Montafon Villages

No matter which village you choose as a base, you can easily travel from one to another and to each of the valley lift stations by free ski bus, but if planning to safari each of the four main ski areas then Schruns is the most convenient place to stay.

Schruns, Montafon

Schruns (700m) in the middle of the valley is closest to the ski areas on Hochjoch and Golm and a convenient base from which to explore the Silvretta Nova and Gargellen ski areas, and, being the two main resorts, they offer more other activities including Aktivpark Montafon sports and leisure park and a greater choice of restaurants, bars and shops in the centre of Schruns.

Schruns is quite spread out along the flat valley floor with the town centre surrounding the church (Pffarkirche) and Schruns railway station at the end of the Montafonerbahn railway from Bludenz. Schruns is more than just a ski resort. Schruns is attractive yet at the same time a quite ordinary town, which going about its business all year round while providing adequate facilities for skiers in winter, but it’s not a party town.

There’s a reasonable choice of restaurants and bars, but be prepared to seek them out, and good shops, which mainly satisfy day to day needs of the local community rather than concentrating on meeting the retail aspirations winter sports enthusiasts. Schruns has accommodation to suit all budgets including 4-star hotels such as Hotel Löwen and Hotel Taube which has long celebrated the fact that Ernst Hemingway stayed there for two consecutive winter seasons in 1926 and 1927.

Silbertal, Montafon

The small village of Silbertal (890m), just 5km from Schruns, includes direct access to the main Hochjoch ski area via the Kapellbahn cable car as well as the Kristbergbahn cable car offering easy access to the smaller family friendly ski area above Kristberg (1443m).

St Gallenkirch, Montafon

About 10km farther up the valley in the other direction from Schruns is the village of St Gallenkirch (900m), which is dominated by a big lift station and huge car park for day visitors to the Silvretta Nova ski area – the biggest ski area in Montafon.

St Gallenkirch is not an especially attractive place to stay so if you want to be close to Silvretta Nova ski area, and prefer a prettier village setting you’re better off staying higher up the valley at Gaschurn (1000m). If coming to Montafon for cross-country skiing, Gaschurn and neighbouring Partenen are the best places to stay to be nearest to the best high altitude Loipe 2000 trails on the Silvretta Bielerhöhe.

Gargellen, Montafon

Higher still in the other direction is the pretty village of Gargellen (1423m), the highest village in Montafon in a quiet unspoiled setting with no through traffic and no lift queues to its own Gargellen ski area on Schafberg, and skiing back down to your hotel from late November until end April.