Travel – Top 4 Places To Go Skiing In Europe
Are you a keen snow bunny? Skiing is a hugely popular sport that involves gliding over idyllic snowy landscapes. Regardless of whether your skiing skills resemble Bambi on ice, and you use things like Vail ski rental to get you started, or if you could give a professional skier a run for their money, there is nothing quite like a skiing holiday.
With its cool climate, and snowy mountains, Europe is home to some fantastic skiing destinations. Whilst you can find a ski resort club closer to home, it might be worth venturing further afield once in a while. However, there are so many amazing skiing opportunities in Europe that deciding on just one for your next vacation can seem like an impossible task.
So, let us discover 4 brilliant places to go skiing in Europe that will have you yearning for the slopes.
- Gstaad, Switzerland
If you are all about glitz and glamour, then the fairytale architecture of the Swiss town of Gstaad might just be calling your name. This stylish ski resort in the Bernese Oberland has an unrivalled Alpine charm. With wooden chalets and luxury boutiques in abundance, you will struggle to find a more picturesque skiing location than the snowy mountains of Gstaad.
Gstaad has a unique mix of family-friendly practice zones, blue runs that are ideal for intermediate skiers, and red and black slopes for more experienced skiing pros that make it the place to be regardless of your skiing abilities. Plus, there are plenty of other activities to keep the whole family entertained on whiteout days including indoor swimming pools, bowling alleys, and traditional markets.
- Val d’Isère, France
No discussion about skiing destinations would be complete without a mention of Val d’Isère. This hugely popular ski resort in Savoie in the French Alps is famous all over the world for its black rated piste, one of a kind summer ski runs, and popular cycling routes. Positioned close to the Italian border, its chocolate-box chalets, and high-end hotels have earned Val d’Isère a reputation among holidaymakers for all the right reasons.
With a rich history as a small farming village, the resort has adapted to increased tourism while striving to maintain its cozy feel and traditional values. Snowfall in Val d’Isère is totally unique in that it benefits from both the Atlantic depressions as well as the Mediterranean low pressures that essentially dump their snow onto the Italian Alps. Correspondingly, it is no surprise that snow coverage is among the best in Europe, enabling skiers to hit the slopes throughout the entirety of the ski season until early May.
- St Anton, Austria
If you are the kind of skier who prefers the après ski party to the slopes, then St Anton in the Tyrolean Alps in Austria might just be the answer to your prayers. With nightlife venues in abundance, the bars in St Anton are a must see. With the iconic Mooserwirt bar selling more beer than any other venue in Austria, if you like to party, then you will fall in love with the sights of St Anton.
There are also plenty of high-speed modern lifts providing quick and easy access to the slopes and the vast skiing area. St Anton is even celebrated for being one of the ski resorts with the most under classified slopes in the world. This means that if you are a daredevil skier looking for a challenge, the mountain ranges of St Anton could be just what you need to push the boundaries of your skiing expertise.
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Looking for something more low key? Cortina d’Ampezzo is a small town in Northern Italy that forms part of the Dolomiti Superski area. As the home of the 1956 Winter Olympics, this 1000-year-old town has grown into a sleek and sophisticated alternative for skiers looking to escape the showy side of other popular skiing towns. Located only two hours away from Venice, Cortina d’Ampezzo is nestled in the valley of the river Boite and is surrounded by the Dolomites in the southern part of the Alps.
With well over 50 miles of cross-country trails and plenty of ski runs to keep you busy, Cortina is also occupied by classy piano bars and wineries where you can relax and unwind. Similarly, any James Bond fans can also relish the opportunity to take a selfie in some of the locations used in the 1981 film, For Your Eyes Only. Although the Olympic ski jump and the bobsleigh run seen in the film are now closed, you can still visit the main square on Corso Italia where Bond tackles two motorcycle-riding assassins.
Ultimately, the more skiing experience you can get in different areas, the easier it is to pick out the nuances between some of the most popular ski resorts out there so that you can find the one that best suits your needs. Above all, by doing plenty of research ahead of your next trip, you can find your dream European skiing destination so that you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the slopes at your own pace.
