The best destinations for skiing

Where are the best places to ski?

France and French Alps

France is a favourite ski destination worldwide, boasting around 350 ski resorts. Among the most famous are the Savoyard resorts of La Plagne, Les Arcs, Courchevel, and Méribel, to name just a few. There are many others as well.

La Plagne

It is located in Savoie. Its ski area stretches from 1,250 to 3,250 metres in altitude and offers 225 km of slopes. It is linked to Les Arcs, and together the two resorts form the Paradiski area.

Courchevel and Méribel

These resorts are located in the Three Valleys. The area offers 600 km of alpine ski slopes and a Nordic ski domain with 130 km of trails, comprising 318 pistes in total.

Italy

There are around 200 ski resorts in Italy. Some of the best known include Alta Badia, Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Arabba-Marmolada.

Alta Badia

Located in the Dolomite Mountains in South Tyrol, it offers around 130 km of slopes and stretches from 1,433 to 2,700 metres in altitude.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

The resort is located north of the Veneto region. It features 120 km of slopes: 55 km for beginners, 46 km for intermediate skiers, and 19 km for experts.

Arabba-Marmolada

Located in the Dolomites in Veneto, it reaches an altitude of 1,602 metres and offers 124 km of slopes.

Switzerland

Renowned for its high-altitude ski areas, Switzerland is a fantastic country for a ski holiday. Among its 250 resorts are well-known names like Saint-Moritz, Adelboden, and Frutigen. Verbier and Gstaad are also popular choices.

Saint-Moritz

It is located in the Maloja district and offers 155 km of slopes.

Adelboden

Located in the heart of the Bernese Oberland at 1,350 metres altitude, it boasts over 180 km of ski runs.

Frutigen

Located in the Bernese Oberland, it reaches 1,742 metres in altitude and offers 29 km of slopes.

Austria

There are over 100 ski areas with nearly 3,400 km of slopes. The most beautiful ones are located between 600 and 3,340 metres altitude, including Sölden, Kaprun, and Lech.

Sölden

Located in the Tyrol region, it has 40 slopes and 33 ski lifts.

Kaprun

It is located in Salzburg and features 20 ski runs and 17 ski lifts.

Lech

Located in Vorarlberg, it offers 303 km of slopes.

Sweden

The country has around 200 ski areas. The best-known include Åre, Riksgränsen, and Sälen.

Are

Located in the centre of the country, it has 94 runs and 39 ski lifts.

Riksgränsen

The resort is in Norrbotten County and features 21 km of slopes and 6 ski lifts.

Sälen

There are 161 km of slopes and 117 ski lifts.

Norway

This country is home to the highest peaks in Northern Europe and has over 30 ski resorts. The best known include Trysil, Geilo, and Hovden.

Trysil

It is located in the east of the country and has 66 runs and 31 ski lifts.

Geilo

Located in eastern Norway, it has 38 runs and 21 ski lifts.

Hovden

Located in southern Norway, it has 8 ski lifts and 34.4 km of slopes.

Japan

This country is made up of 70% mountains and in winter offers some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. The most famous ski areas include Furano, Niseko, and Rusutsu.

Furano

It is located on the island of Hokkaido and offers 30 km of slopes.

Niseko

Located in Hokkaido, it includes three resorts: Annupuri, Hirafu, and Higashiyama.

Rusutsu

It is also located in Hokkaido and consists of 42 km of slopes.

Northern America: United-States

The ski slopes in the United States are among the most beautiful in the world, spread across no fewer than 40 states. The best-known resorts are located on the East and West coasts, including Aspen, Park City, and Mammoth Mountain.

Aspen

This Colorado ski area includes four resorts: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, and Buttermilk.

Park City

Located in Utah, it features 17 peaks, 41 ski lifts, and 302 runs.

Mammoth Mountain

Located in California, it offers 1,416 hectares of skiable terrain with 151 runs.

Northern America: Canada

There are nearly 250 ski resorts, with the best known being Whistler Blackcomb, Lake Louise, and Banff.

Whistler Blackcomb

It is located in British Columbia and has 200 runs and 37 ski lifts.

Lake Louise

It is located in Alberta and has 145 runs.

Banff

Located in the heart of the vast Banff National Park, it consists of three renowned resorts: Mount Norquay, Lake Louise, and Sunshine Village.

New-Zealand

This country has many ski resorts, including Coronet Peak, Broken River Ski Area, Cardrona Alpine Resort, Mt Olympus, and many more. Unlike most others, these resorts are located in the Southern Hemisphere, in the southern part of the country. The ski season lasts about four months, similar to Western countries.

Coronet Peak

This ski resort is located in Otago, just a few kilometres north of Queenstown.