Best Ski Destinations in Europe

Your head may be filled with pumpkin spice and scary movies, but it’s time to start planning your winter getaways. Where else to better spend a few days skiing and snowboarding to your heart’s content than the beautiful European mountain ranges?

Verbier is the largest holiday resort town within Switzerland’s Four Valleys and offers options for skiers of every skill level. The posh location attracts a variety of celebrities, as well as professional skiers taking advantage of the backcountry runs.

Head to the Italian Alps and Cervinia for the best snowfall ever recorded in the country. While there’s not as much here for the advanced skier, novices and intermediate hobbyists find plenty to keep occupied. For those who’d rather stay indoors, the village has a vibrant nightlife and plenty of shopping.

Travelers can find Val Thorens within the French Alps, where it stands tall as the highest resort in all of Europe, at an elevation of more than 7,500 feet. The village truly comes alive during the holiday season, making it a great getaway for the family this Christmas.

It’s easy to see why travelers flock to Innsbruck, Austria. With its perfect mixture of charm and powdery slopes. there’s something for everyone. Enjoy historic architecture, a young and colorful nightlife and plenty of great dining options.

Courchevel, France, is home to a fantastic array of 5-star hotels (approximately 10) and caters to luxury travelers from all around the world. Heated pavements connect resorts, more than 100 shops and an array of high-end venues.

Åre, located in Sweden about 200 miles south of the Arctic Circle, offers the largest and most diverse alpine sport resort in Northern Europe. Beyond your normal ski slopes, visitors enjoy heli-skiing, snowboarding, kite boarding, snow mobiles and telemark skiing. The far northern location means the snow is perfect right through early May.

For those not terribly interested in hitting the slopes, but who still love the feel of an upscale ski resort, Zermatt, Switzerland, is the place to be. There are more than 60 on-slope restaurants, music venues and watering holes, from 5-star fine dining to Champagne bars.