A Girl’s Guide to the Alps: European Ski Resorts To Visit in 2027
I’d like to start off by saying that in the USA, I’ve lived in Vail, Aspen, and Jackson Hole, yet I will still choose a European ski vacation every time. To put it simply, there's something about winter in the Alps that makes a ski trip feel like so much more than a ski trip. I often say that in Europe, skiing is more about the full experience, whereas in Jackson Hole (home currently) it’s all about skiing, and skiing hard (a chill run to a Bombardino? Unheardof.) When I think of skiing in Europe, cute chalets pop into my mind, followed by enormous and endless peaks, adorable small villages scattered throughout the resorts, and of course, the epic way they do après-ski.
Today I want to share a few European ski resorts that should 1000% be on your “I must go sooner than later” list. Keeping in my that, for me, skiing is about much more than, well, skiing.
In no particular order, let’s begin:
Verbier, Switzerland
For the adventurous girl who also loves a fancy dinner.
Last winter, my husband (a pro skier) was adamant about skiing Verbier, and possibly living there for the season. While that might sound intimidating to the average skier, the resort offers literally something for everyone as it’s part of the 4 Vallees resort (the largest resort entirely in Switzerland.) So, it’s not just the town of Verbier that you’ll be skiing around, it’s a combination of 6 (SIX!) resorts. It’s huge, huge, huge.
Verbier is that main town to stay in for the real “ski trip” feel, and it manages to come off both incredibly glamorous and seriously adventurous. It's a Swiss mountain village with beautiful chalets and a social scene that can turn an afternoon on the mountain into a very late night. Or, if you want more of a family, quieter vibe, stay in Nendaz.
If you, like me, have a man that wants to do way more intense runs than you, Verbier could be a great resort to get him stoked and allow you to enjoy the finer parts of skiing (like cappuccinos midway through your first run, on mountain. No judging here!) The skiing is a huge part of the appeal, especially if you're into freeriding, but the town offers enough to do that you can have a very enjoyable vacation.
Don't miss: Coffee on mountain at Le Dahu or a grab an outdoor seat at Le Fer à Cheval. For fondue night in your chalet, you MUST stop at Fromagerie de Verbier for fresh slices of raclette.
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
For the girl who likes her ski days big and her après even bigger.
I find the hardest thing to wrap by head around when visiting European resorts, is the sheer size. Most resorts are connected to other resorts or towns, so for instance, even though I’m talking about St. Anton right now, the resort includes what’s known as the “Arlberg”: St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, and Warth-Schröcken. Technically you can buy just as St. Anton pass and it will be larger than most resorts you’ve skied in the States, but most likely you’ll get the full region pass (because all the lifts connect everything) and you can ski from town to town, a very European thing to do! Are you confused yet? Maybe the hardest part is making sure you get back to where you started before the lifts close and so you can…
Experience the kind of après-ski Austria is famous for! I will say, though, when I was there I didn’t feel like it was overbearing in terms of partying. It’s a normal sized town with a good pedestrian street in the middle. Or, if you choose to stay in Lech or Zürs (prob Lech, as Zürs is tiny), you’ll get a more exclusive experience.
The Arlberg region is enormous, with beautiful mountain scenery, traditional Austrian villages, and plenty of terrain to explore and in terms of skiing, it's a destination where you can ski hard all morning, settle into a mountain hut for lunch, then go back out skiing without ever repeating the same run.
Don't miss: Dancing on tables at the MooserWirt! Consider staying at the Schwartzer Adler hotel, the dinners and breakfasts are too good!
Chamonix, France
For the girl who wants a little French culture with her big mountain adventures.
Out of all the resorts, Chamonix is the one that feels like it has an identity beyond being a ski resort. Sitting at the base of Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in the Alps!), it's a large French town filled with bakeries, cafés, shops, and people who are VERY serious about mountain sports.
Unlike Verbier or St. Anton, Chamonix isn't one enormous interconnected ski resort. Instead, you have several ski areas spread throughout the valley, which means you'll be hopping on buses or driving between them. Is it quite as convenient? No. But it does mean you can experience a different part of the valley each day.
If you're traveling with someone who loves steep terrain and big adventures (more mountaineering style), they'll probably be v happy. But you don't have to be an extreme skier to appreciate Chamonix (it took me until my 2nd trip to realize this.) You could spend an entire afternoon wandering through town, popping into French bakeries, shopping (there’s such a good vintage shop), and sitting outside with a glass of wine while people watching on the pedestrian street.
It's also one of the easier places to visit without feeling like you're trapped in a ski resort bubble. There are actual locals, international visitors, and enough restaurants and cafés to keep things interesting for an extended stay.
Don't miss: A ride up the Aiguille du Midi for some of the most ridiculous mountain views you'll ever see. And look up, you’ll see paragliders across the sky all day long.
Courmayeur, Italy
For the girl who thinks the food might be the best part of skiing.
If you've never skied in Italy, you’ve gotta change that. The Italians seem to understand something that Americans sometimes forget: we're on vacation! Why are we rushing through lunch?
Courmayeur sits on the Italian side of Mont Blanc, just across the mountain from Chamonix; the tolls is not pretty at about 70 Euro r/t but the experience is worth it because it feels completely different. Think charming cobblestone streets, little Italian cafés, beautiful shops, and mountain restaurants where, yes, I ordered (only) tiramisu for lunch.
The ski resort itself is much smaller than some of the enormous connected areas I've been talking about, but that’s fine because it’s more about skiing around to grab a coffee or a bombard anyways. Bonus: you're not spending half your day studying a trail map or worrying about getting stranded three villages away.
I also love that Courmayeur is an actual Italian mountain town rather than a purpose-built resort. I’m a big cook when I vacation; I know this is kind of weird, but I enjoy grocery shopping in foreign countries, sue me. And what’s best about this little town is I could buy fresh pasta from the cutest couple, then a loaf of bread from another guy, and some fresh cheese down the street further. Oh and a bottle from the wine shop, the Aosta Valley has some awesome alpine grapes!
If you're traveling with someone who's determined to ski every possible run, this might not be their first choice for an entire week. But if you're looking for a beautiful Italian mountain experience with some skiing thrown in? Absolutely.
Don't miss: An Italian breakfast on the mountain at Courba Dzeleuna and an evening stroll down Via Roma.
Les 3 Vallées, France
For the girl who wants to ski somewhere new every single day.
Okay, remember how I said European ski resorts are huge? Well, Les 3 Vallées takes that to an entirely different level. This is THE largest interconnected ski area in the world; it includes Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, and several smaller villages. Basically, you could spend an entire week skiing from one resort to another and still feel like you haven't seen everything.
And since it’s so massive, where you stay makes a HUGE difference in the type of vacation you'll have.
Courchevel is the glamorous one, and you’ve prob heard of it. Think luxury hotels, designer boutiques, beautiful chalets, and high end restaurants…think Gucci gondolas (really). Méribel feels a little more like a classic Alpine ski village, with wooden chalets and a central location that's fantastic for exploring. Val Thorens is high up in the mountains, known for its snow reliability and energetic atmosphere, and feels a bit more youthful. I’ve stayed in both Val Thorens and Méribel and enjoyed both although Val Thorens had more going on, so I’d rank that a bit higher.
To make the Alps a touch more confusing, some towns have their elevation or another word after their name. Example: Courchevel Le Praz (1,300m), Courchevel La Tania (1,400m), Courchevel Village (1,550m), Courchevel Moriond (1,650m), and finally, the one you actually want: Courchevel 1850. And actually, all of those used to only go by their numbers under they were rebranded with Moriond, Village, etc. You can find this exact number style at the next door resort of Les Arcs as well (another worthy ski area with an awesome funicular!)
Anyway, back to Trois Vallee’s as a whole, I suppose the best part is that you could come with a group of friends who all want different things out of a ski vacation and probably find somewhere that makes everyone happy. The biggest challenge will of course be deciding where to stay in the first place. Seriously, do a little research before booking because these villages are not all interchangeable.
Don't miss: Skiing between the valleys and stopping for lunch in a completely different resort from where you started!
Val d'Isère, France
For the girl who wants incredible skiing and a bougie French town.
Val d'Isère seems to check almost every box. It's a beautiful French mountain village with traditional chalet architecture, great restaurants, lively après, and amazing skiing. And because it's connected with Tignes (more of a built-up village higher in the mountains), you have access to an enormous ski area with plenty of high-altitude terrain.
If you're traveling with someone who wants to chase powder, explore challenging terrain, and ski until their legs give out, they're going to have a great time (Owen, my husband, loves it here.) But if your ideal ski day involves a few beautiful runs, a cappuccino, an extended lunch, and some après? You'll be equally happy (I love it here, too.)
The village itself is a big part of the appeal. It's lively without feeling like you're staying in the middle of a giant city, and it’s at the end of a valley during the winter, so you’re kind of off by yourself. And, of course, there's La Folie Douce. How have I not talked about this spot yet?! If you've never experienced French après-ski, picture an outdoor party on the mountain with DJs, performers, dancing on tables…literally everything you could want for a perfect après moment.
Don't miss: La Folie Douce for at least one afternoon, and an evening at Restaurant L'Alpin for such a cozy dinner.
Ischgl, Austria
For the girl who loves great skiing, great après, and a little bit of luxury.
Austria really knows how to do ski vacations, and Ischgl is a perfect example, and I’m guessing you’ve never heard of it (I hadn’t until I was skiing in Austria.) The village itself has a surprisingly polished feel, with a lineup of stylish hotels, restaurants, and people roaming the street after the lifts close.
The skiing is extensive, with modern lifts and enough terrain to keep you entertained for days (a must for Europe, apparently). One of the coolest things about Ischgl is that the ski area connects with Samnaun in Switzerland. You can literally ski from Austria into Switzerland and back again in one day, I love a little extra built-in adventure!
And if you're someone who loves the après scene, again don’t worry, Ischgl is known for it. There will definitely be a full on social scene happening at the end of the ski day. I would say Ischgl is a great option if you want a resort that feels a little more upscale without necessarily going full Courchevel. You can ski all day, enjoy a fantastic dinner, and still have plenty of nightlife options if you're not ready to call it a night.
Don't miss: Skiing over to Samnaun for lunch and experiencing the après scene back in Ischgl.
Next on my Ski List
Zermatt, Switzerland
For the girl who wants to feel like she's stepped into a Swiss postcard.
I've actually been to Zermatt, but I haven't skied there yet, which feels a little ridiculous considering how much I love the Alps. Even without skiing, though, I can tell you that this village is pretty special. First of all, it's car-free, so you arrive by train and make your way through town surrounded by traditional Swiss chalets and little shops. And then there's the Matterhorn, which I’m sure you've seen it in pictures a million times, but seeing that mountain rise above the village in person is simply stunning.
The skiing is also incredibly unique because the resort connects with Cervinia in Italy. Which means, yes, you could start your morning in Switzerland and head to Italy for pasta at lunch. Exactly the kind of thing I love about skiing in Europe! Real talk though, Zermatt is far from a budget destination; Switzerland in general can get expensive very fast, and Zermatt is one of its most famous resort towns, so this is one to save up for. But if you're looking for a special trip, maybe a romantic getaway or a bucket-list ski vacation, this is the spot you want.
Don't miss: Wandering through the old village, finding a cafe with Matterhorn views, and taking the train up to Gornergrat for some beautiful scenery.
The Dolomites, Italy
For the girl who wants beautiful hotels, Italian food, and scenery that doesn't even look real.
Full disclosure: I haven't made it to the Dolomites yet. But they've been on my list for years, and I don't think I could write about European ski destinations without including them. Unfortunately, there’s a very practical reason we have not stayed around the Dolomites and it’s because the snow simply isn’t as good as everywhere else I’ve mentioned. And, considering it’s my husband's job, we can’t just sit around and drink delicious wine until it decides to storm enough.
If you've seen photos of the Dolomites, you probably understand why I want to go so bad though. The mountains look completely different from much of the rest of the Alps, with enormous pale rock formations rising dramatically above the villages. And despite it not having the best snow quality, the Dolomiti Superski network includes 12 ski areas (!!!) although they're not all directly connected by lifts. One of the most famous experiences is the Sellaronda, a ski circuit that takes you around the Sella massif through several valleys and villages.
But what might excite me even more is the Italian mountain culture. Beautiful rifugios (mountain huts), incredible food, charming villages, and hotels that have mastered the art of making a mountain vacation feel luxurious without being stuffy; they specialize in kinder-hotels and have the most insanely family friendly spots to stay, also!
For a trip here, I'm looking closely at Ortisei or Corvara as a home base. Both look like fantastic options for experiencing the scenery, skiing, and Italian culture.
What I’m not gonna miss: The Sellaronda ski circuit, a long lunch at a mountain rifugio, and exploring the villages around Alta Badia.
