The best ski resorts in Europe 2026/27

Val Thorens is a purpose-built, largely ski-in/ski-out resort at 2,300 m, described by Les 3 Vallées as the highest ski resort in Europe. Its altitude gives one of the longest seasons in the Alps, and it sits at the top of the Belleville valley with direct access to the whole 3 Vallées area. It suits keen intermediates and good skiers who want reliable snow and a lively atmosphere.

• Resort village at 2,300 m, the highest in Les 3 Vallées
• Direct ski access to Les 3 Vallées, 600 km of slopes
• Season runs from 21 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, the longest in Les 3 Vallées

St. Anton is a lively village in the Tyrolean Arlberg, often called the cradle of Alpine skiing. It is part of Ski Arlberg, Austria's largest connected ski area, and is known for steep runs, extensive off-piste terrain and busy apres-ski. It suits confident intermediate and advanced skiers best.

• Part of Ski Arlberg, with around 300 km of runs and 85 lifts and cable cars
• Around 200 km of off-piste descents
• Valluga viewing platform at 2,811 m

Zermatt is a car-free Swiss village beneath the Matterhorn with the highest ski area in the Alps. The Matterhorn Ski Paradise links with Cervinia and Valtournenche in Italy, and glacier skiing is possible all year. It suits intermediate and advanced skiers who want high-altitude snow and spectacular scenery.

• Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at 3,883 m, Europe's highest mountain station
• 360 km of pistes and 52 lifts across Switzerland and Italy
• Glacier skiing 365 days a year

Chamonix is a year-round mountain town at the foot of Mont Blanc, with four main ski areas spread along the valley rather than one linked network. It is famous for steep, high-mountain skiing, off-piste and the Vallée Blanche from the Aiguille du Midi, so it suits confident and advanced skiers best. Non-skiers and mixed groups also enjoy its town atmosphere and mountain excursions.

• Aiguille du Midi cable car to 3,842 m, start of the 20 km Vallée Blanche off-piste route
• Four ski areas: Brevent-Flegere, Grands Montets, Balme and Les Houches
• New Argentiere to Lognan gondola at Grands Montets due for Christmas 2026

Tignes is a high-altitude resort made up of five villages between 1,550 m and 2,150 m, sharing a ski area of around 300 km with Val d'Isère. The Grande Motte glacier takes the skiing up to 3,456 m, which helps give one of the longest seasons in the Alps. It suits strong intermediates, advanced skiers and anyone who prioritises snow reliability over traditional village charm.

• Ski area up to 3,456 m on the Grande Motte
• 300 km of linked slopes shared with Val d'Isère
• Long season from 21 November 2026 to 2 May 2027

Val d'Isère is a traditional Savoyard village at 1,850 m at the head of the Tarentaise valley, on the edge of the Vanoise National Park. Linked with Tignes, it offers over 300 km of slopes, with famous steep runs, extensive off-piste and a long season. It is best for confident intermediates and advanced skiers, with a lively après-ski scene.

• Over 300 km of slopes linked with Tignes, between 1,550 m and over 3,400 m
• Vallon de l'Iseran gondola up to the Pissaillas glacier
• Season runs from 28 November 2026 to 2 May 2027

Courchevel is a group of villages, from Saint Bon at 1,100 m up to Courchevel 1850, on the eastern side of Les 3 Vallées. Courchevel 1850 is known for upmarket hotels and restaurants, while the lower villages such as Le Praz, La Tania and Courchevel Village are quieter and more family-focused. The local slopes are well groomed and suit all levels, with the full 3 Vallées on the doorstep.

• Six villages from Saint Bon (1,100 m) to Courchevel 1850
• Linked to Les 3 Vallées, 600 km of slopes
• Top of La Saulire at 2,740 m with the Grand Couloir and Combe Saulire

Verbier is a lively, upmarket resort in the Valais and the gateway to the 4 Vallées, the largest ski area entirely within Switzerland. It is best known for its steep and off-piste terrain around Mont-Fort, but also has plenty of intermediate runs. It suits strong skiers, freeriders and those who enjoy apres-ski.

• Gateway to the 4 Vallées, with 410 km of runs and freeride routes
• Mont-Fort, the highest point, at 3,330 m
• Verbier Express train from Geneva Airport on winter weekends and public holidays

Mayrhofen is a large, busy village at the head of the Zillertal with lifts straight from the centre to the Penken and Ahorn ski areas. It offers gentle, sunny slopes on the Ahorn for beginners and families, plenty of intermediate terrain on the Penken, and a well-known apres-ski scene. The Zillertal Superskipass also covers other valley ski areas.

• 142 km of pistes and 61 lifts in the Mountopolis ski area
• Harakiri, described as Austria's steepest piste with a 78% gradient
• 5.5 km Ahorn valley run with a 1,400 m vertical drop

Breuil-Cervinia is a high-altitude resort at the head of the Valtournenche valley, beneath the Italian side of the Matterhorn. Its slopes link over the border to Zermatt in Switzerland and are known for long, wide and mostly easy-to-moderate runs, with glacier skiing at Plateau Rosa. It suits beginners and intermediates looking for reliable snow and a long season.

• About 150 km of Breuil-Cervinia runs, linked with Zermatt and Valtournenche for around 360 km in total
• Plateau Rosa cable car reaches 3,480 m, with glacier skiing that continues into summer
• Ski across the border into Zermatt with an international pass

Ischgl is a Tyrolean resort in the Paznaun valley famous for its large, high ski area and its lively apres-ski and concert scene. The Silvretta Arena links Ischgl with Samnaun in Switzerland, so you can ski across the border. It suits intermediates and those looking for a long season and nightlife.

• 239 km of slopes in the Silvretta Arena shared with Samnaun
• Ski across the border into Switzerland
• 46 lifts and cable cars, with skiing up to 2,872 m

Les Arcs is a group of purpose-built ski villages, Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000, above Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Most of the slopes are above 2,000 m and the skiing reaches 3,226 m at the Aiguille Rouge, with a link to La Plagne forming Paradiski. It is one of the easiest French resorts to reach by train, and suits families and intermediates as well as freeriders.

• Funicular from Bourg-Saint-Maurice station to Arc 1600 in 7 minutes
• Part of Paradiski, 425 km of slopes reaching 3,226 m
• Four ski villages: Arc 1600, Arc 1800, Arc 1950 and Arc 2000

La Plagne is a large ski area made up of a string of villages, from purpose-built high-altitude centres such as Plagne Centre at 1,970 m to traditional lower villages like Champagny-en-Vanoise and Montchavin-Les Coches. Its wide, open slopes are ideal for beginners and intermediates, and it links with Les Arcs to form Paradiski. It is a popular choice for families.

• 225 km of pistes, or 425 km across Paradiski
• Plagne Centre at 1,970 m with ski-in/ski-out buildings
• Olympic bobsleigh run open to visitors from 12 December 2026 to 27 March 2027

Kitzbühel is a historic walled town in Tyrol and home to the Hahnenkamm races on the Streif. The KitzSki area is reached by the Hahnenkamm cable car from the town centre and offers mostly intermediate cruising with plenty of mountain huts. Its relatively low altitude is offset by extensive snowmaking.

• Home of the Streif and the Hahnenkamm race
• 233 km of pistes and ski routes with 58 lifts
• The KitzSkiWelt Tour, an 88 km ski circuit

Selva (Wolkenstein) is the highest of Val Gardena's three villages, in the South Tyrol Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It sits on the Sellaronda circuit around the Sella massif and is part of the huge Dolomiti Superski pass area. It suits intermediates who want to cover a lot of ground, with classic steeper runs for advanced skiers.

• Direct access to the Sellaronda, a ski circuit of about 44 km around the Sella massif
• Around 500 km of directly connected slopes, and over 1,200 km on the Dolomiti Superski pass
• FIS Ski World Cup races on the Saslong in mid-December (15 to 19 December 2026)

Soldeu is a village in the Canillo parish of Andorra and one of the main gateways to Grandvalira, the largest ski area in the Pyrenees. The Soldeu sector has wide slopes and the Avet World Cup run, with hotels close to the lifts and a busy nightlife. It suits beginners and intermediates, families and groups looking for apres-ski.

• Grandvalira has 215 km of runs across seven connected sectors
• The Avet slope hosts Audi FIS Ski World Cup races on 6 and 7 March 2027
• Soldeu hosted the FIS Ski World Cup Finals in 2019 and 2023

Avoriaz is a car-free, purpose-built resort at 1,800 m, perched on a cliff above Morzine, with distinctive wood-clad architecture and ski-in/ski-out accommodation throughout. It sits in the heart of the Portes du Soleil, which links 12 resorts across France and Switzerland. It suits families, beginners and intermediates, and is known for its snowparks.

• Fully car-free resort at 1,800 m, with sleighs and snow vehicles instead of cars
• At the heart of the Portes du Soleil: 12 resorts in two countries, about 600 km of slopes
• Celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2027

Alpe d'Huez is a large, sunny, south-facing resort at 1,860 m in the Isere department, linked with the villages of Auris, Oz, Vaujany and Villard-Reculas. The ski area runs up to the Pic Blanc at 3,330 m, home of the 16 km Sarenne black run. It suits all levels, with dedicated beginner areas and plenty of challenging terrain.

• La Sarenne from the Pic Blanc, 16 km and described as Europe's longest black run
• 250 km of slopes reaching 3,330 m at the Pic Blanc
• Nearly 300 days of sunshine a year, according to the resort

Sölden in the Ötztal combines two glaciers with a large, high ski area, giving one of the longest seasons in Austria. It has plenty of long red runs, three 3,000 m peaks reached by lift and a lively apres-ski scene. It suits intermediates and anyone wanting early or late season snow.

• Two glacier ski areas, Rettenbach and Tiefenbach
• Three peaks above 3,000 m reached by lift
• 147 km of pistes and 31 lifts, from 1,350 m up to 3,340 m

Wengen is a traditional car-free village on a sunny terrace above the Lauterbrunnen valley, reached only by cog railway. It shares the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area, with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and hosts the Lauberhorn World Cup downhill. Its mostly gentle and intermediate slopes suit families and relaxed skiers.

• Lauberhorn World Cup downhill, almost 4.5 km long
• Car-free village reached by the Wengernalp railway from Lauterbrunnen
• 103 km of pistes in Grindelwald-Wengen, the largest area in the Jungfrau region

Livigno is a long, high village in a remote valley of Lombardy near the Swiss border, with ski slopes on both sides of the valley (Mottolino and Carosello 3000). It hosted freestyle and snowboard events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and is known for its snowparks. Its altitude and long season suit beginners, intermediates and freestyle fans.

• More than 115 km of runs and over 30 lifts on both sides of the valley
• Season usually runs from late November to early May
• Venue for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games

Madonna di Campiglio is an upmarket resort in Trentino set between the Brenta Dolomites (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Adamello-Presanella group. Its own slopes link with Folgarida Marilleva and Pinzolo on one lift pass. It suits intermediates, families and anyone who wants a stylish village with scenic skiing.

• Skiarea of about 155 km and 58 lifts linking Madonna di Campiglio, Folgarida Marilleva and Pinzolo
• Hosts the 3Tre Ski World Cup night slalom
• Ursus Snowpark named Best Snowpark 2026 by skiresort.info

Obergurgl and Hochgurgl sit at the head of the Ötztal and form Austria's highest parish. Skiing runs from 1,800 m to over 3,000 m, giving reliable snow and a long season, and most hotels are close to the slopes. It is quieter than many Tyrolean resorts and suits families, beginners and intermediates.

• Skiing between 1,800 and 3,030 m
• More than 90% of accommodation within 250 m of the slopes
• AUDI FIS Ski World Cup slalom on 21 and 22 November 2026

St. Moritz is a glamorous, high-altitude town in the Engadin valley with a long history as a winter resort. Its main ski mountain, Corviglia, has sunny, well-groomed slopes for all levels and is reached directly from the town. It suits intermediates and anyone looking for sunshine, scenery and a wide range of winter activities.

• 155 km of pistes and 24 lifts on Corviglia
• Piz Nair, the highest point, at 3,057 m
• Three ways up: Chantarella funicular, Signal cable car or Marguns chairlift from Celerina

Hemsedal, between Oslo and Bergen, is one of Norway's best-known alpine resorts and markets itself as 'the Scandinavian Alps'. Skiing spreads over three peaks above 1,000 m, with runs for all levels, tree skiing and off-piste close to the groomed slopes, and a lively apres-ski scene. It suits families, groups of friends and intermediates who want a long season and a different experience from the Alps.

• Skiing from three peaks, with 22 lifts and 47 slopes and an 810 m vertical drop
• Longest run about 6 km from the top of Totten (1,450 m)
• Over 250 km of cross-country trails

Bansko is a historic town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in south-west Bulgaria, linked by a long gondola to the ski area at Banderishka Polyana and up to Todorka. It hosts FIS World Cup races and has a lively old town for evenings off the slopes. It suits beginners and intermediates and those looking for apres-ski.

• Gondola of over 6 km from the town to Banderishka Polyana
• Skiing up to around 2,600 m at the top of the ski area
• Named Bulgaria's Best Ski Resort at the World Ski Awards for more than a decade running