European mountain resorts for a ski holiday

Ski destinations with excellent trails. European mountain resorts worth considering for winter 2024-2025

Skiing has many benefits, so it is no surprise that it is one of the most popular ways to stay active in winter. Classic cross-country skiing stretches your back muscles with every movement. Like backstroke swimming, it improves spinal health.

Skiing engages up to 90% of the muscles in your body. Regular training improves coordination and balance. You can burn up to 700 calories in an hour.

Skiing is also a versatile sport that suits any fitness level. You can enjoy it on your own or with friends. The key is to choose a destination and a trail that suit you.

In this article, we look at 7 mountain resorts worth visiting in winter 2024-2025. It is easy to fly to each of them, especially if you book your tickets early. You can book directly through airline websites, such as AirBaltic, or use cheap flight comparison sites such as Tickets.ee or Skyscanner.

European mountain resorts to consider

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Set in the Bavarian Alps, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of Germany’s best-known mountain resorts. It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1936. Today, it is a popular skiing destination.

The resort offers 40 km of runs across three mountains, catering to beginners and experienced skiers alike. A total of 18 lifts serve slopes at elevations of 740 to 2050 meters above sea level.

One run that deserves a special mention is the 7 km descent starting at an elevation of 1800 m, one of the most interesting in Germany.

Livigno, Italy

Livigno is considered one of the best ski resorts in both Italy and Europe. A 3.5-hour drive from Milan, it attracts skiers with excellent snow cover and a wide variety of runs.

The resort offers 115 km of ski runs at elevations of 1816 to 2798 meters, served by 32 lifts. Livigno also has around 30 km of cross-country ski trails, making it an ideal destination for a winter mountain holiday to suit every taste.

Ski Arlberg, Austria

Austria’s largest ski resort, Ski Arlberg, offers 305 km of ski slopes. You can access them from seven villages: St. Anton, St. Christoph, Stuben, Lech, Zürs, Warth and Schröcken. We recommend staying in St. Anton, which is considered the best village in the resort.

There is plenty of variety here: steep slopes for experts, snowboard parks for fun and runs for racing. The runs lie at elevations of 1300 to 2811 meters and are served by 88 modern lifts.

The resort is 120 km west of Innsbruck and 200 km east of Zurich. The best way to reach Ski Arlberg is by rental car.

Praz de Lys, Switzerland

A lively European ski resort tucked away in the French Alps, 65 km from Geneva.

Praz de Lys offers 53 km of runs at elevations of 1500 to 2000 meters, served by 24 lifts. There are 6 expert runs, but beginners will also find conditions that suit them.

The enchanting views of Mont Blanc, especially at sunrise, also attract photographers.

Baqueira-Beret, Spain

Few people realize that Spain has more to offer than sea and sand. The excellent ski resort of Baqueira-Beret lies in the Catalan Pyrenees, a few hours from Barcelona. Even members of the Spanish royal family enjoy visiting.

The resort offers 160 km of ski runs at elevations of 1500 to 2610 meters. The slopes are served by 29 lifts.

The ski season at Baqueira-Beret runs from November to April.

Tahko, Finland

If you book flights to Finland, we recommend skiing the runs at Tahko. This ski resort is 450 km from Helsinki and attracts skiers with 32 runs at elevations of 200 to 320 meters. There are 21 lifts serving the slopes, and the longest descent stretches for over one kilometer. There is also a ski school, making the resort a good place for beginners to learn.

In addition to its ski runs, Tahko also has an upgraded snowboard park with jumps.

Gudauri, Georgia

Gudauri is the largest ski resort in the Caucasus Mountains, which form a natural boundary between Europe and Asia. From December to April, a layer of snow one and a half meters deep covers Gudauri’s slopes, creating excellent skiing conditions.

The resort offers 34.8 km of ski runs of varying difficulty at altitudes from 1993 to 3276 meters above sea level. There are 15 modern lifts running between the slopes, allowing you to reach any part of the resort quickly.

Freeride and backcountry skiing are among Gudauri’s main attractions. A helicopter can take skiers to the most remote and extreme terrain to ski on untouched powder.

If you’re a beginner

If you’re planning to ski for the first time, here are a few tips:

• Wear thermal underwear, an insulating mid-layer and a windproof outer layer.
• Wear ski boots for better comfort and control.
• Bring a warm drink and energy bars if you plan to ski for longer than 45 minutes.
• Choose your skiing style: classic or skate skiing, and rent or buy the appropriate equipment.

Develop good technique to use less energy and enjoy skiing more.

Come and work out! ArtGym