The best destinations for winter sport in Europe revealed in new study
By Daniel Mackrell on 03 December 2019
Europe has thousands of ski resorts with slopes that appeal to all levels of skiers and snowboarders.
Our latest study looks at the best ski resorts in Europe, ranking the top 25 locations by looking at many aspects that are important for skiers looking to get the most out of their time on the snow.
Some of the elements that we analysed include the altitude and average snow fall on the mountains, as well as the total number of ski runs and how long it takes you to get there from the airport.
In total there were fourteen French resorts that made it into the top twenty-five, while six were from Austria and five are found in Switzerland.
What are the best ski resorts in Europe?
Our research shows that Les 4 Vallees in Switzerland is the best ski resort in Europe, based on the metrics that we analysed.
The area links up four resorts with one ski pass and provides the ultimate experience for thrill-seekers. It is made up of Veribier, La Tzoumaz Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon, and they can be found in the south western mountain range of the country,
Les 4 Vallees came third for total ski runs and fifth for average snowfall, while it had the most black runs with a total of 103km, making it a great spot for experienced skiers.
French resorts Les 3 Vallees and Les Portes du Soleil were second and third in the overall rankings, followed by two Austrian locations – Saalbac Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn and SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brxiental, which made up the rest of the top five.
If you’re a less experienced skier who is looking to make one of their first steps out onto the snow, then you can take a look at the resorts with the most blue runs, as well as the locations that offer the most ski schools.
France takes up all of the top three for blue runs, with Les 3 Vallees offering a total of 312 km for novice skiers, while Les Portes du Soleil has 310km and Tignes has 300km.
The highest number of ski schools can be found in two of Austria’s resorts, with SkiWelt offering 30 schools, while 29 are available at Ski Arlberg. Les 3 Vallees in France isn’t too far behind with 26 ski schools open to holidaymakers looking to improve their skiing ability.
If the journey from the airport is an important part of planning your trip, Megeve in France could be the best place to go as it is just 20 minutes from the nearest airport.
Austria and Switzerland are the best areas to visit if you are looking to get more powder during your trip, with Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria offering average snowfall of 457 inches, while Laax in Switzerland has an average of 391 inches.
If you’re planning a skiing trip in Europe, then make sure that you check out our interactive list to find out which resort could be best for you.
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