Finding a winter holiday destination that matches your lifestyle, abilities, and budget may be a pickle. To make things easier for you, we made a list of places worth considering.
Zermatt, Switzerland
A lively Swiss village Zermatt, offers skiing all-year round. The world-class slopes are accompanied with stunning panoramic views of almost 40 mountaintops. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt, with an altitude of 4478 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain station in Europe that can be reached by cable car.
As for non-skiers, Zermatt offers chic boutiques and other winter sports such as snowshoeing, ice skating, paragliding, ice climbing. Zermatt is also recognised as one of the world’s most sustainable ski resorts as being environmentally-friendly is in the heart of the local restaurants, hotels, and transport services The resort is a car-free zone that can be reached by train.
St. Anton, Austria
The birthplace of the Alpine skiing, the first Alps’ ski club and skiing school, today St. Anton is Austria’s prime winter sports resort with a total of 305 kilometres of pistes and 200 kilometres of freeride terrain.
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This is the destination for the advanced skiers and snowboarders, because most of its blue slopes are in fact reds, and the reds are more like black runs. And while the slopes are a bit challenging as most of its blue slopes are in fact reds, but reds – more like blacks, finding something for après-ski is easy as a breeze – from bars perched on mountains, cross-country trails, skating rinks, curling sheets and a wellness centre.
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But despite its growing popularity and plans for expansion, St. Anton retains its authentic mountain atmosphere and Tyrolean charm.
Donovaly, Slovakia
Situated betwixt the Low Tatra Mountains and the National Park of Veľká Fatra, Park Snow Donovaly is perfect for a family ski trip. Apart from beautiful vistas and excellent skiing conditions for downhill and cross-country skiing alike, the resort boasts Europe’s second-largest skiing facility for children.
With several of ski schools, Burton Riglet mini snowboard park, and mascot show every noon, the place provides a plenty of fun for the little winter fans and a respite for the parents. Not yet tourist-thronged, Donovaly is well-equipped featuring 16 ski lifts ascending to routes located 915 – 1402 metres above sea level.
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After a day on the mountain Donovaly offers dog sled riding, horse-drawn sleigh and tandem paragliding for the daredevils.
Alpe d’Huez, France
The year-round resort in the French Alps may be one of the oldest in France, but its facilities is state-of-art. Boasting 250 kilometres of ski slopes for all levels (18 black trails, 28 red trails, 31 blue trails, and 34 green trails) it was named Europe’s Best Ski Resort 2019 for the second time by EDEN (European Destinations of Excellence).
There are several different chalets for bedding down and a handful of other activities that don’t include ski boots, such as snowshoeing, traditional rail sledding, and virtual reality sledding.
Not essential but a great perk – the ski area is famous for having a record number of sunny days, an average of 300 to be precise.
Can’t decide between party or skiing trip? Come here in March 2020 and experience the most famous dance music festival’s icy edition – Tomorrowland Winter.