Skiing is an endlessly rewarding pastime. You might enjoy the benefits of physical exercise, challenge yourself by picking up a new skill, soak in beautiful mountain vistas, and indulge in a range of amazing activities after you leave the slope.
But getting the best from your ski holidays means picking the right resort. Fortunately, Europe offers an assortment of truly excellent ones.
Let’s consider a few of the best of them.
1. Courchevel, France
This French resort brings together several compelling virtues. It has a reputation for being geared toward wealthier skiers, with its range of designer boutique stores and Michelin-starred restaurants.
The infrastructure here is excellent, meaning that you can rely on the lifts being open and the pistes immaculately groomed.
Best yet, the resort offers access to the sprawling Three Valleys skiing area, which means you’ll never run out of slopes to conquer.
2. Bansko, Bulgaria
At the more affordable end of the skiing spectrum lies Bansko, in Bulgaria, which lies near the foot of the Pirin Mountains. It’s risen over the past few years from an obscure farming village to an international ski resort.
The popularity of the resort stems from its combination of modern facilities and old-town charm, all of which come at an extremely reasonable price.
As far as apres ski goes, the resort holds a unique charm, thanks to the mixture of Mehanas (or taverns) that are scattered around the iconic old town.
If you haven’t yet tried skiing in Eastern Europe, then this is an excellent place to start.
3. Andermatt, Switzerland
You’ll find the Swiss village of Andermatt at the very heart of the Alps, in the canyon of Uri. It’s a resort that’s constantly innovating and offers not only world-class ski facilities but also amazing accommodation in the form of luxury chalets, wellness facilities, and more.
You’ll find a range of world-class ski schools, as well as slopes to appeal to skiers of every level of experience. If you’re feeling more adventurous, this is also a great place to venture off the piste – but make sure that you take appropriate precautions before doing so.
This is a resort with considerable pedigree. During the 19th century, it hosted famous names like Wordsworth, Turner, Dickens, and Queen Victoria.
Today, it holds just as great an appeal for the rich and famous – but it’s accessible to skiers of more modern means.
During your stay, you’ll want to pay a visit to the River House, whose bar, Alt Apothek, stocks a variety of single-malt whiskies.
There are Michelin-starred restaurants here, too: most notably in the form of Gütsch, which resides in a cantilevered chalet, near the top of the ski area of the same name.
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