The winter ski resorts in the European Alps and Dolomites are legendary, not only for their excellent skiing, but also for their Alpine villages and resort towns. In the mountains of Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria you will find some of the best ski resorts in the world.
The high altitudes of these ski resorts mean reliable snow conditions, which is why the ski season is long. Remember that these mountains are not just for you experienced skiers. Most resorts have light and moderately demanding terrains, and many have dedicated tracks and lifts just for beginners.
1. Courchevel, France
Courchevel is the largest and most famous of the many interconnected ski resorts known as Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys), which form the largest ski region in Europe. 60 cable cars connect access to a total of 600 kilometers interconnected ski slopes and four glaciers. The entire area is spread over 10 peaks with an altitude of over 2,500 meters.
Add to these remarkable statistics the fact that the resorts receive four feet of snow annually and they have state-of-the-art devices, which keep their tracks in excellent condition. Although Courchevel is popular for its excellent off-piste terrain, each of the five separate villages has good terrain for beginners as well. Courchevel is especially family friendly: free chairlifts serve beginners, and magnetic safety vests for children are available on the lifts. In addition to superb skiing, Courchevel is known for its luxury accommodation and excellent cuisine in several Michelin-starred restaurants.
2. Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt is located in the south of Switzerland, directly at the foot of the Matterhorn. He is famous along long routes, some of which end right in the village. The Matterhorn Glacier Ride is the highest 3S lift in the world and transports 2,000 skiers per hour to the glacier. The resort has 3 ski slopes, all of which are interconnected. The Rothorn area is suitable for skiers of various levels of experience. If you have just started skiing, then you have the opportunity to visit the park for children and beginners. The area below Gornergrat is one of the best areas for those who already know how to ski. The south face of the Matterhorn is in Italy, and experienced skiers can ski in both countries in one day by skiing over the Theodul Pass and descending into the Italian piste system.
3. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
The five peaks of the Cinque Torri form the most beautiful place of any of the Italian ski resorts. Skiing here is surprisingly affordable, especially thanks to the Dolomiti Superski Pass. This provides access to the lifts and pistes with almost 400 kilometers of interconnected skiing. Several ski resorts are included between the peaks known as the Gruppo del Sella and the Marmolada Glacier; this entire area is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition to skiing, Cortina offers kilometers of scenic cross-country skiing tracks, a bobsleigh track lit by floodlights at night, and an Olympic-sized skating rink.
4. Chamonix, France
The atmosphere of a Savoy mountain village with traditional houses, horse-drawn carriages and faded frescoes on one side - and a modern metropolis of winter tourism with a unique range of ski slopes on the other. All this is represented by Chamonix, a famous ski resort located below Mont Blanc. It is global a famous ski resort since the Winter Olympics in 1924. Chamonix gained international fame as the site of the first Winter Olympics, and the fame has continued as it has some of the most challenging terrain in the world.
At Grands Montets, one of the six different ski resorts in Chamonix, you can ski the slopes with the biggest difference in altitude in the world. Less experienced skiers will love the Brévent – Flégère areas. Beginners will enjoy the slopes of the Balme - Vallorcine ski area, while families will enjoy the Domaine Skiable des Planards or La Vormaine areas.
5. St. Anton, Austria
The ski resort is one of the largest and most organized in the world. It is a truly unique recreation center for the whole family. At an altitude of 1,300 m above sea level, clean mountain air is guaranteed, which makes staying together with Tyrolean hospitality all the more pleasant. All events on and next to the ski resort are steeped in tradition, joy and pure fun. The Arlberg regional lift provides access to 340 kilometers of pistes, including those in the nearby ski resorts of Lech and Zürs, which have plenty of options for beginners and intermediate skiers. These can be reached by bus, and some routes in these resorts are connected to St. Anton with the Flexen pass. Village of St. Anton is a sweet cluster of alpine inns, shops and restaurants, and the cable cars run right out of the village.
6. Kitzbühel, Austria
Kitzbühel is suitable for everyone who wants to taste charm and luxury the most fashionable center in Austria. The fame and prestige of the place is also matched by the accommodation, as some of Austria's most luxurious hotels and apartments are right below the famous Streif ski run. The legendary venue of the World Cup is otherwise famous for excellent skis on spacious grounds and excellent equipment. If 170 kilometers of ski runs and slopes are not enough for you, take the bus to SkiWelt, which offers another 280 kilometers of slopes. Both include the Kitzbühel Alps AllStarCard.
7. St. Moritz, Switzerland
St. Moritz is one of the greatest jewels of Swiss winter sports tourism. It is located in the canton of Graubünden, about 150 km north of Bergamo or Lake Como in Italy. Moritz is known for its long pistes and exceptional terrain, with more than 20 cable cars in operation. In addition to skiing, the center offers many other sports activities such as skating, sledding, kiting, and cross-country skiing.
8. Val Gardena, Italy
Val Gardena, together with the three places, forms a complete whole. The 160 kilometers of pistes and lifts in Val Gardena connect with those in several neighboring valleys between the peaks of the Gruppo del Sella, creating almost 400 kilometers of interconnected skiing. Almost two-thirds of the terrain reached from Val Gardena is for advanced and experienced skiers. But beginners and intermediate skiers are still waiting for more than 130 kilometers route There is also a huge range of additional offers available to visitors, such as running tracks in the outskirts of St. Cristine and Ortiseia, swimming pool and sauna in Ortiseia, bowling center in Selva and much more for everyone who wants fun, recreation and top cuisine. Val Gardena is included in the Dolomiti SuperSki pass, which gives access to 11 other resorts in the region.
9. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Garmisch Partenkirchen is the largest and most famous ski resort in Germany. It is located in the southernmost part of Bavaria, near the Zugspitze mountain range. The ski resorts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are less than an hour's drive from Munich and are on the program of competitors in the World Cup every year, the place is also an annual stop for ski jumpers on the New Year's tour, and in 1936 the Olympic Games were hosted here. The ski resorts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen are connected via three peaks – Alpspitze, Kreuzeck and Hausberg, and a total of 40 km of different pistes are available.
10. Courmayeur, Italy
Courmayeur Monte Bianco – the pearl of the Alps, earned this nickname with the incredible beauty of the landscape that surrounds it. Today it is one of the most important ski resorts in the world, which also holds the distinction of being the oldest mountain center. The Courmayeur ski area offers 42 kilometers of excellently groomed pistes, varying in difficulty. If this is not enough kilometers for you and you are a real explorer, you can buy ski pass Mont Blanc Unlimited, which in total offers more than 400 kilometers of skiing heaven, in three countries - Italy, France and Switzerland.
11. Grindelwald-Wengen and Jungfrau, Switzerland
The famous Wengen and its immediate surroundings, which belong to the Jungfrau region, are worth taking time for. Steep slopes and high mountain valleys offer skiers and snowboarders a total of 206 kilometers of ski tracks with idyllic small alpine huts. If you spend your vacation in Wengen, you can take the cog railway to the hotel. With it, you continue to the top of the Kleine Scheidegg ski resort, where you transfer to an even steeper train that takes you to the Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe through hand-hewn tunnels in the wall of the Eiger mountain. The ski resort First - Grindelwald is known for its many snow activities, which it has recently joined the longest toboggan run in Europe.
12. Val d'Isere, France
Skiing legend Jean-Claude Killy made his hometown one of the most famous ski resorts in Europe after winning three gold medals at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble. Val d'Isere shares a valley with neighboring Tignes and provides more than 300 kilometers of interconnected ski terrain, served by more than 150 lifts. The valley is surrounded by peaks that allow skiing at altitudes of up to 3450 meters. Val d'Isere and Tignes offer the best skiing also for demanding skiers. There really is something for everyone here. Snowboarders can test themselves in two snow parks. There are many in the place good restaurants with excellent food, shops, cozy daytime and evening bars, nightclubs, discotheques and a cinema, as well as an indoor swimming pool and a natural ice rink.
13. Les Arcs, France
The Les Arcs ski center is part of one of the largest ski areas in France. Perfectly prepared ski slopes, together with the connected ski area of La Plagne, where the largest gondola in the world "Vanoise Express" takes you, the area boasts over 425 km of slopes. The ski area is suitable for all ski enthusiasts, as well as families who want to spend their vacation on one of the largest ski areas in Europe.
