Europe is home to some of the best ski resorts in the world. With almost four thousand to choose from, these five are the crème de la crème.
Europe’s ski resorts have an option for everyone, whether you are a complete novice or a seasoned pro, if you are travelling with children, friends or on a romantic holiday. There are also resorts for every budget, from private Swiss chalets and Michelin-star dining to family-friendly hotels with affordable gear hire. Not to mention the range of other activities on offer besides classic skiing and snowboarding, such as excellent shopping, après ski, dining and entertainment venues.
Méribel is one of the most famous ski resorts in Europe, located directly in the Three Valleys, Europe’s largest lift-linked ski area. The resort has runs for all abilities, from easy nursery and green slopes to steep black runs with fresh powder. Méribel also offers great deals for experienced skiers, who can purchase a Three Valleys Pass, which gives access to nearby Val Thorens and Courchevel. The resort is picture-perfect, filled with classic wooden ski chalets, plus plenty of bars, restaurants and a local food market. Besides skiing, Méribel has an Olympic sports centre, containing an ice-rink, bowling alley, swimming pool. 2023 is set to be a popular year for this resort, when it will host the Courchevel-Méribel Alpine World Ski Championships. The resort is particularly popular with British travellers, mainly due to the ease of getting here – Eurostar has routes from St. Pancras to nearby Moûtiers, just 20 mins from Méribel, while Geneva International is around 3 hours away.
Kitzbühel is regularly recognised as one of the best ski resorts in the world, and with spectacular views of the Alps, 51 cable cars and over 170km of slopes, we can see why. Many of the resort’s slopes are beginner or intermediate, however, experienced skiers won’t be disappointed by the off-piste opportunities and black runs, such as the Streif, where the world-famous Hahnenkamm race takes place each year. Kitzbühel wins the top spot as a ski destination for families and beginners, however, with more than eight excellent ski schools, cute cobblestone streets and a variety of affordable restaurants serving fresh Tyrolean cuisine. On the high end of the scale, Kitzbühel is home to a plethora of designer shops and boutiques, such as Louis Vuitton and Prada, as well as privately catered chalets and fine dining establishments for those looking for a luxury holiday. Kitzbühel is just a short hop from both Salzburg and Munich airports, the latter of which has its own shuttle to the resort.
Val d’Isère is known as the home of après ski and its excellent snow – a haven of partying and black runs for experienced skiers. Val d’Isère is easily connected to nearby Tignes, making it one of France’s largest ski areas. Although Val d’Isère is expensive, you get more than 150km of pistes, such as the legendary Olympic run La Face, plus 24,000 acres of off-piste areas. Within Val d’Isère, you’ll find an outdoor ice rink, sports centre with a pool, spa and climbing wall, plus two Michelin-star restaurants. Val d’Isère wouldn’t be Val d’Isère without its après, and the original Folie Douce is the place to party throughout the day, although the resort has a whole range of nightclubs, bars, restaurants, chalets and hotels to explore. The nearest major airports to Val d’Isère are Grenoble and Geneva, from where there are regular bus routes to the resort with companies Altibus and Ben’s Bus.
For all things luxury, St. Moritz is the answer. As one of Switzerland’s best loved areas and the oldest winter holiday resort in the world, you’ll find old-world glamour among the pretty snow-dusted chalets, Michelin-star restaurants and high-end hotels. St. Moritz has over 350km of high-altitude slopes – the resort sits at a lofty 6,000ft elevation, and for non-skiers, snowboarding, hiking, tobogganing and curling are all on offer, along with great cross-country and ski touring routes. Expert skiers can try out the famous Crest Run, but there are slopes for all experience levels. Among the cobbled streets you can find private members clubs, local restaurants, cinemas, concerts and nightclubs, plus the world’s only snow polo tournament, played with horses on a frozen lake. Although many of the designer shops are reserved for window shopping, the resort offers après, food, drinks and shops for most budgets – ski passes start at just CHF45 (£39) per day.
Cortina d’Ampezzo is the jewel in Italy’s skiing crown, being the first place in Italy to host the Winter Olympics which will be returning in 2026. The resort is surrounded by the spectacular Dolomites, and has over 750 miles of runs as part of the wider Dolomiti Superski region. Cortina d’Ampezzo feels uniquely Italian, with almost year-round sunshine, glamourous shopping streets and plenty of bars to enjoy both après and Aperol. Cortina is ideal for skiers of all levels, with plenty of gentle beginners’ slopes around Socrapes, while experts can try out the famous Forcella black run and some off-piste areas. For non-skiers, children and days off the slopes, Cortina has an Olympic bobsleigh run, snow polo, husky rides, hiking and spas. This is not to mention its great range of dining offerings, ranging from Michelin starred restaurants to family-run Italian cafes. Just two hours from Venice – which means you can do a day trip while you’re in the area; and ski passes costing around £60, it is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric resorts in Europe.
