Europe is without a doubt a highly touristic destination throughout the year, many Israelis flock in the summer months for a vacation and we all know the congestion in Netbag in the months of July-August and during the holidays, but sports and extreme lovers and quite a few Israelis are actually addicted to a ski vacation in the height of winter, the winter season in Europe is just as busy in the winter than in the summer, the green peaks boast of new clothing when all the mountains are covered in white, the recreation is less trekking in the nature and the mountain ranges and more skiing, but the ski resorts offer much more than skiing, you can pamper yourself in the spa and sauna complexes, drink hot chocolate, dine in restaurants, enjoy the nightlife and bars and combine Active sports and a relaxed and enjoyable vacation and enjoy Europe in all its splendor during the winter.
We have gathered for you some must-see destinations for a ski vacation and we will reveal to you right now, some of the most beautiful places in the world and it is recommended to return to them even when the snow melts.
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Italy
This amazing town is one of the most visited and popular towns in the Dolomites throughout the year, summer or winter, it is breathtaking, with mountain ranges and turquoise lakes. The town in the Bight River Valley became a must-visit ski destination following the 1956 Winter Olympics, and will host the Olympics again in 2026. The Dolomites, the jewel in Italy's crown, just two hours from Venice, part of the vast Dolomiti Superski, Cortina includes 750 miles of slopes . Cortina d'Ampezzo offers the largest network of cross country tracks in Europe.
You can stay in luxurious spa hotels or in simpler hotels, this magical town offers in the center of the town a small entertainment center with dozens of restaurants and bars with real and fine Italian food.
The five peaks of the Cinque Terre provide the fashionable city of Cortina d'Ampezzo with a beautiful setting, as well as an excellent ski area. About half of the ski area is intermediate, and there is plenty of snow for beginners as well. Along with downhill skiing, Cortina offers miles of scenic cross-country skiing trails, a night-time toboggan run, and Olympic ice skating.
Trails and lifts connect almost 400 kilometers of connected skiing, including the Marmolada Glacier. The entire area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One day Dolomiti Superski pass from $78. There are 33 lifts for 83 routes.
Cervinia, Italy
The town of Cervinia is located on the Italian side bordering the Swiss side and the Matterhorn, the ski resort is located at a high altitude of Cervinia and is linked to the Swiss resort of Zermatt which we will expand on later. The combined area is huge, allowing for miles of surfing trails. Most of the slopes are designed for beginners and intermediates.
One day lift pass from $52, there are 19 lifts for 72 runs.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zermatt, surrounded by the highest peaks of the Alps, is one of the most beautiful towns in Switzerland and in the entire world, it is a very special town that does not allow cars to enter and its residents decided many years ago when the green revolution for the environment was in its infancy, to harness the town to fight air pollution and therefore the town's residents travel by car Small trams and harnessing horses to carriages, which only adds charm to the beautiful town. Zermatt is a beautiful town all year round, the highlight is the Matterhorn peak known to all of us as a symbol of Toblerone chocolate. The pointed peak is amazing and there are countless nature trails around it. There are 223 miles of trails in four huge ski areas – some at over 10,000 feet, so the snow here stays well beyond the winter season.
This magical alpine village lies at the foot of the Matterhorn, Switzerland's most famous mountain, and has countless cable cars and a system of ski lifts. Horse-drawn sleighs are the preferred choice of transportation in a car-free village. Zermatt is a beautiful and magical town, but you will be surprised, it has a very lively nightlife, with countless restaurants, bars that are open until the wee hours of the night. You will find Italian, Asian, Mexican restaurants, an Irish bar and more.
Zermatt has Switzerland's largest vertical drop and skiable terrain at heights of up to 3,900 meters, with the iconic landmark of the Matterhorn as a backdrop, Zermatt is very high on the list of most skiers. There is a 350 km trail system connected to Zermatt.
Zermatt is known for the Matterhorn glacier trip, the highest 3S cable car in the world and takes 2,000 skiers an hour to the glacier. At an altitude of 3,883 meters, the glacier allows skiing throughout the year.
The 10-person gondola to the Unterrothorn area started operating in December 2020, the first gondola in Switzerland that can operate without a crew.
For less experienced skiers, Wally Park, at the top of the Sunnegga cable car, offers gentler terrain with the same spectacular views. And experienced skiers can ski in one day by skiing over Theodoll Pass and down to the Italian trail system.
One-day lift pass from $87; There are 52 lifts for 143 tracks.
Verbier, Switzerland
Verbier is one of the most famous resorts in the Alps, in 2008 Richard Branson's luxury cabin, The Lodge and Coco Club, the first VIP club in the Alps, opened. The mountain's combination of beginner and expert trails, as well as almost 14 kilometers of groomed Nordic trails, attracts a young and sporty clientele to the 4 Vallées.
A one-day lift pass from $74; in Epic Pass. There are 80 lifts for more than 250 miles of pistes throughout the 4 Vallées ski area.
Courchevel - Courchevel, France
Within the largest ski area in the world, the three valleys, Courchevel and the six villages connected to them create a multi-level resort, where celebrities and wealthy people come to the prestigious resort to ski, relax and shop in over 100 luxury boutiques. The site has a designated ski area for children, the children's village, offers more than seven dunams of space so that young people can ski the beginner's track easily and safely. The area is known for its exceptional snow so there is still plenty of snow in April. The food scene in Courchevel is impressive with restaurants boasting Michelin stars.
At the end of March, 2022, Courchevel hosts the Alpine Skiing World Cup in slalom, downhill, super G and other events.
Although Courchevel is a favorite of experts due to its wonderful terrain and steep courses, each of Courchevel's five separate villages has good terrain for beginners and intermediates. About a quarter of Courchevel's routes are intended for beginners and a third for intermediates.
Courchevel is particularly family-friendly, free chairlifts serve the beginner areas, and children's safety vests are provided on the lifts. In addition to its amazing skiing, Courchevel is known for its luxury accommodations
One-day lift ticket for Courchevel $62, for the Three Valleys $74. Courchevel has 55 lifts for 102 pistes.
From Jeb, France
Mejve is not as famous as its Swiss neighbor St. Moritz and it doesn't have the prestigious reputation of the town of Courchevel, but it still has a lot to offer for those on a tighter budget. Two ski areas are covered by nearly 250 miles of pistes linked by recently updated cable cars. Skiers can choose from 60 restaurants on the mountain, such as the excellent La Ferme de Mon Père. A charming, car-free town center with an open-air ice rink, picturesque cobbled streets, horse-drawn sleighs and several boutiques for shopping makes Majev a family favorite and offers a ski holiday at reasonable prices.
One-day lift tickets from $60; There are 112 lifts for 231 pistes in the Evasion-Mont Blanc ski area.
Val d'Isère, France
It is one of the busiest and busiest ski resorts in this famous resort, and Val d'Isere remains a paradise for experienced skiers and all sports lovers and those in good shape flock to it. The area is home to exciting, high-quality slopes, it also has the largest artificial snow production plant in Europe, although there is no shortage of snow on the site in winter. The village is also linked to the neighboring town of Latignes, creating one of the largest ski areas in France. But you won't be satisfied with just surfing the challenging slopes, you can also indulge in an excellent food scene and nightlife with parties into the night, making your stay here a real vacation in every sense of the word.
An Italian restaurant located at nearly 8,370 feet in Refuge de Solaise and an outpost of Paris' trendy Loulou in Airelles Val d'Isère is a bar that features DJ sets on the expansive terrace facing some of the world's most magical mountain ranges.
It is a high valley surrounded by 3,000 meter peaks, and nearby Val d'Isere and Tignes offer 300 kilometers of skiable terrain with more than 150 ski lifts. This includes the vast Espace Killy, named after triple Olympic gold medalist Jean-Claude Killy, born in Val d'Isère. The lowest area is at an altitude of 1,550 meters, and the highest reaches 3,450 meters, which helps to keep the season open until May. You can ski on the glacier du Pisaia even during June or July.
There is an area for all skill levels, including slopes for children and beginners. Youngsters can ski on gentle downhill slopes, and the ski instruction here is among the best, so even beginners can enjoy the thrill – and the views – of skiing at high altitude. The layout of the lifts is very friendly to surfers, and connects surfers to different areas to long and level routes.
One-day lift tickets cost $67; for Tignes-Val d'Isère $74. The linked Tignes-Val d'Isère ski area has 158 pistes connected by 75 lifts, plus two skiable glaciers and two snow parks.
Lech, Austria
Lech may not be a prestigious ski resort like St. Moritz and Cortina d'Ampezzo, but that is part of its charm. Behind the facades of traditional farmhouses you will find trendy boutiques, art galleries and stylish hotels. The village of 1,500 inhabitants is a small village, but it boasts the highest density of award-winning restaurants in the world (the chef's restaurant at the Rote Wand Hotel is one of the most popular). And of course there is the famous White Ring, a circuit of almost 14 miles that connects Lech, Zürs, Zug. Two new and fast cable cars make the slopes accessible.
Part of the Harlberg, Austria's largest linked ski area, 88 lifts and cable cars can access nearly 190 miles of marked slopes and 124 miles of cross-country trails. One-day lift pass from $70.
Flims Laax Falera, Switzerland
More than 70 percent of the slopes in this vast ski area are located between 6,500 and 9,800 feet in elevation, resulting in some of the best snow conditions in Europe. With three connected mountains, there is terrain for all levels from beginners to the most experienced. Beginners and families love the gentle skiing around El Dado, while challenge-loving skiers looking to test their strength can tackle the 8-kilometer descent from La Ciala to Flames.
Laxx is known as the ultimate ski resort for a vacation in Europe and hosts the annual LAX Open, one of the most important events in the world of snowboarding. You can do night skiing and snowboarding on the slopes until 22:00 when the whole area is illuminated with special lighting.
During the day you can pamper yourself in the spa hotels, in heated pools, get massages and facials, sit in great restaurants and enjoy a hot drink on the track.
A one-day pass starts at $54. Ski lifts connect 139 miles of slopes and 4 snow parks.
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
This town is not as popular as Zermatt or Verbier, but that's one of the many reasons surfers love Crans-Montana. The 90 kilometers of slopes spread across a south-facing plateau in Switzerland's Valais canton is a less crowded ski resort that enjoys Switzerland's beautiful scenery. The resort has 15 restaurants on the mountain with terraces, so you can enjoy the views of the Alps. Freestyle enthusiasts will find one of the best snow parks in Switzerland, which includes an Olympic-sized ski resort.
A one-day pass starts at $80. There are 24 lifts for 61 ski runs.
Kitzbühel, Austria
Only two hours from Munich, we find one of the most beautiful areas in Austria and in the whole of Europe, this place is incredibly green in the summer and breathtaking in the winter as well. Austria's most popular resort has it all: luxury hotels; A vibrant ski scene along cobbled streets and unrivaled skiing featuring 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 options for restaurants and culinary delights. You can relax with lunch on the slopes.
You will also find a medieval castle on the side of a hill overlooking the village decorated in Gothic style.
One-day lift passes from $59. There are 57 lifts for 92 tracks.
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
St. Anton is the heart of the Arlberg region, the highlight of the alpine ski resorts. The Flexenbahn gondola connects to the Lech ski resort and beyond, making St. Anton the largest connected ski resort in Austria and the fifth largest in the world. On days when you're not skiing the slopes, you can experience St. Anton's impressive food scene. Eight restaurants from St. Anton am Arlberg have won international recognition. Wine lovers should not miss Hospizalm, a restaurant located near the St. Christophe ski slope, the restaurant's cellar boasts 2,900 large format Bordeaux bottles. St. Anton's ski scene has earned a great reputation. You can go out to MooseWirt Bar or Krazy Kanguruh and join the locals in a dance party in ski boots.
Serious skiers head to Austria's Arlberg region for high-challenge skiing, which they find on more than a dozen trails in St. Anton. The longest of which is 10 kilometers Valluga-St. Anton, with a height difference of 1,347 meters.
But even the red-marked routes here are well above the difficulty of other alpine resorts. St. Anton is especially known for its 200 off-piste options for advanced skiers.
Recently added lifts connect St. Anton to the ski slopes on the other side of the Flexen Pass, and unite it with the main resorts in the Arlberg: St. Christoph, Zorres, Stuben and others, for a total of 340 kilometers of slopes. . All of these are included in the Arlberg regional lift ticket.
A spectacular new 85 km route, the Run of Fame, takes experienced skiers through the entire ski area of Ski Arlberg. The circuit runs from St. Anton/Randel via Zürs to Warth, and back to St. Anton.
88 lifts and cable cars can access nearly 190 miles of marked slopes and 124 miles of ski slopes. One-day lift pass from $70.
St. Moritz, Switzerland
St. Moritz is a magical place in the well-known Engadin region of Switzerland. The prestigious and wealthy town lies around countless mountain ranges and blue and turquoise lakes, it is vibrant in the summer and is the oldest winter resort in the world, an elegant and exclusive site. As if St. Moritz wasn't already blessed enough, the sun shines 322 days a year, it has world-class hotels and restaurants, fashionable shopping and excellent skiing that attract celebrities and royalty alike. El Paradiso Mountain Club has always been one of the exclusive clubs of St. Moritz. And yet even if you have not been blessed with the title of nobility, you will be welcomed at the ski resort, you can enjoy luxury restaurants, as well as simpler pizza restaurants.
Single-day lift tickets range from $45 to $100; There are 58 lifts for 88 ski runs.
Gstaad, Switzerland
A town center without roads and cars, as in many Swiss towns, including a promenade lined with luxury boutiques, and legendary Swiss architecture, make this old ski resort one of the most traditional winter destinations in Europe. Charming cabin villages adorn the entrances to the various ski areas. A variety of excellent slopes make Gstaad accessible to all, and it is a paradise for culinary lovers who appreciate Michelin-starred restaurants, such as the Sommet.
You can wander through the town between old farmhouses and locally quarried limestone and luxury spa hotels with pools, spas and a cinema and see celebrities flocking to the resort.
One-day passes from $53 to $84; There are 41 lifts for nearly 125 miles of trails.
Courmayeur, Italy
This magical town and its famous ski resort is located on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur attracts both experienced skiers and people who don't come for the skiing at all, but prefer to relax and rest on the terraces during the day and dine on Michelin-starred meals at night. The ski resort shares access to the legendary glacier route of the Blanche Valley with Chamonix. Many athletes have named Courmayeur as their training ground. The resort recently opened the Arp slope, allowing skiers and snowboarders the opportunity to ski even if you are not an experienced athlete. After the tracks are closed, the Courmayeur cable car continues to operate until midnight, so you can dine at the top of the mountain.
The site offers restaurants that are the epitome of alpine romance, a panoramic view of Mont Blanc and spa hotels including unique alpine treatments such as a hay bio-sauna.
One-day lift pass from $59; There are 20 lifts for 33 ski trails.
Frequently asked questions about skiing in Europe
Courchevel is the largest and most famous of the interconnected ski resorts known as Les Trois Vallées (the three valleys), which constitute the largest ski complex in Europe. In addition to the 150 kilometers of alpine ski runs you can reach from Courchevel's 60 lifts, these link to access 600 kilometers of connected ski runs, plus four glaciers. The entire area is spread over 10 peaks, with heights above 2,500 meters. There are several restaurants with Michelin stars on the site.
The Kitzbuhel ski resort, in the Austrian Alps, not far from Innsbruck and Salzburg. Although its colorful, frescoed buildings contain luxurious hotels and expensive shops like those of Cortina or St. Moritz, Kitzbühel also welcomes families and budget travelers with small, family-run inns.
There's also something for all skiers in Kitzbuhel's 170 kilometers of ski slopes, and in the nearby SkiWelt, where a further 280 kilometers are served by 90 lifts.
Held here every year, the infamous Hahnenkamm, on steep terrain up to 85 percent vertical. There is a small area designated especially for riders and freestylers. Kitzbühel and SkiWelt are connected and both are part of the Kitzbühel Alps AllStarCard, which includes nine different ski areas in Austria.
The site of St. Moritz offers world-class skiing. The Winter Olympics were held here in 1928 and 1948, and you can often see competitions in its Olympic ski jumping.
There are plenty of ski areas even for those who are Olympic level. St. Moritz is known for its intermediate pistes and with more than 20 lifts to choose from, you'll find slopes and pistes for every skill level. Above St. Moritz and reached from the city via the Corbiglia cable car, trails from the town of Corbiglia, 2,486 meters long, offer spectacular views of the Alps.
St. Moritz is one of the first winter resorts in Europe, there are many things to do besides skiing, ice skating, sledding, Nordic skiing, bobsledding and kite skiing. The St. Moritz Ice Cricket event takes place every year.
Courmayeur offers terrain challenges suitable for experts and intermediates. The setting - and the skiing - on the side of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, attracts tourists from all over the world. With or without skis, ride the Funivie Monte Bianco cable car to the ridgeline for views from the top of Europe. The routes for experts only from the Harp are not marked and when they are open they can only be surfed with a guide.
In the nearby Dolon there are slopes suitable for beginners. The site as a whole is more suitable for experienced surfers. However, Nordic skiers will love the 20-kilometer network of cross-country trails that start at Val Part, just outside Courmayeur. The surrounding landscape is amazing.
