The Finest ski resorts in Europe

Winter is coming, and so are we. So, if you’d like to learn more about the Finest ski resorts in Europe, please check out our guide.

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Into the Finest ski resorts in Europe

Europe is home to around 4,000 ski resorts, catering to different types of skiers. There’s something for everyone, from large ski areas with hundreds of miles of pistes to smaller resorts perfect for families and ski tourers. Whether you prefer luxury resorts like Val-d’Isère, with modern lift and snowmaking systems, or St Moritz, which boasts Michelin-starred restaurants, or high-altitude Val Thorens for its snow reliability and car-free streets, Europe’s ski resorts offer a variety of choices. You can also experience the excitement of watching World Cup skiing in Courchevel, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Kitzbuhel or take in the breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, Eiger, and Mont Blanc. Check out our guide to Europe’s best ski resorts for skiers of all levels.

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Kitzbuhel, Austria

Best for medieval charm

Avoid visiting early or late in the season

Kitzbuhel is the picture of gentle winter perfection, with its cluster of cobbled streets lined by pastel-painted and frescoed medieval inns, candlelit restaurants, and fire-warmed bars. Known to locals as Kitz, Kitzbuhel offers 176 miles of primarily intermediate-friendly slopes on relatively low-lying pastures spread across the KitzSki Kitzbuhel/Kirchberg ski area. For all the gentleness of Kitz, however, the resort plays a leading role in the world of competitive ski racing: home to the most challenging downhill race on the World Cup calendar, the Hahnenkamm, so it is no wonder we have listed it o our list of the Finest ski resorts in Europe.

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Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Best for skiing (or not) amid the splendor of the Dolomites

If your focus is on skiing, it is advisable to avoid this resort.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is an Italian ski resort surrounded by the Dolomites’ granite amphitheater. The resort is renowned for 120 km of gentle, scenic pistes, mountain restaurants, and a wide range of off-piste activities. The 4.5-km-long Cortina Skyline gondola, opened in December 2021, connects Tofane and Cinque Torri, making it easier for skiers to access the surrounding ski areas. The resort is also preparing for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

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St Moritz, Switzerland

Best for unabashed glamour

Avoid if you’re on a budget

Not only is it one of the Fines ski resorts in Europe, but St Moritz is also the birthplace of winter sports holidays, where hedonism and snowy excess began. Over 150 years ago, audacious British aristocrats invented winter sports here, founding the Cresta Run and even playing ice cricket and snow polo on the frozen lakes beneath St Moritz. Today, visitors can enjoy the same lavish hotels, exclusive members’ clubs, and eclectic winter sports as their sybaritic predecessors. The expansive ski area covers 218 miles of high-altitude pistes, with four large ski areas, five smaller ones, and plenty of mountain restaurants. To make it more affordable, book your accommodation and lift passes directly through St Moritz, and get your ski pass for your stay for 150 Eur per day.

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Courmayeur, Italy

Best for sun-kissed Alpine dolce vita

Avoid if you want ski-in/ski-out convenience

Courmayeur is a ski resort located at the Italian foot of Mont Blanc, offering an excellent balance between mountain restaurants and pistes. Although the town has a cosmopolitan feel, it maintains its Alpine authenticity, blending mountaineering heritage, ancient spa town credentials, and glamorous shopping. The cobbled Via Roma is the main attraction. Still, those who venture further can indulge in spas and mountain huts with stunning views. Courmayeur offers 100 km of intermediate-level pistes, excellent off-piste terrain, and even heliskiing with access to Mont Blanc.

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Chamonix, France

Best for Mont Blanc mountain glory

“If you’re looking for a lift-linked area that’s easy to navigate, this might not be the best option.”

Chamonix, located at the base of Mont Blanc, has been guiding mountaineers and skiers for over 200 years and hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Its ski area offers about 190 km of pistes spread across five mountains, providing a diverse range of terrain. Visitors can take a cable car ride to the top of l’Aiguille du Midi for stunning views and access to the 20 km-long Vallée Blanche off-piste ski route, the world’s longest. So, if you’re hungry for more, upgrade to a Mont Blanc Unlimited ski pass, which opens up access to over 900 km of pistes spanning resorts in France, Italy, and Switzerland, including Les Houches, Megève, Courmayeur, and Crans-Mont.

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St Anton, Austria

Best for those who ski hard and party harder

Avoid if you’re a cautious intermediate

St Anton, in the hamlet of Stuben, is the birthplace of the Arlberg skiing technique and the après-ski culture. Ski Arlberg is the world’s fifth-largest ski area, with 300 km of pistes and 124 miles of off-piste itineraries. The town’s lively party scene and Sweet Little Home chalet, the most photographed in the village, offer a unique experience. That’s why St Anton is undoubtedly one of the Fines ski resorts in Europe.

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Méribel, France

Best for mileage-hungry piste skiers

Avoid, if you are trying to avoid fellow British skiers

Set at the center of the Three Valleys — the world’s immense ski area, with a massive 600 km of pistes — Méribel is an enduringly prominent destination. For energetic piste-skiers, there can be no better hub for exploring Méribel’s mixed local slopes as well as the manicured pistes of Courchevel, the high-altitude terrain of Val Thorens, and meandering trails into sleepy St Martin de Belleville. Méribel and Courchevel will host the Alpine World Ski Championships.

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Zermatt, Switzerland

Best for Matterhorn views and gourmet dining

Avoid if you don’t have the cash to splash on restaurants and taxis

Firstly, this is a picturesque town located at the base of the Matterhorn, offering a perfect blend of traditional Alpine culture and modern architecture, hotels, and cuisine. As you explore the town on foot or in a horse-drawn sleigh, you’ll come across old timber chalets alongside contemporary glass buildings and even Michelin-starred restaurants housed in rustic barns. Secondly, the stunning views will awaken you once you head to the mountains. Skiing on 360 km of high-altitude slopes on the Matterhorn’s flanks, including the exhilarating eight-mile-long descent from the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (Europe’s highest cable car station) into Zermatt, is a truly unforgettable experience. There are also plenty of gourmet mountain restaurants to enjoy during your skiing adventure.

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Val Gardena, Italy

Best for authentic Dolomiti hospitality

Avoid if you love steep and deep skiing

Firstly, Val Gardena, one of Italy’s best ski resorts, offers a blend of dazzling scenery, tasty food, and lavish hotels. Secondly, it spans three cozy villages near the Italian/Austrian border, each surrounded by the stunning Dolomites. Moreover, it offers 175 km of incredibly scenic, flattering pistes, including the must-do circular Sella Ronda route and the family-friendly Alpe di Siusi plateau. For a wholesome holiday experience, stay at Paradiso Pure – the first vegetarian and sustainable hotel in the Dolomites, which offers complimentary yoga classes and support for local artists.

Val Thorens, France

Best for reassuringly consistent snow

If you are looking for a resort that conforms to stereotypes, it is best to avoid it.

Val Thorens is Europe’s highest ski resort and a futuristic “snowtopia” with year-round snow-sure skiing. With ski-in/ski-out accommodations, 140 km of local pistes, and easy access to the vast Three Valleys ski area, the resort is perfect for skiers of all levels.

Val-d’Isère, France

Best for accomplished skiers

Avoid if you’re traveling during peak holidays and hate crowds

Val-d’Isère is among the world’s top ski resorts, with 290 km of diverse trails, two World Cup Men’s Downhill pistes, and the Grande Motte glacier. Val’s off-piste terrain attracts the international freeride community, and there’s plenty of piste-side partying, chic nightclubs, and ultra-luxury chalets. Hip Hideouts is launching two new B&B properties, Chalet Loup and Cala Slopeside, allowing guests to explore the resort’s bars and restaurants each evening.

Final wording

Our list of the finest ski resorts in Europe is far from complete or extensive. Still, we hope it has given you a glimpse of the magnificent skiing opportunities in Europe. Finally, we would like to hear from you. Which European ski resorts did you enjoy the most and why?

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Best ski resorts in Europe

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Feature photo credits: Joan Oger/Unsplah – cntraveler.com