We understand that organising a family ski holiday can seem daunting when taking everyone’s needs into consideration. Whether it’s distracting teenager’s from their smartphone, beginners ski holidays or searching for family-friendly ski resorts for toddlers. We have hand-picked some of the best ski resorts for families. We’ve chosen these European ski resorts, based on child friendly accommodation and its proximity to the pistes, as well as ski areas that cater for all abilities and offer plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.
1. Gressoney La Trinité, Italy
In the heart of the Monterosa ski area Gressoney La Trinité is a traditional Italian village with cobbled streets and old wooden chalets. Gressoney has a handful of Alpine restaurants serving regional Italian cuisine, and the locals are extremely welcoming.
The ski area is perfect for both those new to skiing and expert skiers. If you are looking for some easier blues, try Stafal. Alternatively, while your children are looked after by the Monterosa ski school, head over to Champoluc for some more challenging groomed runs or off-piste skiing in Italy. There are plenty of kid friendly accommodation options with childcare for families.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Lyshaus which has great access to the slopes and half board food.
2. Obergurgl, Austria
One of the best family friendly ski resorts, Obergurgl is a town full of character in Tyrol in the Austrian Alps. This traditional town is one of the higher ski resorts in Europe at an altitude of 1,907m and as a result, tends to have reliable snow cover. Obergurgl has little traffic, which adds to tranquillity of the town and makes it great for kids.
Skiing in Obergurgl is best suited to intermediates, as there are plenty of leisurely carefree blues. Advanced skiers should ski over to Sölden for more challenging pistes. Obergurgl is a great choice if you are looking for kid friendly ski resorts.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Edelweiss & Gurgl which has brilliant childcare options and child-friendly facilities.
3. Val d’Isère, France
Val d’Isère may be better known for après ski, but the ski resort also caters to families. As Val d’Isère and Tignes make up the Espace Killy ski area, there is a wide variety of ski runs for all abilities. However, beginner skiers should avoid skiing back into Val d’Isère as both La Face, Solaise and Santons are challenging, especially in the afternoon when its either icy or slushy.
Dog-sledding, ice skating and tobogganing are some of the many off-piste activities that the whole family can enjoy. The Chalet Hotel Ducs De Savoie has childcare and is best for families, which offers parents the opportunity to dine out in Val d’Isère’s highly-acclaimed restaurants.
Stay At:
Stay at Club Med Val d’Isère for all-inclusive bliss and excellent child-friendly facilities.
4. Lech, Austria
Lech is part of the Arlberg ski area in the Tyrolean Alps. Known for its wonderfully welcoming locals who treat their guests like kings, it’s no surprise families return year after year. Lech is perfect for families with plenty of nursery and beginner slopes and under-8’s skiing is free. Intermediates and more advanced skiers also have a wealth of skiing.
The Arlberg ski area has 502 kilometres of pistes and is connected to the popular ski resorts of Zürs, Stuben and St. Anton. These kid friendly ski resorts are all covered by the standard lift pass. We recommend the Hotel Monzabon because it is ideal for families seeking comfortable accommodation with ski-in ski-out access to the slopes.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Monzabon for ski-in ski-out location and fantastic large comfortable rooms.
5. La Plagne, France
La Plagne makes it one our list of the best family ski resorts. Belle Plagne sits at 2,050m, making it one of the highest in La Plagne’s ten villages. The pedestrianised village has wooden chalets filled with Alpine character. Younger skiers can learn on the nursery slopes, while intermediates can perfect their turns on the wide blue slopes.
La Plagne is in the Tarentaise Valley’s Paradiski area that also includes Les Arcs and Peisey-Vallandry. With 425 kilometres of ski area, there is a great selection of pistes for all levels. La Plagne is one of the best ski resorts for toddlers with a range of activities on offer.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Le Terra Nova which has a ski-in-ski-out location and lovely family-sized rooms.
6. Geilo, Norway
Geilo is one of the best ski resorts for toddlers. The stunning family ski resort has a magic carpet, easy button lifts, childcare, ski school and fun activities. If you have younger children, the horse drawn sleigh ride and dog sledding is a great choice. Also, a very useful back-up if the skiing doesn’t go to plan.
If you are looking for the best child friendly ski resorts, Geilo could be a great choice. The ski resort has a superb creche, conveniently located at the base of the ski slopes. The Trollklubben crèche takes babies from six months, as well as toddlers and older children up to the age of eight. The Oslo Bergen railway is a magical way to start your holiday. For young families, there is a dedicated family carriage with soft padded play area, books, films and DVDs.
Stay At:
Stay at Vestlia Resort which has a ski-in-ski-out location and is in the heart of Geilo.
7. Ellmau, Austria
The SkiWelt area has some of the best ski resorts for kids in Europe. Ellmau in particular has a lot of off-snow activities, ski schools and crèches to choose from, making it one of the best child-friendly ski resorts around. The ski resort has 284km of pistes with a vast majority being blue runs. Beginner slopes are very easy to access from the village. Off the mountain, you can go ice skating, swimming and bowling, keeping the whole family entertained.
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from too, most of which have dedicated kids menus to order from. Kids can also join Ellmi’s kids’ club from the ages of 2-6. The facility acts as childcare, where toddlers can enjoy indoor games, ski lessons, snowman making and the chance to meet Ellmi the frog!
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Hochfilzer which is very popular with families because of its location and brilliant facilities.
8. Morzine, France
Morzine is suitable for all levels of skiers, there’s something for everyone including toddlers. This is perfect for families who all have different abilities to have fun in the same ski resort. The variety of ski schools and childcare options makes Morzine one of the best ski resorts for kids. You can book private childcare with Cheeky Monkey’s Childcare or book your kids into one of the ESF Kindergartens. L’Outa childcare nursery is another great option for children 3 months old and beyond.
The family-friendly ski resort is low in altitude and the village has a welcoming relaxed atmosphere. There are plenty of restaurant options on and off the mountain, with kids menus available too. Kids can also enjoy swimming, sledging and husky dog rides whilst not on the slopes.
9. Passo Tonale, Italy
Passo Tonale in Italy is certainly a ski destination perfect for kids. The ski resort is geared towards beginners and intermediates and has a family friendly atmosphere within the village. The ski resort has a high altitude of 1,885m-3,100m, making it a snow sure ski resort. So you know each member of the family is guaranteed some time on the slopes.
The Fantaski Kindergarten run by the Ponte di Legno Tonale Ski School combines ski tuition with other fun activities on their large playground facility. Whether it’s on the slopes or indoors in the nursery your kids will have a blast! Restaurant options are great too at a reasonable price, all complete with kids menus.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Grand Paradiso for its perfect location, children’s games room and nursery.
10. Arinsal, Andorra
Arinsal has a family friendly and welcoming atmosphere on and off the slopes. Andorran ski resorts have a party reputation but Arinsal is certainly one of the best ski resorts for kids to visit. The nursery slopes are separated from the main ski runs, to maximise safety and comfort for kids to learn to ski on the mountain.
The Arinsal ski and snowboard school has a fantastic reputation for teaching kids and is one of the only ski schools to allow group bookings for children as young as four. A lot of British instructors also teach in the area which is another perk to book for families. In this kid-friendly ski resort, there is also a Baby Club suitable for children and toddlers aged 1-4 or the Snow Garden for children aged 4-8.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Magic Massana for its ski-in-ski-out location and brilliant facilities.
11. La Rosière, France
La Rosière is an ideal ski destination for families because of its varied terrain and there’s a great choice of ski schools. The ski resort is suited to beginners and intermediate skiers with 160km of slopes to explore. It also has fantastic links to the Italian ski resort of La Thuile if you want a change of location. The childcare facilities are brilliant with the Les Galopins Kids’ Club which takes children as young as 18 months.
The village itself has a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of restaurants and off-snow activities to enjoy. You can do great non-ski activities such as snowshoeing, ice skating and dog-sledding. La Rosière is a fantastic place to have a family ski getaway with ease.
Stay At:
Stay at Club Med La Rosière for excellent all-inclusive service and child-friendly facilities.
12. Valmorel, France
Valmorel is an ideal destination for a family ski holiday. The short transfer time of an hour from Chambery makes travel easy with children. There’s a car-free centre of the village which makes it safe and convenient to get around the town. It also has a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of child-friendly hotels and restaurants. The Grand Domaine ski area has 165km of slopes to enjoy with great pistes for all abilities.
Stay At:
Stay at Club Med Valmorel for an all-inclusive package and prime location.
13. Zell am See, Austria
Families will enjoy the low-key nature of the Zell am See and the fantastic activities for children on offer. There is 138km of slopes to explore which has something for any level of skier. It also has great links with neighbouring ski resort Kaprun. There are some excellent childcare facilities and ski schools making ski tuition a breeze.
Off the slopes, there are great restaurants to have relaxed meals with children’s menus available. In addition, you can go ice skating or try curling. The views are truly fantastic on and off the slopes with the stunning Lake Zell and the surrounding mountains as the perfect backdrop.
Stay At:
Stay at SportHotel Alpin for it’s delightfully spacious rooms and ski-in-ski-out location.
14. Golm, Austria
Located in the Montafon Valley, Golm is a family-friendly ski resort which delivers on and off the slopes. The uncrowded slopes and welcoming atmosphere makes it an ideal ski holiday destination if you want a relaxed time away. There are great kids’ activities to enjoy such as swimming and tobogganing in the area.
The total ski area is 44km with a pleasant mix of blue and red slopes. Some larger ski resorts can be overwhelming for family ski holidays so Golm ski resort’s size is another plus for kids and parents. The town itself has kept its traditional alpine architecture but also has modern hotels within the area. Golm ski resort is an ideal destination for families.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Montafon for it’s modern facilities, excellent location and child-friendly activities run by the hotel itself.
15. Courchevel, France
Part of the famous Three Valleys ski area, Courchevel has so much choice for families. If you want top quality service and relaxation, this is the ski resort for you. There are many five-star hotels and Michelin Star restaurants. Childcare options are fantastic too. Whether you need a private nanny service or ski school lessons, there is great choice.
If you buy a full lift pass you can access an impress 600km of slopes in the area. There’s a vast amount of terrain with slopes suitable for every level of skier or snowboarder in the family. The town itself has something for everyone. There’s great family-friendly restaurants, luxurious spas and delightful bars. You can also treat yourself to a bit of retail therapy with many designer shops in the area.
Stay At:
Stay at L’Ecrin Blanc for a ski-in ski-out location, swimming pool, kids play area and large family suites.
16. Engelberg, Switzerland
A hidden Swiss gem, Engelberg is a peaceful ski resort which is ideal for families to enjoy a ski holiday. The short transfer time is very appealing from Zurich airport. The transfer is only an hour and a half, so no restless kids after a flight to Switzerland. The ski area itself has 89km of slopes, so there’s not too much navigation to tackle once you arrive. There’s plenty of ski runs of all level of skier.
The village itself has kept its traditional alpine feel, which gives off a true winter wonderland vibe. There are great accommodation options and places to eat for families in the area. The ski schools and childcare is also very reputable too. On top of this, you have some of the most beautiful mountain backdrops wherever you are in the area.
Stay At:
Stay at Hotel Kempinski Palace for fantastic interconnecting family rooms, excellent service and top-class facilities.
17. Davos, Switzerland
Famous for staging the World Economic Forum, Davos is also a fantastic family ski destination. This Swiss ski resort combines natural beauty with a modern twist. There are excellent hotels, restaurants, bars and shops to explore. If you want a high-quality ski experience Davos is the place to be.
If you buy a full ski pass, you can ski up to 251km of slopes in the area. There’s a good mix of runs, so any level of the skier in the family is catered for. The Snowli Swiss Snow Kids Village is an excellent facility which acts as a playground and nursery slope for children from the age of 4 upwards. For older kids, Jatz Park has jumps, rails and features suitable for all levels.
Stay At:
Stay at AlpenGold Hotel to take your luxury ski experience to the next level. The amazing facilities will keep all the family happy during your stay.
18. Courmayeur, Italy
One of the true delights of the Italian Alps, is the excellent ski resort of Courmayeur. Families will truly enjoy there ski experience here. It combines it’s traditional alpine charm with modern stylish facilities. The ski resort isn’t the biggest but it is packed with activities and amazing alpine views. An amazing destination for all the family.
There is 41.5km of slopes, with slopes appropriate for any level of skier or snowboarder. The small ski area reduces the hassle of having to navigate the piste map. Ski schools are fantastic in the area and there’s plenty of childcare options. It is an ideal location for a weekend getaway.
Stay At:
Stay at Le Massif for pure relaxation and some of the best service in the Alps.
Ski Solutions can help tailor your ski holiday to your family’s needs. For more information about the best family friendly ski resorts, speak to one of our ski experts on 0207 471 7700.
