Find a bargain with our guide to the cheapest ski resorts in Europe.
Credits: O.Pirohov @Pixabay
Skiing has often been seen as a sport enjoyed by the rich. However, good skiing can be had much more affordably these days if you know where to find a bargain. And we do!
Bardonecchia offers 100km of forest trails and wide, unpopulated slopes particularly suited to beginner and intermediate skiers. If snowboarding is more your thing, the resort has great terrain which featured in the 2006 Olympics.
Having welcomed skiers to its slopes since 1938, Bardonecchia also has a well established aprés ski scene. There are also plenty of slope-side cosy restaurants to eat in without a hefty price tag.
Visit early in the season and you’ll find a surprising number of good hotel rooms on offer between 40 and 100 euros.
There’s nothing more Christmassy than staying in a cosy forest chalet surrounded by snow. To make this dream come true on a budget, Borovets is a brilliant bet. February half-term is also great value for those of you looking for a family skiing destination.
With 58 km of slopes, Borovets has one of the largest ski areas in Bulgaria. As only 9% of these are rated difficult, it makes a great choice for both beginners and intermediates.
The resort offers an abundance of restaurants and bars, so there is plenty to do in the evenings, if you still have the energy!
However, if crowds are not your thing, visiting during late March to April or late November to early December means you’ll benefit from lower accommodation prices.
Bansko earned the title of number one most Googled ski resort for a reason. Its more than just 75km of stunning slopes and great nightlife.
Bansko also offers unique activities such as naturally occurring hot spring pools in the spa town of Banya just 6km away. What could be better after a long day of skiing?
A great tip for travellers on a budget is to visit the restaurants on Banko’s backstreets where you can fill your plate with simple traditional food for just a couple of euros.
With 115km of slopes and 32 lifts, including two brand new gondolas for the 24/25 season, there’s plenty to explore for skiers or snowboarders in Livigno. Intermediates will fair best as almost 60% of its slopes are at red level and 20% at advanced.
Finding affordable equipment rentals in Livigno can really keep costs down so get online in advance to compare prices and catch early season discounts.
Bonus bargains can be found in Livigno’s duty free shopping area on perfumes, alcohol and tobacco.
Sunny Sauze in the Southern Italian Alps has something for all levels in its vast 110km ski terrain. If you are looking for beautiful scenery, Sauze won’t disappoint. The ski area has highs to make you catch your breath (2,400 m) and you’ll wind through larch forests and open valleys which even in holiday weeks aren’t overcrowded.
If you’re not keen on taking part in Sauze’s lively nightlife, staying in sleepy Jouvenceaux nearby is cheaper and has its own fast four-seater chairlift to the slopes.
Welcome to Sestriere, the highest town in Italy!
Sestriere sits at the heart of one of Europe’s biggest ski areas known as the Via Lattea (Milky Way) which features a whopping 390km of runs. The high quality pistes on this purpose-built resort have hosted many international competitions including the 2006 Winter Olympics.
Experienced skiers will love its exhilarating runs making it a great choice for intermediate and advanced levels.
Groups or families visiting Sestriere can save 50% on airport transfers by travelling midweek plus bag discounts on ski extras.
If you love the French ski experience but would like something a little cheaper then La Thuile is the answer.
Nestled on Mont Blanc’s ‘wild side’ it offers a huge 152 km of slopes in the San Bernado ski area which straddles the border between Italy and France.
It’s a perfect choice for families and groups as it has a good mixture of runs to keep all levels busy. Enjoy quiet slopes in stunning scenery by day and great mountain restaurants (at surprisingly good prices) by evening.
Although Spain may seem like a wild card ski destination, Baquiera Beret, located in Val d’Aran, Lleida, is Spain’s foremost ski resort. Due to its Pyrenean location and altitude of between 1,400 and 2,500 metres it’s a snow-reliable location from November until April.
The resort offers a vast 156 km of skiing and snowboarding, great lifts, plus a range of slopes to suit all experience levels. Visiting Baquiera might well change your mind about Spain as a ski destination.
Travellers praise the service in its local restaurants and good food at very reasonable prices.
Only 90 minutes by car from the Norweigan capital, Norefjell is surprisingly peaceful.
Its ski area is famous for its long, wide sweeping runs from the top of the mountain down to a frozen lake. A great choice for families, it offers both beginner and intermediate slopes.
Although food and drink tends to be expensive in Norway, you can save by buying lift passes online at a discount.
Set beneath the iconic Matterhorn, (known as ‘Monte Cervino’ in Italy) Cervinia is one of the highest resorts in the Alps, meaning you are pretty guaranteed of good snow coverage here.
Cervinia’s ski area offer lots of long gently sloping runs ideal for beginners and intermediates. A perk is that skiers can also access the luxury Zermatt ski resort just across the border in Switzerland, perfect for a bit of celebrity spotting!
Cervinia’s restaurants serve up similar high quality food to that in pricy, neighbouring alpine resorts but at a much more reasonable price.
