While the holidays may be over, the cold weather is not. You may as well make a trip out of this chilly season, right? Whether you’ve skied your entire life or you’re looking to pick up a new hobby, we’ve gathered together some of the best European ski vacations for you to choose from.
Zermatt, Switzerland
You’ll probably recognize this one from the famous mountain towering above it, the Matterhorn. No, not the one from Disneyland, the real deal. Take this as an opportunity to ski from Italy to Switzerland, because Zermatt sits on the border. Pretty cool, right!? The ski area has 52 lifts and 145 runs total and lift tickets, so there’s plenty of slopes for you to explore too.
Chamonix Mont Blanc, France
Chamonix is said to be one of the best freeride resorts in the world, so it just had to make the list. Not only will you get some great skiing done here, but there is an incredibly charming village to explore as well. Chamonix has five different ski resorts, Grands Montets, Les Houches, Le Tour/Balme, La Flegere and Le Brevent. This way, you can look into what each resort has to offer, such as ticket prices and how many runs and lifts they have.
Verbier, Switzerland
This sweet alpine village makes a perfect getaway and has easy access to the Four Vallées ski area. Verbier has a variety of ski resorts to choose from, but this one is our favorite! It has options for all levels, so whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s something for you. The Four Valleys ski area is also the biggest in Switzerland, with a total of 93 ski lifts. Trust us, that’s A LOT.
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Cortina rose to popularity back in 1956 when it hosted the Winter Olympics. It is located in northern Italy and is a part of the Dolomiti Superski area. While the skiing is great, Cortina is an entire package. Its downtown is filled with gorgeous architecture and is rich in history, so after spending a long day on the slopes, you can take a little bit of time to explore. Cortina d’Ampezzo has a total of 120 kilometers of skiable runs and 36 lifts. It’s not as big as some of the others, but it should definitely make your list.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
If you thought it was cool that Cortina hosted the Olympics, then you definitely need to check out this place. This luxurious town has hosted the Olympics twice now. The ski area boasts a total of 218 miles worth of ski runs and 58 lifts. St. Moritz is also famous for its Cresta Run toboggan course, built back in 1884. You won’t want to miss this one!
So book your plane ticket and get ready to cozy up with a fire and some hot chocolate after your long day of skiing in any one of these European paradises.