SKI RESORTs
They are located at high altitude, have endless pistes, fantastic gourmet food and challenges for everyone. Zermatt, Chamonix and Bad Gastein are three of the world's top ski resorts.
Chamonix has what are perhaps the most dedicated skiers in the world. Here, you will often meet eternally optimistic Australian ski bums with dreads, who are lined up in the long queue with genuine water skis (yes, of the five centimetre thick kind), while they wait for the crews to trigger all the usual avalanches.
Bad Gastein and the neighbouring villages of Dorfgastein and Bad Hofgastein have preserved the area's traditional building style and architecture, giving you a real Alpine feel from when the region hosted the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1958. Its well-known and venerable luxury hotels Salzburger Hof, Whürer's Bellevue and Hotel de I'Europe have attracted ski tourists for many years.
There are few ski resorts in Europe where you can reach the same heights as in Zermatt. The highest point is Klein Matterhorn (3,883 metres above sea level), the neighbouring mountain to its bigger brother of the same name. This point is located right on the border between Switzerland and Italy. It's common for many to feel a little uncomfortable due to the elevation. But this disappears as you tighten your clamps and get a little further down the piste.
Read all about the three top destinations:
The Alps are full of ski resorts, but a few stand out. They sit at high altitude, have endless groomed pistes, offer gourmet experiences and challenges for every level. After many winters on the road, this is our pick of the three best ski resorts in Europe.
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Zermatt tops our list because no other resort can match its backdrop. The car-free village sits at the foot of the Matterhorn, its ski area links up with Cervinia in Italy, and the altitude brings good snow well into spring. Read our full guide to skiing in Zermatt.
Stay here: See rooms at The Omnia, with a spa and Matterhorn views.
Chamonix takes second place for its terrain. Below Mont Blanc you will find some of the most demanding skiing in the Alps, with the Aiguille du Midi and the Vallée Blanche legendary among freeriders. The town hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, and it still lives for the mountains. Read our full guide to skiing in Chamonix.
Stay here: See rooms at Le Hameau Albert 1er, Relais & Châteaux with a free ski bus.
Bad Gastein completes the podium with a combination few can offer: snow-sure mountains by day, hot springs and lively après-ski by night, and Belle Époque architecture that gives the town a mood all of its own. Read our full guide to skiing in Bad Gastein.
Stay here: See rooms at A-ROSA Straubinger Grand Hotel, adults only, with an outdoor pool.
Want more options, including Scandinavia and the US? See all our ski resorts.
Ski Resorts
Virtually the entire ski resort is in an excellent location over 2,000 metres above sea level. This creates dream conditions all the way to May in this legendary French ski resort with an Olympic heritage.
Ski Resorts
Many agree that Zermatt has the toughest mountains, the most beautiful village, and the very best food on the slopes.
Ski resorts
At Bad Gastein, you get guaranteed snow and one of the most modern ski resorts in Europe. No wonder the Austrian village has become very popular with ski tourists from all over the world.
All three are world-class ski resorts, but they suit different dreams. Zermatt is for those who want spectacular scenery, high mountains and great food, with a car-free village that feels like a fairy tale. Chamonix is for those seeking a challenge and wanting to experience the Alps at their most dramatic. Bad Gastein is for those who want to combine skiing with hot springs, après-ski and a town steeped in history.
If you are travelling with family, Zermatt and Bad Gastein are often the easiest choices, with good infrastructure and many hotels close to the slopes. If you are experienced and want to test yourself, Chamonix is hard to beat.
The Alpine season usually runs from December to April. January often brings good snow and fewer crowds, while March offers long, sunny days. Zermatt sits high and often has snow well into spring. Whichever resort you choose, it pays to book early for half term and Easter.
We rank Zermatt in Switzerland as the best ski resort in Europe, thanks to the Matterhorn, its altitude and its link to Cervinia in Italy. Chamonix and Bad Gastein take second and third place.
Altitude matters most. Zermatt is among the highest resorts in the Alps and often has snow well into spring, while Chamonix and Bad Gastein are also known for snow-sure mountains.
Most of Europe’s best ski resorts are in the Alps, in countries such as Switzerland, France and Austria. Our top three is spread across exactly these three countries.
Enjoy your trip to the alps
Picolo Editorial
