Top 10 ski resorts to fall in love with this Winter

Chamonix takes the top spot and it’s no surprise why. With Mont Blanc as its backdrop, the resort hosted its first Winter Olympics in 1924 and is the number one ski resort in the Alps. If ‘le grand ski’ isn’t your thing, you’ll find plenty of spa hotels to unwind in and a great après-ski scene full of boot-stomping party-goers ready to dance the night away.

Val d’Isere and the neighbouring ski resort of Tignes form the excellent Espace Killy ski area. A skier’s paradise, the resort Val d’Isere enjoys a long season with snow-sure slopes from November to April boasts 300km of pistes and 94 lifts, which carry 149,425 skiers per hour, ensuring that bottom-of-the-hill queues are kept to a minimum.

Considering the formidable height of the lifts and the breadth of the mountains, you’re guaranteed to spend more time shoop-shooping your way down than making the ascent back up.

Kitzbühel is known for its heart stopping Hahnenkemm downhill, one of the most terrifying on the World Cup series that sees skiers reaching speeds of 85mph. However don’t be intimidated as Kitzbühel has tens of kilometres of intermediate slopes that allow fun for all the family. Despite the glitzy clientele, Kitzbühel is surprisingly budget friendly and easily reached via Munich airport.

Resort Height 800m. Highest Lift: 2000m.

The first entry on our list from Switzerland, Zermatt is postcard-perfect! The resort boasts incredible views of the Matterhorn is also surrounded by 38 peaks all above 4000 metres and its top station sits at around 3820m. Repeatedly voted as one of the most expensive resorts in the world, it’s not considered a budget location. However, for young families the fact that under ten’s ski for free, coupled with a favorable exchange rate could make this the ski trip of a life time.

Resort Height: 1620m. Top Lift: 3883m.

Mayrhofen is the chameleon resort, where the ultra-hip exists seamlessly alongside the old school. The Ahorn and Penken Mountains make up its main ski areas with true Austrian hospitality and music bursting from every ski hut down the mountain. Before now, the resort was a little tricky to navigate, but with the opening of the brand-spanking new Penken Gondola in December 2015 it’s easier and quicker to avoid the queues at the bottom of the mountain.

Courchevel is located at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski areas, the Trois Vallées, which has 600km of pistes and over 170 lifts. Courchevel is made up of four individual villages and thanks to its north-facing aspect it enjoys some of the best snow in the area. Corchevel’s 1850 village, is by far the swankiest place in the Alps with three hotels holding ‘palace’ status, 16 hotels with five stars and five restaurants awarded two Michelin stars.

Resort Height: 1747m. Top lift: 2740m.

Cortina is a gem for skiing and with great slopes and jaw dropping scenery, there’s plenty to see and do. There’s fabulous shopping and an array of restaurants, so plenty to distract from the slopes, which works favorably in keeping queues down and the slopes clear. Cortina is a really friendly resort and is known for being a great place to bring your children.

Resort Height: 1224m. Highest Slope: 2990m.

St. Anton not only has great snow and an extensive lift system, but the town is both attractive and chic offering stylish hotels, bars and restaurants. Located within an hour of three major international airports and with a railway station in the heart of the town, it’s considered one of the more accessible resorts. Once you’re there the resort is small enough to navigate on foot and there are many great public facilities such as free buses and the Arlberg Centre for wellness and communication.

Resort Height: 1300m. Top lift: 2810m.

Bulgaria’s best ski mountain Bansko has hosted prestigious events such as the World Cup Women’s Downhill and its fast and modern lift system make it highly user-friendly. The town of Bansko is located at the bottom of the mountain and although a little way from the gondolas, it’s very picturesque with a great selection of value-for-money hotels.

Resort Height: 980m. Top Lift: 2560m.

Zell am See is a quaint Austrian town next to Lake Zell, and largely boosts its ski appeal by having the Kaprun’s Glacier nearby. The slopes are sunny and with wooded areas that keep the terrain varied, they also offer charming views down to the lake below. In the summer, the resort is also popular as a hiking destination and the lake is used for a variety of watersports.
Resort Height: 760m. Top Lift: 1950m.