The 2024/25 ski season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start planning your next ski trip! To give you some inspiration on where to go this winter, we have rounded up some of the best ski resorts in Europe to visit for 2024/25. Whether you are looking for wild après ski or a hidden gem, we have included resorts for every type of skier and holiday-goer.
Read on to discover the best ski resorts in Europe for 2024/25!
Best Ski Resort for Families – Morzine
Sitting at 1,000m, Morzine is located in the heart of the Haute Savoie region in France. With many French families living in the resort year-round, Morzine is an excellent resort for family ski trips. Conveniently located near Geneva Airport, you can reach the resort in an hour and 15 minutes, making for a hassle-free journey. The resort has a charming, car-free centre and offers plenty of family-friendly accommodation along with family-friendly amenities including a swimming pool, ice rink and a dedicated sledging slope. Morzine is a gateway to the impressive Portes du Soleil ski area, boasting plenty of runs suited to all abilities. The resort offers several lift pass options, including discounted ski passes for families.
Best Ski Resort for Beginner Skiers – Les Arcs
Overlooking Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Les Arcs sits at an elevation of 1,800m, with the highest ski lift reaching 3,226m. The purpose-built resort is part of the vast Paradiski ski area, offering 425km of diverse, skiable terrain. Les Arcs is a great ski resort for first-time or beginner skiers due to its multitude of gentle, wide pistes. On top of this, much of the accommodation is ski-in ski-out, meaning you can step right from your apartment/chalet onto the slopes – no walking necessary. Les Arcs is split into four distinct areas, each with its own beginners’ area, fit with gentle slopes and lifts designed specifically for beginners. Les Arcs also has several lift pass deals for beginners. There are even certain nursery areas where lift passes aren’t required.
Best Ski Resort for Off-Piste Skiing – Chamonix
Located in the French Alps, Chamonix is a gateway to the Mont Blanc massif, a stunning mountain range offering 153km of diverse, pisted terrain. The popular resort is famous for its legendary off-piste skiing, which draws in backcountry enthusiasts year after year. From narrow chutes to steep couloirs and wide powdery slopes, Chamonix is a natural haven for off-piste skiing. The Grand Montets ski area is highly regarded for its easy-access off-piste skiing. The Flégère Bowl is another excellent off-piste ski area and, of course, the world-famous Vallée Blanche offers the longest off-piste ski descent in the world!
Best Ski Resort for Skiing on a Budget – Le Grand Bornand
Le Grand Bornand is a traditional ski resort located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Sat at 1,300m, the charming, quiet village is divided into two sections, with accommodation primarily consisting of picturesque Savoyard-style chalets. The hidden gem resort features 90km of pistes, reaching up to 2,100m at the summit of Mont Lachat. Le Grand Bornand is connected to La Clusaz, Manigod and St Jean de Sixt, forming the Les Aravis ski area, which boasts a total of 230km of pistes for those looking to explore further afield. Just an hour’s drive from Geneva Airport, Le Grand Bornand is an excellent choice for a short ski trip and lift passes are a steal at 45 euros for a day pass!
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Best Ski Resort for Snow – Val Thorens
Located in the Savoie region in the northern French Alps, Val Thorens is the highest point in The Three Valleys, the largest interconnected ski area in the world. Situated at an altitude of 2,300m, it holds the title of the highest village in Europe, making it one of the most snow-sure ski resorts in Europe. Thanks to its high altitude, Val Thorens has an exceptionally reliable snow cover both in the village and on the slopes. Additionally, 90% of the runs in Val Thorens sit above 2,000m, allowing for an extended ski season, typically running from late November until early May. The snow-sure slopes cater to skiers of all abilities and the resort boasts an efficient and expansive lift system.
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Best Ski Resort for Après Ski – St. Anton
Located in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria, St. Anton is world-famous for its party atmosphere. Known for its vibrant après ski scene and challenging slopes, St. Anton is the perfect destination for those who want to ski hard and party even harder. The iconic MooserWirt and Krazy Kanguruh are must-visit venues for Austrian après ski. These legendary slope-side spots have been hosting après ski parties since 1989 and 1965, respectively. In the resort, popular après ski spots like Bar Cuba and Bobo’s are ready and waiting to keep the party going long into the night!
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Best Ski Resort for Freestylers – Laax
The charming Swiss resort of Laax sits at 1,100m, with the highest ski lift reaching 3,018m. The resort is renowned for its freestyle skiing and snowboarding and hosts several international competitions at its world-class snow park each season. Laax is part of the Weisse Arena Gruppe, which includes the neighbouring resorts of Flims and Falera, boasting a combined 224km of skiable terrain. The snow park in Laax is divided into different sections catering to beginners, intermediates and pros, making it an ideal venue for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities to test their freestyle skills.
Best Ski Resort for Advanced Skiers – Avoriaz
Avoriaz village sits at 1,800m with the highest ski lift reaching 2,466m. The resort is situated on a sloping shelf high above the town of Morzine and is part of the expansive Portes du Soleil ski area, which offers 600km of skiable terrain, of which over 40% is rated red/black. Additionally, Avoriaz is home to one of the most challenging ski runs in Europe – the Swiss Wall. Sitting on the border between France and Switzerland, this hair-raising run has an inclination of 32º and a drop of 331m. The piste has been classified as “orange” as it is too difficult to be put into one of the regular difficulty categories (red, blue, black, or green).
Best Ski Resort for Ski Area Size – Courchevel
Courchevel is a popular French ski resort with its highest slopes reaching up to 2,738m. It is located in the heart of Les Trois Vallées or ‘The Three Valleys’, which is not only the biggest ski area in Europe but also the biggest ski area in the world! The ski region, set in the Tarentaise Valley of the French Alps, connects 8 French ski resorts and has a grand total of 600km of interlinked, pisted terrain to explore. There is certainly more than enough terrain to keep any level of skier occupied on their trip. In addition to its excellent skiing, Courchevel offers top-tier accommodation and dining options.
Book ski lessons in Courchevel!
Best Ski Resort for Luxury – Zermatt
Perched at 1,620m in the German-speaking part of the Valais Canton in Southern Switzerland, Zermatt is an incredibly popular ski resort due to its diverse skiing and picturesque setting. The charming, car-free resort boasts jaw-dropping views of the majestic Matterhorn that sits above it. With countless 5-star hotels, world-class restaurants and sophisticated bars to enjoy, Zermatt draws in celebrities and glamorous holiday-goers year after year. In addition to the 250km of pistes, this luxury ski resort has much to keep you entertained from day to night, including designer shops, trendy piano bars and exclusive nightclubs.