Top 15 Best Family Ski Resorts in Europe
Skiing can be a fantastic family pastime, and there is no better place to spend a family ski vacation than in Europe's spectacular mountainous areas. During ... read more...the winter, ski resorts are popular winter vacation destinations for many families. Not only can you ski and snowboard, but you can also enjoy the pure air of snow-covered mountains. Tobogganing, ice skating, gondola trips, and other great amenities and activities round up a comprehensive winter holiday in one location. From the Alps to the Scandes, each European mountain resort is unique and offers a variety of tracks and possibilities to learn how to ski; beginners to experts are cared for in all of these wonderful European ski resorts for families. Let's find out the best family ski resorts in Europe now.
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The Saas Fee ski resort in Switzerland is one of Europe's oldest alpine resorts. It's beautiful yet bustling pedestrian-friendly community and breathtaking landscape meet most people's vision of a perfect Swiss Alpine vacation. It's ideal for family ski vacations, but it's also ideal for young and energetic beginners and intermediates.
Switzerland is expensive, yet it has some of Europe's best ski resorts. Saas-Fee, a lovely, family-friendly, traffic-free resort, with a superb network of routes to suit all ages and abilities. The nursery slopes - including a beginners' snowpark - located in the hamlet are ideal for youngsters, and kindergarten is provided for children as young as 18 months. A free lift pass is also given to children under the age of nine. A beginner's pass includes access to all of the village's short lifts.
A fun park, ice skating, tobogganing, and a climbing wall are among the non-ski activities. It's also a 'Families Welcome' resort, Switzerland's equivalent of 'Famille Plus' in France. Because to Saas-stunning Fee's environment among high peaks and a glacier, even inexperienced skiers may enjoy the feel-good effect of being in the Alps. The journey up a couple of gondolas and an underground funicular to the spinning restaurant on the summit of Allalin is fantastic. Big brands like Crystal, Neilson, and Esprit are among the almost 30 operators, and specialty outfit Family Ski Company also maintains a chalet hotel here. Most tourists will travel to Geneva or Zurich, which may lengthen transfer times.
Detailed information:
Location: Obere Dorfstrasse 2, Saastal Tourismus, 3906 Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Phone: +41279581858
Email: info@saas-fee.ch
Website: https://www.saas-fee.ch/en
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Morzine, a famous ski resort, provides a vast range of ski lines for all ages and abilities, from total novices to freeride professionals, and is part of one of the world's largest connected ski regions, the Portes du Soleil, which is all accessible with the same pass. Morzine, a Famille Plus flagship resort, has nailed its colors to the family-friendly mast, with families accounting for 75% of its guests. Famille Plus is the best French resort brand, and it ensures the warmest of welcomes to family guests.
The region, which now has 120km of pistes, provides sufficient ski diversity for novices and intermediates for a week-long vacation. The major télécabine from Morzine connects all runs in Le Pléney; its two main regions are on opposing mountain sides, with lifts going from the town center. The mellow, tree-lined slopes will not frustrate skiers, and carvers will like the routes near the gondola. A nursery, Piou-Piou ski club, a games area, carousel, story-reading hour, sledging, ice rink, entertainment such as theatre, circus stunts, and puppet shows, and many more family-friendly activities are available in Morzine. On piste there are sheltered gentle slopes and play areas, and while Morzine village itself is often plagued by rain and lack of snow, it is part of the huge Portes de Soleil area, so more mile-hungry skiers won’t lack for plenty of terrain to cover.
Detailed information:
Location: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Phone: +330450747272
Website: https://en.morzine-avoriaz.com
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With its soft nursery slopes, decent snow record, and outstanding ski schools, Seefeld is a great destination for families wishing to learn to ski. There is a kindergarten that may be reserved in advance for children aged 2 to 8. Seefeld, Austria, is a little town by Alpine ski standards, yet it is full of charm. A year-round tourist resort in typical Tirolean style, perched on a broad plateau, with predominantly blue slopes best suited skiing beginners and intermediates. Non-skiers will like the town as well.
Bergresort Seefeld's inclusion on this list is due to the diversity of non-skiing activities available. Off the slopes, the lively village offers a variety of activities to keep children - and their parents - entertained, including an Olympic sports center with indoor and outdoor pools and a children's pool, ice skating rink, indoor golf, horse-drawn sleigh rides, bowling, indoor tennis, and husky sledding. Families and non-skiers will like Seefeld's relaxed pace, as well as the numerous nice pubs and restaurants, and perhaps even a night at the casino. It's also convenient for weekend getaways, as Innsbruck is only a 45-minute drive away.
Bergresort Seefeld is not a popular freeride location. There isn't much off-piste to get the adrenaline pumping. Advanced skiers, on the other hand, will enjoy the challenging slope down the back side of Harmelekopf, which should only be attempted with the assistance of a guide. Seefeld comes up to expectations as a winter tourist town, with wooden-clad chalet hotels with gently sloping roofs, a pedestrianized village center with horse-drawn carts lazily ambling about, lovely shops, and plenty of cafés selling gluhwein and hot chocolate. Away from the slopes, there is a lot to see and do for such a little town. There are around 50 restaurants serving everything from Tirolean specialties to cosmopolitan food. There are also several busy pubs and clubs in town, with the greatest being Fledermaus, Wildfang, and Buffalo & Jeep.
Detailed information:
Location: Munchnerstrasse 215, 6100 Seefeld, Tirol, Austria
Phone: +434352122191
Website: https://www.bergresort.at/en/
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Meribel is one of those ski resorts that splits opinion. Many people despise it for its Britishness (it was created by a Brit in 1938), but for others, the home-from-home atmosphere is what keeps them coming back year after year. It's almost entirely chalet-style construction has given it an appealing appearance, and it is unquestionably well positioned for intermediates and above looking to make the most of the large Three Valleys ski region, since it occupies the centre valley. There is a pre-bookable kindergarten for children aged 3 to 5, and Meribel offers a number of good English-speaking ski schools if you wish to avoid meeting a foreign language (plenty of the seasonal workers are Brits, too).
There are also several things for children to enjoy, such as dog sledding, ice skating, go-karting, bowling, a cinema, and a sports center. If you want a'safe' setting for your first ski vacation with the reassurances of a strong British spirit, this is it. It's worth mentioning that Meribel is only 11 miles from Moutiers train station, which offers great rail connections from London through Paris. More than 60 UK operators offer Meribel packages, including large brands like Mark Warner, Club Med, Crystal, Esprit, Inghams, Neilson, and Skiworld, as well as numerous more upscale custom enterprises like Powder White and Scott Dunn.
Detailed information:
Location: 27 place Maurice Front B.P. 1, Méribel, France
Phone: +330479005000
Email: reservation@meribel.net
Website: https://www.meribel.net/en
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Wengen is a lovely car-free community in one of the most magnificently gorgeous locations of the Swiss Alps; its local ski area, linked with Grindelwald, provides a fair variety of terrain best suited to intermediates and has the awe-inspiring North Face of the Eiger as a background. Wengen, Switzerland's lovely hamlet, is set on a large natural balcony overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the midst of the stunning Jungfrau area, in the morning shadow of three of the most unique and famous Alps peaks: the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau.
Although it boasts a perfectly fine nursery slope in the middle of its nearly traffic-free center and has long drawn British visitors, Snow does not suggest this attractive resort for families. What distinguishes it is that it is one of the few ski resorts that is also fantastic for non-skiers, making it an excellent choice for a 'generations' family vacation. The environment is spectacular, and it's simple for skiers and non-skiers to gather for lunch. There are great hikes, and you can try ice skating, tobogganing, and curling. The cog railway from Lauterbrunnen provides access, and everyone will enjoy the train excursion up to the peak of the Jungfrau.
The Wengernalp railway, which also offers uplift to the top slopes of Wengen's local Kleine Scheidegg-Mannlichen ski resort, adds to the village's magnificent environment. This railway is also an important link in Wengen's history as one of the world's first ski resorts: it was pioneering British ski enthusiasts who persuaded the railway company to keep running the line during the winter months, to provide uplift to the snow-covered mountain slopes above the village so that they could then ski downhill for fun; prior to that, recreational skiing and ski racing had consisted of Nordic-style activities in which participants The most of the skiing is on the slopes above Grindelwald, but you can also go to equally scenic Mürren. It's bound to be expensive because it's Switzerland, but all-inclusive vacations help.
Detailed information:
Location: Zentrum Silberhorn, CH - 3823 Wengen, Berner Oberland, Switzerland
Email: info@skiwengen.ch
Website: https://www.skiwengen.ch/en/info/wengen.html
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Zermatt is the highest winter sports region in the Alps, famous for its 3900-meter drops. It has a prominent form and seems immaculate from a distance due to the Matterhorn serving as its backdrop. With 360 kilometers of slopes and 54 lifts, it is one of the ideal places to begin your family's European skiing adventure. The amazing thing about Zermatt is the abundance of excellent ski schools and snowboarding training. You are not tied to a single provider, and there is a wide selection of classes to suit different ages and skills.
With five magic carpets and a vast selection of activities, Wolli's Park for novices at Sunnegga is a highlight for families, making it one of the top European ski resorts for families. Aside from skiing, your family may go on winter walks, go sledding, ice skating, and visit the Matterhorn Museum - or learn more about curling. Taking the Gornergrat Bahn (train) to heights of over 3000 meters to observe the Matterhorn is a delight for youngsters! For serious skiers, the Zermatt-Matterhorn Ski Resort is open all year. With assured snow conditions throughout the year, you may plan your trips even outside of the conventional winter season and provide your family with a really unforgettable snow experience. SchlossHotel Zermatt Active & CBD Spa Hotel is one of the most well-regarded ski resorts in Zermatt for families or try Hotel Europe in Zinal for something a bit less expensive, with family-sized rooms for four.
Detailed information:
Location: Zermatt Tourism, Bahnhofplatz 5, Switzerland
Phone: +41279668100
Email: info@zermatt.swiss
Website: https://www.zermatt.ch/en/ski
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There are several more Alpine resorts that are 'ideal for families', and if you can afford the flights to North America, both the United States and Canada (particularly British Columbia) have excellent children's amenities. However, there is a fantastic option for UK families looking to start off someplace fresh, or for jaded alpinists. Excellent cuisine and little language issues because every Swede seems to speak flawless English. It offers a specialized family section in Bjornen with self-catering lodging and moderate nursery slopes, as well as many fantastic family-friendly activities. Kids under the age of seven get free lift tickets if they wear helmets.
With 42 ski lifts and 89 slopes, it is Sweden's largest downhill skill area. Some runs can last up to 6 kilometers! There are five suggested children's sections to select from, providing families plenty of choice, as well as four recommended tracks for Fika skiing. During the peak season, night skiing is available every evening between 6 and 8 p.m. The lifts that are open in the evening vary depending on the day of the week. Åre Ski Resort, which is frequently utilized as a destination for the Ski World Cup, is vibrant with activities other than skiing. It has evolved into a destination for music, culture, and enjoyable outdoor activities such as hiking and camping (maybe best reserved for the summer months!) Are Ski Resort is open from November to April, giving skiing chances for up to a full year.
Detailed information:
Location: Jämtland, Sweden
Website: https://aresweden.com/en
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Skistar Trysil is one of the world's largest alpine ski resorts. The Trysil offers 78 kilometers of skiing on 68 slopes with 32 lifts in service throughout the winter. The skiing regions are classified into four categories. The Trysil includes several activities for both beginners and experts, with woodlands, snow parks, and mountains. This resort does not exclude children. The Trysil has a fantastic surprise in store for you: a famous snowman named Valle. Valle is a kid-friendly snowman that entertains the smaller children with games, contests, and other enjoyable activities.
Trysil has received the Sustainable Destination accreditation. Although this does not imply that the destination is environmentally sustainable, it does indicate that it has made a commitment to work methodically to lessen the negative effects of tourism while boosting its positive ripple effects. Trysilguidene teachers are easily identified by their crimson outfits. They're the go-to folks for guided tours and insider information. Allow them to direct you to the snow park, the best off-piste spots, and popular slopes such as those in the Vihammerskogen forest. There are also excellent ski schools for youngsters who want to learn how to ski. The Trysil also offers childcare services, so it is a perfect location for your European ski holiday, for the skiers and non-skiers in your family!
Detailed information:
Location: Velkomstvegen 10, 2420 Trysil Municipality
Phone: +4762452072
Website: https://www.skistar.com/en/myskistar/on-site/trysil
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Any European family winter holiday would be incomplete without a visit to St. Moritz. St. Moritz is a town in the Swiss canton of Grunbaden, separated among three villages: Dorf, St. Mortiz Bad, and Celerina. St. Moritz is one of Europe's premier winter sports destinations, having hosted many Winter Olympics. It is the resort that portrayed winter family vacations as lovely! St. Moritz provides facilities for all of these activities, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. St. Moritz is the birthplace of winter tourism and Alpine sport, which came about over 150 years ago as the result of a bet. With a total of 87 World Cup standard slopes and pistes, St. Moritz is amongst the largest and most varied winter sports regions in the Alps. Downhill skiing is popular; there are several ski schools and winter schools in the St. Moritz region, as well as childcare options for parents who prefer to hit the slopes on their own.
The closest and largest area is Corviglia, which is accessible by ski lifts directly from the resort; the slightly smaller Corvatsch area is a little further south, accessible from the nearby bus-linked village of Surlej; and the minor Diavolezza-Lagalb area is the furthest away to the south-east, close to the Bernina Pass and the border with Italy and is accessible by bus or train. All are supplied by a fantastic range of mountain pubs and eateries.
The Corviglia region is linked to St Moritz's neighboring hamlet of Celerina, and reaches a height of 3,057m on the summit of Piz Nair: the slopes are accessible through a two-stage funicular from the upper end of St Moritz Dorf, as well as a cable car stationed at St Moritz Bad. There are a few outstanding black lines throughout the connected area, but most of the pistes are a moderately diversified mix of high-end blues and mid-range reds; there is also a very fine snowpark easily accessible from the funicular's top terminal.
Detailed information:
Location: Corviglia, 7500 Sankt, Moritz, Switzerland
Phone: +41818300001
Website: www.engadin.ch/en/ski-snowboard/corviglia/
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Zugspitze, colloquially known as the summit of Germany, also means mountain peak in German. This German high point has been a favorite of all skiers. Zugspitze hosted the Winter Olympics in 1936 to demonstrate this. It rises to 2900 meters and provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding area, as well as 20 kilometers of slopes with 10 lifts. The city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the range of 400 mountains around it can be seen from the high elevations of the Zugspitze. It's a spectacular view, especially from the AlpspiX observation platform.
The Zugspitze's cable car rides and nature treks are not the only adrenaline-pumping activities; downhill skiing and skiing competitions are also popular at Germany's most popular ski resort. On the Zugspitze, there are eight ski schools ready to welcome pupils who wish to experience the Kandahar downhill. The Ixis children's area on Hausberg is particularly created for youngsters. There are also cafés serving Bavarian cuisine and stores selling everything a skier needs. Zugspitze, with a season that extends from mid-November to May, is perhaps one of the top European skiing experiences. Garmisch-Partnkirchen has the most options for lodging; consider Hotel Zugspitze or a quadruple room at Hotel Föhrenhof Garni in adjacent Farchant.
Detailed information:
Location: Olympiastraße 31, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Phone: +04988217970
Website: https://zugspitze.de/en/Our-mountain-worlds/Winter/Zugspitze-ski-area
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During your stay in Courchevel with family or friends, you will experience the limitless delights of the mountains. The Courchevel offers one of the most luxurious ski experiences, combining six distinct worlds into one. Courchevel, which originated in Saint Bon hamlet, has expanded its offers to five additional locales. Each of these locations provides distinct winter sports activities for outdoor lovers. The resort provides the best skiing opportunities. Ski jumps, hiking routes, hand gliding, and hot air balloon experiences are all available in Courchevel. You and your family may ride the snowmobile and go tobogganing as much as you like.
The Saulire cable car can transport you up to 2700 meters in elevation, where you can witness the spectacular views of Courchevel. Courchevel has a plethora of ski schools, and with magnetic safety vests, accessible chairlifts, and luxurious hotels, your family can fully kick back and relax in the safety that is guaranteed. Unlike other resorts, the Courchevel has its own private airport (CVF), making vacationing at the Courchevel simpler for families than at other resorts. It provides you a sense of grandeur and ultimate freedom with 600km of slopes and breath-taking vistas of the most stunning Alps peaks.
Detailed information:
Location: 347 Rue de Plantret Courchevel, France
Phone: +330479080029
Website: https://courchevel.com/en
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Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the most well-known and large ski resorts in Italy. The town hosted the 1950 Winter Olympics and is a prominent destination on the World Cup skiing circuit for women's speed events. It has intriguing slopes for all levels of skier and, being one of the historic ski resorts in the 'Best of the Alps' group, offers a diverse range of lodging styles and quality. However, outside of Italy and its neighboring nations, the resort is relatively unknown. Other ski areas, such as Val Gardena, are included in vacation company brochures, although Cortina remains the domain of the solo skier.
Part of this is due to transportation. It is not especially close to either charter airports (Innsbruck or Verona), and the travel to resort might be lengthier than the typical ski package visitor is accustomed to. That's a shame, considering the breathtaking beauty of the Dolomites around Cortina d'Ampezzo should place it among the finest European destinations. Add to it the variety of skiing in three separate locations, and the town deserves to be on every winter vacationer's "to-ski" list. The most direct route is probably from the south, however many German-speaking visitors from the north travel across the Cimabanche Pass from Dobbiaco. There is also access over mountain passes from the Alta Badia and Corvara and to Livinallongo del Col di Lana (where the ski resort of Arabba is better known).
Detailed information:
Location: Alps, Province of Belluno, Italy
Website: https://www.skicortinadampezzo.com
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St. Anton am Arlberg is well-known for its excellent pistes and heavy snowfall. It has 89 lifts functioning in the winter and over 300 kilometers of slopes, making it one of the top ski resorts in Austria. If there is one thing that youngsters have in common, it is their love of riding. A Ferris wheel awaits your children in the Anton am Arlberg ski resort. Adults who enjoy rides may take the gondola up and enjoy the spectacular views of the region. Many consider the beautiful ski resort to be the epicenter of winter sports.
And, at the border between the federal states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg, eager skiers and snowboarders will find ideal conditions for a fun day in the snow. The breathtaking mountain scenery surrounding the winter sports resort of St. Anton, with its rich history, is well-known across the world. St. Anton offers a European Winter Wonderland designed specifically for children. The versatile sports center provides a variety of activities for your family to enjoy, as well as a trampoline hall that is popular and safe for small children. There are various ski schools to select from on the slopes, with 'Hase Hoppl', or Hase the Hare, leading the way. Kikiclub has a weekly event schedule as well as ski instruction.
Detailed information:
Location: St. Anton am Arlberg Tourism Association, Dorfstraße 8, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Phone: +43544622690
Website: https://www.stantonamarlberg.com/en/winter
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Val d’Isere is a town on the border of the Vanoise National Park, hidden among the mountain slopes. Val d'Isère is the ideal place for a breath of fresh air in the great outdoors, thanks to its rich green scenery, conveniently accessible slopes, and traditional ambience. A variety of alpine sports are available, including road riding over the Iseran mountain pass, mountain biking at the Bike Park with its 160km of mapped trails, and mountain climbing. This summer, enjoy a mountain vacation with local traditions, big athletic events, and interactive displays.
Val d'Isere is a high-altitude valley resort with a ski terrain that is 1,550 meters at its lowest point. This quality extends the resort's season into May. Its 3000-meter summits are open to visitors until July. The Val d'Isere terrain is served by around 150 ski lifts. The terrain of Val d'Isere is suitable for skiers of all abilities, even older children. Child-sized skis are available in the stores, and there are gentle downhill slopes reserved specifically for families where smaller children may learn. There are also snow play areas and ski kindergarten for the small ones. The Travelator is the most loved family activity. It is a magic carpet that rides downhill and avails to youngsters of the thrills of high-altitude skiing.
Detailed information:
Location: 73150 Val-D'isère, France
Phone: +33559010107
Website: https://www.valdisere.com/en
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Originally a mining town, the arrival of mountain tourism was met with excitement, and 'Kitz' today takes pride in its position as a glitterati-focused resort. During the summer, the resort focuses on tennis and the worldwide stars that might be attracted to its annual tournament. In the winter, however, time is devoted to one activity: skiing. Kitzbühel's walled hamlet has fantastic, frescoed buildings, beautiful hotels, and lovely stores similar to other resorts. It is significantly less expensive to holiday here than in other European locations. Kitzbühel's inns are family-run, and the residents are welcoming. Visitors frequently comment on the homely, wonderful flavors at the nearby restaurants.
Kitzbühel, surrounded by healthy mountains, woods, and air, has something for both skiers and non-skiers. 170 kilometers of pistes connect to SkiWelt, which provides an additional 280 kilometers. Both pistes are served by ninety lifts. Kitzbühel caters well to children, with the "Bärenland" kids' section reserved specifically for younger visitors. For junior skiers, the Kitzbüheler Horn Snow Park features a kicker line, the Audi Quattro Fun Slope, and the KitzSki Family Park. It is one of the few areas in Austria where British ski holiday firms have historically offered their own style of ski chalet vacations, and there is a vast selection of self-catering flats, as there is in all of Austria.
Detailed information:Location: Kitzbühel Tourism, Hinterstadt 18, 6370 KitzbühelAustria
Phone: +43535666660
Email: info@kitzbuehel.com
Website: https://www.kitzbuehel.com/en/sport/skiing