Choosing the best ski resorts in Europe for you
Skiing and snowboarding isn’t a “one size fits all” activity. When choosing which ski resort is the best for your next holiday, here are a few points to keep in mind:
- Proximity to the airport.
- Resort altitude
- Skill level and variety of terrain.
- Atmosphere
- Budget
- Extra activities
With 25 years of experience delivering ski and snowboard lessons in Europe’s best ski resorts. We’re perfectly placed to help you pick the perfect ski resort for your upcoming holiday.
Proximity to the Airport.
If you’re travelling with a large group or a family, you’ll want the travel time to the resort to be as short as possible. This way, you can spend more time in the mountains and have a less stressful journey.
Many resorts have airports, train, or bus stations on their doorstep, making travel easy. Andermatt ski resort is close to Zurich, and Innsbruck is less than an hour away from some of Austria’s top resorts. Verbier in Switzerland and St Anton in Austria are also easily accessible via train.
If you’d prefer to fly, there are multiple ski resorts close to Geneva Airport:
- Les Gets (1 hour 15 minutes)
- Morzine (1 hour 20 minutes)
- Avoriaz (one hour and 35 minutes)
- Verbier (it’s 1 hour 50 minutes)
View this post on Instagram
Read our Guide to Skiing in Morzine.
Resort Altitude
Now, resort altitude is key for snow quality. This is because of less predictable weather in more recent years. Choose a resort that sits high up. It will be colder there, and the snow is less affected by rain and sun. Val Thorens is the highest resort in France at 2,300 meters. It has endless terrain across the Trois Vallées to explore.
Tignes is also a high-altitude resort at 2,100m. It connects to Val d’Isere, which has the Pisaillas glacier at over 3,000m. La Plagne sits at 2,100m, and Avoriaz gets another vote as it’s at 1,800m altitude.
Ski resorts with high altitudes in the Alps:
- Val Thorens is 2,300 metres.
- Tignes 2100m
- La Plagne is 2,100 metres high.
- Les Arcs is 2,000 metres.
- Courchevel 1850m
Some resorts do break this rule. Lech in Austria has the highest average snowfall of any major ski area in the Alps due to a combination of weather patterns and the shape of the surrounding mountains. This is very unusual, though.
We’ve written a comprehensive guide to skiing in Val Thorens if you want to read more.
Skill level and variety of terrain.
Depending on your skill level, you’ll look for different things from a ski resort. When learning to ski, it’s important to choose a ski resort that is well-suited for beginners. Look for gentle terrain to help control speed. Also, find a good network of green and blue runs to explore. Look for a modern lift system.
Additionally, consider resorts with easy slope access from all accommodation options. The best choice is a resort with plenty of snow and beginner-friendly slopes at the top of the mountain. Traditionally, beginner slopes were at the bottom of the mountain. The terrain is flatter there, making it easy to reach without skiing skills.
Skiers and advanced snowboarders should look for varying terrain. It should have red and black runs for a challenge. You should also consider the chance to go on off-piste adventures.
The best resorts for beginners:
- Avoriaz, France
- Courchevel 1850, France
- La Plagne, France
- Lech, Austria
- Les Arcs, France
- Tignes, France
Read more about beginner skiing here:
- Read more about The Best Beginner Ski Resorts.
- Read more on Tignes: A great resort for beginners.
- Read more about beginner skiing in La Plagne.
- Read more: Is Verbier suitable for beginners?
The best resorts in Europe for off-piste skiing:
- Val d’Isere, France
- Courchevel, France
- St Anton, Austria
- Verbier, Switzerland
The term ‘off-piste’ originates from French, meaning it’s off the beaten path. So, off-piste is any terrain outside of the piste markers. This could be right at the side of the ski run or way into the backcountry if you’re ski touring.
For many, skiing and snowboarding are about the chance to explore. To go further than the resort boundary. In the backcountry, there are no lifts, it’s quiet, and you’re at one with the mountains.
Ski resorts like Espace Killy and Trois Vallées span vast areas. They offer endless off-piste terrain. The same is true of St. Anton in Austria.
We run various group and private off-piste courses for skiers and snowboarders. Whether it’s your first time trying off-piste or if you’re a seasoned pro. We have courses for all abilities and aim to inspire you to explore new things.
Read more about skiing or snowboarding off-piste in the best resorts in the Alps.
The best off-piste skiing in Val d’Isère
St Anton Off-Piste: Where to ski?
The 5 Best Off-Piste Runs in Courchevel
Atmosphere
Some European ski resorts have a party atmosphere, while others are more tranquil. Some resorts are better suited to children with events and entertainment. Meanwhile, others are quiet and have an intimate village feel. Depending on your preferences, there’s a resort for you.
If you like a bit of both, some resorts do it all, like Meribel. It’s great for families and has a fun après-ski atmosphere where children can join the party in the afternoon. Meribel provides chalets suitable for families. The skiing there is great for children. There are many ski schools and gentle slopes for learning to ski.
The Guide to Skiing in Méribel
Best ski resorts for families:
- Meribel, France
- La Tania, France
- Courchevel 1650, France
- Peisey-Vallandry, France
- Morzine, France
- Les Arcs, France
- La Plagne, France
- Avoriaz, France
Iconic ski resorts in Europe with a party atmosphere:
- Verbier, Switzerland
- Meribel, France
- St Anton, Austria
- Courchevel 1850, France
- Val d’Isere, France
Quaint ski resorts with a tranquil atmosphere.
- St-Martin-de-Belleville, France
- Peisey-Vallandry, France
- Serre Chevalier, France
- Les Gets, France
- Lech, Austria
- St Foy, France
Budget
Establishing your budget before deciding where to go skiing and snowboarding is worthwhile. Some larger resorts tend to be more expensive but have much more to offer. Resorts like Courchevel 1850, Verbier, and Val d’Isere are on the higher end of the spectrum. But don’t rule them out. There are always ways to enjoy the same ski area and resort feel in a way that suits your budget.
Accommodation is the most considerable cost on a ski or snowboard holiday. Still, it’s worth factoring in lift passes. Also, consider the cost of eating on the mountain, ski hire, and non-skiing activities.
You can find the perfect accommodation for your trip, with or without frills, but you must plan.
La Tania, for example, is a small village between Courchevel and Méribel. It offers access to the world’s largest ski area, Les Trois Vallées. But the cost of accommodation is much lower than in Courchevel 1850. Learn more about Skiing in Courchevel.
Verbier is a high-end cosmopolitan resort in Switzerland’s heart of Les 4 Vallées. If you’re looking for a chalet in Verbier’s main town but budget is an issue, consider staying in Le Chable. It is at the mountain’s base. Le Chable offers easy access to Verbier, which is 20 minutes away. Gondolas run from early morning until late at night. It’s a great option. It has a community atmosphere and village charm, offering warm hospitality affordably.
Extra activities
Having options for bad weather or other activities for a rest day is essential.
If you have a group or family member who doesn’t want to ski. There’s plenty to keep them entertained for the whole week across ski resorts in Europe.
Val Thorens is a top resort for non-skiing activities. It offers a zip line down the slopes, dog sledding, paragliding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Meribel is a great option, too. It has street parties, horse riding, and igloo building. It also has après-ski and ice skating.
The top resorts for non-skiing activities are Verbier, Val Thorens, and Tignes.
Other non-skiing ideas are available in many ski resorts in Europe:
- Hot air balloon rides.
- Flights on small aircraft.
- Cooking course
- Lunch on the mountain.
- Ice diving
- Swimming
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Horse and sleigh ride.
- Spa treatments
- Wine tasting
- Sledging
- Ice skating
What can you do in Verbier if you’re not skiing?
In conclusion, ski resorts in Europe have their own style. They aim to give you the best mountain experience. If you need help choosing a resort, please get in touch with our team. They can share their knowledge to help select the best ski resort in Europe for you.
