Europe features the world's best snowsports locations, with charming villages, five-star chalet hotels, and specialised routes for all skill levels.
Are you going skiing for the first time? We've compiled the seven most incredible ski resorts for all levels of skiers, whether you're a first-time skier or prefer alternative amusement.
Zermatt, Switzerland
The car-free resort of Zermatt, with the Matterhorn standing bigger than life in the backdrop, has a very peaceful vibe. During the day, enjoy trendy boutique shopping, tandem paragliding, snowshoeing, ice climbing, ice skating, ice hockey, and sledging, including the Gornergrat toboggan run, which is regarded as one of the best in the Alps. After everything is said and done, look forward to enjoying mulled red wine at the Igloo Bar, nearly entirely made of ice.
There's a nostalgic sense about car-free Zermatt, which began as a base for early Matterhorn climbing excursions — and is rather proud of it. Ascents aren't as uncommon these days, and you don't need to carry rope and crampons to reach the summit, as the tallest cable car in Europe whisks you up the Klein Matterhorn to a panorama stretching for 100 kilometres.
Where to stay: With its luxurious spa, spacious rooms, and stunning views, the centrally situated, contemporary Hotel Firefly is a more-than-comfortable choice. CERVO Mountain Resort, perched just above the town, includes a heated pool and one of Zermatt's best spas.
Hotel Firefly, Zermett
Courchevel, France
Courchevel is the biggest and most well-known of the numerous interconnected ski resorts known as Les Trois Vallées (Three Valleys), which comprise Europe's largest ski domain. In addition to the 150 kilometres of alpine lines accessible through Courchevel's 60 lifts, these connect to a total of 600 kilometres of linked ski routes, as well as four glaciers. The whole region is divided into ten peaks with elevations exceeding 2,500 metres.
Courchevel, France
Add to these outstanding numbers that the resorts get four metres of snow each year and have state-of-the-art grooming to maintain their runs in peak shape. Courchevel will host the Alpine Ski World Cup slalom, downhill, Super G, and parallel events for both men and women in late March 2022.
Where to stay: There are 15 five-star hotels in France, including the exceedingly magnificent L'Apogée Courchevel, situated in Courchevel 1850. Cheval Blanc Courchevel is the pinnacle of ski-in/ski-out luxury (and one of the Readers' Choice Awards 50 Best Resorts of 2021), with a slope-side patio serving a meal created by Michelin-starred chef Yannik Alléno.
Cheval Blanc Courchevel, France
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo is nestled amid the highest peaks of the Dolomites. Italy's most advanced ski town is easily connected to Dolomiti Superski, a network of 12 ski resorts that operate under a single pass. If Cortina d'Ampezzo's straightforward ticket system and 75 miles of terrain aren't enough to impress you, maybe the resort's selection as the 2026 Winter Olympics host will.
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
Where to stay: Courtesy Hotel Cristallo a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, is an opulent Belle Epoque hotel approximately a mile from the gondola. Rooms with hand-painted walls and parquet floors provide just the appropriate amount of old-world charm without being ostentatious, while the piano bar offers some lively entertainment. Hotel de Len is a little newcomer with 23 rooms and an underground speakeasy.
Hotel Cristallo a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Italy
St. Moritz, Switzerland
The fact that St. Moritz has held several global ski championships should tell you something about this legendary resort: this is world-class skiing. The Winter Olympics were hosted here in 1928 and 1948, and events at its Olympic ski jump may still be seen today.
St Moritz, Switzerland
There is also ample ski terrain for non-Olympians. St. Moritz is recognised for its lengthy intermediate runs and other great intermediate terrains, and with over 20 lifts to select from, there are slopes and pistes for all ability levels. Trails from the 2,486-meter village of Corviglia feature beautiful Alpine vistas and are accessible from town by the Corviglia Funicular.
Where to stay: The iconic Badrutt's Palace Hotel, which has been pampering A-listers since 1896, or the freshly restored Kulm Hotel—one of our Gold List favourites—can't go wrong.
Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, St Moritz. Switzerland
Courmayeur, Italy
Courmayeur, Italy, is located on the other side of Mont Blanc from Chamonix. It has spectacular views of Mont Blanc and is supposed to be a bit sunnier than the French side of the mountain. Aside from skiers, visitors rush to this resort town to ride the Skyway Monte Bianco cable car, which offers views of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa and enjoy Michelin-starred dining and a busy après-ski scene.
Courmayeur, Italy
Where to stay: The Auberge de la Maison embodies Alpine charm. The majority of the rooms enjoy spectacular views of Mont Blanc, and the spa offers unique Alpine treatments like a hay bio-sauna.
Auberge de la Maison, Italy
St. Anton, Austria
Serious skiers go to Austria's Arlberg area for no-nonsense high-challenge skiing, which they can find on St. Anton's more than a dozen super-expert lines. The most difficult is the 10-kilometre Valluga-St. Anton route, which has a 1,347-meter height difference.
St. Anton, Austria
However, even the red-marked pistes at this resort are much more challenging than those in other Alpine resorts. St. Anton is particularly well-known for its about 200 off-piste alternatives for expert skiers (many of which need a guide) and its mega-moguls, particularly on Schindler Kar.
Recently installed lifts connect St. Anton to ski pistes on the opposite side of the Flexen Pass, connecting it to the Arlberg's top resorts: Lech, St. Christoph, Zürs, Stuben, and others, for a total of 340 kilometres of pistes. All of this is covered in the regional Arlberg lift pass.
Where to stay: The premium Hotel Tannenhof boasts just seven suites and an award-winning restaurant. The Raffls Tyrol Hotel is a more economical alternative in the centre of town.
Gstaad (Switzerland)
This is one of Europe's most classic winter getaways, thanks to its traffic-free town centre, a promenade lined with luxury retailers, and fairy-tale Swiss architecture. The entrances to the numerous ski slopes are adorned with charming chalet villages. Gstaad is accessible to all skiers thanks to a variety of excellent slopes, while gourmands relish Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Sommet.
Gstaad, Switzerland
Where to stay: The Alpina Gstaad, built of wood rescued from ancient farmhouses and locally quarried limestone, has become a celebrity favourite, with two pools, a Six Senses Spa, and a movie theatre.
Alpina Gstaad, Switzerland
Now, where will you be skiing in 2022?
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