Reliable snow throughout the season is key to picking a ski resort to visit. The Alps have some great ski resorts with brilliant snow records. Whether you want a good base for the pistes or drop into some fresh powder, new snowfall is always welcome. Our ski experts have created a guide to the snowiest ski resorts in Europe.
Warth Schröcken, Austria
On average Warth Schröcken gets an impressive 11 metres of snow a year. This is largely down to its location and high altitude of 1,500m-2,811m. This is fantastic for a good base of snow on the pistes and off-piste opportunities. If you buy a full lift pass you can ski an excellent 305km of pistes, with top-class links to nearby Lech and Zürs. The pistes themselves are suited mainly to beginner and intermediate skiers in Warth Schröcken, but more advanced skiers can find steeper terrain at the rest of the Arlberg ski area.
Stay At:
Lux Alp Chalet is nestled in the quiet, sun-kissed village of Warth; a hidden gem at an altitude of 1500m and offering breath-taking views of the Biberkopf mountain.
Zürs, Austria
Sister village to Lech, Zürs averages an impressive 10m of snow a year. That’s almost double that of St. Anton which is also in the Arlberg ski area. If you buy a full lift pass you can access 305km of slopes with a brilliant lift network. There are incredible off-piste opportunities too if you love dropping into powder. Similar to Lech, there are fantastic luxury options with a great choice of 5-star accommodation in the area.
Stay At:
The Hotel Thurners Alpenhof in Zürs is an award-winning hotel with a focus on high end service.
Avoriaz, France
Part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, Avoriaz averages nearly 8m of snow a year. The French ski resort has an altitude of 1,800m-2,466m which is the highest in the area. You can ski an impressive 600km of slopes with fantastic links to neighbouring resorts such as Morzine, Châtel and Champéry to name a few. The village itself is car-free and easy to get around. Most of the accommodation is ski-in ski-out as a result of the traffic less area. Off the slopes, there’s a lively nightlife to enjoy.
Stay At:
Sitting at 1,800m with ski-in ski-out access, the chic and modern Hotel Les Cimes du Soleil boasts one of the most convenient locations you could ask for.
Obertauern, Austria
Obertauern is one of the snowiest ski resorts in Europe because of its average snowfall of nearly 8 metres a year. Located in the Salzburg area, Obertauern has access to 100km of pistes and some great off-piste terrain too. The slopes are suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers with mostly gentle pistes. On and off the mountain the Austrian ski resort has a lively après atmosphere to enjoy, with plenty of bars and restaurants in the area.
Stay At:
Hotel Steiner in Obertauern is an elegant hotel located next to the ski slopes with excellent wellness facilities.
Lech, Austria
Lech averages about 7m of snow a year and fantastic ski terrain. Part of the Arlberg ski area, it has 305km of slopes to enjoy with great connections to St. Anton. It has some of the most lift-served off-piste terrain in the world, perfect for powder hounds. The village of Lech has a reputation for its luxury options. There are many 5-star accommodation options and great places to eat too. A top-class ski resort on and off the slopes.
Stay At:
With its first-class service and top cuisine, the Hotel Arlberg in Lech has excellent reputation.
La Rosière, France
Located in the Tarentaise region, La Rosière averages about 6.4m of snow a year. It has an altitude of 1,850m-2,800m, making it reliable for snow throughout the season. Part of the Espace San Bernardo ski area, you can ski up to 160km of slopes with great links to the Italian resort La Thuile. This French ski resort is most suited to families and intermediate skiers, with its relaxed nightlife and gentle terrain the area has to offer.
Stay At:
From its perch at 1,900m above sea level and facing south, the stone and wood clad Resort Club Med overlooks the entire Tarentaise valley.
Arosa, Switzerland
Situated at the top of the Schanfigg Valley, Arosa is one of the snowiest ski resorts in Europe. It averages 6.2m of snow a year and has an altitude of 1,229m- 2,865m. This is a recipe for great slope and off-piste conditions in the area. You can ski 225km of perfectly groomed pistes and have access to the neighbouring ski resort Lenzerheide. The village itself has a traditional alpine charm and it has a relaxed atmosphere.
Stay At:
Boasting a spectacular Alpine location in Arosa, the Tschuggen Grand Hotel represents a haven of luxury, equipped with its very own cable car to the ski area.
Val Thorens, France
Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe and as a result averages about 6m of snow a year. It has an impressive altitude of 2,300m-3,230m which allows for a great amount of snowfall throughout the season. Part of the Three Valleys ski area, you can explore a whopping 600km linking to neighbouring Méribel and Courchevel. There is a fantastic choice of accommodation with many ski-in ski-out options available too. Off the slopes, there’s great nightlife with plenty of bars and restaurants to enjoy.
Stay At:
The Altapura in Val Thorens is a magnificent five-star hotel, set back from the lively centre of Val Thorens, offering ski-in ski-out access to the slopes.
Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere is one of the most popular ski resorts in the world and is also one of the snowiest ski resorts in Europe. An average of 6m of snowfall arrive each year in the area. As part of the Espace Killy, you can ski a total of 300km of slopes with great links to the neighbouring ski resort Tignes. The slopes have something for everyone, with pistes appropriate for any level of skier. The après opportunities are fantastic with lots of off-slope activities, bars, clubs and restaurants to visit.
Stay At:
Located in the centre of Val d’Isère, the comfortable Hotel Tsanteleina features a spa and indoor pool.
Tignes, France
Another ski resort in the Espace Killy that’s made our snowiest ski resorts in Europe list is Tignes. Like Val d’Isere, it averages 6m of snowfall a year. It also has the Grande Motte Glacier guaranteeing good snow conditions for a long part of the winter season. You can ski 300km of slopes with great links to Val d’Isere. There are plenty of great accommodation options and lots of off-slope activities to enjoy too.
Stay At:
Hotel Village Montana is a luxury ski-in ski-out property in the heart of Tignes with an excellent outdoor pool.
Livigno, Italy
Livigno is one of the higher ski resorts in Italy at 1,816m-2,798m. This makes for great snow conditions throughout the season. The ski resort is mostly suited to beginners and intermediate with its vast amount of gentle terrain. All together there’s 115km of slopes to explore in the area. A lot of the accommodation is ski-in ski-out so you can take advantage of the great snow conditions with ease. In addition to the great pistes, there’s also fantastic off-piste to enjoy with a local mountain guide.
Stay At:
Hotel Amerikan in Livigno has an enviable position, just 20m from the lifts. The hotel features an eco-friendly indoor pool, pizzeria, and restaurant.
To find out more about the snowiest ski resorts in Europe, please call our ski experts on 0207 471 7700.
