there it is twelve kilometres to Stuben, around 25 minutes by taxi.
Closer is Langen am Arlberg station, three kilometres and around five minutes from Stuben. During the day you change once to get to Langen, often in Bludenz, sometimes in Feldkirch. Depending on the connection, the journey then takes 2 hours 45 to 3 hours 22.
From Langen, regular bus 750 runs to Stuben. More comfortable is our hotel shuttle: tell us your arrival time in advance and we will collect you in Langen or St. Anton. The shuttle runs seven days a week on request. All the addresses for your sat nav are on the page getting to Stuben.
| Route | Connection | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich main station to Feldkirch | Railjet, direct | 1 h 29 |
| Zurich main station to Bludenz | Railjet, direct | 1 h 48 |
| Bludenz to Langen am Arlberg | direct | 24 min |
| Zurich main station to St. Anton am Arlberg | Railjet, direct | 2 h 21 |
| St. Anton to Zurich main station, Sunday 4.57 pm | direct | 2 h 23 |
| Langen to Stuben | bus 750, taxi or hotel shuttle | around 5 min |
The times come from the ÖBB journey planner for 15 to 17 January 2027, checked in October 2026. The new timetable applies from 13 December 2026, so check your connection before you travel.
From Zurich Airport to Stuben
After landing in Zurich you have four options: the train from the airport station, the Arlberg Express shuttle bus, a private transfer or a hire car. By train, in January 2027 you usually reach Langen in just over three hours, with two changes. To St. Anton it takes 2 hours 46, with one change at Zurich main station.
Arlberg Express
The Arlberg Express is a shuttle bus from Zurich Airport to the Arlberg. Booking is compulsory and also reserves your seat. According to the operator, only one bus runs on weekdays and several from Friday to Sunday. If you are delayed, switching to a later bus is only possible on those three days, and only if seats are free.
In the 2024/25 timetable the bus stopped at the post bus stop in Stuben. Whether that stays the same in winter 2026/27 is shown in the current timetable on arlbergexpress.com. The shuttle bus does not provide child seats, as it counts as public transport, but you may bring your own.
Private transfer and helicopter
Our reception arranges private transfers from the airport, as well as taxis. If you are short of time, ask about a helicopter flight from Zurich. The nearest landing site is in Zürs, around ten minutes' drive from the hotel, and our driver collects you there. For any of these options, have your flight number, arrival time and the number of ski bags ready. If you would rather land in Munich, see our page on getting here via Munich.
A ski weekend from Zurich: an example
Two full ski days from Zurich are quite doable. An example from the January 2027 timetable: leave Zurich main station on Friday at 2.40 pm, change in Bludenz, arrive in Langen at 5.25 pm. The shuttle is waiting there. Check-in starts at 3 pm, so you are in your room before dinner.
Saturday and Sunday belong to the mountain. Ski Arlberg plans the 2026/27 season for Stuben from 2 December 2026 to 18 April 2027, with limited operation depending on snow. From the village the Albona I lift, a gondola with eight-person cabins, takes you from 1,405 to 1,845 metres. Via Rauz you reach St. Anton, St. Christoph, Zürs and Lech on skis.
On Sunday you check out by 11 am and then carry on skiing. If you came by car, it stays in the car park until then. By train, take the direct train from St. Anton at 4.57 pm and you are at Zurich main station at 7.20 pm.
For one evening, reserve a seat at the Chef's Table at the Mondschein early. It has eight seats, Falstaff rates it with 95 points in 2026, and it is open on Mondays and from Friday to Sunday. If you prefer something simpler, eat à la carte in the Alte Gaststube.
Which house suits your journey
The Ski Hotel Mondschein on Hannes Schneider Promenade has been welcoming guests since 1739. It is three minutes' walk from the lift, and reception arranges the shuttle, taxis and transfers for you. It is open in winter.
The Mondschein Chalet with private spa suites at Stuben 55 is open all year. It suits you if you also travel from Zurich in summer or are planning a quiet weekend for two.
The Arlberg Motel at Stuben 53 is a bed and breakfast right next to the valley station of the Albona I lift. Breakfast is included, and you collect your key card at the Ski Hotel, 100 metres away. For a short weekend with light luggage, it is the quickest way from the station to the lift.
Read more about the village, the lifts and its history on our page about Stuben am Arlberg.
Photo: Stuben Tourismus