skiing in europe

Skiing in Europe: 17 Best Ski Resorts From Budget to Luxury

Last updated on February 13th, 2024

Are you looking for some ideas on where to go skiing in Europe? I would love to share my favorite ones.

When I was working as a travel advisor, on many occasions I have been helping my clients to book ski package holidays around Europe. So, basically, this list below consists of those destinations where I personally went or/and where my clients spent their winter vacations and have been really happy.

A lot of these ski destinations will perfectly suit budget travelers. I know how costly ski holidays can be, that’s why my goal is not only to write about fancy ski resorts but also about ideas for cheap ski trips.

Also, all of these destinations offer both tracks for beginners and black slopes for ski experts as well as fantastic landscapes, cozy restaurants and entertainment for every taste.

Take a look at this detailed list with suggestions where to go and how much it will cost, starting with cheap ski holidays in Europe and finishing with unique ski resorts for luxury experiences.

Check the table of contents to navigate quicker:


Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you).

Cheap Ski Holidays in Europe

Bukovel, Ukraine

skiing in Europe on a budget

I would love to start my list with skiing in Eastern Europe since this part of the continent has quite a few fantastic ski resorts that really don’t cost a lot.

Bukovel is considered the most popular and the most expensive ski resort in Ukraine. However, compared to ski resorts in Western Europe, it is actually rather cheap.

A single ski pass for a day costs 35 euros and is valid for all lifts. If you get there before 9 am, there is a discount and the price is 25 euros. For €18 you can ride for 3 hours. When purchasing a ski pass online in advance for a certain date, 40-50% discounts are available as well. On weekends and during the holidays, everything is more expensive by 30%.

Officially, the beginning of the season starts in December. However, the opening of the ski season can be earlier – at the end of November. It depends on weather conditions and steady temperature. The peak of the ski season in Bukovel starts with holidays at the end of December and lasts all the way into January. This is the time when prices for accommodation, ski passes, and food are the highest. The first part of February is still busy too but in the second half of the month, things get much calmer.

As with the opening, it’s not possible to know exactly when the ski season ends. It also depends on the weather. Last year, for example, my friends were still skiing at the beginning of April.

Bukovel’s skiing tracks have a total length of 50 km. 41 of them have medium difficulty, 8 designed for professionals, and the rest for beginners. The longest track is 2,132 km long.

There are 3 ski schools and rental centers where both athletes and amateurs can rent high-quality modern equipment and get a lesson from professionals. You can ski or snowboard in Bukovel even when the sun goes down. The tracks are well lit until late time.

With the number of fancy mountain chalets and cheap hotels, it is easy enough to find accommodation on any budget. But there are also some truly amazing cheaper ski resorts in Ukraine, worthy as much attention as Bukovel.

COST OF SKI TRAVEL IN BUKOVEL

Ski Pass: from 18 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 5 euros per day for a ski set (skis, boots, poles, and helmet) for adults.
Accommodation: from 20 euros per night.
Food & Drink: 8-20 euros per day for one.

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

Eco hotel Krasna Polyana – a unique eco-friendly hotel with a somewhat quirky Ukrainian design with stylish rooms, panoramic pool, and a cool restaurant with authentic Hutsul cuisine. It is always fully booked. Make reservations in advance.

Amarena Spa – always clean and nice rooms, good service, and delicious breakfast. Within walking distance to the tracks of various difficulty.

Al’pin – a budget hotel not far from the slopes. Prices start from 40€ per room for two.

The best way to get to Bukovel is through Ivano-Frankivsk city. If you are coming from Krakow to Lviv by train or bus, hop on another train (or rent a car) in Lviv to Ivano-Frankivsk. From pretty much any other city you can also come by train. If in Kyiv, you can also fly. From Ivano-Frankivsk, there are regular marshrutka taxis and buses to Bukovel.

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Udulag, Turkey

Most likely, when thinking about skiing in Europe, Turkey doesn’t really come to mind. Right? In general, people mainly think about travel to Istanbul, Cappadocia, and the coast. Not so much about going to ski in the Turkish mountains. However, it is not only a wonderful beach holiday destination but a place where you can ski, visit ancient sights, soak in hot springs, and eat delicious food.

Many people don’t know that but in winter, this country offers skiing in the mountains with elevations ranging from 2 to 3 km. One of the most popular and famous ski resorts in the country is Uludag. It is suitable for a wide range of skiers and is rather cheap.

A lot of vacationers to Turkey know about the “all-inclusive” format of hotels along the coast. But even in winter, every major hotel in the area near Udulag mountains follows the same standard, has its own ski lifts and offers packages that include accommodation, meals, and skiing. Traditionally, high-quality service combined with relative cheapness allows Turkey to be one of the leading destinations for all-inclusive ski holidays.

Also, thanks to the gentle slopes and excellent ecology, Uludag is an ideal family ski resort in Europe.

Going to ski in Udulag, Turkey can be especially a great trip if combined with a visit to Istanbul and Bursa.

skiing in europe
Another photo from Bukovel, Ukraine

COST PER DAY FOR ONE

Ski Pass: from 23 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 10 euros per day.
Accommodation: from 60 euros per night but that’s all-inclusive, so all food and drink are covered. Some resorts even include a ski pass. But you need to take care of your own flight.

HOTELS FOR SKI PACKAGE HOLIDAYS IN UDULAG:

5* Bof Hotel – all-inclusive nonalcoholic family-friendly hotel. The food choices are ample, the rooms are spacious and always very warm, the grounds are gorgeous, and the staff is very helpful. It has its own sauna, pool, and hammam. Ski school and skiing areas are nearby but ski equipment is not included in the price.

4* Agaoglu My Resort Hotel – another all-inclusive hotel which includes alcohol options but has lower ratings. It has a beautiful spa, somewhat limited food options, clean rooms, and friendly staff. Check the reviews to get a better idea.

Gudauri, Georgia

Of all the ski resorts in Georgia, the leader of the winter recreation is Gudauri. The unique natural conditions, the absence of avalanche danger, and the great popularity among investors attract more and more tourists each year.

The main features of Gudauri are its excellent conditions for freeriding as well as a particularly long skiing season which lasts 7 months here.

The elevation difference is 1,000 meters, the average length of the ski tracks is 2-3 km, and the longest descent is 7 km.

This resort town may appeal not only to lovers of skiing from the slope but also to fans of cross country skiing and walking in snowy picturesque valleys. The creators of the ski complex tried to make it not inferior to European counterparts in terms of comfort and safety, so you can go there knowing that it is a wonderful resort for beginners and families with children.

Gudauri is located on the Military Road from Tbilisi to Kazbegi. There is so much to do in the area and along this road. Check my guide with all the amazing sights and how much you can do while in the area.

THE COST OF SKI HOLIDAY IN GUDAURI

Ski Pass: from 17 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 11 euros per day.
Accommodation: from 35 euros per night per person.
Food & Drink: 8-20 euros per day for one.

BEST PLACES WHERE TO STAY:

New Gudauri Loft – a cute studio for two people (or even four) who are on a budget.

Soncho Gudauri – Very simple budget hotel with clean spacious rooms but limited toiletries and breakfast options. The lift to the tracks is behind the hotel.

Tsar Bani – one of my favorite boutique hotels in Gudauri. It’s a bit more pricey but worth every penny. The hotel is small but very clean and has an interesting design. It has only 6 or 8 rooms, each of them comes with its own theme and balcony with fantastic views. Breakfast is included and homemade, includes oatmeal, omelette, fruits, coffee, and tea.

Jasna, Demanovska Dolina, Slovakia

skiing in Europe

Ski resort Jasna in Demanovska Dolina next to the famous town of Liptovsky Mikulas is named as one of the best ski resorts in all of Eastern Europe. There are trails for children and separate paths for riding on snowmobiles. The season in Jasna lasts from December to the end of March.

The resort has 13 lifts with a total capacity of 11,800 people per hour, and the number of ski runs totals 14, of which 3 are of high complexity, 8 are of medium difficulty and 3 are easy.

The main hotels are located 20-300 meters from the ski lifts, while cottages and pensions are located below the ski area. Those hotels that are located farther, have shuttles run from them to the ski lifts.

The cost of a one-day ticket for adults is 28 euros, for children (6-18 years) – 20 euros; for 6 days for adults – 138 euros, for children (6-18 years) – 97 euros. The nearest airport is Poprad (60 km). If you are looking for a cheap winter city break in the EU where you can ski, Slovakia is the best place for that.

THE COST OF SKI HOLIDAY IN JASNA

Ski Pass: from 28 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 7€ per day for a snowboard.
Accommodation: from 35 euros per night for the private room for two in the guest house but it’s not in the valley, 10 min drive from Jasna.
Food & Drink: 20-25 euros per day for one.

RECOMMENDED SKI RESORTS:

Slovakia mountains in late October before the snow falls

4* Hotel Grand Jasna – One of the best hotel chains in Slovakia with a huge spa, amazing breakfasts, and very upscale rooms. Prices for their rooms start from 90€ per night (if booking in advance through the aggregate) but taking into consideration that this is a luxury hotel, prices are not that high compared to the hotel of the same level in Austria, France or Switzerland.

4* Hotel Partizan – eco-friendly hotel in the middle of the forest with beautiful views from the room and wonderful spa.

2*Hotel SKI & Al Pacin BAR – in the heart of Domanovska Dolina with a few tracks starting behind the hotel.

Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic

skiing in Europe

Another wonderful budget destination for skiing in Eastern Europe is the Czech resort Spindleruv Mlyn. In fact, this is a truly amazing place to visit in the Czech Republic during any time of the year, not just winter.

It is the country’s most famous international mountain recreation center. The mountains are not high with the largest Snezka mountain reaching 1,602 m above sea level.

Spindleruv Mlyn is located 130 km north from Prague in the Krkonossky National Park. And by the way, with this location, you can combine three activities in one trip: see fabulous Prague in winter, stay in one of the magical Czech castle hotels, and go skiing.

In winter, this picturesque mountainous region becomes a real paradise for lovers of alpine skiing, cross-country, and off-piste skiing. The ski season lasts from December to April.

The resort consists of several villages (ski centers) such as Svaty Petr, Bedrichov, Labska, and Predni Labska. Each of them has slopes for professionals and beginners and besides skiing, you can also go snowboarding. There is also a ski school for adults and children with English-speaking instructors.

Lift subscription for the day during the high season costs 28 euros for an adult and 18 euros for children. During the low season – 20 and 13 euros respectively. A six days subscription for adults is 117 euros (in low season 86) and for children – 76 euros (55 in low season). The nearest international airport is Prague.

COST OF SKI HOLIDAY PER DAY FOR ONE PERSON IN SPINDLERUV MLYN

Ski Pass: from 28 euros per day for adults.
Equipment Rental: from 20 euros per day.
Accommodation: from 20 euros per night.
Food & Drink: 12-25 euros per day.

WHERE TO STAY IN SPINDLERUV MLYN:

4*Hotel Savoy – a very nice upscale hotel where rooms start for less than 90€ per night for two.

3*Hotel Olympie – rooms with views and kitchenettes, close to the ski bus stop and main ski areas. Great price for two people in the center of Svaty Petr village.

1-bedroom flat – a budget 1-bedroom apartment for up to 3 people.

Vogel, Slovenia

Vogel ski resort is located in the Julian Alps at an altitude of 570 meters above sea level on the banks of the picturesque Bohinj Lake. There, you can go skiing, sleighing and snowboarding. Also, there is a night skiing service if you are more for that.

The resort also has a ski school and a cross-country ski school. This center is best suited for families with children and for skiers of different skill levels. Due to its unique geographical location, snow cover here stays on the ground from December until early May.

There is also another resort not far from Vogel – Kobla. Being only 20 km away from Vogel it is mainly a beginner to an intermediate level resort with pistes on wooded slopes.

Lift subscriptions cost 26 euros for one day for adults and 17 euros for children (under 14 years). 6 days pass costs 140 euros for adults and 91 euros for children. Bohinj is located 80 km from Ljubljana. If renting a car is not an option (which is always expensive there), it takes just an hour to get by bus. And there should be free buses between Vogel – Kobla ski resorts.

THE COST OF SKI HOLIDAY IN VOGEL

Ski Pass: from 26 euros per day.
Accommodation: from 50 euros per night for a private apartment for two.
Food & Drink: 20-25 euros per day for one.

BEST PLACES TO STAY:

4*BOHINJ ECO Hotel

Apartment Marketz – a very nice cozy budget apartment for two.

Pal and Arinsal, Andorra

An excellent snow cover and well-developed infrastructure are distinctive features of these neighboring resorts of Andorra. Arinsal and Pal ski resorts have a combined modern ski lift with a capacity of 500 people per hour.

Pal resort will appeal to beginners or those who have been skiing for a while but are not very confident. Arinsal is designed more for the advanced level. In both Arinsal and Pal you will be pleased with a combination of magnificent views and mountain nature, excellent ski slopes and many restaurants, cafes and bars. Skiing schools also operate in each resort village.

A ski pass costs 39 euros for adults, 33.5 euros for young people (12-17 years old), and 28.5 euros for children (6-11 years old). For five days, prices will be 170 euros for adults, 146 for youth, and 122.5 euros for children. There are discounts for older people. Children under six years old ride for free.

Resorts are located 9 km from the capital Andorra la Vella which is known as a duty-free retail hub and 7 km from Escaldes, the commercial hub of Andorra. The nearest international airport in Barcelona is 32 km away.

Besides skiing, there is a number of historical attractions in Andorra, including Romanesque churches and chapels, a number of beautiful bridges, and buildings in a medieval style. In the eastern district of the capital, there are two amazing thermal spas Inuu and Caldea. You can swim under the glass dome in the most diverse (with a jacuzzi, cascades, with and without flow, etc.) pools with healing thermal waters.

Come from southern France or from Barcelona to Andorra by car and enjoy one of the best ski resorts in Europe at reasonable prices!

ANDORRA SKI HOLIDAYS COST

Ski Pass: from 39 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 18€ per day for boots, skis, and helmet.
Accommodation: from 40 euros per night.
Food & Drink: 18-25 euros per day for one.

BEST SKI HOTELS IN ANDORRA:

3* Xalet Verdu – a budget option for those who want to stay in the mountain village Arinsal.

4*Hotel Paloma – hotel with stylish decor, impressive mountain views in a very quiet setting. It is located close to Caldea Thermal Spa, Andorra la Vella, and at the same time to ski tracks.

Formigal, Spain

cheap ski holidays

Formigal is one of the most famous resorts in the Spanish Pyrenees. It is located near the town of Sallent de Gallego, 5 km from the French border. This is the largest and most modern ski resort in Spain. 137 km of tracks are laid here with the maximum height of the tracks of 2250 m above sea level. The ski season lasts from December to March.

Formigal is positioned as a family ski resort. It has many playgrounds for kids, kids areas, and more than 200 instructors who are ready to teach little ones how to ski. Wide slopes are suitable for both beginner and intermediate skiers.

A daily subscription for ski lifts costs 42 euros. Six days of skiing – 220 euros.

The nearest airports to the ski resort of Formigal are in Zaragoza – 170 km, French Toulouse – 275 km, and Barcelona – 375 km. It takes an hour and a half to get by bus from Zaragoza to Formigal.

If you are thinking to combine your skiing trip to Formigal with some time in Barcelona, read my extensive travel guide on what NOT to do in Barcelona as a tourist and what to do on Valencia to Barcelona drive. Also, here are my guides on winter travel in Spain and winter travel in Madrid, if having the intention to travel around the country. If planning to rent a car in Spain, this guide will definitely come in handy too.

FORMIGAL SKI HOLIDAYS COST

Ski Pass: from 42 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 38€ per day, including boots and helmet.
Accommodation: from 50 euros per night for a stay in the hotel.
Food & Drink: 20-25 euros per day for one.

BEST HOTELS IN FORMIGAL:

3* Hotel Villa De Sallent

4* HG Alto Aragon – great price for a beautiful elegant hotel with clean rooms, a good atmosphere, and service. The hotel is overlooking the sky, mountains, and valley and has a free shuttle to the slopes.

Bansko, Bulgaria

skiing in Europe

Bulgaria is one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe, so you can expect that its ski resort will be cheap too.

Bansko is a relatively new ski resort town in Europe, but surprisingly it attracts skiers even from outside Europe. Bansko is located in southwestern Bulgaria at the foot of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges – the Pirin Mountains. In addition to offering cheap skiing in Europe, it also has a beautiful old town with many attractions.

If your goal is to ski, plan your visit to Bulgaria from mid-December to mid-April. At this time, there is a stable snow cover two meters thick. Bansko will delight you with excellent service and modern infrastructure. The resort offers 6 ski tracks with a total length of 14 kilometers. They are located at an altitude of 2500 meters above sea level.

In Bansko, you can stay in cozy cheap hotels or expensive apartments, the choice is yours. A luxury place, by Western Europe standards, won’t cost a lot.

A ski pass for a week costs 150 euros for adults and 85 euros for children under 12 years. The entire ski package for the same period (which includes equipment rental, a ski pass, and ski school subscription) costs 250 euros for adults and 148 euros for children.

Bansko is 160 km from Sofia. From Sofia Airport, take a taxi for 10-12 leva (about 2 euros) to the bus station, and from there for the same amount take a bus to Bansko. Travel time is three hours.

BANSKO SKI HOLIDAYS COST

Ski Pass: from 30 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 15€ per day.
Accommodation: from 25 euros per night for the hotel room.
Food & Drink: 10-20 euros per day for one.

BEST HOTELS IN BANSKO:

5* Amira Boutique Hotel – simply the best hotel in Bansko. It offers everything that you may need for less than 100€ per room for the entire family.

3* Bizev Hotel – for such a price this is the best you can get. Exceptionally clean rooms, the staff is friendly, breakfast is delicious and hotel is confidently located not far from the Bansko center. Check the reviews. Guests are really happy, especially taking into consideration how affordable this stay can be.

Poiana Brasov, Romania

Poiana Brasov is considered the elite and most beautiful ski resort in Romania. It is located at an altitude of 1030 meters, surrounded by coniferous forests, near the ancient city of Brasov. There are 12 tracks with a total length of 14 km, two ski jumps and constantly working chairlifts. The resort is famous for its eco-friendly hotels, clean air, and wonderful landscapes.

For outdoor activities, visitors can find artificial skating rinks, a horse riding center, sports grounds, hotels with swimming pools, and saunas. In addition, the resort village has many restaurants and cafes where you can try the national Romanian cuisine and watch performances by local musicians and dancers.

2* hotels in Poiana Brasov start from 50 euros per room for two people. Accommodation in 3*-4* class hotels costs between 70-100 euros per night. A stay in a full-service hotel on average goes for 300 euros per night.
A 4-day ski pass costs 85 euros for adults and 39 euros for children. It is much cheaper than a day pass that costs 30 euros.

POIANA BRASOV SKIING PRICES

Ski Pass: from 30 euros per day.
Equipment Rental: from 12€ per day for the standard equipment for adults which includes skis, boots, and ski sticks.
Accommodation: from 80 euros per night for the 4* hotel room for two people.
Food & Drink: 20-30 euros per day for one.

WHERE TO STAY IN POIANA BRASOV:

Our visit to Ana Hotels Sport in Poiana Brasov

Teleferic Grand Hotel – a panoramic 4* Mountain View hotel where you can experience luxury on a budget. Everything just feels right there. All guests get free access to the spa center which includes an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor hot tub, and three types of saunas.

Ana Hotels Sport – another 4* hotel with cozy and pleasant rooms, spa center, restaurant, and great location.

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Ski Holidays in Europe – Mid-Range

Zakopane, Poland

The winter capital of Poland the town of Zakopane is sheltered in a valley between the mountain peaks in the very south of the country with only 110 km away from Krakow. A lot of people love Zakopane for a moderately warm and snowy winter, thermal springs, cozy Polish huts, and national cuisine with huge portions.

In the vicinity of Zakopane, there are 10 ski resorts with 90 ski lifts for both amateurs and professionals. Some are located within the town, and some are outside. Fans of relaxed skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, and at the same time lovers of extreme skiing can find Zakopane as a perfect ski vacation spot.

Among all resorts, the most famous are Nosal, Kasprowy Wierch, Butorowy Wierch, Polana Szymoszkowa, and Gubalowka.

The nearest airport to the resort town is in Krakow. You can get from there to Zakopane center by train.
It takes a little more than three hours and a ticket for one adult costs 23.60 PLN (about 5.5 euros).

The most convenient way to get from Krakow to Zakopane is by bus or by rented car. Trains run between cities regularly but this option is the longest of all.

It is easy to find cheap accommodation in Zakopane. There are very budget options that start from 40€ for an apartment, villas for 50€ and then there are hotels from 70€ per night.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a classic mountain resort in Germany with rich traditions of alpine places. It is located in the northern part of the Eastern Alps at an altitude of 940 m above sea level, not far from the highest peak in the country – Zugspitze (2,966 m). Two skiing areas of the resort are located on the Zugspitze and Garmisch-Classic plateaus and make a total of 62 km of pistes.

The resort has about 30 upscale hotels, 30 mini-hotels, 8 B&B hotels, and over 70 guest houses. The best hotels are the Grand Hotel Sonnenbichl and Dorint Sporthotel. But much more interesting is to stay in one of the traditional Bavarian hotels such as Hotel Reinaldo Partenkirchner Hof or Biohotel Garmischer Hof.

A 2-day ski pass costs 79 euros for adults and 43.5 euros for children (6 to 13 years old). Six days of skiing cost 212 euros for adults and 117 for children.

The resort town is located an hour and a half drive from Munich International Airport and a 50-minute drive from Innsbruck Airport. You can get there by car from Munich via the A-95 motorway or from the south from Innsbruck towards Mittenwald.

Livigno, Italy

skiing in europe

Livigno is Italy’s largest ski resort. It is located 35 km from the city of Bormio, near the Swiss border. There are very good weather conditions, the snow cover reaches 2.5 m. At the same time, there are almost no winds, which gives a significant advantage to this resort compared to others. The season lasts from November to April. Livigno today is one of the best ski resorts in Italy.

A subscription for lifts for adults for a day costs 41 euros, for children – 34 euros. Six days of skiing cost 198.5 euros for adults and 138.5 euros for children.

Livigno is 235 km from Milan. From Milan Airport to Livigno you can take a bus for 30 euros. It takes 4.5 hours to get there. On the way, you can enjoy wonderful views from the window.

Schladming, Austria

Austrian Schladming is located at an altitude of about 750 m above sea level and 90 km from Salzburg. The resort is rightfully among the ten best world resorts and still, it is not overly expensive. I add it to the list of mid-range ski resorts.

Schladming features well-equipped trails and predictable terrain. It features 86 ski lifts and a free shuttle to anywhere in the region. The best time to visit the ski resort is from December to April.

A daily subscription for ski lifts for adults costs 46 euros, for children under 15 years old – 23.50 euros, for teenagers under 19 years old – 36 euros. A six-day subscription costs 227 euros, 113.50, and 117 euros, respectively.

The closest airports are Salzburg (90 km), Linz (185 km), Graz (190 km), Munich (290 km), Vienna (300 km), and Innsbruck (320 km). The resort can be reached by bus from Salzburg in just 45 minutes. The nearest train station is Schladming.

Unique Top Ski Resorts in Europe For Luxury Experience

Laax, Switzerland

skiing in Europe

The Swiss Laax is notable for being located on a very picturesque, sheltered from the winds mountain terrace in the Swiss Alps. This resort is part of the famous Alpine Arena, which also includes the neighboring ski resort villages of Flims and Falera.

The elevation difference on the Laax slopes is about 700 m. 29 lifts operate here and there are 60 equipped tracks. The longest of the tracks stretches for 14 km. 28% are green trails designed for beginners only who are learning the basics. 32% of tracks are blue and of medium difficulty. 22% are red or difficult tracks. And 18% of the slopes are designed for fans of real extreme sports on black tracks.

Freeriders also have access to 40 km of slopes. In addition, at altitudes from 750 to 1550 m above sea level, there are 56 km of slopes for cross-country skiing and 6 km of them can be used in the dark, as they are lit. Laax also has two illuminated toboggan runs and excellent conditions for snowboarding.

Children and adults can learn how to ski at two ski schools and a snowboard school. An interesting local history museum and a megalith park are open here. And in neighboring Flims, tourists can visit the small church of St. Martin, which was built in the 9th century.

Costs And How to Get There

Of the three ski areas, Laax has the status of the best prices in terms of housing and services. Holders of the hotel’s guest card or ski pass enjoy free access anywhere in all three villages.

A ski pass per day costs 70€ for adults, 47€ for teens from 13 to 17 years old, and 23€ for children from 6 to 12 years old. A six-day ski pass costs 392€ for adults.

Prices for a very basic room start at 70 euros.

Zurich and the “Alpine Valley” are located 150 km from each other. If not renting a car, at first you need to reach the town of Chur. Then from Chur to Laax, it takes 30 minutes to go by bus. In high season, express buses cost 68 euros to go from Laax to Zurich Airport and vice versa.

Are, Sweden

The Swedish Åre is considered the largest and most developed ski resort in the country. It consists of four villages connected by bus routes and has five ski areas. One of the best ski lifts in Northern Europe is here. And 100 km of diverse tracks with a lot of good snow on the slopes guarantee a great ski season from early November to mid-May.

Many people love this resort for how conveniently everything is located. No matter where you stay, it will be easy and quick to get to all the mountain slopes. The lifts are built that way that you can ride all day long without interruption. And besides that, both skiers and snowboarders can use all slopes.

In addition to skiing, guests of the resort village can go horse riding, dog or reindeer sledding, ice skating, and renting a snowmobile. Also, this resort offers winter fishing and is a popular destination for climbing.

Costs And How to Get There

Ski schools are excellent and the service is outstanding. A ski pass for an adult (16 to 64 years old) per day costs 44 euros, for adolescents (8-15 years) and older people (65+) 34 euros. Children under 7 years old are free of charge but only if they wear a helmet. Five days of skiing will cost adults 195 euros while teenagers and older people 153 euros.

THE BEST WAY TO GET TO ARE is to fly to Ostersund and from there go by train in one hour or by bus in 2 hours (prices start from 12 euros). Another option is to fly to Stockholm, from where it takes about 9 hours to get to Are by train and prices start from 55 euros.

Ruka, Finland

skiing in Europe

For those who would like to ski in Finland but are not afraid to freeze should look into Ruka. It is suitable for those who feel comfortable in very, very cold weather. The fabulous Lapland starts from here, and the Arctic Circle is relatively a short drive away.

If almost everywhere in Finland all resorts are mainly hills, then you can be sure you’ll see real mountains rise in Ruka. The ski season here is the longest in Finland (and probably in Europe) and lasts from October to May, and the last slope is closed by mid-June.

The advantages of Ruka are considered perfect tracks as well as convenient and fast lifts. Another advantage is a very large flat ski track which goes for about 200 km and has 21 km with lighting.

In total, this ski resort has 21 lifts, 34 slopes and most of them are suitable for skiing in the dark. The longest descent is 1.3 km and there is also a magnificent freestyle center with a mogul track.

In addition, Ruka is very popular with snowboarders as the local park is considered the best in Europe and meets FIS SuperPipe standards. It has 3 halfpipes, jumps, rails, and a great track for border-cross skiing. For cross-country ski lovers, overall, there is almost 500 km of ski slopes with 40 km of them being illuminated.

Costs And How to Get There

A daily pass for adults costs 42.5 euros, for adolescents (12-17 years old) 36 euros, children (6-11 years old) 27 euros. A seven-day ski pass for adults costs 207 euros, for teens – 175 euros, for children – 132.5 euros. Children under 6 years old accompanied by adults are allowed on all lifts for free.

If buying ski passes online, they will be cheaper. Also, when buying family packages, expect to get a 30% discount.

Travelers who have a ski pass, during the working hours of the ski lifts can travel by bus between Ruka and Kuusamo for free.

The nearest airport to Ruka is in Kuusamo. Therefore, you can catch a shuttle from there which takes less than 30 minutes to get to the resort town. Throughout the winter season, flights from Helsinki fly daily to Kuusamo airport.

This is my list of destinations for skiing in Europe. If you would like me to help to book your ski trip, send me a message through this form.

If you have any questions or comments to add, please feel free to do so!

These ideas on skiing in Europe will perfectly suit budget travelers. I know how costly ski holidays can be, that’s why this guide has detailed information... #skiingineurope #bestskiresorts #skiingonabudget #skiholidays
My extensive guide to skiing in Europe. It will also suit budget travelers because there are quite a few awesome ski resorts on this list in cheap European countries. Learn where you can ski in Europe while not breaking your bank. #skiingineurope #bestskiresorts #skiingonabudget #skiholidays
My extensive guide to skiing in Europe. It will also work great for budget travelers because there are quite a few awesome ski resorts on this list in cheap European countries. Learn where you can ski in Europe while not breaking your bank. #skiingineurope #bestskiresorts #skiingonabudget #skiholidays

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2 Comments

  1. I’ve got a ski trip planned for Slovenia over new year and I’m super excited for it! I’ll definitely be hitting up Vogel – it looks like such a scenic ski resort 🙂

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