A Guide To Snowboarding In Europe

As a continent, Europe offers an unrivalled experience when it comes to the variety of cultures you can experience on the slopes. With an expanse of terrain and accommodations available on every budget, Europe should be on everybody’s snowboard bucket list. Whether you intend to ski big lines in the alps and Dolomites or smaller resorts in Eastern Europe there is plenty of choice. A ski trip to Europe offers world-class resorts, renowned backcountry routes and a mix of diverse cultures and cuisines that make for a memorable trip.

Europe has hundreds if not thousands of ski resorts but their density means that you can often ski a number of resorts on the same trip. Coupled with conjoined ski areas and multi-resort passes it is possible to not only ski multiple resorts in the same day but multiple countries. Start your day in France and ski over to Switzerland for lunch… or stay in more affordable Italy and ski during the day in France. Europe really is an incredible option.

Also making Europe an appealing option is the ease of access and transport between the many ski areas. Multiple major international airports are ideally placed to act as gateways to the mountains. A flight to Geneva or Milan gives you access to world class skiing within a 2 hour drive. Whether taking a transfer or self-driving the resorts of the French & Swiss Alps or the Italian Dolomites are within reach. Even more adventure is available when you consider train journeys to Bourg Sainte Maurice or the Pyrenees as a unique way to access the pistes. Similarly, Switzerland has incredible train journeys to access Grindelwald and Verbier.

Europe is home to a number of snow sure resorts at high altitudes, some offering glacier skiing and supplementing natural snowfall with extensive snowmaking facilities. Consider the resorts of Les 2 Alpes and the Les Trois Vallees for decent snow. The season tends to run between November and May in Europe but most ski resorts will open December through April. For the best conditions aim for January and February when resorts receive ample snowfall. Europe offers guaranteed skiing not only in winter but year round. Resorts like Sass-Fee open their glaciers throughout the summer and with long seasons experienced in Scandinavia there is plenty of exploring to be done. If you are a fair weather skier consider heading to Italy and the dolomites in April or May where skiing is possible on Presena Glacier in full sunshine mode. If you can avoid school holidays.. you should. European resorts can become busy during the peak weeks and this will result in long lift lines. There are still some spots that are less prone to the crowds so a bit of research will ensure you can still enjoy your trip.

MULTI-RESORT LIFT PASSES

AUSTRIA

Snow Card Tirol

The Snow Card Tirol covers over 90 ski areas including; Hintertux, Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen and Sölden. For €850 you get unlimited access to the 90 resorts which include glacier skiing between October and May.

Super Ski Card

Covering 22 ski resorts across Austria the Super Ski Card offers exceptional value. €805 will give you access to; Kitzbühel, Flachauwinkl, Dachstein and many more.

FRANCE

Portes Du Soleil

One of Europes most popular areas is the Portes Du Soleil. Ski between France and Switzerland on this multi-resort pass that includes; Avoriaz, Morzine and Les Gets. In total you get access to 12 resorts for around €900 which is fantastic value. The resorts of the Portes Du Soleil also offers some of the shortest airport transfer times in the French Alps.

Les 3 Vallées

Coming in at a whopping €1300 is Les 3 Vallées ski area in France, but is it worth it? A season pass in Les 3 Vallées offers access to the worlds largest combined ski area and some of the best skiing and snowboarding throughout the French Alps. The big hitters of Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens are all on this pass, but my favourite is Orelle.

The Grand Massif

One of my favourite season passes in Europe in the Grand Massif pass. If you buy it before December you can receive a 50% discount meaning you can have a whole winter on snow for around €500. The Grand Massif pass includes five resorts; Flaine, Les Carroz, Morillon, Samoëns and Sixt Fer a Cheval.

ITALY

Skirama Dolomiti

The Skirama Dolomiti pass includes 8 resorts, 150 ski lifts and 380km of slopes in the stunning Dolomites. One of my favourite ski passes, the Skirama Dolomoniti pass includes world famous Madonna Di Campiglio as well as best kept secrets like Pejo 3000. For an early buyers price you can ski from November into May for €820.

Aosta Valley

Does skiing with views of Mont Blanc or the Matterhorn sound good to you? Well the Aosta Valley Skipass may just be what you are looking for. Including Courmayeur and Cervinia it is possible to add Zermatt to this ski pass as well but it will set you back nearly €1300.

SWITZERLAND

Magic Pass

The Magic Pass is nearly too good to be believed. An early bird discount can see you grab unlimited ski resort access for under 400CHF. The Magic pass covers 30 resorts including; Saas Fee, Les Diablerets and Grimentz. What makes the Magic Pass even better value is the access to these lift installations during the summer months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Should I go Skiing in Europe?

The options are literally endless and that is one of the great things about a European ski trip. You can make decisions based on; your ability, your budget, travel time or a nearby landmark you’d like to visit on your ski trip. My experience of snowboarding in Europe has been great whichever country or resort I have visited. If you are looking for that ‘Big Mountain’ experience then consider heading to the Alps of France and Switzerland or the Dolomites in Italy. In all of these place you will find resorts set amongst some of the most stunning mountains in the world. If you are on a budget then consider any of the resorts or countries on this list I compiled here. By heading to Bulgaria or Slovenia you will still experience a beautiful winter environment and good facilities but you will save money whilst doing so. If you have any questions or would like advice on where to ski or snowboard this winter feel free to get in contact via the comments in any post and I will see if I can help.

Where is the cheapest skiing in Europe?

As mentioned above there are a number of places or countries you can visit for a more affordable European ski trip. Even within the more traditionally expensive options like France or Switzerland there are exceptions to the rule, but if you are looking for a budget ski destination without sacrificing quality then check out this post.

Is skiing in Europe cheaper?

One major concern regarding a ski trip is affordability and European skiing is no different. Skiing in Canada and the USA can be more affordable once you are in those countries but you are likely to spend more on travel costs. For example a flight to Canada will be significantly more expensive than a flight to France, but once in France your daily costs will be more significant. France is notoriously expensive when it comes to eating on the mountain whereas Canada can be very affordable. Of course there will be premium or budget accommodation options in Europe and the other side of the pond and your choices in this regard will affect the overall cost of your ski trip.

How many ski resorts are in Europe?

The quick answer is a lot and this number will be in the thousands. skiresortinfo.com list the answer as 3706 ski resorts in Europe. Whether this number is accurate is another issue but it goes some way to demonstrate the number of ski resorts across the continent.

What is the highest ski resort in Europe?

A general rule of thumb when looking for snow sure resorts, especially in early or late season is to look for the highest ski resorts. In Europe, you have plenty of options in this regard with high altitude glacier skiing available in Tignes, Les 2 Alpes, Saas Fee and Zermatt. However, the ski resort that is the highest in Europe is Val Thorens, which forms part of the 3 Vallees ski area. The highest lift accessible point in Val Thorens is 3200m with the village sitting at 2300m. With a village at above 2000m you can pretty much guarantee good quality snow and a long season in Val Thorens.