Europe’s Best Family Ski Resorts

Our experts have voted and the Best Family Ski Resorts in Europe are here. 

Europe has many wonderful ski resorts with charming villages awash with fairytale-like chalets. Discover the culture of another country and let the kids practise another language. There are magical Christmas markets, all kinds of historical places to explore, and delicious cuisines to sample. Europe’s best family ski resorts are located in France, Switzerland and Austria, the Alps being home to some of the largest resorts in the world. 

In France, you can tie a trip to the peaks in with a visit to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, explore Disneyland Paris, and eat traditional dishes like raclette, fondue, and tartiflette – all of which involve a lot of cheese.

Our ski gurus have nominated the best family ski resorts in Europe to help you find your perfect winter wonderland. We asked these ski gurus to nominate their favourites across six categories. We then tallied the votes and combined the scores to determine the overall winners, each one a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that families will love.

1. Val d’ Isère, France

While a giant in the ski world, Val d’ Isère feels small and intimate. Val d’Iser’s huge ski area, family-friendly village, free kids passes and picturesque landscapes make it the best family ski resort in France and Europe. The town dates back to 1664, but the ski resort is as modern as it gets. As for the skiing, there are 300 kilometres (when combined with Tignes next door) of prepared pistes, as well as some magnificent and easily accessible off-piste opportunities.

Val d’Isère is known for extreme terrain that makes for amazing off-piste adventures but also a variety of gentle slopes and beginner areas for young families. The resort has a decent sized beginner area and chairlift at its base that is free to ride. Ski passes for kids under 8 years old are free and the resort has a reduced rate for teens.

Val d’Isere’s three main ski areas, Le Fornet, Solaise and Bellevarde, are serviced by modern high-speed ski lifts, including high-volume gondolas and a funicular. With two glaciers and more than 60% of the slopes above 2200 metres, this altitude and vastness give the Val d’Isere – Tignes area a long winter and snow-sure pistes.

Size: 300 kilometres 
Lifts: 78
Runs: 57% beginner, 25% intermediate, 18% advanced

2. Verbier, Switzerland

This Swiss star is a glamorous winter playground just two hours from Geneva Airport. Verbier is the main resort of the 4 Vallées ski area, which includes Thyon, Veysonnaz and Nendaz with 410 kilometres of ski runs and 93 ski lifts. Verbier also offers a vibrant après-ski scene, with cosy chalets and chic boutiques lining its picturesque streets. Verbier is a bustling mega-resort with ski-in, ski-out accommodation and loads on offer for families.

Size: 410 kilometres
Lifts: 31
Runs: 22% beginner, 50% intermediate, 28% advanced
Pass program: Epic Pass

3. St Anton, Austria

St Anton am Arlberg is a cosmopolitan wonderland that shines with its warm hospitality and Tyrolean traditions. Ski or snowboard in 300km of marked trails, utilising 85 state-of-the-art cable cars and lifts. There is terrain to suit any skiier or snowboarder, and then some. The beauty, glamour and incredible ski terrain of St Anton am Arlberg makes it one of the best family ski resorts in Europe.

While attracting a large number of visitors, St Anton Village remains cozy with an authentic Austrian hospitality, almost everything is within walking distance.

Size: 300 kilometres 
Lifts: 85
Runs: 36% beginner, 26% intermediate, 38% advanced

4. Zermatt, Switzerland

In the shadows of the mighty Matterhorn, Zermatt is one of the world’s most recognisable ski resorts. It has 360 kilometres of pistes and boasts the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise. You’ll find great cruisey green and blue runs and challenging off-piste terrain. Take the gondola up to 3,883 metres where you’ll see 38 peaks and 14 glaciers. The resort it interlinked with Cervinia in Italy, so you can ski two countries in one day. Off the slopes, You can ride down cobblestone streets in a horse-drawn carriage in Zermatt’s car-free old town or ride an unbelievably long toboggan run. Children under 10 ski for free.

The 16 best ski destinations in Switzerland

Size: 360 kilometres 
Lifts: 62
Runs: 22% beginner, 60% intermediate, 18% advanced

Keep reading:

• 12 magical destinations for a white Christmas
• Top ski resorts in Austria
• Why European winter is worth missing an Aussie summer

5. LAAX, Switzerland

LAAX is the resort to visit for families that love terrain parks. The leading freestyle resort for freeskiers and snowboarders in the Alps, LAAX has the largest halfpipe in the world and a total of more than 90 obstacles, spread over four snow parks. LAAX modern lift system will get you to 235 kilometres of pistes and glacier skiing. The resort is connected to the Flims and Falera resorts.

Size: 235 kilometres 
Lifts: 30
Runs: 38% beginner, 36% intermediate, 26% advanced

6. Val Thorens, France

Val Thorens sits in the Les 3 Vallées, the world’s largest ski area with a mind-blowing 600km of skiable terrain. With its village at 2,300 metres, Val Thorens is the highest village resort in Europe and home to the highest peak in Les 3 Vallées. Val Thorens is a great resort to advance your children’s skills on long runs with varying terrain and lessons available for children aged three and up. For those too little for a pair of skis, Val Thorens has daycare for children from three months to five years.

The village is entirely ski-in, ski-out. Ski runs crisscross through the village so even accommodation in the centre is ski-out. The village is the heart of the ski resort with chairlifts in all directions; up and down and east to west. Take the Cîme de Caron lift for a truly wondrous panorama of more than 1,000 peaks in France, Switzerland and Italy.

Val Thorens is so high in the sky that it has intergalactic-themed activities for kids.  You’ll find a space-themed playground, terrain park and Cosmojet sledge run. The 6-kilometre run is the longest in France and takes 45 minutes to complete.

Les 3 Vallées

Size: 600 kilometres
Lifts: 166
Runs: 49% beginner, 33% intermediate, 18% advanced

7. Courchevel, France

Courchevel is known as the ski capital of the world. It’s a ski holiday on steroids, with more of everything. There are six villages – Sainte-Bon, Courchevel Le Praz, Courchevel, Moriond, La Tania and Courchevel 1850. Courchevel is amazing, but the icing on the cake is the fact it’s a part of Les 3 Vallées, providing access to 600 kilometres of slopes and the ability to ski in all seven of its resorts, including Meribel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires.

Expert picks

Best for beginners

Plenty of gentle runs, separate learning areas, great snow sports schools and crèches.

1. Val d’ Isère, France
2. Courchevel, France
3. Mèribel, France

Best for advanced families

A variety of good-quality terrain for expert-level teens and their parents.

1. Verbier, Switzerland
2. St Anton am Arlberg, Austria
3. Chamonix, France

Best for all-round family activities

Fun off the slopes, including dog sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, etc.

1. Val Thorens, France
2. Val d’ Isère
3. Wengen, Switzerland
4. Engelberg, Switzerland

Best village

These European villages have a magical vibe, lots to do, are accessible, have good shopping and dining for families.

1. Zermatt, Switzerland
2. Val d’ Isère, France
3. Lech, Austria
4. Innsbruck, Austria

Best freestyle resort

Terrain parks, halfpipes and more slopestyle fun.

1. LAAX, Switzerland
2. Mayrhofen, Austria
3. Ishgl, Austria
4. Avoriaz, France

Best snow hotel

Best facilities for kids, great location, spacious rooms, good dining options.

1. W Hotel Verbier, Switzerland
2. The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland
3. Arlberg Hospiz, St Christoph

Readers’ choice

1. St Moritz, Switzerland
2. Chamonix, France
3. Val d’Isère, France
4. Zermatt, Switzerland
5. LAAX, Switzerland
6. St Anton, Austria
7. Kitzbühel, Austria

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