Powderhounds Awards: Best Ski Resorts in Europe
Where is the best skiing in Europe? The following awards for the best ski resorts in Europe are according to ratings provided by Powderhounds.com & are for resorts that have been reviewed by Powderhounds. Why have a Top 10 when there are so many amazing European ski areas? So, we have a Top 12 instead. At this stage, all the best resorts are in the Alps, with only two exceptions, and one of them is technically not a resort, but it scores super-high in its category, and we think it should be added for the sake of diversity! See if you can find them below! There are so many resorts that rate highly in many categories but cannot crack our top 12s but are sooo worth checking out.
Other Awards for European Ski Resorts
Best Skiing in Europe - Overall Terrain
St Anton, Tignes, 3 Vallèes, Les Arcs, Zermatt, Jungfrau, Arosa Lenzerheide, Serfaus Fiss Ladis
Best Overall On-Piste Terrain
Portes du Soleil, Kitzbϋhel, Tignes, Crans Montana, Kronplatz, 3 Vallees, Hochzillertal, Ischgl, Laax, Livigno
Best Beginner Terrain*
Livigno, Val Cenis, Alta Badia, Tonale, Aletsch Arena, Kronplatz, La Plagne, Grandvalira, Alpe d'Huez, Courchevel
*Note that there are 26 resorts that we have rated 5/5 for beginners. We have only mentioned the top 10 overall.
Best Intermediate On-Piste Terrain*
3 Vallees, Ski Circus Saalbach, Les Arcs, Zermatt, Gastein, Lenzerheide, Hochzillertal, Kitzbϋhel, Livigno, St Anton
*Note that there are 40 resorts that we have rated 5/5 for intermediates - Europe is an intermediate skiers’ paradise. We have only mentioned the top 10 overall.
Best Advanced On-Piste Terrain
Serfaus Fiss Ladis, Alpe d'Huez, Arabba Marmolada, Grands-Montets, Cortina, Murren Schilthorn, Serfaus Fiss Ladis
Best Expert & Extreme Terrain
La Grave, St Anton, Murren Schilthorn, Andermatt, Chamonix, Verbier, Engelberg, Alpe d'Huez, Val d'Isere
Best Off-piste & Freeride Terrain*
Skicircus Saalbach, Kuhtai, Val d'Isere, Monterosa, Zermatt, Grands-Montets, Murren Schilthorn, Meribel, Andermatt Sedrun, Courmayeur
*Note that there are 26 resorts that we have rated 5/5 for off-piste terrain. We have only mentioned the top 10 overall.
Best Tree Skiing
Serre Chevalier, Sauze d’Oulx, Val Cenis, La Norma, Monterosa
Best Snow/Powder
Kühtai, Pitztal Glacier, Sainte Foy, Lauchernalp, Val Thorens, Kaunertal Glacier, Andermatt Sedrun, Davos Klosters, Livigno, La Thuile
Best Lift Infrastructure*
SkiCircus Saalbach, Les Arcs, Gastein, Arosa-Lenzerheide, Hochzillertal, Kitzbuehel, St Anton, 3-Vallees (Val Thorens & Meribel), Avoriaz, Obertauern
*Note there are 30 resorts that we have rated 5/5 for lifts - no surprise as the infrastructure in Europe is generally exceptional. We have only mentioned the top 10 overall.
Best Ski Resorts Accessible by Train
Kronplatz, Aletsch Arena, Andermatt-Sedrun, Davos Klosters, Les Arcs, St Moritz, Verbier, Zermatt, Gstaad, Jungfrau, Champéry - Les Crosets, St Anton
Best Skiing in Europe for Families
3 Vallèes, Livigno, Val Cenis, Tonale, Aletsch Arena, Alta Badia, Kronplatz, La Plagne, Grandvalira, Serre Chevalier
Best Small Ski Resorts
Brigels, Sainte Foy, Bonneval-sur-Arc, La Norma, Diedamskopf, Santa Caterina, Pralognan la Vanoise, See, Gargellen
Best Summer Skiing in Europe
Hintertux Glacier, Zermatt, Saas Fee, Les 2 Alpes
Best Après & Nightlife
Kitzbϋhel, St Anton, Mayrhofen, SkiCircus Saalbach, Chamonix, Ischgl, Saas Fee,
Best Restaurants Overall (Day/Night)
Chamonix, Dolomites, Courmayeur, Saalbach, St Anton, Zermatt, Kitzbϋhel, Zürs, St Moritz, Courchevel, Les 2 Alpes
Best Value for Money Overall
Kuhtai, Monterosa, Via Lattea, La Thuile, Madesimo, Axamer Lizum, Brigels, Bonneval sur Arc, Ordino Arcalis, Gudauri
Best Value Lift Pass
Via Lattea, Portes du Soleil, Ski Arlberg (Lech, St Anton, Warth Schröcken & Zürs), Ski ALPIN (Skicircus Saalbach, Zell am See, Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn)
To see how the Europe ski resorts rate against each other, check out our European Ski Resort Ratings page.