The Top Resorts in Europe – World Famous and Not
Lots of snow and sunshine days, gorgeous views, varied terrain, modern lifts and multiple choices for dinner, nightlife and shopping. All are the hallmarks of what makes a winter resort great anywhere in the world, including in Europe. These are the top-rated resorts in France, Italy, Switzerland elsewhere in Europe are based on a mix of all those things, plus transfer time from and back to the nearest airport. Plus the low cost of weekly ski passes – as low as $50/day – adds to the appeal.
Research by the Europe-based air transfer company hoppa rates Chamonix, Courchevel and Tignes the top three, and includes lesser known Bansko, in Bulgaria, and Grandvalira, in Andorra, as up-and-coming super-affordable hidden gems less crowded than the larger and more famous destinations on the list.
So here are some factoids to help you decide where to go next –
Chamonix – Nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Chamonix tops the ranking with an overall score of 9.94. Famous as the birthplace of modern alpine skiing and host of the first-ever Winter Olympics, it remains one of the world’s most iconic resorts.
Ski passes average $85/day for a weekly pass, annual snowfall reaches 470cm, and no other resort in the list offers as many restaurants or nightlife options.
Courchevel – Contributing to Courchevel’s high score is its average annual snowfall of 399cm, its high number of nightlife listings and restaurants and its high number of Google searches. Courchevel is a great place for a luxury stay. Along with stunning scenery and desirable hotels, and more than a dozen Michelin-starred restaurants in the area, including Le Sarkara, Le 1947 à Cheval Blanc, and Baumaniere 1850.
Ski passes also average $85/day for a weekly pass.
Tignes – This resort completes an all-French top three with a score of 8.29 out of 10. Contributing to its high score is its high snowfall of almost 700cm per year, an affordable ski pass of just around $50/day for a weekly pass, and its high number of nightlife listings.
Due to Tignes’ high average snowfall – around 669cm a season – it is considered a safe resort to book. That means you don’t have to worry about whether or not it will have snow.
Val Gardena (Dolomiti Superski) in Italy and Val d’Isere, also in France, are also on the top ten list – and both are destinations this season for the 70+ Ski Club.
Bansko ski passes are the least expensive on the list – around $50/day – which is one third of the price of Zermatt in Switzerland, the most expensive ski resort in in Europe, and also on this top ten list. Bansko has a ten-mile cruiser known as the “Ski Road”. Closest airport is Sophia.
Grandvalira is the largest ski resort the Pyrenees, with more than 150 miles of trails, 70 lifts and six base areas. Is part of the group that also includes Pal Arinsal and Ordino Arcalis. You can ski all three on one pass for around $75 for a weekly pass.
Other resorts on this top ten list include Grindelwald/Wengen/Murren in Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region and two more areas in France, both smaller and lesser known than their big sisters, La Plagne and Alpe d’Huez.
Surpisingly, no resorts in Austria or Germany made this list.
Not world-class Innsbruck, with its world-famous Hahmenkamm run, or even Gurgl, where I learned to ski after college in the 60s, trading English lessons for ski lessons, and site of the recent World Cup races in which Mikaela Shiffrin cemented her winning legacy as G.O.A.T. Not Garmish-Partenkirchen in Germany’s highest mountain range, site of the1936 Winter Olympics, where some inns on the main street have been serving guests since the 1600s. So it goes.
You can read the full research here: https://www.hoppa.com/en/discover/infographics/european-ski-index
What is your favorite ski resort in Europe? Where do you want to go next?
See you on the slopes.
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Dear Ms. Kanter,
I must comment. FYI, Kitzbuhel is the home resort of the hahnenkamm and its famous downhill race in January. We know from personal experience because last year skied Kitzbuhel and then drove to Innsbruck for a 2 night stay which is over an hour drive away. From there on to the Sella Massif in italy. Home of the Sellaronda, 42k route around the massif. my best, Paul
Good catch. Kitzbuhel, of course, as you say, one hour from Innsbruck and its fabulous Hapsburg castle. I’ll be in Val Gardena next month with the 70+ Ski Club. When was your visit?
How is it that you have no Austrian ski resorts in your list?
Yes, it surprised me also. But it’s not my list – it’s the list of Hoopa, a European transportation company. I’ll share your complaint with them.
I can’t believe St. Anton didn’t make the list. Makes me wonder…
A British Senior skier, think I’m classed as a strong intermediate. Been skiing for over 50 years and usually make 2 trips to The alps and/or Pyrenees each winter. The article worried me. Bansko, where I skied 2 years ago, has, what I consider, a very expensive lift pass for the amount of skiing available and the worst lift queue to get up the mountain in the morning, I have ever encountered. On the other hand Andorra currently gives free skiing to over 75s and few queues. Last season I skied Tignes/Val d’Isere and Serre Chevalier, both French, for free. US citizens would be right to venture to Europe to ski – but would benefit from a much better listing