Top Skiing Destinations In Europe
There's nothing quite like the rush of days spent out on the slopes, zipping about and, then, returning, tired and happy, to a warm chalet for good food and hot drinks and cocktails by the fireside. Europe is home to some of the best skiing in the world and some of the sweetest mountain towns, filled with charm and local flavour. Whether you're interested in famous French hotspots, picturesque Austrian villages and festive traditions, Swiss food and scenery or Italian style, there is something for everyone among our holiday rentals…
Switzerland
Switzerland is the quintessential alpine country, located smack in the middle of that famous mountain range. It has the biggest glaciers, the most peaks in Europe over 4000 metres and the most luxurious ski resorts, however there is a way to do the country on a budget and everywhere you go you can expect a balance of excellent facilities and tradition.
Engelberg is a little known and quiet resort that has some of the country's best skiing and most beautiful views. Situated under the dramatic Hahnen peak, with a huge sweep of crags almost surrounding the town, it is home to the Titlis glacier to the west and to thrills aplenty. As a result, it is where skiers in the know come to really have fun and challenge themselves. The town itself is charming, full of grand Victorian buildings, a cobbled old town, chalets, as well as new builds.
Saas-Fee, meanwhile, is equally charming but a little better equipped and boasts reliable snowfall and an awesome altitude of between 2500m and 3500m. Traditional and pretty, it is full of stunning scenery, slopes that are more suitable for intermediates and lots of things to see and do, beyond skiing. The combination of all these things makes this an incredibly compelling and magical location. There are many other great ski destinations in Switzerland, however, so check out our vacation rentals in:
Zermatt Saint Moritz Davos Grindelwald Andermatt Basse-Nendaz
France
France offers the best variety of resorts of any country in the world and, as a result, is one of the most popular ski destinations in the world. Whether you're interested in high-octane sports or spending time in a picturesque traditional village, you'll find it all in France. So popular is the country for its ski resorts, in fact, that things book up very fast so jump on it now if you want to experience some world-class skiing.
The Chamonix Valley is home to 5 ski resorts (Grands Montets, Les Houches, Le Tour/Balme, La Flegere and Le Brevent) and is the ideal destination for a perfect ski holiday. Attracting interest since the 18th century, it became a tourist destination in the 19th century and hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Surrounded by towering peaks and tumbling glaciers, packed with Victorian and Belle Epoque buildings and offering excellent skiing: there is a reason it is one of the most famous and popular resorts in the country. Tignes in the Val D'Isère, meanwhile, boasts excellent snowfall, impressive terrain and a season that lasts almost the entire year. Made up of five villages set in a beautiful mountain plateau, its slopes are serviced by some of the finest lifts in Europe. There is suitable skiing for all levels and serious adventure to be had. If you're in it for the love of the sport, few other places could compete with Tignes. However, we do have plenty of other options in other excellent locations so check out our vacation rentals in:
Alpe D'Huez Val Thorens Les Deux Alpes Samoens Morzine Châtel Les Houches Megeve St. Gervais les Bains
Austria
Austria, as a skiing destination, is all about picturesque resorts, fun-filled and lively après scenes, steins full of beer, tummies full of good food and good living, in general. While the facilities are, generally, not as advanced or the skiing as adventurous as in other countries, the whole experience offered in Austria is a lovely one.
Tyrol, however, is home to over 80 ski areas like Saint Anton and a skiable terrain of around 3,000km and boasts some excellent and thrilling slopes. It is the number one ski and snowboard destination in the European Alps and has some of the biggest Austrian resorts, as well as the best kept secrets. With more than 300 acclaimed ski schools and pretty much year-round skiing, it is an ideal skiing destination. However, you should also check out our vacation rentals in:
Kitzbühel Bad Gastein
Italy
As a ski destination, Italy boasts excellent facilities, cuter than cute towns, wonderful traditions, amazing scenery and a stylishness that is entirely Italian. Whether you are a family of different levels of proficiency, an avid and skilled skier, planning a relaxed trip with pals or looking to try skiing for the first time, Italy has the appropriate resorts and ski areas to suit you and your needs!
Trentino, for example, offers a charming mixture of Alpine and Italian traditions in the Dolomites. The towering spikes and exuberant forms of these mountains form a dramatic backdrop, there are plenty of top-notch and high-thrill slopes and there are a large amount of resorts to choose from in the area, at a variety of different price points. Cortina d'Ampezzo, meanwhile, is a fashionable ski resort town located in the Veneto region and has been a winter sports mecca since the 1930s. Known as the “Queen of the Dolomites”, it is one of the best-known ski resorts worldwide and hosts international sports events annually such as the Alpine Ski World Cup, the Tour de Ski, ice hockey and curling championships, and Cortina Winter Polo. We have lots of other vacation rentals in Italy's other ski areas so be sure to check out our vacation rentals in:
Val Gardena Canazei - Val di Fassa Madonna di Campiglio Merano Breuil Cervina Bormio Livigno Bardonecchia
