The Best Ski Resorts in Europe: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
For our 35th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, registered voters weighed in on their favorite places around the globe. When it comes to the best ski resorts in Europe, Condé Nast Traveler readers are eclectically picky snow bunnies: They rated these their 20 favorite spots for ski and après-ski—a mix of high-profile Alps hangouts and the more remote, high-altitude destinations made for the serious downhiller. Here are the ski resorts in Europe that you loved most this year.
All listings featured in this story were independently selected by our readers. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Kempinski Palace Engelberg20. Engelberg-Titlis, Switzerland
This free-ride mecca in the heart of Switzerland has earned a devoted fan base thanks to its above-average snowfall and easy access from Zurich airport (75 minutes by car or two hours by train). Boasting the longest winter season in Switzerland, the resort has conditions suited to all skiing abilities, and experts come to ski the infamous Laub, a 35-degree, 3,937 foot-long off-piste run. The monastery village boasts the most winter Olympic medals in the world. On down days, you can tour the 12th-century Benedictine monastery, including the cheese room where the monks teach cheese making lessons.
Where to stay: The new five-star Kempinski Palace Engelberg has a prime location in the center of the village. Rooms blend understated luxury and historic details. In winter, don’t miss traditional fondue at Chalet Ruinart, a rustic-luxe outpost on the terrace of the hotel’s Palace Bar.
Stats: One- day lift tickets from $51. There are 24 lifts and 43 runs spanning 50 miles of slopes.
Getty19. Crans-Montana, Switzerland
It doesn’t have the cachet of Zermatt or Verbier, but that’s one of the many reasons skiers love Crans-Montana. Its 90 miles of under-the-radar slopes are spread across a south-facing plateau in Switzerland’s Valais canton, which means they’re almost always sun-soaked. And the resort features 24 on-mountain restaurants with terraces so you can work on your tan and take in the Alpine views. Freestyle fans will find one of the best snow parks in Switzerland, featuring an Olympic-size halfpipe. This February, the world’s best female skiers will descend on Crans-Montana to compete on the challenging Mont Lachaux piste during the Audi FIS Ski World Cup.
Where to stay: The resort welcomes its first international brand this winter with the December opening of Six Senses Crans-Montana. Located next to the Cry d’Er gondola, the ski-in/ski-out property will offer serious pampering (a spa with biohacking treatments) and amenities (an open-air cinema). Other favorites: Hostellerie du Pas de l’Ours, a member of Relais & Châteaux, and Guarda Golf Hotel & Residences, a member of Leading Hotels of the World with a prime location in the center of town.
Stats: One-day lift ticket from $35. There are 24 lifts for 60 runs.
Sally Crane/Alamy18. Méribel, France
Méribel will be in the international spotlight this winter, hosting the world’s best female skiers on the Roc de Fer slopes for the first event of the Courchevel-Méribel 2023 Alpine World Ski Championships. The central resort of the Three Valleys—the largest ski area in the world—Méribel compliments its unbeatable location with pretty chalet-style architecture, designer shopping, and stylish stays. The slopes cater to intermediate skiers. Hardcore skiers can easily connect via lift to more challenging terrain in neighboring Val Thorens. The après scene is strong here: be sure to hit up institution Rond Point and the dance party at Folie Douce. Wine snobs should check out newcomer Parâjo, an on-mountain Savoyard restaurant with a 350-bottle wine cellar.
Where to Stay: Set in the center of the village, Le Kaïla has an elevator that delivers guests straight from the slopes to the chalet-style hotel, plus family-friendly rooms, a new Lego Kids Club, and an on-site ski shop.
Stats: One-day lift ticket for Méribel $57; for the Three Valleys $70. Méribel has 46 lifts and 76 pistes.
- Roberta Barbero/Getty
17. Cervinia, Italy
Located on the Italian side of the Matterhorn massif, the high-altitude ski resort of Cervinia is linked with the Swiss resort of Zermatt. The combined terrain is vast, making it possible to log serious mileage without repeating a run all day. The majority of slopes are geared toward beginners and intermediates, and the on-piste dining options are exceptional. Many skiers cross the border just to lunch on pasta all'Amatriciana and sip Bombardinos (an Italian riff on eggnog).
Where to stay: Grand Hotel Cervino overlooks the Matterhorn and has a stellar five-star Hermitage Hotel & Spa. The property can arrange adventures ranging from snowshoeing to heliskiing.
Stats: One-day lift ticket from $52; there are 19 lifts for 72 runs.
Bob Douglas/Getty16. Châtel, France
One of 12 linked ski resorts that make up the enormous Portes du Soleil ski area (300 slopes, 197 lifts) which straddles the border between France and Switzerland, Châtel has managed to maintain its rustic alpine authenticity. A working farming community, the village is anchored around an old stone church and accommodations are largely wooden chalets. The terrain at Châtel is ideal for beginner and intermediate skiers; experts can find more challenging runs beneath the gondola on the Linga sector, which is linked via gondola from Châtel. This isn’t a party town, though l’Avalanche, an English pub, can get rowdy when big sporting events are screened.
Where to stay: Located in the heart of the village, 28-room Hotel Macchi offers old-school Savoyard hospitality and a delicious complimentary breakfast.
Stats: 41 ski lifts and 45 ski slopes. The Espace Liberté ski area extends across Châtel, La Chapelle d'Abondance, the Swiss resort of Torgon and the Corbeau sector of the Swiss resort of Morgins and has 82 runs and 63 lifts. One-day Espace Liberté pass starts at $45. One-day Portes du Soleil pass starts at $57.
Getty15. Megève, France
Megève may not have the hard-partying reputation of, say, St. Moritz, or the breadth of sporty-centric Courchevel, but it still has plenty to tout, including its founder, Baroness Noémie de Rothschild. Two ski areas are covered with nearly 250 miles of runs linked by recently updated cable cars. Skiers can choose from 60 on-mountain restaurants, like the excellent La Ferme de Mon Père. A charming, car-free city center, featuring an open-air ice rink, intact cobbled streets, horse-drawn sleighs, and a number of smart boutiques, makes Megève a family favorite.
Where to stay: The resort's primary patrons—streams of well-heeled Parisians looking to escape the city—reserve rooms at Les Fermes de Marie. This property from the Sibuet hotel family is a collection of stylish chalets with wood-beamed ceilings, stone accent walls and fur throw-covered furnishings. Alternatively, Four Seasons Hotel Megève and the 12-room Le Chalet from Zannier Hotels both offer five-star service.
Stats: One-day lift tickets from $52; there are 102 lifts for 231 runs for the Evasion-Mont Blanc ski area.
Ingolf Pompe 14/Alamy14. Kitzbühel, Austria
Just two hours from Munich, Austria’s most popular holiday resort has it all: posh hotels; a lively après-ski scene along quaint, cobblestone streets; and unsurpassed skiing that includes eight renowned ski schools and some of the most demanding courses on the World Cup circuit. With more than 60 mountain huts and restaurants, there are plenty of delicious options to refuel, or lounge leisurely over lunch on the slopes.
Where to stay: Hotel Schloss Lebenberg, a medieval hillside castle overlooking the village that earns high marks for its stellar service, dining room, and ornate, Gothic-style décor.
Stats: One-day lift tickets from $59 on the Ikon Pass. There are 57 lifts for 96 runs covering 145 miles.
Cober Schneider/Getty13. Andermatt, Switzerland
When an Egyptian billionaire opened the five-star the Chedi Andermatt hotel (more on that later) in 2013, it turned a relatively unknown ski area tucked between Zermatt and St. Moritz into an international ski destination. With just 13 marked trails spread across two mountains,—the steep, free-riding playground of Gemsstock and cruise-y Nätschen—it sounds small. But the terrain is varied and if you don’t want to repeat a run, you can easily link to the family-friendly slopes of Sedrun and a fancy après ski train complete with music and drinks connects to the ski area of Disentis.
Where to Stay: The extravagant Chedi Andermatt has 123 palatial rooms with heated stone floors, open fireplaces and cashmere rugs. Set aside plenty of time to soak in the spa’s hydrotherapy zone and indulge at the Japanese, the hotel’s Michelin-star restaurant.
Stats: Average price for a one-day lift ticket is $82; the Andermatt-Sedrun-Disentis ski region comprises 33 lifts for nearly 112 miles of runs.
Elliott/Unsplash12. Davos, Switzerland
The highest town in Europe is best known as playing host to the World Economic Forum each year, but it’s got seriously good skiing, too. One of the first ski resorts in the world, the diversity of terrain makes up for the town’s lack of alpine charm. Davos is one of five separate ski areas. Parsenn, the classic mountain, is considered the birthplace of Swiss skiing and its longest run, from Weissfluhgipfel to Küblis is a leg-burning 6,561 foot descent. Madrisa is the family mountain. And Jakobshorn is a snowboarding nirvana with a floodlit snowpark that remains open late and a raucous après scene at Jatzhütte, a mountain restaurant known for its whirlpool parties and live music. Tobogganing rivals skiing in popularity, with three floodlit runs that offer all of the excitement of an icy roller coaster ride.
Where to stay: The 21-room Bellevue Hotel in the village of Wiesen has storybook charm (think walls painted with woodland creatures) and views of the Grisons Alps. Ameron Davos Swiss Mountain Resort is a modern, art-filled stay with every imaginable amenity.
Stats: 85 runs spanning 186 miles connected by 57 lifts, gondolas, and funiculars. One-day lift ticket from $64.
Getty11. Lech, Austria
Lech may lack the bling of areas like St. Moritz and Cortina d’Ampezzo, but that’s part of its charm. Behind traditional farmhouse facades you’ll find chic boutiques, art galleries, and stylish hotels. The village of 1,600 may be tiny, but it boasts the highest density of award-winning restaurants in the world (Rote Wand Chef’s Table is a must). And of course there’s the draw of its excellent snowfall and the famed White Ring, a circuit of nearly 14 miles that links Lech, Zürs, Zug and Oberlech. Two modern new cable cars make the slopes even more accessible this season.
Where to Stay: Five-star, family-run Hotel Almhof Schneider is the epitome of Alpine elegance, with a serious art collection, serene spa, and a 25,000-bottle wine cellar. Boutique stay Hotel Kristiania was originally established by Olympic skier Othmar Schneider, and his family continues the hotel’s legacy of hospitality.
Stats: Part of the Arlberg, Austria’s largest inter-linked ski area, 87 lifts and cable cars can access more than 180 miles of marked slopes and 120-plus miles of backcountry runs. One-day lift ticket from $58.
Guillaume Marques/Unsplash10. Chamonix-Mont Blanc, France
Chamonix’s expansive backcountry and gnarly terrain make it a bucket-list destination for serious skiers. Host to the first winter Olympics in 1924, the pedestrian-friendly town oozes alpine charm and, despite the mountain’s extreme reputation, there are plenty of beginner and intermediate runs. Riding the Aiguille du Midi, the highest cable car in Western Europe, is a must simply for the views. From the top, experienced skiers can hire a guide (Chamonix has the world’s oldest and largest guiding organization) and schuss down the legendary Vallée Blanche, 12.4-mile glacier descent in the heart of Mont-Blanc Massif.
Where to stay: La Folie Douce Hotel has a hip vibe, a lively après scene and an unbeatable location in the heart of Chamonix, with a ski lift steps from the front door. For over-the-top luxury, book a stay at Hameau Albert 1er. The five-star hotel has 33 rooms, two suites and two stand-alone chalets and a Michelin-star restaurant.
Stats: There are 67 lifts for 115 runs. One-day lift ticket from $72; on the Ikon Pass.
Buzz Pictures/Alamy9. Courchevel, France
Within the largest ski area in the world—the Three Valleys—Courchevel and its six interconnected villages form a glittering, multi-level resort, where celebs and well-to-do merrymakers come to ski, unwind, and shop at more than 100 upscale boutiques. A dedicated kids' ski area, the Children’s Village, offers more than seven acres of terrain so young ones can easily progress. The region is known for its exceptional snowfall and Courchevel 1850 is so high there are still loads of snow in April. Be warned, it’s hard to go elsewhere one you’ve gotten a taste for Courchevel’s heated pavements and impressive, Michelin-starred dining scene.
Where to stay: Of the 50 five-star hotels in France, 15 of them are here—including Aman Le Mélézen (among the Readers' Choice Awards 50 Best Resorts of 2022) L'Apogée Courchevel, both located in tony Courchevel 1850. Cheval Blanc Courchevel is the epitome of ski-in/ski-out luxury, boasting a slope-side terrace featuring a menu by Michelin-decorated chef Yannik Alléno.
Stats: One-day lift ticket for the 700-plus miles of pistes in the Three Valleys $70. Courchevel has 55 lifts for 102 runs.
Nora Gi/Unsplash8. Innsbruck, Austria
If you want to bag peaks while also getting a dose of urban energy and culture, look no further than Innsbruck. The capital of Tirol has hosted the Olympics twice (in 1964 and 1976) and is surrounded by 13 ski resorts (Kühtai, Axamer Lizum, Muttereralm, Patscherkofel, Nordkette, Oberperfuss Cable Cars, Hochoetz, Schlick 2000, Glungezer, Bergeralm, Serlesbahnen Mieders, Elferbahnen Neustift, Stubai Glacier) each with its own personality. Stubai Glacier is Austria’s largest glacier resort area and often stays open through May, Axamer Lizum features challenging championship runs, and Schlick 2000 is a family favorite for its ski school and progressive terrain. Collectively called Olympia Ski World, the massive area can all be explored with just one ticket, the Ski Plus City Pass, which includes non-ski activities like tobogganing and bobsledding an Olympic run. During the Christmas season, you won’t want to miss exploring the charming holiday markets in the surrounding villages.
Where to stay: Set at 6,627 feet above sea-level, ski-in/ski-out Mooshaus in Kühtai boasts the highest infinity pool in the Alps, a doting kids club, and fantastic service.
Stats: 111 lifts and cable cars and with just over 190 miles of runs. Two-day pass from $120.
Radu Cadar/Getty7. Saalbach, Austria
One of four resorts that make up the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn, among the most expansive lift-linked ski areas in the world, Saalbach is known for its old-world Tyrolean village and lively après scene. The combined super resort offers something for everyone, from challenging terrain that has hosted the Freeride World Tour to family-friendly groomers. Ambitious skiers can attempt “the Challenge,” a 40-mile circuit of downhill runs connected by 32 lifts, covering 40,682 vertical feet. On average, it takes around seven hours without a lunch break.
Where to stay: A renovated 14th-century estate-turned-boutique hotel in Hinterglemm, Weisergut is steps from the Zwölferkogel Cable Car. Each of the 24 suites has its own balcony or terrace, plus there’s a fantastic slow food restaurant and a bathhouse with an infinity pool. In Saalbach, the Alpinresort Sport & Spa is a luxe all-inclusive right near the resort center and Schattberg X-press lift.
Stats: One-day lift ticket from $64. The interconnected resorts feature nearly 170 miles of slopes, linked by 70 lifts and dotted with 60 ski huts and a freestyle terrain park.
- Gina Pricope/Getty
6. Courmayeur, Italy
Located on the sunnier, Italian side of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur attracts both dedicated skiers and unapologetic sybarites who prefer to sip Aperol spritzes on terraces by day and dine on gourmet meals at night. The Skyway Monte Bianco cable car whisks skiers across the Italian-French border where they can test their mettle on 11-plus miles of spectacular off-piste slopes, including the bucket-list glacial run of the Vallée Blanche in Chamonix. Federica Fontana and Federica Brignone are among Italy’s many Olympians who call Courmayeur their training turf. The resort recently expanded and modernized its snowmaking system, which in the next three years will cover 87% of its terrain. After the pistes close, the Courmayeur Cable Car continues running until midnight so you can dine at mountain-top restaurants like LaChaumière. You can also experience the adventure of a snowmobile climb to reach fancy alpine huts like Rifugio Monte Bianco.
Where to stay: Auberge de la Maison is the epitome of alpine romance. Most rooms have panoramic views of Mont Blanc and the spa features unique alpine therapies such as a hay bio-sauna.
Stats: One-day lift ticket from $54; there are 18 lifts for 33 trails.
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5. Val d’Isère, France
Though some bemoan the crowds and prices at this mega resort, Val d'Isère remains an experienced skier’s paradise. The area is home to exciting and high-quality, snow-sure slopes (and as backup, the largest artificial snowmaking plant in Europe) that are easily linked to neighboring Tignes, forming one of the biggest ski areas in France. An excellent dining scene and hard-partying nightlife make a stay here a true holiday in every sense of the word. This season, skiers have two new dining options on the slopes. The team behind beloved Edelweiss restaurant will debut an open-kitchen concept, René, on the Mangard slope and at the foot of the Grand Pré chairlift, L’Empreinte Avaline features a 60-seat snack bar, 100-seat patio, and a 150-seat bistro with bay windows. An outpost of Paris’s hip Loulou at Airelles Val d’Isère is the hot spot for après ski with its expansive terrace featuring DJ sets.
Where to stay: This season sees the debut of 215-room Club Med Val d’Isère, the first Club Med Exclusive Collection resort in the Alps. We also love the chic atmosphere of Airelles Val d'Isère, Hotel Le K2 Chogori, and Le Refuge de Solaise, the highest hotel in France.
Stats: One-day lift tickets are $58 for Tignes and Val d’ Isère. The linked Tignes–Val d’ Isère ski area has 163 runs connected by 75 lifts, plus two skiable glaciers and two snow parks. Ski passes are free for children under age 8.
Giacomo Maestri/Getty4. Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
This historic town, carved into the valley of the Boite river, grew into a must-visit ski destination following the 1956 Winter Olympics, and it will once again host the Games in 2026. Just two hours from Venice, the town isn't too remote—though the towering ring of surrounding Dolomites might make it feel otherwise—and its low-key vibe (a far remove from the flashy, see-and-be-seen culture of other comparable ski towns) continues to attract the likes of George Clooney. Part of the massive Dolomiti Superski, Cortina connects skiers and riders to nearly 750 miles of slopes. And Nordic fans can access Europe’s biggest network of cross-country trails.
Where to stay: Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, a lavish Belle Époque hotel about a mile from the gondola. Rooms with hand-painted walls and parquet floors offer just the right amount of old-world detail without becoming gauche, and the piano bar offers a little lively entertainment. Intimate Hotel de Len has just 23 rooms and a fabulous rooftop spa that overlooks the valley.
Stats: One-day Dolomiti Superski pass from $78; on the Ikon Pass. There are 33 lifts for 83 runs.
Getty3. Verbier, Switzerland
Verbier is considered one of the Alps' most glam resorts with high-profile stays including Richard Branson's luxury chalet The Lodge and Coco Club, the first VIP club in the Alps. The mountain’s mix of novice and expert pistes, as well as backcountry terrain and nearly 14 miles of groomed Nordic trails, attracts a youthful, sporty clientele to the 4 Vallées. This season, the Pasay chairlift, which ascends one of the most picturesque slopes in Verbier, gets a much-needed upgrade. The old four-seater has been expanded to six bubble-protected seats and now zips uphill in less than five-minutes, versus 11 so you can sneak in more runs. The Pasay snack bar has also been renovated to include a panoramic terrace.
Where to stay: There are the luxe chalets mentioned above, but the W Verbier has the best location in town, close to ski school meeting spots and opposite the Médran gondola.
Stats: One-day lift ticket from $82 on the Epic Pass. There are 80 lifts for more than 250 miles of runs across the 4 Vallées ski area.
Getty2. Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt, surrounded by the Alps’ tallest peaks, has 223 miles of runs in four huge ski areas—some at an altitude of over 10,000 feet, so snow here lingers well beyond the winter season. This enchanting, alpine village lies at the foot of the Matterhorn, Switzerland's most famous mountain, and has plenty of modern touches, like its state-of-the-art lift system and swanky après-ski diversions. Horse-drawn sleighs are the preferred choice of transportation in the car-free village. On the slopes, be sure to stop for the burger at Chez Vrony (reservations a must) and a glass of bubbles at the tiny Champagne bar at the end of the Sunnega run. An innovative new ski-in/ski-out test center on the Theodul Glacier allows skiers to demo the latest equipment.
Where to stay: Grand dame Mont Cervin Palace and modern-luxe Schweizerhof Zermatt, both offer prime central locations and every imaginable amenity. Perched just above the village, slope-side CERVO Mountain Resort recently added an ashram-inspired spa with an expansive network of outdoor pools, saunas, and soaking tubs.
Stats: One-day lift ticket from $87; on the Ikon Pass. There are 54 lifts for 148 runs.
Stefano Politi Markovina/Alamy1. St. Moritz, Switzerland
The oldest winter holiday resort in the world is as elegant and exclusive as it gets. As if St. Moritz wasn't already blessed enough at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level, the sun shines 322 days a year, pairing with the dry air for what’s known as a “Champagne climate.” But it’s the world-class hotels and restaurants, chic shopping, and excellent skiing on- and off-piste that draw celebrities and royalty alike. El Paradiso mountain club has always been one of St. Moritz’s most exclusive reservations and even more so since Badrutt’s Palace successfully took over management last winter. And, this winter, Italy’s beloved mini-chain Langosteria, opens its first mountain restaurant in the middle of the popular ski area Corviglia.
Where to stay: A room at alpine grand dame Badrutt's Palace Hotel, which has been indulging A-listers since 1896, or at the recently renovated Kulm Hotel—one of our Gold List favorites—can do no wrong. With the opening of Grace La Margna in December, St. Moritz finally offers a five star hotel 365 days a year.
Stats: One-day lift tickets range from $45 to $100; there are 58 lifts for 88 runs.
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