Skiing in Europe
For a snow experience unlike any other in the world, every Powderhound must ski Europe. The huge terrain in the Alps, Dolomites or Pyrenees, incredible lift systems & awesome snow combine wonderfully with the mountain villages, history, traditions, cultural diversity plus the fabulous food & drink. Spending the night in an Italian mountain rifugio or an Austrian guesthouse dating from the 1500s add layers to a European ski holiday that make it unforgettable. Once you ski Europe, you will definitely come back for more.
The great advantage of skiing in Europe is the diversity and ease of access to a huge number of superb ski resorts in a relatively small area. Most of the great ski resorts of Europe are within three hours travel (train, bus, or car) from the major international gateway airports of Zurich, Geneva, Milan or Munich. There are fabulous train journeys that go direct to some of our favourite, incredibly snow-laden ski resorts like Andermatt, Chamonix, Davos-Klosters, Engelberg, Kitzbuehel, St Anton, St Moritz & Zermatt. Some even have a gondola ski lift or cable car integrated with the train platform (Kronplatz in Italy or Aletsch Arena in Switzerland). Nowhere else in the world has so much to offer. Check out the differences between skiing in Europe compared to other parts of the world here.
Top 10 Reasons to Ski Europe
- Huge number and diversity of ski areas.
- Vast number of resorts with low crowds for storm riding powder! (We have skied so many powder days in Europe where it seems like we are the only people riding the lifts.)
- High snowfall regions particularly across the northern Alps from Austria through Switzerland and into France.
- Low-cost lift passes, AND now some international season passes are valid in several resorts as well!
- Incredible, modern lift systems.
- Massive skiable verticals at most resorts.
- Immense lift-accessed backcountry skiing & ski-touring options.
- Long ski season including all year-round glacier skiing in Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy & Norway, mid to late autumn skiing across the Alps, late spring to early summer skiing in the Alps, Norway, Sweden & Iceland.
- Most resorts easily accessible by public transport including by train direct from major airports.
- Authentic villages, mountain huts, ancient history & rural landscapes integrated into the whole skiing experience.
Where to Ski in Europe
The number of ski resorts in Europe is massive, easily exceeding 1,000. From small village lifts to enormous, interlinked resorts that must be seen (& skied) to be believed. Much of Europe's best skiing is in the Alps, which span the Mediterranean coast of France through Switzerland, northern Italy, Austria, southern Germany and into Slovenia. The mountains are giants so European skiing offers endless runs on huge vertical, and the spectacular scenery can be admired from the slopes, a comfy lounge chair or from soaring cable cars. The ability to ski from village to village is common, and in numerous resorts one can even ski from country to country. The old-world villages are quaint and offer opportunities to stop for food, wine, beer, or an aperitif.
In southern Europe, the Pyrenees reign supreme, with numerous ski resorts and backcountry freeride options in France, Spain and the tiny principality of Andorra. Landlocked Andorra is surrounded by high peaks and has built its economy on tourism, mainly based on skiing & duty-free shopping, so you know it will be an interesting experience. Skiing in southern Spain allows for some beach & snow combinations that are difficult to replicate elsewhere in the world.
For the more adventurous, the Arctic regions of Norway and Sweden have some wonderful ski and snowboard adventure opportunities. Iceland and Greenland even more so. In the snowy Caucasus of Russia & Georgia, there is some massive investment in improving current resorts and creating several new ones. Skiing in Russia includes one of the highest ski lifts in Europe at Mt Elbrus or cat skiing in remote Siberia, but sadly with what is going in the Ukraine we can no longer the notion of visiting Russian soil and have turned off all our pages & links relating to it. Georgia is amongst the cheapest places to ski and includes Europe's best cat skiing. One of the newest cat ski operations is in Turkey. Speaking of cats, the oldest European cat ski operation is in the relatively unknown ski destination of North Macedonia, where several other superb operators are now using snowcats to access backcountry freeride terrain. Cat skiing is also becoming more widespread in Kosovo.
Luckily for the Powderhound, in many European ski resorts the locals have their priorities totally skewed when it comes to skiing. Many Europeans prioritise food & drink as the most important component of their ski day, après ski festivities a close second, whilst the actual skiing or snowboarding is a distant third priority and one usually best experienced when the sun is out! This is what makes Europe a great powder ski holiday destination. There’s excellent snow riding for the early riser, but also a chance to soak up some fabulous European culture, enjoy après and the animated nightlife, plus eat the wonderful cuisine.
Back-country touring opportunities are boundless in Europe, but avalanche awareness and skills are absolutely necessary. If in doubt get a guide or join a tour. See all our hosted tours here.
Heliskiing opportunities are increasing in Europe as well. The best operators in western Europe are based in Italy around the high Alps of the Aosta valley from Monte Rosa to Monte Bianco. Other amazing heli ski options are in the wilds of the Caucasus and Kamchatka in Russia plus the 'Arctic' nations of Greenland, Iceland & Sweden.
See our Best European Ski Resorts page or specific country pages for more information
When to Go Skiing in Europe
It is possible to ski in Europe every day of the year. Whether you are skiing a glacier at Zermatt or Hintertux in mid-summer, Scandinavian resorts & backcountry in spring & early summer or the wilds of Siberia in autumn, European skiing & snowboarding is only limited by your imagination & sense of adventure. In winter, the vast opportunities in the Alps are best sampled by Powderhounds in mid to late January when temperatures are cold, the powder is deep, prices are low & crowds are non-existent.
See our When to Ski Europe page for month-by-month information on the best times to go skiing.
How to Get to European Ski Resorts
Travelling to Europe for a ski holiday is as simple as going anywhere else in the world. Perhaps even simpler than most continents by virtue of the superbly integrated transport network. Key airports to access ski resorts in the Alps are Geneva (GVA), Zurich (ZRH), Munich (MUC), Lyon (LYS), Innsbruck (INN) & Milan (MXP). Trains, buses, private transfers, taxis, car rentals & motorways then seamlessly link to the ski resorts. For example, it is possible to land in Milan, take a train directly into the city, another directly into Switzerland at Brig & then step onto another which stops at an integrated station with a cable car to Aletsch Arena ski resort. No need to even touch a road! Awesome.
See the Travel to Europe page for detailed information.
European Skiing & Snowboarding
Andorra
Nothing like starting an exceptionally long list with the one of the smallest nations in Europe. The mountainous principality of Andorra is wedged in the Pyrenees between France & Spain. As well as being a tax-free haven, Andorra has three fun ski resorts. Each resort has elements that will appeal to all snow lovers. The Powderhounds favourite is the smallest of the lot, Ordino Arcalis.
Austria
Ski Austria for the authentic village-based resorts, amazing lift systems, wonderful off-piste powder, year-round glacier skiing, sensational après, the massive, interlinked ski areas & the quiet powder snow havens that time has forgotten.
The Alps cover most of Austria. Almost every major (and minor!) town has some sort of ski lift infrastructure. Austria is where alpine skiing was born and perfected, and the Austria ski resorts offer a very traditional skiing experience which resorts in other countries try to emulate. Even though it is a relatively small country, Austria has the most ski resorts in Europe - 275 (ish!), and we would argue, also the best ski resorts in the world.
The rightfuly well known Saint Anton ski resort is in what we rate as the best ski region in the world, Ski Arlberg. A brilliant all-round ski region, resorts like St Anton attract skiers from all over the world. It boasts one of the most rocking après in the world. The huge, interlinked Ski Arlberg area also includes the high-end (& fantastic) Lech & Zurs, plus snowy Warth-Schroecken. A cluster of wonderful resorts accessible by train between Salzburg & Innsbruck includes legendary Kitzbühel, the fabulous powder and après haven of SkiCircus Saalbach & the lift pass interlinked Zell am See-Kaprun (Kitzsteinhorn). The Zillertal has great diversity, best represented by Mayrhofen & Hintertux Glacier ski resorts. Hintertux is open for skiing every day of the year. The 13 plus ski resorts near Innsbruck are fun ski destinations, the best of which are the excellent Stubai Glacier, Axamer Lizum, Schlick & Kühtai. Another Powderhounds favourite is the combination of Pitztal Glacier & Hochzeiger. The list is endless......
The Powderhounds favourite hangouts in Austria tend to be smaller offerings that have reliable snow, and are devoid of humans on cold, storm days. Places such as Diedamskopf, Gargellen, See, Kappl, Nauders & Zauchensee are where you are like to find us getting faceshots .....
France
Ski France for its huge high altitude, interlinked ski resorts, great food, and wine, but also for the dramatic scenery, high altitude, consistent snowpack, wonderful off-piste powder and long, wide runs. The French locals in the mountainous areas are incredibly friendly, which adds to the experience.
France also has some of the best extreme terrain in the world at Chamonix on western Europe’s highest peak, Mont Blanc. This French ski region is on steroids and attracts a hard-core freerider crowd but has enough diverse terrain to provide a great experience for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. At the other end of the French Alps, the likes of Alpe d'Huez, Les 2 Alpes, La Grave & Serre Chevalier offer world class ski skiing & snowboarding with terrain for all abilities, plus wonderful off-piste powder opportunities. Val d’Isere & Tignes are amongst the best ski resorts in Europe. They cater to a more 'well heeled' market & have plenty of wide runs for beginners & intermediates, but the terrain is well worth the journey into the Tarentaise for us 'great unwashed' as well for the exciting freeride opportunities. Nearby Sainte Foy is the worst kept powder stash secret in Europe, but like Les Arcs, should still be on any Powderhounds list.
The world's largest cross border & in-country lift & ticket interlinked ski areas are in France - Les Portes du Soleil & the 3 Vallèes (it is actually 4 with Orelle added in!). Portes du Soleil is a collection of 12 French & Swiss resorts with 600km of trail only a stone’s throw from Geneva. The incredible 3 Vallèes consists of four main resorts (Courchevel, Les Menuires, Meribel & Val Thorens) boasting enough lifts, trails and humans(!) to make the most hardened powder hound's head spin.
For many powder seekers it is the huge range of 'smaller' resorts in France that will be attractive. The Haute Maurienne region is an absolute stand-out - Aussois, Bonneval, La Norma, Val Cenis & Valfrejus are all sensational. East of Serre Chevalier, the Queyras ski region is another affordable, quiet freeride paradise that is still 'off the grid' to most non-French skiers & boarders.
In southern France, the Pyrenees have several world class ski resorts (Ax, Saint Lary), plus wonderful 'boutique resorts (Cauterets, Gavarnie) & sensational backcountry terrain. In some years, the Pyrenees score more snow than the Alps! At other times ..... not so much!
Italy
Skiing in Italy is as much about the eating, long lunches aperitifs and wine consumption, as it is about exploring the slopes and skiing powder. The culture is super relaxed and friendly, but the skiing is superb and exhilarating. All that food and drink means they get out of bed a bit later too - great first tracks in Italy! Italy also provides the best value for money in Europe. It would surprise many people to know that Italy has the second highest number of ski resorts in Europe - over 200!
The Aosta valley has Italy's best skiing. Monte Cervino (the Matterhorn) is right on the Swiss-Italian border near Cervinia ski resort and Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc) straddles the French-Italian border near the wonderful Courmayeur and La Thuile ski resorts. Excellent resorts like Pila and Crevacol give the area diversity. The Monte Rosa massif offers a feast of skiing via the Monterosa Ski interlinked resort - a Powderhounds favourite. To the south, resorts such as Sestriere near the winter Olympics host city Turin (Torino) are fully linked with Oulx and other resorts to make up the excellent Via Lattea. Further east, Madonna di Campiglio is surrounded by numerous fun ski resorts & the stunning Brenta Dolomites. In the Dolomites, Cortina is a stylish resort with stunning scenery and world's best extreme terrain in the right conditions, plus Alta Badia, Arabba-Marmolada, Kronplatz, Val Gardena and 3 Peaks all have their charms. The fabulous cities of Milan, Turin, Verona, and Venice are also within a few hours of the resorts.
Switzerland
Ski Switzerland for the high-altitude powder, precise organisation and train networks, cosmopolitan flair, great lift systems, charming villages, and dramatic scenery. The après is relatively restrained in Switzerland, but there’s still nightlife, and partaking in fondue is essential - but grossly overrated!! Switzerland has a huge number of ski resorts that have been totally forgotten by the masses (think Arolla-Evolene, Klewenalp, Ovronnaz & Torgon) . They are ready to greet Powderhounds prepared to ski areas with T-bars & quad chairs instead of gondolas & high speed, hooded, heated seat, detachable 6-person chairs.
For Powderhounds, the larger ski resorts of Andermatt, Engelberg, 4 Vallèes (Verbier et al), Laax and Arosa Lenzerheide & the Jungfrau Ski Region are absolute stand outs. They all boast steep and deep off-piste skiing, but also great terrain for families.
St Moritz is glamorous and fashionable but has perfect piste trails, awesome off-piste plus a dark side at Diavolezza for experts. Davos-Klosters is also refined and sophisticated but with fabulous terrain, whilst Zermatt ski resort is a sensational all-rounder with the towering Matterhorn overlooking the fascinating town. Aletsch Arena is perfect for a family ski holiday, whilst the likes of Grimentz Zinal is what the Powderhounds favour.
A multitude of unknown Swiss ski resorts like Brigels, Belalp, and Lauchernalp have wonderful skiing & snowboarding without the hustle & bustle of the mega resorts.
Balkans - North Macedonia & Kosovo
Since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia, the Balkans have slowly recovered to bring 'new' ski & snowboard adventures to the rest of the world. The wild mountains of North Macedonia & Kosovo in particular have allowed numerous cat skiing operations to flourish even as nearby ski resorts go into decline. Away from the ex-Yugoslavian nations, Bulgaria is another ski destination with several decent mountains (including Bansko & Borovets) within a few hours of the capital Sofia. A ski trip to the Balkans has so many more layers than simply great powder snow too. The food, wine, culture, history make it a fascinating place to ski. We recommend it to anyone looking to expand their freeride horizons. The locals will appreciate your efforts & the payback to you from their hospitality will worth it.
Georgia
Georgia has undergone a massive expansion in ski resorts & winter sports in general. The Greater & Lesser Caucasus mountains border Georgia to the north and south respectively. Snow pukes down due the influence of the nearby Black Sea in the southwest of the country. Gudauri is the country’s largest ski resort and is best visited for its incredible lift-accessed backcountry terrain. Bucking a global trend, a number of brand-new ski resorts have opened in recent years as well. In the north-west, Tetnuldi near Mestia provides access to huge freeride terrain and a vast backcountry. In the Lesser or ‘Little’ Caucasus to the south, the heavy snow falls influenced by the Black Sea have spawned the isolated Goderdzi ski area & further east, Bakuriani. Cat Skiing at Bakhmaro & Adjara is available too and provides the ultimate Georgian powder skiing experience. Heli-skiing in Georgia is now well established in the mountains near Gudauri & in the Svaneti near Mestia. Any visit to Georgia should include a few nights in the fabulous capital, Tbilisi.
Germany
Skiing in Germany is possible at over 100 ski resorts. It is no real surprise however that the best ski resorts in Germany are generally in southern Bavaria where they cling to the Alps near the Austrian border. Some truly remarkable railways and cable car climb the spectacular 2,962m high Zugspitze where skiing takes place until May on the glacier. Below the Zugspitze is Germany's best-known ski resort, Garmisch Classic, which boasts a North America and Japan beating vertical of over 1,300m.
Norway, Sweden, Iceland & Greenland
Skiing in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Greenland is generally for the more adventurous (and sometimes cashed up) Powderhounds looking for something completely different in landscapes often defined by where the Mountains meet the sea!. In Norway, whilst there a number of ski resorts to sample (like the fabulous Narvikfjellet & Stranda), it is the backcountry summit to sea ski touring that is the real reason to visit. Lodge or boat-based skiing from mountain summits down into the fjords in regions like Svalbard, Lyngen Alps, Lofoten Islands & the more remote Finnmark, will provide unforgettable memories. Similarly, for some of the back-country tours or heli-skiing available in Iceland & Greenland. In Sweden, several ski resorts like Riksgränsen above the Arctic Circle offer unique experiences & (like everywhere in the Arctic) the chances of seeing the breathtaking aurora borealis is very high.
Russia
Like Georgia, Russia has invested squillions into the ski industry, particularly for the Sochi Winter Olympics. Modern ski resorts like Rosa Khutor compete with (or compliment) places like Elbrus with its highest lift going to 3,847m! For adventure, cat skiing in Siberia and heli-skiing in Kamchatka will fulfil anyone's wishes. Given the disgraceful invasion of the Ukraine, we have turned off all our Russian pages & links until such time as this madness has ceased and justice is served.
Spain
Yep, skiing in Spain. Kind of like thinking about skiing in Australia (that's Australia not Austria), the first question is always an incredulous, '... is there skiing in Spain?'. Yes, there is. some of it is mighty fine too! The Spanish Pyrenees are gorgeous & include world class, snow laden resorts like Baqueira Beret & La Molina Masella, plus some more sneaky stashes. There is even the opportunity to do some funky sunny beach, historic cities & powder snow combinations like down south at Sierra Nevada.
Turkey
Like Spain, Turkey is not a country that comes to mind when one thinks of skiing, however it has several excellent resorts on high elevation extinct volcanoes. The best are Erciyes in central Turkey, and Ejder 3200 to the east. For backcountry adventure with little physical effort, snowmobile-assisted skiing in Ovit Mountain, and nearby cat skiing provide almost limitless powder in an area of the country devoid of skiers & snowboarders.
Other Europe Ski Destinations
Eastern Europe holds a multitude of cheap and often adventurous ski destinations. Anywhere with high mountains has possibilities, even Greece. Some more mainstream options that we hope to get to in time, include:
Poland's mountainous southern rim provides prospects such as Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains. We hope to there in a coming season.
Romania is becoming an attractive destination for skiers including resorts at Poiana Brasov and Sinaia. Heliskiing is also a possibility.
Slovakia, on the other side of the Tatras, is a relatively new adventure destination with lots of mountains & varied terrain to explore. Ski resorts include Jasná Donovaly, Vratna & Drienica.
Slovenia is a beautiful environmentally friendly mountain nation. The best-known areas are the Kranjska Gora & Maribor Pohorje. Both host downhill events. For powder hounds, Kanin-Sella Nevea spans the frontier with Italy in a super snowy Julien Alps location.
Ukraine will be worth a visit to the ski areas & cat-skiing operations in the mountains in the west of the country once the illegal invasion has been repelled. The locals will need all the support they can get.
Our Favourite Off-piste Freeride Ski Resorts in the Alps
If there is one thing we have learned in all our ski travels, it is that the most consistently good ski days are had at only a few places in the world. Sure, everywhere is good ‘on its day’, but to get the most ‘best days’ see our list on our Favourite Off-piste Freeride Ski Resorts in the Alps of Western Europe page.
Lift Passes
In recent seasons, a host of international aggregated lift passes have become conditionally valid in several European ski resorts. IKON Pass, EPIC Pass, and Mountain Collective have varying validities in the Alps, Dolomites & Andorra. Access to each resort is usually limited & conditional, unless you have a full Epic Pass and are skiing the Vail Resorts-owned lifts at Andermatt-Sedrun in Switzerland!
Locally, there are numerous, sensational, multi-resort season passes available in the Alps. In Switzerland there is the Magic Pass & Top4 Pass; in Austria, the incredible Snow Card Tirol & SuperSkiCard; and in Italy the Aosta Valley Skipass, to mention a few.
See the full access details & conditions, plus info on the European-based multi-resort season passes on our Europe Ski Lift Passes page.
Cost of Skiing Europe
Skiing in Europe can be as economical or expensive as you wish. The cost of lift tickets is extremely cheap when compared to all other continents with the exception of Japan. Eating and drinking out is comparative to other places in the world, but serious cheap in eastern Europe & the Caucasus. In Switzerland, the usual rule is if you want to save money, don't eat out!
Of the ‘Big 4’ ski destination countries in Europe, by far the cheapest skiing is in Italy, followed by Austria (although accommodation prices have gone up substantially in recent seasons at the bigger resorts), then France & Switzerland. Switzerland is the most expensive ski destination in Europe simply due to its general high cost of living, but if you avoid eating out for dinner is not too over the top. It is interesting to note that many of the 'forgotten' Swiss ski resorts (think Leukerbad) are now quite cost competitive with most of the small to medium Alps’ ski areas.
By way of cost comparison of the Alps to North America for lift tickets, in recent seasons a day lift pass from a ticket window at Vail in Colorado USA could cost as much as US$275 (ish) (about the same in EUR€) whereas at the world-class Ski Arlberg (St Anton, Lech et al) was at a maximum of only €70 (ish) for a day pass. The mathematics is stark. Move further east and the prices drop even more. The modern ski resorts in Georgia have daily pass rates in the realms of €15, and in Turkey they are even less - €6 to 8. That is practically free!
Slope-side accommodation in ski resorts (as with anywhere in the world) will tend to hit the hip pocket, particularly in France & Switzerland, although of course there are different standards available (from budget to extravagant) at any given resort. In Europe the options for staying in excellent 'off mountain' village accommodation are vast, can be considerable cheaper & far more rewarding from a cultural experience point of view. Accommodation standards vary from country to country. For example, a 2-star hotel or guesthouse in Italy & Austria is as good as, or better, then most 3-star accommodation in France. In North Macedonia, a 4-star hotel may equate to a good Italian 2-star!
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More Reasons to Ski & Snowboard Europe
Skiing in Europe is so different to the rest of the world. The ski resorts are the best because it is not just about cutting laps on a bit of hill. Skiing here is a journey from mountain to mountain, valley to valley & village to village. Unlike being stuck in an isolated ski resort village somewhere in a nation's hinterland, skiing in Europe can provide something new every day - if you want it too!
Learning a new language is another reason to go & ski Europe. In western Europe, coping with local languages isn’t too difficult & is another reason to ski here. Even though you may not realise it, you will probably already know a few words of French, Italian Spanish & German. Regardless there are so many British tourists frequenting the ski resorts that a degree of English is spoken in all places. It is great fun trying the local language & adds an intellectual element to any European ski holiday, even though many Europeans speak English better than full-time English speakers!
Eastern Europe isn’t quite so populated with English-speaking tourists, but in order to get away from the crowds, the small vocabulary you’ll need to learn will be worth it. Learning some European language will be part of the cultural enjoyment of the skiing holiday.
If you haven't skied Europe yet, do it now. You will be richer for the experience & be one year older if you wait until the next season!
Mountain Guides
If looking to ski & ride the best powder in Europe but don't have the time to work it all for yourself, the individual resort pages will point you in the right direction, but only so far! Unlike many places in the world, the Alps & other ski regions in Europe have a rich history in accredited, professional mountain guiding. With literally thousands of ski instructors as well, riding powder can be done safely just about anywhere in the mountains. Check out our partners at Maison Sport for a range of independent ski instructors & mountain guides at a multitude of ski regions. Read a little more about how to safely ski & snowboard the off-piste & backcountry (including content from us!) on this Off-piste & Backcountry Skiing blog page.
Reviews
The Powderhounds Europe team are constantly reviewing new ski resorts in Europe or having a second or third look at old ones. See our reviews via the links on each ski resort overview page.
See how the all the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
If you have a question about skiing & snowboarding anywhere in Europe, CONTACT US.
Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.