Bright, impressive and modern resorts in Europe, the USA and Canada invariably occupy leading positions in the list of the most popular ski destinations for holidays abroad. These locations attract connoisseurs of active winter recreation with their high-quality ski and snowboard slopes, the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of mountain landscapes. Walks along picturesque routes among the mountains and visits to cozy intermountain valleys will not leave anyone indifferent, and most importantly, you will not need to go far from the benefits of civilization: European shopping, fashionable hotels and the best cafes and restaurants!
Zermatt
In September 2023, as part of the prestigious Readers' Choice Awards 2023, the Swiss Zermatt took the lead among ski resorts. This ranking was compiled by the famous international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, based on the reviews of more than a million travelers from all over the world. Zermatt is unique for its location next to the Theodulus Glacier, which remains snow-covered throughout the year, and the Matterhorn, one of the most photogenic peaks in the Pennine Alps and all of Europe, familiar to us from the symbol on the packaging of Toblerone Swiss chocolate.
The Zermatt ski area merges with the Italian resort of Breuil-Cervinia, creating an extensive ski area. There are more than 50 ski lifts and about 360 km of slopes, most of which are medium-difficulty (red) trails with a total length of about 230 km.
By the way, Zermatt has one of the highest cable cars in Europe, connecting two peaks at altitudes of 2939 and 3883 meters.
Zermatt is open to tourists all year round: in the summer, there is a snow park and many winter activities such as sleigh rides and snowmobiling, relaxation in spa complexes and visits to Michelin-winning restaurants.
St. Moritz
One of the famous Swiss ski resorts is located among the majestic mountain peaks, stretching at altitudes from 1800 to 3230 meters. This city is known for its role in hosting the Winter Olympics and the Alpine Skiing World Championships, thanks to which its infrastructure is developed with the latest technology. There are about 350 km of ski slopes in St. Moritz, most of which are designed for experienced skiers and snowboarders – these are red and black slopes.
The resort combines three main ski areas: Corviglia (2488 m), Corvatsch (3451 m) and Diavolezza (2973 m), connected by 60 modern ski lifts. Corviglia is ideal for beginners with 10 green runs, while Diavolezza is a destination for lovers of extreme sports and challenging black runs. There is also the famous three-kilometer descent from the top of Piz Nair, where the descent speed can reach 130 km/h.
The resort is divided into two parts: "St. Moritz-Dorf", which is a more modern area with many hotels, and "St. Moritz-Bad", located on the picturesque shore of the lake, which is a historical part founded in 1772.
Innsbruck
Ski resorts in Austria are also very popular among winter lovers from all over the world. One of these places is the resort in Innsbruck, which attracts visitors with high-quality service and transport accessibility, including the presence of its "own" airport and railway station. Surrounded by the majestic Alps, Innsbruck impresses with its architecture: as the capital of Tyrol, the city offers a rich cultural program, including visits to local museums and palaces.
In the vicinity of Innsbruck there are nine mountain areas united in a single ski area Olympia SkiWorld Innsbruck. The total length of the trails in this area exceeds 300 km, located at altitudes from 820 to 3200 meters. For beginner skiers, the Stubaier Gletscher area is ideal with 46 easy runs, while experienced extreme skiers will be attracted by the difficult black runs in Axamer Lizum and Kuhtai. It is convenient to get to the slopes by free buses from the train station.
Winter holidays in Innsbruck are not limited to skiing: the city offers a variety of leisure opportunities, including bars and restaurants, casinos, shopping in trendy boutiques, relaxation in spas with swimming pools, cinemas and nightclubs, providing guests with a complete and varied holiday.
Aspen Snowmass
Located in the state of Colorado, in the heart of the United States, the country's largest and most famous ski resort holds an important place in the hearts of ski enthusiasts. It includes four different mountain areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass.
Trails for experienced skiers and snowboarders with a height difference of more than 1100 meters and located at altitudes from 2310 to 3418 meters prevail. The total length is more than 500 km, with about 80% of them being difficult slopes designed for professionals, and only 20% of the green slopes are suitable for beginners.
Beginner skiers and snowboarders usually head to the western slopes of Mount Buttermilk, where ski schools are located to teach the basics of skiing. Aspen Snowmass attracts confident snowboarders with five snow parks, including a thrilling "super tube" attraction, as well as a less complicated Panda Pipe suitable for kids and beginners.
The resort of Aspen not only offers excellent conditions for skiing, but is also a center of winter entertainment, where everyone will find something to their liking, including many cafes and restaurants, shops with winter sports products, cozy hotels for a comfortable stay after an active day on the slopes.
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Blackcomb is considered Canada's leading Olympic ski resort. It is located in a spacious valley between two mountains – Whistler and Blackcomb, just 120 km north of Vancouver. These two mountains are connected by a newest and steep funicular, and the total number of lifts serving the resort is about 30. The total length of all ski trails is about 200 km, including 50 km of cross-country ski trails.
The ski and snowboard area at Whistler Blackcomb is located at altitudes from 675 to 2284 meters. There are tracks of varying difficulty: about 20% are green and black slopes, but most are blue and red. One of the basic advantages of the resort is the presence of the Horstmann glacier, which allows skiing all year round.
Whistler Blackcomb is known for having the largest elevation difference among ski resorts in North America, and the skiing season here lasts almost until the end of May. More than 10 meters of snow falls here during the winter, but the resort is also equipped with modern snow cannons to maintain ideal conditions for skiing.
