Skiing
Best ski resorts for beginners: ten easy places to learn
Wide, gentle runs, good ski schools and a short walk from hotel to slope. Here are ten resorts in the Alps and Scandinavia where beginners find their feet fast.
Your first day on skis comes down to one thing: a slope gentle enough that you dare let go of the snowplough. Find it right outside the hotel and you learn in three days what takes others a week. Pick the wrong resort and you queue for a gondola just to reach something you can manage.
We have been through our ski guides and picked ten resorts where beginners get wide, easy runs, good ski schools and a short walk from bed to slope.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
In short
Cervinia in Italy is our first choice for beginners: high, snow-sure and with long, wide blue runs from the top all the way down to the village. Obergurgl in Austria is the quieter alternative. For a short hop from the UK with ski-in, ski-out convenience, La Plagne is hard to beat.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hermitage Hotel
Italy: long runs and kinder prices
Cervinia sits high beneath the Matterhorn and has some of the longest, gentlest runs in the Alps. Once you gain confidence, you can ski across the border to Zermatt. A fair warning: it is exposed, and the top lifts close in strong wind.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Hermitage Hotel. Read our Cervinia guide
Livigno is a duty-free town in a high valley, with broad, easy pistes close to the centre. Getting there takes a while, so it works best for a full week.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Lac Salin. Read our Livigno guide
Beneath the Matterhorn
The slopes on the Italian side of the Matterhorn belong to Cervinia, our first choice for beginners.
Austria: quiet and snow-sure
Obergurgl lies at the head of the Ötztal and is one of Austria's highest resorts. Queues are short, nightlife is low-key, and the ski schools are used to adults starting from scratch. Experienced skiers will run out of terrain quickly.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Top Hotel Hochgurgl. Read our Obergurgl guide
Saalbach has a large ski area with plenty of blue runs, so you can travel far once you find your feet. The après-ski is loud, which you will notice if your hotel is in the centre.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Alpine Palace. Read our Saalbach guide
France: ski-in, ski-out
La Plagne is a cluster of purpose-built villages with blue runs almost to the door. That makes it practical for families where not everyone skis at the same speed.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Le Terra Nova. Read our La Plagne guide
Alpe d'Huez is sunny, with a large, gentle area in the middle of the resort where most ski schools start. In spring, the south-facing slopes soften as the day goes on.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Grandes Rousses Hotel & Spa. Read our Alpe d'Huez guide
Avoriaz is car-free, and most people can clip into their skis at the door. It has its own area for children learning to ski and suits families who want to avoid ski buses.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel des Dromonts. Read our Avoriaz guide
Megève has long, friendly runs through the trees and an old village to stroll around after skiing. It is not cheap.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Four Seasons Resort Megève. Read our Megève guide
Scandinavia: quiet slopes, short lift queues
Trysil is Norway's largest ski resort, with plenty of green and blue runs and ski schools used to guests from abroad. The lift queues are usually short compared with the Alps.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Radisson Blu Resort Trysil. Read our Trysil guide
Sälen in Sweden has rounded, gentle mountains and long nursery slopes, and its own airport since 2019. The mountains are low, so the snow depends more on the winter than in the Alps.
Where to stay: Check availability and prices at Sälens Högfjällshotell. Read our Sälen guide
How to get the most from your first week
Book ski school before you travel. Group lessons fill up during half-term, and the lessons decide how fast you learn.
Stay close to the slopes. In ski boots, a hundred metres is a long way. Choose a hotel near the lift or the beginner area.
Hire equipment in the resort. You can swap skis or boots if something rubs, without having bought the wrong thing.
Travel in January or March. After New Year the slopes are quieter, and in March the days are longer and brighter.
Frequently asked questions
Which ski resort is best for beginners in Europe?
We recommend Cervinia in Italy, because it is high and has long, gentle runs from the very top. Obergurgl in Austria is a quieter alternative, and La Plagne is easy to reach from the UK with lots of ski-in, ski-out accommodation.
How long does it take to learn to ski?
Most adults can manage an easy blue run after three to five days of lessons. Progress is quicker with daily tuition in the first days and a gentle slope right outside your hotel.
Should I choose group lessons or private lessons?
Group lessons cost less and suit you if you are comfortable learning with others. Private lessons bring faster progress if you are nervous or short of time. Many people combine the two: group lessons in the morning and a private lesson towards the end of the week.
What is the least crowded ski resort?
Smaller resorts such as Obergurgl usually have shorter queues than the big linked areas, especially outside school holidays. If you travel in January after New Year, most resorts are quiet.