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12 best ski resorts across Europe

Simon Calder’s Travel

People often ask “which is the best ski resort?” – but there are as many answers to that question as there are types of skier and snowboarder.

Beginners will want to be on different pistes to speed demons, while young families might not like the après haunts favoured by party animals.

There are also trips to the slopes by train for the more sustainably minded, great value and catered chalet breaks (depending on your budget) and winter wonderlands for walking if your partner doesn’t fancy skiing.

With so many snow sports destinations to choose from, here’s a selection of resorts chosen with certain types of skiers in mind, to help your 2024/2025 winter holiday go as smoothly as a groomed green run.

Read more on skiing holidays:

The Three Valleys, France

Best: By train

You can reach the Three Valleys by train

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

You can reach many ski resorts in Austria and Switzerland by train (see snowcarbon.co.uk) but none is as convenient as the direct service from St Pancras to the French Alps.

Eurostar cancelled its popular service in 2020, but tour operator Travelski Express stepped in to offer direct trains as part of a package deal that includes ski passes and accommodation in certain resorts.

In 2022 it added more resorts, including two more in the massive Three Valleys ski area: high-altitude Val Thorens and chic Courchevel. You travel out on Friday night so you can ski for seven days in the world’s biggest ski area and return the following Saturday evening.

Borovets, Bulgaria

Best: On a budget

Borovets is one of the best-value European ski resorts for adults

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Borovets in Bulgaria came second in the Post Office’s annual survey of best-value ski resorts. But what’s it like?

The 58km of slopes are spread over three distinct sectors. The highest, Markudjik, has Alpine-like views across snowy peaks. In Sitnyakovo, beginners’ pistes wind through dense fir forest crossing steep red and black runs with views of the modernist village.

And if you take the egg-shaped, fibre-glass gondola (straight out of the 1980s) to Yastrebetz, you have spectacular views across the plain.

The instructors are good, most hotels have pools, and excursions are affordable. So it’s the hands-down choice for those on a budget – or was until Crystal Ski launched even more budget package holidays to

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