Kristiania Lech
Eclectic art-house chalet. Think antiques alongside contemporary installations, mid-century furniture next to African sculpture, and French boudoir rooms two doors down from a Turkish-influenced suite. Personal, slightly eccentric, warm without being fussy. The opposite of soulless alpine luxury.
Ask for a room with a Lech village view — watching the church and rooftops from your balcony is genuinely lovely
Why It Matters
Founded by an Olympic champion and run for decades by his daughter, the hotel has built a devoted following based on its art collection, genuinely individual rooms, and a dining program that punches well above its size. It's a SLH member and Tablet Hotels pick — and one of the few boutique properties in the Arlberg with serious culinary credentials.
A privately owned mountain house sitting just above the village of Lech am Arlberg, Kristiania was founded in the 1960s by Othmar Schneider — Austria's first Olympic alpine skiing gold medalist, Oslo 1952. The hotel takes its name from Oslo's historic name, Kristiania, and that thread of family history, sport and personal taste still runs through everything here. His daughter, Gertrud Schneider, has shaped the house into something genuinely distinctive: 29 individually designed rooms filled with original artwork, three dining venues, and a hospitality style that feels more like a well-connected friend's home than a five-star hotel. It's seasonal — open December through April — and firmly winter-focused, though limited summer editions do run.
Where You'll Stay
15 room types available
"Livingston" Signature Suite
One of Kristiania's most individual rooms — a loft-style suite that brings together African influences and Viennese Jugendstil into something that feels worldly and entirely self-possessed. Art-led and open in feel. For guests who want their room to have an actual point of view.
"Luis Trenker" Signature Suite
Mountain spirit reinterpreted in a contemporary register. Warm, polished and assured — this is the alpine suite that doesn't apologise for being alpine, but does it with considerably more style.
"Marie Antoinette" Signature Suite
French decorative mood with real charm — not saccharine, but genuinely romantic and composed. Soft colours, graceful furniture and a lightness that suits guests who like beauty without excess.
"Puccini" Signature Suite
Quieter in tone, darker in palette — a duplex suite with a composed, cultured character. The kind of room that suits guests who want refinement over spectacle. Duplex layout.
"Suleiman" Signature Suite
Layered and enveloping, drawing on the Turkish-room aesthetic once beloved in cultivated Austrian interiors. Intimate, transportive and full of warmth. Classic layout.
"Turandot" Signature Suite
Bolder and more theatrical than Livingston — rich colour, expressive design and a slightly more dramatic character. Loft-style layout. Named after Puccini's opera and delivers on the reference.
Chalet Suite
The most residential of the family options — feels genuinely like a mountain home rather than a hotel suite. Warm, private and comfortable for a group that wants to settle in properly.
90 sqmDouble / Twin Room Deluxe
Warm and quietly individual, this is the entry point for two. Comfortable for a ski trip without being oversized — the focus is on character over square footage. Lech or mountain view, balcony in select rooms. Sleeps 2 adults.
22 sqmDouble / Twin Room Superior
A step up in generosity from the Deluxe — a little more space to unpack, linger and settle in properly. Good for couples who want a bit more ease. Lech or mountain view, balcony in select rooms. Sleeps 2 adults.
27 sqmJunior Suite Deluxe
A proper sitting area and more room to breathe — ideal for longer stays or guests who want the suite experience at the more accessible end. Sleeps 2 adults + 1 child, with Lech or mountain views.
30 sqmJunior Suite Superior
The larger of the two junior suite options — more room to unpack and settle in. Mountain views. Sleeps 2 adults + 1 child. Good for longer ski holidays or guests who want to spread out.
40 sqmOwner's Suite
The whole top floor, essentially. Three bedrooms, a private balcony with mountain views, floor-to-ceiling windows, a fireplace, sprawling living area, private library nook and full minibar. This is the suite where you host a private dinner, curl up in complete privacy, or simply enjoy the feeling of owning the place for a few days. Art everywhere. Eccentric in the best sense.
Multiple (3 bedrooms) · 190 sqmSingle Room Deluxe
Kristiania's most compact room — characterful and self-contained, designed for solo travellers who want comfort and privacy without excess. Warm individual design, Lech or mountain view, balcony in some rooms. Sleeps 1 adult + 1 child.
20 sqmThree Bedroom Suite
A generous option for larger families or small groups. Three separate bedrooms with communal living space. Residential in character, designed to make a group stay feel elegant rather than crowded.
100 sqmTwo Bedroom Suite
For families or small groups who want space to gather and space to retreat. Two bedrooms with shared living areas. Lech or mountain view. Sleeps multiple guests.
70 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Guided walk to Antony Gormley's Iron Man sculpture at the Kriegerhorn. The guide combines artistic context with the best mountain routes.
A guided hike to the Sky Space installation by world-famous American artist James Turrell, located in the high alpine landscape of Lech — where sky and earth meet from a new point of view. Includes artistic insight and a glühwein or champagne picnic.
Gertrud Schneider invites guests to the hotel's garage gallery, where the resident artist guides visitors personally through their work. Combined art and culinary experiences also scheduled each season.
Lectures and panel discussions on art and culture in a salon-like setting at 1,444m altitude. Moderated by Silvie Aigner, Editor in Chief of PARNASS art magazine. Open to interested audience and followed by informal discussion over food and wine.
Fly fishing in the River Lech and the Spuller and Formarin lakes. Crystal-clear mountain waters and wild creeks. Includes dinner preparation at Kristiania.
Private guided snowshoe walks into the forest. Time away from the piste, with optional river dip for the bold.
Private hotel shuttle van runs guests to and from the ski lifts and the village centre. Removes any annoyance about the 10-minute walk down.
A personal guide shows you the best pistes and off-piste routes across the Arlberg ski area — one of the largest connected ski areas in Europe. The hotel is a 10-minute walk or 3-minute shuttle from the lifts.
In summer editions, guests can explore the Arlberg on foot or by mountain bike. Paragliding and rock climbing also available seasonally.
Private evening experience on the outdoor terrace: lie under a duvet on your sun lounger and watch a film under the mountain sky. Includes a flying dinner, drinks of choice and fires for warmth.
An exclusive private dinner in the Owner's Suite — surrounded by mountain views and snowflakes, with the Kristiania chefs cooking exclusively for you. One of the more memorable things on offer.
The hotel's own ski nanny program introduces children from age 3 upward to skiing and the outdoors. Fun-loving private babysitters also available for non-skiing adventures.
A picnic laid out in the snow — champagne, fire bowls and views across the Arlberg. Good for sunrise or sunset.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Dedicated butlers to curate indoor and outdoor experiences. Bath butler available. Personalised attention from arrival to departure.
In-room dining available around the clock, backed by the well-stocked kitchen and wine cellar.
Over 7,000 bottles of mature wine, accessible through the restaurant and bar. A serious cellar for a hotel of this size.
Fun-loving private babysitters available for children who aren't skiing. Activities include sledding, ice-skating, snowman-building.
All rooms include a complimentary fully stocked minibar.
An outdoor sun terrace with panoramic mountain views — ideal après-ski and good for outdoor cinema evenings.
Dogs allowed at EUR 35/dog/day. Permitted in rooms, reception, sun terrace and Kaminzimmer. Not allowed in the main restaurant. Smoking permitted only in the Kaminzimmer and on the sun terrace.
Ski equipment handling, boot fitting support and ski valet service.
Chauffeur-driven transfers available from Zurich (2h), Munich (3h), Innsbruck (1.5h) and St. Gallen (1h) airports. Minibus and limousine options.
No street parking at the hotel. Garage space can be reserved for EUR 25/day, with valet service included.
Standard in every room per Michelin Guide listing.
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