The winter resorts of Europe's Alps and Dolomites are legendary, not only for their superb skiing, but for the postcard Alpine villages and celebrity-studded resort towns at their bases. Spectacular seems an inadequate description of the scenery, and lift systems at many of them make access between several mountains possible on a single trip — often in a single day. One ski run can take several hours, beginning high in the mountains and dropping right into the heart of the village below.

At many ski resorts in Europe, there's no excuse for repeating the same run twice during a vacation. High altitudes — more than a dozen peaks in Italy's Dolomites alone exceed 3,000 meters, and the Alps soar even higher — mean reliable snow conditions, so there's a long season when you can depend on gliding through powder.

Arlberg, Austria: Kitzbühel 

Just two hours from Munich, Austria’s most popular holiday resort has it all: posh hotels; a lively après-ski scene along quaint, cobblestone streets; and unsurpassed skiing that includes eight renowned ski schools and some of the most demanding courses on the World Cup circuit.

Murren, Switzerland

Get ready for some serious downhill racing on the demanding slopes of the Schilthorn mountain located near Mürren. Not for the faint of heart, this is the promised land for experienced skiers who’ll get access to nearly 20 miles of the finest powder in Europe.

Val d’Isere, France,

European skiing has been in the news a lot this year, and understandably so - storm after storm has dumped snow all over the Alps, breaking 30-year records in many spots, and no one I spoke to over there can remember better conditions. There’s far more snow than any US resorts have gotten, so if you’re starved for white stuff, it’s not too late to book a trip this season. But most of us plan our ski vacations before knowing how much snow will fall, and even if you are looking at next winter or the winter after, when snowfall is a complete unknown, there are a lot of good reasons to plan a European ski vacation, and if you do, there are a lot of good reasons to consider France’s Val d’Isere.

Zermatt, Switzerland

The mountain village of Zermatt stands at 1620m and is one of the great ski and climbing centres of the world. Dominated by the famous and very striking Matterhorn peak, the unofficial symbol of Switzerland.

Obergurgl, Austria

Obergurgl is one of the highest ski villages in Europe, set at 1,930m at the end of the Ötztal valley near the city of Innsbruck. The height of its own slopes, plus a mid-mountain link to neighbouring Hochgurgl, which has glacier slopes going up to 3,080m, make it exceptionally snow sure for Austria, with a winter season that lasts from mid-November until early May.

Alta Badia, Italy

A ski holiday in Alta Badia in Italy means 130 km of well-groomed pistes, an altitude that ensures good snow conditions and a variety of terrain. It’s also on the sunny side of the Alps with access to 500 kilometres of connected slopes in the Dolomites. You’ll find excellent food, world-class local wines and endless views of the Italian Dolomites. There’s also a large offering of Ladin culture and the best of hospitality. A stay in any of Alta Badia’s villages will put you in pole position to explore the area.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

In the eastern Alps’ Engadin Valley, St. Moritz is a glamorous mountain resort synonymous with privilege and old money. British aristocrats had a hand in St. Moritz’s early success, and their presence lingers in the members clubs, like the men’s only Cresta Skeleton Run.

St. Moritz is the kind of destination where they play polo on a frozen lake, and where apartment blocks are designed by Norman Foster. The resort has real sporting pedigree, hosting the Winter Olympics in 1928 and 1948, and boasting the oldest bobsleigh run in the world. You have 350 kilometres of pistes a stone’s throw away, and in summer you can catch gondolas and funiculars for unforgettable mountain experiences. You could hike on a glacier or survey the cinematic majesty of the Engadin Valley’s from soaring lookouts.

Salzburg, Austria

Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, Salzburg is a compact city that is easy to explore in just one day. It’s the perfect blend of history and culture, being home to Mozart, an ancient fortress, and several Sound of Music sites. With one day in Salzburg, explore the old town, enjoy the view from Hohensalzburg, and visit Mozart’s birthplace.

Many people visit Salzburg as part of road trip or rail trip through Europe. For the best experience, plan on spending one night here. This allows you to enjoy Salzburg at sunset after the day-trippers leave.

Courchevel, France

Courchevel is at one end of the world’s largest lift-linked ski area, the Trois Vallées, which has 600km of pistes and 166 lifts. With many north-facing slopes, the snow in the Courchevel valley is usually some of the best in the whole ski area, and there’s terrain to suit everyone from beginner to expert.

Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy

Cortina is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe, with grand hotels dating from Victorian times, and is set among the stunning scenery of the Dolomites. It is also one of the few resorts in the Dolomites with an entirely Italian atmosphere, and almost none of the Germanic and Austrian culture and language of most resorts in the region.

Meribel, France

There are plenty of reasons to love Méribel, not least for its pretty, chalet-style architecture, wooded surroundings and friendly, village atmosphere. But the prime reason is its central position within France’s huge Trois Vallées ski area.

To the east are the resorts of Courchevel and La Tania, and to the west, Val Thorens. Together with Méribel these combine to make one of the largest linked ski areas in the world, with more than 600km of pistes.

St. Anton, Austria

St Anton is rated among the top five resorts in the Alps for very good reason: located in Austria’s Arlberg region, it is the biggest connected ski area in Austria. It is also one of Europe’s snowiest areas and boasts 340km of slopes, 200km of off-piste itineraries and plenty of challenging off-piste terrain. In addition, it has a highly efficient lift system and an attractive town bursting with stylish hotels, chalets and restaurants.

Chamonix, Austria

Chamonix has been at the sharp end of Alpine adventure since 1760, when a Genevois scientist offered a prize for the first ascent of its famous local mountain – Mont Blanc, 4,807m, the highest in Europe. The resort had its first growth spurt in the Victorian era, hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924 and has re-emerged on the freeride wave as the capital of all-mountain skiing and snowboarding, especially for experts.

Cerro Catedral, Argentina

Cerro Catedral was named for the granite spires that sit atop the mountain and resemble a gothic church. Catedral is also a church for skiers and snowboarders who visit this Bariloche ski resort to worship the snow god! Cerro Catedral (aka Catedral Alta Patagonia) is an incredibly aesthetically pleasing ski resort. The views of “the cathedral” are gorgeous and the vistas across Lake Nahuel Huapi fall into the OMG category.

Cerro Catedral is now a very well developed ski resort (by South American standards). The mountain has undergone a transformation with millions of dollars spent on lifts and infrastructure, and Cerro Catedral is one of just a few South American ski resorts to truly have a village at the base.

Bernese Alps, Switzerland

Bernese Alps, also called Bernese Oberland, German Berner Alpen, orBerner Oberland, French Alpes Bernoises, segment of the Central Alps lying north of the Upper Rhône River and south of the Brienzer and Thunersee (lakes) in Bern and Valais cantons of southwestern Switzerland. The mountains extend east-northeastward from the bend of the Rhône near Martigny-Ville to Grimsel Pass and Haslital (valley of the upper Aare River). Many peaks rise to more than 12,000 ft (3,660 m); Finsteraarhorn (14,022 ft), Jungfrau, and Aletschhorn are among the highest. Of the numerous glaciers in the range, the Aletsch is one of the longest in the Alps. The Bernese Alps are crossed by the Lötschen, Gemmi, and Pillon passes and the Lötschberg (railway) Tunnel. The magnificent Alpine scenery has helped establish the nearby resorts of Interlaken, Grindelwald, Mürren, Wengen, Kandersteg, and Gstaad. Mountain climbing has long been a popular activity in the region.

Val de Bagnes, Switzerland

On this tour you will experience an extraordinary variety of alpine landscapes, with the majestic mountains of Combins, Vélan and Mont-Blanc in the background. You will enjoy the Mauvoisin dam, an imposing monument to the glory of human genius. A majestic panorama awaits you, either at the summit of Attelas, or Mont Brûlé. You’ll go through many alpine passes including the Col des Otanes, the high point of your hike at 2,846 metres. The rich wildlife in the Haut Val de Bagnes with the Mont Pleureur federal reserve and the Mauvoisin marmot reserve, the second biggest natural reserve in Switzerland, is also exceptional.

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

The region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes has a lot to offer for skiers and snowboarders. In total there are 44 outstanding ski resorts that winter enthusiasts like you can choose from.

Turin, Italy

Turin is the gateway to some of the best ski resorts in the Italian Alps. The high altitude of the Alps here offers amazing snow conditions throughout the season and much quieter slopes compared to the popular French resorts. We also have a range of package ski holidays flying into Turin to ski chalets, hotels and apartments. See below for ski resort transfer times from Turin and links to accommodation.  

Zell am See, Austria

Zell am See is one of Austria's best-loved ski resorts, with stunning views of the surrounding mountain ranges and Lake Zell below. While the skiing above the town may not match up to some of its neighbours, the scenery and the active nightlife offer more than adequate compensation.

The area can also offer snow-sure skiing on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above the nearby village of Kaprun, with which it shares a lift pass. And the size of the town and the proximity to Salzburg make it a good choice for non-skiing party members.