Ski Resorts in Europe
Endless skiing between multiple resorts within massive ski areas, jaw-dropping views, vibrant culture, and most notably, the all-day après scene; skiing in Europe will be like nothing else you’ve ever experienced.
Pros
- Extensive ski areas for endless skiing on world-class terrain and spectacular views of the Alps
- Can sometimes be cheaper than skiing in the US
- Cross-border ski areas mean you can ski into another country
Cons
- Some large ski areas can be difficult to navigate
- There are no in-bounds off-piste areas, unlike the US
- Above the tree-line terrain is common and can be exposed to bad weather
Getting there
- Fly into Grenoble- Isère Airport, Chambéry Airport or Geneva to access ski resorts in France. For ski resorts in Switzerland head to Geneva and Zurich or for ski resorts in Austria, Salzburg and Innsbruck are your go-to airports. Lastly, for ski resorts in Italy, Innsbruck and Milan are both good options. There are many airports that serve ski resorts across Europe, but these are our picks for hitting the big names.
- Best way to resorts is by transfer, train or car. Europe is renowned for its efficient train network which can take you to some ski resorts. Private transfers are the most hassle-free option whilst driving will give you the most flexibility to visit different mountains and for sightseeing.
There are thousands – yes, thousands – of ski resorts in Europe, each with something different to offer. Narrowing down the top few is a quite difficult and can be rather subjective, but we’ve teamed up with the locals to find the best ski resorts in Europe.
If it’s your first time skiing in Europe, then you’ll want to ski these iconic resorts. Their epic mountains serve up some of the best skiing and scenery Europe has to offer and is very popular amongst destination skiers and tourists alike. Being top attractions, you can expect top quality facilities, activities and après ski in their classic European towns. This means you can also expect higher prices across the board as well as larger crowds.
Less internationally known, these ski resorts often fly under the radar for destination skiers. A paradise for intermediate skiers, Serre Chevalier in France is perfect for those want to get away from the purpose-built mega resorts, but still get in some great skiing. For the powderhounds, SkiArena Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland has one of the most reliable snowpacks in Europe and is known for being a powder mecca. The word is slowly getting out about these resorts, so be sure to make a trip there soon!
| Stat | Resorts |
|---|---|
| Best for Beginners | Saas-fee, Alpe D’Huez |
| Best for Intermediates | Arosa Lenzerheide, St Moritz, Saas-fee |
| Best for Advanced and Experts | Chamonix Mont Blanc, Engelberg, Verbier |
| Best for All-rounder | Courchevel, Zermatt |
| Highest Summit Elevation | Val Thorens |
| Highest number of runs | Champery |
| Largest ski area | The Three Valleys |
| Highest number of lifts | Champery |