Apres Ski in St Johann in Tirol
St Johann in Tirol is a traditional market town situated in the Leukental valley between the Wilder Kaiser and Kitzbüheler Horn mountains. The centre of the town is a 10-minute walk – or short bus ride – from the main ski lifts and is traffic-free between 10 am and 6 pm.
The Village of St Johann
Although a fairly quiet resort, St Johann is one of the largest villages in the North Tirol, with around 9,000 inhabitants and strong tourism and restaurant trades. There are a number of hotels, most of which are 3-star, and guests have a choice of either staying in the centre of town or closer to the ski lifts at the bottom of the St Johann ski area – though with only ten minutes distance between the two your location is unlikely to present any problems.
The town’s sense of history is immediately apparent from its main landmarks, including an 18th century twin towered church, the Huber Brau brewery and numerous frescoed buildings. The town centre connects to the ski area via the Speckbacherstrasse – the long main street which is lined by countless shops and restaurants.
The nightlife in St Johann is relatively quiet, with most guests choosing to spend the evening in a restaurant or hotel bar. The exception to this is Max’s Pub – a lively bar by the bottom of the Harschbichl gondola.
Apres Ski Bars & Restaurants in St Johann
With around 50 restaurants in St. Johann, there is something for everyone. However, après ski and nightlife is more limited with only a handful of bars – albeit these can get very lively, particularly in the early evening.
The many restaurants in St. Johann cater for a wide range of tastes, with a number of traditional Austrian offerings as well as a couple of good Italian restaurants and a smattering of other cuisines. There are also a number of cosy cafes which are perfect for an afternoon coffee and cake. In terms of nightlife, St. Johann is very limited although that’s not to say that fun cannot be found. Max Pub at the bottom of the main pistes is very lively and is the centre of the action come the end of the day. With a few other bars in town it is possible to have an enjoyable night out, although St. Johann is geared more towards families and those looking for a more relaxing holiday.
St. Johann Apres Ski Bars
Bunny’s Pub (+43 5352 63249) is one of the livelier après ski bars in town, and often has live music. Also a good place to watch sports if you can’t live without it – Sky Sports is available.
Max Pub (+43 5352 62428) at the bottom of the Harschbichl cable car is where most skiers head for après ski at the end of the day. It gets packed from around 17:00, with a DJ playing loud music that usually gets guests dancing on tables! It features karaoke every Wednesday for those brave enough to have a go on the microphone.
Medusa Lounge (+43 5352 65065) is the only real nightclub in St. Johann, although is just outside the town centre. It is open until 04:00 and features a range of live music and DJs.
Rogi’s Bar (+43 5352 65922) is open from 15:00 every day and is well-known for its burgers. It also features Sky sports and free wi-fi.
St. Johann Restaurants
Cafe Konditorei Rainer (+43 5352 62235) is a large traditional cafe, dating from 1919 in a convenient location in the centre of St. Johann. Food can be hit and miss, although the 1920s decor is rather charming.
Chez Paul (+43 5352 64419) is a relaxed bistro cafe at the far end of the pedestrian area in the centre of St. Johann, serving food and drinks all through the day.
Egger’s (+43 5352 62380) just off the main square is a cosy cafe bar offering a range of snacks, pasta, salads and drinks. Perfect for an afternoon pit-stop for coffee and cake before hitting the shops.
Gastof zum Dampfl (+43 5352 61659) on the main square is recommended by locals and offers an excellent take on traditional Austrian fare, although can get expensive. It is worth booking a table as it is often busy, particularly during the high season.
Huber Braustuberl (+43 5352 622215) is a local landmark – at the top of the brewery tower, it offers excellent views across St. Johann. A cosy bar offering a wide range of beers brewed onsite, also serves a variety of traditional Austrian dishes.
Lange Mauer (+43 5352 62174) is a Chinese restaurant located in the Gastehaus Theresia, offering reasonably priced lunch and dinner time buffets.
La Rustica (+43 5352 62843) is a family run restaurant/ pizzeria serving a range of traditional Italian dishes, generally recommended.
Stanglwirt (+43 5358 2000), while not technically in St. Johann, is not far away and is one of the most famous hotels in Austria. It is well worth a visit for lunch or dinner, not just for the excellent food but also to have a peek at the hotel itself or to see the famous Lipizzaner (a breed of white horses) stud farm on site. Stanglwirt has a number of restaurants – its trademark ‘Cow barn’ even features a view of cows in their barn through the windows!
Villa Masianco (+43 5352 64630) has an extensive Italian-based menu including pizzas, pasta, and salads as well as more traditional meat and fish dishes. A popular restaurant, it is worth booking a table.
Wirthaus Cafe Jagglback (+43 5352 62482) is a favourite with locals and visitors alike. A small but modern bar serving a range of good Tyrolean and international dishes and drinks.
Other Activities in St Johann
The traditional Tirolean town of St. Johann is a popular destination for cross-country skiing and ski touring. It also offers numerous other activities including tobogganing, paragliding, an adventure park, ice-skating, spa and wellness.
Cross-country skiing in St. Johann
St. Johann is a well-known hub for cross-country skiing and for one of the most famous top cross-country competitions in Austria – the International Tiroler Koasalauf. With free use of over 250km of prepared pistes, the area has something to offer every ability. The wide, gentle terrain between the imposing Wilder Kaiser and the Kitzbuheler Horn is perfect for those new to cross-country skiing. More testing terrain, for example around the Hinterkaiser and Kaiserbachtal areas, offers a challenge to more advanced cross-country skiers. The Koasastadion, with its cross-country skiing centre, provides a base for skiers and offers ski rental, changing rooms and showers, and a cafe. It also has a floodlit run for cross-country skiing at night. Most of the ski schools in St. Johann offer tuition in cross-country skiing, catering for a range of abilities.
Ski touring in St. Johann
The whole area around St. Johann is popular for ski touring. While the inevitable debate around the safety of allowing uphill and downhill skiing on the same pistes continues, the village has allowed ski-tourers to use the Hochfeldabfahrt piste (1d) as a route up the mountain including on Wednesday evenings. Most tourers set off as the sun sets and arrive at the Angereralm mountain restaurant in time for a fantastic dinner, before skiing back down before the piste-bashers arrive. Also, some ski schools in St. Johann offer guided ski touring, including evening tours.
Tobogganing in St. Johann
Tobogganing is a must for all families visiting St. Johann – flying down the prepared toboggan run from the Hochfeld chairlifts is a great way to spend an afternoon and it opens on Wednesday evenings for floodlit tobogganing. The mountain huts nearby are open late, providing a cosy place to warm up and have a drink or dinner. Toboggans can be hired from Ballweber Sport 2000.
Paragliding in St. Johann
The region around St. Johann is popular with paragliders and Mountain High Tandem Flights offers paragliding flights with an experienced instructor for adults and children (weighing over 20kg). Paragliding offers you stunning views of St. Johann and the surrounding area, and you can either serenely glide down over the mountains or for the more adventurous Mountain High pilots perform acrobatic moves more akin to a rollercoaster.
Adventure park in St. Johann
The ‘Hornpark’, located next to the Harschbichl cable car mid-station, is a treetops adventure park which will test your head for heights. The ‘Flying Fox’ course incorporates a series of zip lines covering 500m in total, and the special children’s course (for ages 3 and over) means everyone can have a go. Some courses are closed in the winter, for more information contact:
Segway in St. Johann
One of the more unusual activities in St. Johann is the Segway tour offered by Mountain High. The tours operate on a network of trails across the mountain, providing a novel way to explore the beautiful mountain scenery around St. Johann. Tours run every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday and are offered to adults and children 12 or over. For more information contact:
Ice skating in St. Johann
The Panorama Badewelt, a leisure and activity centre, has an ice rink open most afternoons (14:00-16:00) and evenings (19:30-21:30) in the winter. Check the website for more details as the rink hosts ice hockey training on some evenings:
Swimming and spa facilities in St. Johann
The wide range of facilities on offer at the Panorama Badewelt sports centre includes a 25m indoor pool and separate children’s pool, a huge outdoor pool complex with a water slide, a sauna and steam complex (with massages available), as well as indoor tennis and ice skating. Summer visitors can use the beach volleyball and badminton courts, table tennis facilities, and a large children’s adventure playground.
Shopping in St. Johann
St. Johann is a reasonably sized town and has a good range of shops in addition to the usual souvenir shops. However, serious shoppers may also want to visit Kitzbuhel to experience the historic town and charming boutiques.