The top 10 ski resorts in Europe

Skiing is always an exhilarating and liberating experience, it's the perfect activity for all the family and a great focal point for any winter holiday.

Aside from the quality of the slopes themselves, there are many ingredients to a great ski resort, such as state-of-the-art facilities, beautiful surroundings, and of course some excellent apres-ski options. Taking all of this into account, we've scoured the continent's loftiest locales and comprised a list of The top 10 ski resorts in Europe.

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The Three Valleys, France

The largest interconnected ski area on earth, Les 3 Vallées (The Three Valleys) encompasses three separate world-class ski resorts, Val Thorens, Morzine, and Courchevel, in the heart of the French Alps.

A paradise for skiers (and snowboarders), the area features an incredible incredible 600KM of slopes, and some great off-piste runs, offering something for all levels, along with a wealth of amenities (including some great après ski options) and of course, some truly stunning scenery!

Hotels in The Three Valleys

Zermatt, Switzerland

Situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps, at an elevation of some 1,600 metres, Zermatt is one of the best and highest ski resorts on the planet. Boasting an incredible 360km of ski-runs, the resort is perfect for professionals and beginners alike, and also is also home to a host of hotels, bars, eateries and boutiques, and is surrounded by some truly breathtaking scenery that includes the Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in Europe.

Hotels in Zermatt

Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Italy’s best-known ski resort is situated in the far north of the country, among the beautiful, rugged landscapes of the Dolomites mountain range (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Encompassing some 400KM of downhill ski runs, Cortina d'Ampezzo is best known as a destination for experienced skiers, but also features a number of slopes that are suitable for the less experienced, along with one of the chicest après-ski scenes on the continent!

Hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Kitzbuehel, Austria

Kitzbühel, Europe's most charming ski resort is situated in the Tyrol province of the Austrian Alps, and centres around the eponymous town known for its picturesque medieval square and colourful Alpine architecture. With 230 kilometres of downhill slopes, some great off-piste runs, and a state of the art ski-lift, it is undoubtedly one of the finest ski resorts in Europe, and every year plays host to the historic World Cup Alpine ski race, the Hahnenkamm, named after the mountain on which it's held.

Hotels in Kitzbuehel

Gstaad, Switzerland

One of Europe's most upmarket ski resorts, the town of Gstaad sits within the beautiful Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, and along with some outstanding slopes, is home to luxury boutiques, hotels, and several Michelin-starred restaurants. It is also one of the only resorts in Europe's where you can ski from October through to early May, thanks to the Glacier 3000, which features 28km of glacier-based slopes at an altitude of 3000 metres!

Hotels in Gstaad

St. Anton, Austria

Encompassing the heart of the Arlberg region, known as 'the cradle of alpine skiing', St. Anton is Austria's largest interconnected ski resort and the fifth largest on the planet. Featuring some 340 km of perfectly manicured slopes, and a further 200 KM of off-piste runs, the resort is undoubtedly one of the finest on the continent, whilst the apres-ski options are plentiful and include a host of world-class restaurants and upmarket bars.

Hotels in St. Anton

Tignes – Val d'Isère, France

Formerly known as Espace Killy (in honour of remarkably successful skier Jean-Claude Killy who hailed from the region) Tignes – Val d'Isère ski area is named after the two Alpine resorts that it includes. Located near the Italian border at an altitude of around 6,000 feet, it is one of the highest ski resorts in all of Europe and offers one of the longest (and most reliable) seasons, along with over 300km of runs, and a host of amenities for all budgets.

Hotels in Tignes – Val d'Isère

Courmayeur, Italy

Located on the Italian side of Mont Blanc (the tallest mountain in the Alps), the upmarket Italian resort of Courmayeur attracts avid skiers and socialites alike, the former owing to the great conditions and excellent slopes (which includes the iconic Vallée Blanche, that Courmayeur shares with the nearby French resort of Chamonix) and the latter due to the abundance of luxury boutiques bars, and eateries on offer.

Hotels in Courmayeur

St. Moritz, Switzerland

The world's oldest winter resort, the Swiss town of St. Moritz remains one of Europe's best destinations for a ski holiday thanks to its high altitude, excellent pistes, and abundance of winter sun. Rich in old-world elegance, it boasts an excellent selection of upmarket hotels, bars, restaurants and boutiques, and for those who fancy trying their hand at a different Alpine sport, it's also home to a world-championship bobsled run made of natural ice, and an outdoor Olympic ice rink.

Hotels in St. Moritz

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Germany's best ski resort is located at the base of its highest mountain, Zugspitze, and boasts a long and proud winter sporting heritage, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1936, the Alpine Ski Cup on two occasions, and a number of other important international events over the years.

Its range of perfectly groomed pistes offer something for all levels and attract professionals and beginners alike, whilst in addition to some great apres-ski options perched alongside the slopes, the town itself is rich in Bavarian charm and is home to numerous great restaurants, bars and hotels.

Hotels in Garmisch-Partenkirchen