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The 10 Best Ski Resorts In Europe For Your Next Holiday

Skiing in Europe can be an out-of-the-world experience when the fresh powders are coupled with luxury resorts that offer you a comfortable experience. Whether you’re a novice skier or a seasoned professional wanting to explore the challenging pistes, Europe has some of the best resorts like Ski Vertigo to give you this taste of luxury and adventure.

With so many exceptional ski resorts in Europe, it can seem overwhelming for first-time skiers to pick one. So, let’s look at our curated list of the best ski resorts in Europe to make your job a little easier.

Val Thorens, France

Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in the Three Valleys but this is not the only reason that makes it one of the best cosmopolitan resorts. It is also the highest resort in Europe, with over 600 km of pistes for everyone, from gentle beginner slopes and wide pistes for intermediate skiers to black runs for the pros. 

Val Thorens also has a thriving night scene with numerous bars, restaurants and shops to explore. If you have some non-skiers accompanying you, there are many exciting options like paragliding, fat biking, swimming pool, sauna, and even a fitness centre to make their trip equally exciting.

Val d’Isère, France

Val d’Isère is Located at 1,850 metres and its Alpine charm will weave its way right into your heart. Although the town has expanded over the years, it has managed to retain its traditional character since the newer developments have been done using natural stone and wood.

Val d’Isère offers a ski area of over 300 km of pistes and is served by 96 lifts. This modern lift system gives you access to great skiing with world-class off-piste runs and gentle slopes. With one of the best snow records in Europe, it has a long season running from late November to early May. This world-class resort is known for its food, drinks and lively nightlife. If you’re looking to let your hair down, do visit La Folie Douce for a mountain party accompanied by dancers and musicians.

Tignes, France

Tignes is the absolute favourite of most seasoned skiers or snowboarders.  The resort is located on the edge of Le Lac at an altitude of 2100 metres with the Grande Motte Glacier above it. Known for its off-piste skiing, Tignes has many runs that can test the skills of even the best skiers. 

The Tignes ski resort gives you a chance to experience vibrant nightlife at the amazing array of restaurants, some of which are also on the slopes. As an apres-ski activity, you can pick walking over the frozen ‘Le Lac’ to Val Claret, do ice skating or hire nets for a game of ice hockey.

St. Anton, Austria

St. Anton is one of the best ski resorts in Europe and is known for its challenging ski runs and excellent après. It is one of the oldest luxury resorts in the Alps and gives an authentic vibe. Its bowls, gullies and strong powder conditions make it a favourite among expert skiers and powder hounds. 

St. Anton is a part of the Ski Arlberg area, which is the largest connected ski area in Austria and along with St. Anton, comprises the resorts of St. Christophe, Stuben, Lech, Zürs and Warth-Schröcken. If you are a seasoned ski master, there is 305 km of marked pistes and 200 km of impressive off-piste trails for you to try. The small town has bucketloads of traditional Tyrolean charm to offer with its hotels, restaurants and bars for lively evenings. 

Courchevel, France

This glamorous ski resort is a part of the largest ski area in the world: the Three Valleys. Spread over a vast expanse of four villages: 1300 (known as Courchevel Le Praz), 1550, 1650 (known as Courchevel Moriond), and 1850, Courchevel is a luxury resort that promises you excellent powder and lots of glamour. It shares a ski area with neighbouring Meribel and Val Thorens. 

When it comes to après-ski, Courchevel is hard to beat. It is home to 7 Michelin-star restaurants that hold as many as 12 stars between them. You will also find many other laid-back and affordable eateries in the area. 

Zermatt, Switzerland

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Matterhorn, this stunning luxury ski resort comes with a strong heritage and rich history. If you wish to have a luxury ski holiday, the Zermatt ski resort is truly an unforgettable destination. It gives you access to three main ski areas: Sunnegga-Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, and Cervinia.

Zermatt is quite popular among skiers and boarders as it shares a ski area with another famous  Italian ski resort in Cervinia. It gives you a large ski area to explore, not to mention the opportunity to hop across the Italian border to savour some authentic pizza and gelato.

Avoriaz, France

The charming resort in Avoriaz sits atop the ancient town of Morzine and is the highest resort here. It is a part of the larger Portes du Soleil ski area that spans two countries and is second only to the Three Valleys. It is also linked to the other French resorts of Les Gets, Morzine and Châtel and the Swiss resorts of Morgins, Chapery,  Champoussin and Les Crosets. Avoriaz offers snowsure conditions throughout the season with as much as 650 km of pistes to explore.

The town is car-free which means that you can even ski through the town or catch a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh. Now that is an adventure you wouldn’t want to miss at all! Most of the accommodations here are also ski-in ski-out. So, no more lugging back the skis all over the town. 

St. Moritz, Switzerland

St Moritz dates back to the mid-1900s and is one of the most exclusive luxury ski resorts in the world. The Corviglia ski area here spans over three ski areas offering 155 kilometres of slopes. If you want to test your skiing skills while relishing the spectacular scenery and panoramic vistas all around, then this resort will be an absolute delight. Because of its high altitude and excellent snow-making, St. Moritz enjoys a good skiing range and snowsure conditions.  

Although it is not a modern resort, it is much sought-after for its heritage and exceptional fine dining that will leave you spoiled for choice. 

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy

Cortina’s recent claim to fame is being the Winter Olympic Games host for 2026. But this Italian ski resort, known as the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’, is equally famous for its jaw-dropping landscape and sunny weather. Cortina has a great ski area for the newbies but if you are a skilled skier, there is the famous downhill run from the 1956 Winter Olympics and the historic WW1 ski circuit for you to try.

This buzzing town has plenty of restaurants, bars and several designer shops to choose from. This is why many people visit Cortina for its stunning vistas of the Dolomites and retail therapy. 

Chamonix, France

Being one of the oldest ski resorts in France and having hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix is a popular resort in Europe. Located at the foot of Mont Blanc (check out my mont blanc packing list, and beginners guide to climbing mont blanc) this cosmopolitan town is nothing short of a charming place straight out of a modern fairy tale. Its off-piste opportunities and challenging terrain beckon experienced skiers and free-riders from far and wide.  

Although it is among the smaller ski resorts, Chamonix more than makes up for its small size with the big thrills that you get with its off-piste terrain. You must try the famous 22km Vallée Blanche off-piste trail for a truly thrilling experience.

Conclusion

A skiing holiday at some of the best resorts in Europe like Ski Vertigo is not only a good way to unwind but also to capture some unforgettable memories. Whether you’re yearning for powder skiing or the après, beginner slopes or snow parks, Europe has something for everyone. You can spend your days off-piste and evenings relishing the après-ski and the gorgeous scenery around you. So if you have a snow and adventure-filled holiday in the mind, book your tickets now!