The highest ski slope in Europe. The best ski resorts in Europe. Which ski resort to choose
Ski season is just around the corner. It's time to start preparing your skis in advance and take a closer look at the best winter resorts of old Europe.
Courchevel (France)
Courchevel is perhaps the most prestigious ski resort in the French Alps. Wealthy people and celebrities from all over the world love to relax here. The territory is divided into four main areas: the rustic traditional La Praz (1300 m), Courchevel 1550 m, Courchevel 1650 m and Courchevel 1850 m. The Courchevel valley is dominated by wide and smooth "blue" and "green" slopes, as well as virgin slopes. The most difficult slopes are Jean Blanc and Couloir Emile Allais. The longest piste in Courchevel is 3.9 km long. For snowboarders, there is an excellent half-pipe and snow park.
Guests of the resort can combine ski holidays with exclusive shopping: Courchevel has many luxury shops. Gourmets are waiting for 70 restaurants, seven of which have been awarded Michelin stars. Excellent relaxation opportunities are provided by 32 spas at hotels. The Forum sports complex offers visitors an ice rink, bowling, squash, ice karting and a fitness centre. The resort offers snowmobiling and dog sledding. The ski season in Courchevel lasts from late November to early May.
Cortina d'Ampezzo (Italy)
Cortina d'Ampezzo is called the Queen of the Dolomites. This is the only Italian resort included in the prestigious Best of the Alps group of the best Alpine resorts. There are mountains of stunning beauty, recognized as a natural heritage by UNESCO, and excellent opportunities for relaxation after skiing.
The slopes from the peaks of Forchella Staunies (2930 m) and Ra Valles (2470 m) are suitable for professionals. On the slopes of the top of Tofana (3243 m) there are short slopes for skiers of an average level. Also, the “middle peasants” should pay attention to the slopes of Pomedes (2345 m). It is better for beginners to try their hand at the slopes of Sokrepes.
Cortina d'Ampezzo has cross-country ski runs, an ice rink with a large skating rink, bobsleigh runs and ski jumps. For snowboarders, there is a snowboard park and a halfpipe. Well, in the evening it is so nice to stroll along the Corso Italia pedestrian street, where fashionable boutiques of the world's leading brands of clothing, shoes, perfumes, watches, and jewelry are located. The season at the resort lasts from December to April.
Dolomites, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Photo credit: MaiDireLollo, commons.wikimedia.org
Bansko (Bulgaria)
The Bulgarian resort of Bansko has excellent ski slopes and a developed tourist infrastructure. The total length of the tracks is about 70 km. The resort itself is divided into three ski areas: Chalin-Valog, Shiligarnika and Banderishka Polyana. The slopes of Shiligarnik, Stara Pista, Todorka and Plateau are suitable for beginner skiers, Banderitsa and Crna Mogila for experts. The resort has a ski school, a ski kindergarten for children over 4 years old. Sports opportunities in the region - cross-country skiing tracks, a biathlon shooting range, a stadium for winter sports.
There are about a hundred taverns in the city, one of the most famous is Dedo Pene. There is a swimming pool, sauna, discos. Bansko is not only the most famous Bulgarian ski resort, but also a beautiful old town with many museums and sights. The historical center of the city is a living museum of Bulgarian Revival architecture. There are 140 monuments of culture and history in Bansko.
Kitzbühel (Austria)
Kitzbühel is an old ski resort in Tyrol, one of the most famous and fashionable winter resorts in Austria. In January, Kitzbühel hosts the annual Alpine Skiing World Cup, including downhill competitions on the famous Streif, considered the most spectacular skiing in the world.
There are four ski areas in Kitzbühel, but only two of them are connected. The most extensive slope is the Hahnenkamm. It is worth paying attention to the ski safari, the route of which is marked with red arrows. The route ends at Pass Thurn, from where you can return to Kitzbühel by bus.
The city has many good restaurants with affordable prices, quite decent shopping, there is a casino. Relax after a day of sports in the Aquarena complex with swimming pools, water slides and a nudist area. A local attraction is the 3S aerial tramway, the world's longest-span aerial tramway. The skiing season is from December to April.
Zermatt (Switzerland)
Zermatt is one of the most luxurious resorts in Switzerland. The resort offers a luxurious skiing area surrounded by three peaks: Dom, Monte Rosa and Matterhorn. Zermatt has one of the best snow parks in Europe. Zermatt is one of the dozen Best of the Alps resorts.
Zermatt in winter is a real tourist Mecca, offering more than 200 km of pistes of all difficulty levels and 72 lifts. In general, the resort is focused on well-trained skiers - there are only 34 km of “blue” slopes, the rest are “red” (118 km) and “black” (48 km), and the highest point of the skiing area lies at around 3883 meters. 15 km of mogul trails, 115 km of flat skiing, 2 fun parks, 2 toboggan runs, a ski school are open.
The resort has 15 indoor pools, 20 saunas and steam baths, 12 solariums, 2 tennis courts, a squash room, billiards, more than 100 restaurants, bars and discos, as well as 38 mountain restaurants. It is worth noting that the ecology here is beyond praise: car traffic is prohibited in the resort, only electric cars can be driven here. The ski season in Zermatt lasts from mid-December to the end of April.
Mountain peaks of Zermatt, Switzerland. Photo credit: Christopher Michel, commons.wikimedia.org
Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany)
The popular ski resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen is located at the foot of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze (3 km high). The slopes of the resort will appeal to both professionals and beginners. The most suitable time for an active winter holiday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is from the beginning of January until the end of March. The length of ski slopes of varying difficulty is about 120 km.
Two main skiing regions: Garmisch-Classic and Zugspitze. The Garmisch Classic is divided into Hausberg, Kreuzeck and Alpspitze. Skiing is possible on the Zugspitze Glacier from October to May. Hausberg is suitable for beginners. There are gentle "green" and wide "blue" trails that can be passed several times, choosing different routes. Here is the Kinderland children's park.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen has 6 ski schools, 1 snowboard school, children's ski school. There are ice and ski stadiums, the Olympic swimming pool works. It offers tourists about 100 restaurants, more than 30 bars, theater, casinos, museums. Classical music concerts are held in December-January. And at the top of the Zugspitze, the world's highest exhibition hall is open.
Peaks of the Alps, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Photo credit: US Army, commons.wikimedia.org
Ruka (Finland)
The Ruka ski resort is one of the largest in Finland, located near the city of Kuusamo. It has been operating since the 1950s, and in recent years has been widely popular with Russian tourists. The Ruka resort is already real mountains up to 493 meters above sea level. Ruka's 28 ski slopes are located in different parts of four mountains and are suitable for skiers of any skill level. Thanks to artificial snow devices and early frosts, Ruka is one of the first ski resorts in Finland to open the skiing season.
The Ruka ski resort is planned according to the Alpine model: a network of lifts links all the slopes together, so that you can make a spiral around the entire mountain. The pride of the resort is the tracks for snowboarders "Superpipe Vuosseli" and "BorderCross", which meet all international standards.
The range of entertainment in the resort is wide. These are cross-country skiing (500 km of trails), snowmobile safaris, dog and reindeer sledding, ice fishing, winter karting, snowshoeing, winter diving, ice climbing, winter karting and all-terrain vehicle racing.
Northern Lights in the Finnish resort of Ruka. Photo credit: Timo Newton-Syms, commons.wikimedia.org
Trysil (Norway)
Trysil is Norway's largest ski resort. Clean mountain air, centuries-old coniferous forests, high quality trails and accommodation fill the stay here with unforgettable emotions. Easy and difficult slopes at this resort are located very close, which is very convenient for different levels of skiing in one company.
In total, 65 tracks have been laid on Mount Trysilfjellet, which are connected by 32 lifts. There are slopes of any level of difficulty: 11 black, 16 red, 17 blue and 21 green slopes, where students of the largest ski school in Europe train. Local instructors will put a beginner on skis or on a board, help improve their skills, hone their carving technique or learn a new style.
Snowboarders and fans of the new school are simply obliged to visit the best snow park in Norway - the famous Trysil Terrain Park. There are two half-pipes and a lot of takeoffs and jumps for crazy tricks. As many as three zones are allocated for the youngest guests of the resort. Kids fearlessly rush along the children's slopes, and safe children's lifts deliver them to the top. Trysil boasts a very long ski season - from late October to early May.
Competitions in the resort Trysil, Norway. Photo credit: Trysil, commons.wikimedia.org
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (France)
The oldest winter resort in the world Chamonix is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, at an altitude of 1035 meters. Almost 90% of all ski slopes are above 2000 meters. Chamonix has been used as a mountain resort for about two hundred years, and therefore a vast and diverse recreation infrastructure has been formed here.
The winding 16-kilometer valley has 3,000 hectares of specially prepared slopes, 69 marked trails (21% green, 33% blue, 32% red and 14% black) with a total length of 140 km , conditionally divided into several autonomous ski areas. The Chamonix Valley includes several skiing regions: Grand Monte, Le Tour, Les Houches, Brevin, Flegere, as well as the famous White Valley - an off-piste descent about 20 km long from the top of the Aiguille du Midi (3843 m).
There is a snow park with a half-pipe, a boardercross track, 30 km of marked hiking trails, a sports center with swimming pools (including for children), a water slide, a sauna and a hammam, a fitness center, a climbing wall, a tennis center (6 indoor and 3 squash courts ), several ski schools, an indoor Olympic skating rink and 42 km of flat skiing.
St. Moritz (Switzerland)
St. Moritz is one of the most famous and aristocratic ski resorts in Switzerland. It is included in the elite club of the best Alpine resorts Best of the Alps and bears the proud title of Top of the World, which is an officially recognized quality mark.
There are good conditions for trained skiers: 36 "black" slopes and 136 "red" slopes, as well as many opportunities for snowboarders, lovers of flat skiing and skating. The total length of the ski slopes in the region is 350 km, the flat ones are 150 km. The area is divided into three sectors: Corviglia (2488 m), Corvatsch (3451 m) and Diavolezza (2973 m).
The resort is famous for its luxurious hotels, gastronomic restaurants, endless opportunities for sports and recreation, an interesting cultural program, exclusive shopping and a rich calendar of events. And St. Moritz is considered the birthplace of bobsleigh. The track in St. Moritz hosts major competitions in bobsleigh, luge and skeleton.
Ski lifts in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Photo credit: Andreas Faessler, commons.wikimedia.org
They are very attractive as a holiday destination. Most of the resorts are located near beautiful cities, which makes it possible to admire a large number of attractions. Each city has its own characteristics, different from all other places with something unique. Our rating will help you choose the right ski resort in Europe to enjoy.
The choice of resort will depend on financial capabilities. If you have a lot of money, then you should choose one of the
TOP 10 most elite and prestigious resorts:
1. Courchevel, France.
The resort is popular among residents of the post-Soviet space, from where a solid flow of tourists arrives every year. Only rich people can visit Courchevel, the resort itself has long been associated with luxury. In addition to skiing, here you can visit many expensive boutiques with luxury goods.
2. Megeve, France
If Courchevel is popular among Russian oligarchs, then the French prefer Megeve, which is no less respectable. This ski resort in Europe has difficult trails. A variety of tracks from "green" to "black" makes skiing accessible to everyone.
3. Chamonix, France
France is known for its beautiful resorts, which are popular among wealthy people. Chamonix has a special charm. Here you can not only go skiing, but also appreciate the sights.
4. St. Anton, Austria
Austrian resorts are also famous for their elegance, and St. Anton has a solid history. Skiers have been skiing here for over a hundred years. One of the first sports schools of this kind was opened here.
5. Kitzbühel, Austria
This resort is called the "Austrian Courchevel", including for its popularity among Russian tourists. However, there are some differences - lovers of a more measured and relaxing holiday come here.
6. St. Moritz, Switzerland
The unusually mild climate attracts a lot of tourists here. Many people dream of visiting this magical place. Here, 90% of the days of the year the sun shines, and there are almost no cloudy days.
7. Davos, Switzerland
The resort is famous for its popularity among the highest-ranking officials and top officials of the states. Diplomatic meetings are often held here, many use the opportunity to ski.
8. Grindelwald, Switzerland
Among the Swiss resorts, St. Moritz and Davos are mostly heard, but Grindelwald is also popular with the rich of all stripes. The difference of this resort lies in the fact that skiing here is not very accepted. More in the course of secular recreation.
9. Garnisch-Panterkirchen, Germany
People go to the most sophisticated German resort not so much for skiing. You can visit this place because of the extraordinary beauty of nature. There are hundreds of trails in the mountains where you can walk.
10. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
The Dolomites conquer the heart with the beauty of their views, but not only for them billionaires from all over the planet come here. Social events play a big role. If you still want to go skiing, then here you will find many different slopes.
And now you have a choice of
Top 10 most inexpensive resorts in Europe:
1. Bansko, Bulgaria.
The resort opened not so long ago, but has already attracted a lot of tourists with interesting trails and affordable prices.
2. Poiana Brasov, Romania.
Here you will find not only original trails that differ markedly from each other, but also admire the beautiful nature.
3. Jasna, Slovakia.
The place is perfect for a family holiday. There are difficult trails for adults and easy trails for children.
4. Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic.
The resort is located on the territory of a huge national park, which guarantees amazing views of nature.
5. Livigno, Italy
Excellent weather conditions, original trails, inexpensive prices - there are all the ingredients for a good holiday. An additional plus will be the lack of wind in these places.
6. Schladming, Austria
This Austrian resort attracts primarily with ideally equipped slopes that are suitable for people with different levels of training.
7. Bohinj, Slovenia
The place has all the advantages of a good ski resort, but the possibility of night skiing is especially attractive.
8. Pal, Andorra.
An excellent Andorran resort for those who are just starting to get acquainted with skiing.
9. Arinsal, Andorra.
This Andorran resort is of high quality. Professionals prefer to come here.
10. Formigal, Spain
The most famous ski resort in the Spanish Pyrenees differs in affordable prices. At a low cost, you will get access to the most modern ski slopes.
Doing your favorite sport is inextricably linked with travel. However, not every athlete wants to leave their native continent to go skiing. Especially for such people, we have compiled a rating in which we describe the best ski resorts in Europe.
When describing the best skiing destinations in Europe, Austria should be mentioned first. There are several bases with quality tracks, luxury hotels and high-class schools.
Sölden
In the first place we put the Austrian region of Sölden. It will not leave indifferent even the most demanding European.
Advantages
Anyone who loves fun and variety will feel comfortable in this place. There are many entertainment facilities here.
The local slopes are available for skiing in almost any season. The snow cover in Sölden does not melt. And all because it is surrounded by two huge glaciers, which are considered one of the most cumbersome in the whole country.
Ideal slopes, the ability to choose the difficulty of the descent, the availability of entertainment for athletes of all ages and professionalism - all this makes Sölden one of the most popular European skiing regions.
Davos
Davos is located in Switzerland. Not only come here, but also people suffering from pulmonary diseases. The local climate perfectly alleviates the consequences of their ailments for such guests.
Advantages
The main advantages of Davos include clean air. Thanks to her, being in this region has such a beneficial effect on health.
The slopes of Davos do not cause complaints and are highly appreciated by both amateurs and professional skiers.
megeve
Advantages
The height of the slopes in Megeve reaches 2.5 thousand meters. Even at an altitude of 1.8 thousand meters, coniferous trees grow here, which give the appearance of the area mystery, grandeur and beauty.
Megeve is perfect for those who are used to relaxing with the whole family. It is very quiet and calm here. In addition, romance is inherent in rest in these places.
Gudauri
Undeservedly, many avid tourists ignore Georgia. Meanwhile, there are also many excellent ski resorts with good quality slopes and beautiful nature.
Advantages
The Gudauri region became a resort not so long ago. Therefore, it has untapped trails and new hotels. Everything here corresponds to the trends of the time. It is fresh and modern. The bases were equipped by Austrian specialists.
The length of the local slopes is not as huge as in other ski regions, and reaches only 16 kilometers. However, such a modest length is compensated by the high quality of the tracks.
The highest descent begins at an altitude of three thousand meters. From this point, athletes can admire the magnificent local scenery.
Another pleasant detail of Gudauri is the climate of this region. He is very soft.
Bansko
Advantages
Fans of this resort love it for its beautiful inimitable nature and architecture with a slight coating of antiquity, because the city has an ancient history.
Bases for skiing are located on the territory of the national Bulgarian park called "Pirin". Due to this, some trails go straight deep into the forests. Fans of beautiful places will not remain indifferent.
The local seasons are not as long as the Austrian ones: you can ski from December to April. Bansko is great for families with children. There are even kindergartens for small tourists. For them, special routes are also created.
When describing ski resorts in Europe, Sierra Nevada cannot be ignored, if only because it is one of the most popular ski regions in Europe. It is located in the southern part of Spain.
Advantages
An athlete with any skiing experience will find here a slope that suits him. Despite this, the place is rarely visited by rookie athletes.
From the tops of the Sierra Nevada, you have a great view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlas Mountains. True, you can enjoy it only in clear sunny weather.
These places are rich in snow thanks to the nearby glacier. And just two dozen kilometers from the ski resorts you can already see palm trees, sand and beaches.
Fans of relaxation in clubs and restaurants will find here a lot of great places where you can spend your time.
Advantages
Breuil-Cervinia boasts a huge variety of slopes due to its vast territory and the diversity of its mountainous alpine nature. It is believed that riding in the same place here several times is an unforgivable mistake. After all, for several days of rest here you can never repeat the route.
Here you can often see eminent skiers, sports professionals.
Here the sea and excellent hotels, and excellent tracks, and restaurants with delicious cuisine. But all this service is expensive for tourists. Due to the high cost of services, we put Breuil-Cervinia only in seventh place on this list.
Winterberg
This popular place is located in Germany. Great for amateur skiers. Due to the fact that the peaks of Winterberg are modest in size, the local descents are gentle and uncomplicated.
Advantages
Many trails are laid through forests, which attracts flora lovers.
The town is quite large and has a large number of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. Despite the high demand, there are practically no queues here. The resort can easily accommodate one hundred thousand visitors at once.
Encamp
This place is not as popular as those described above. This resort is located on the territory of Andorra.
Advantages
Encamp pistes are of high quality. Most of all, they are suitable for those athletes who have recently started skiing.
This place is located in a very favorable climate zone. Thanks to this, in winter there is a lot of snowfall, and in spring it is warm and pleasant to ride.
Encamp is famous for its nightlife, which is attractive to young people. There are many clubs and bars in which young tourists light up with pleasure.
Ylläs
Advantages
Ylläs is quite famous. It owes its popularity to the longest track in Finland, the length of which reaches three kilometers.
But there are also shorter slopes. There are also bases with children's tracks.
It's nice to learn to ski here. There are several ski schools on the territory of Ylläs.
We have listed the best European ski resorts. At the end of the rating, I would like to recommend readers not to be afraid to visit new places, get to know new countries. After all, it is so nice to bring not only sports, but also cultural discoveries from a trip.
If you want to tell more about any European ski resort, which can rightfully be called the best, write information about it in the comments.
Recently, more and more skiers and snowboarders from Russia are heading to the Alps. In this post, I present to your attention a selection of the 10 best ski resorts in Europe and the most important information you should know about them.
To begin with, I want to give a map showing all the main resorts in the Alps.
Chamonix Mont Blanc (France)
Nearest airports and cost of flights to them:
- Geneva, 104 km, air ticket Moscow - Geneva 116 Euro in two directions;
- Lyon, 224 km, air ticket Moscow - Lyon 128 Euro in two directions;
- Turin, 174 km, air ticket Moscow - Turin 71 Euro in two directions;
- Bern, 180 km, air ticket Moscow - Bern 348 Euro in two directions;
- Basel, 276 km, air ticket Moscow - Basel 143 Euro in two directions.
Brief description of the resort:(fr. Chamonix Mont-Blanc) is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe and France. Chamonix is located in a picturesque place at the foot of the highest mountain in Europe - Mont Blanc. In 1924 Chamonix hosted the first Winter Olympics. The most famous descent of Chamonix is the White Valley, 20 km long.
