Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports in Europe. As well as being a competitive sport, featured heavily in the Winter Olympics and other sporting competitions, it’s also a favourite pastime of many winter holidaymakers.
But if you’ve never been skiing before, chances are you won’t want to tackle some of the most difficult courses on the continent – instead, you’ll need to start with some of the gentler slopes to find your feet. With that in mind, here are the 7 best European ski resorts for beginners.
1. Obergurgl, Austria
Perhaps one of the first countries that comes to mind for skiing is Austria. Found in the heart of Europe, and with approximately 60% of the country’s territory comprising the Alps mountain range, there’s no wonder that there are some suitable skiing resorts for beginners in Austria. Arguably the most suitable of these resorts is Obergurgl.
Found in the west of the country, Obergurgl has an elevation of 1,930m above sea level, which also makes it the highest village in Austria. Despite its height above sea level, you do not need to worry about having to be a professional to ski here.
There are a multitude of blue slopes here, such as Wiesenlift, which is very spacious and flat, so you can ski down this gentle slope without worrying about crashing into anybody. There’s also Piste 6, which is designed with families in mind, even those with small children, so this is a family-friendly option.
Obergurgl also has the advantage of a long skiing season, which runs from mid-November until the end of April, making it one of the longest-running ski seasons in Europe.
Nearest Airport: Innsbruck Airport (97km)
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 14th November 2024 – 27th April 2025
2. La Plagne, France
Situated near the French-Italian border, La Plagne is another good ski resort for beginners. Home to 134 slopes which cover a distance of 225km, of these slopes, 72 are classed as blue (intermediate) and 10 as green (beginner), meaning over 60% of the slopes available at La Plange are suitable for amateur skiers.
The resort itself is huge and is made up of 11 separate villages, from the crisp apple orchards at the bottom of the French Alps to the snow-capped villages further up, there is so much to do here besides skiing, so you can ensure that you will never be bored.
After a day of learning the ropes on one of the green courses, why not enjoy a nice warming meal in one of the traditional French alpine taverns, or have a good knees-up with some ice-cold locally brewed beer?
The advantage of the resort and slopes being so huge is that there’s so much scope to hone your craft when it comes to skiing – and with a multitude of passionate instructors who are available to book regardless of your experience, we can guarantee that you’ll come back to La Plagne time and time again.
Nearest Airport: Chambery (120km), although Geneva Airport in Switzerland (155km) is generally the preferred option for international visitors.
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 14th December 2024 – 21st April 2025.
3. Bansko, Bulgaria
Travelling from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, the next stop on this list is Bulgaria. A country that borders both Greece and Turkey is likely to be more associated with a winter sun holiday than a skiing trip, but thanks to its base at the foot of the Pirin Mountains in the southwest of the country, some 925m above sea level, Bansko is another ideal European ski resort for beginners.
In particular, the lower areas of the resort are ideal for beginners. In the area known as Chalin Valog, the ground is even, with excellent snow conditions and long, wide runs. The bottom of the Gondola station is also another good place for beginners at Bansko because while it is wide and flat, it is fairly steep at the top so beginners can get used to picking up pace while skiing.
There is even off-piste skiing offered for those who wish to challenge themselves a bit more, or for those who like to take things at their own pace, without an instructor.
Nearest Airport: Sofia Airport (95km)
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 12th December 2024 – 14th April 2025
4. Oy Levi, Finland
Where better to learn to ski than in the Arctic Circle? Found in northwest Finland, Oly Levi is another good European ski resort for beginners. And with its ski season lasting on average 7 months, this is one of the longest ski seasons in Europe – so you could even visit twice in the same season if you wanted to.
For beginners, the best slopes to tackle can be found at the south end of the resort, Leevilandia. This area of the ski resort has two (covered) magic carpet lifts, and the slopes themselves offer a smooth progression from beginner to amateur skiing. Naturally, the snow condition is immaculate, and this is far from an icy course.
The rest of the resort is home to more advanced slopes for those who are keen skiers, but there are also lots of restaurants based directly on the slopes – ideal for popping in to grab a quick bite to eat or a warming hot chocolate in front of a roaring log fire while the late afternoon sun sinks below the horizon.
Nearest Airport: Kittilä International Airport (15km)
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 4th October 2024 – 4th May 2025
5. Saas-Fee, Switzerland
It will be little surprise to see Switzerland on this list, as the country is home to no fewer than 351 different ski resorts, all of which have their own individual charm and are all accompanied by the stunning backdrop of the Alps.
However, for beginners, there are not many better ski resorts in Europe than Saas-Fee. The resort itself has many slopes dedicated not just to beginners, but to those who have never even attempted to ski before, for real first-time skiers. These are known as the ‘nursery slopes’, and are located in the village area of the resort.
Saas-Fee is also known as ‘The Pearl of the Alps’, because of the sheer natural beauty surrounding the course – everywhere you look, the views are simply immaculate. From the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Alps to the traditional Alpine villages that dot the landscape like something from a Christmas card to the vast swathes of magical pine forests, this is a resort that anyone can appreciate – even if you’ve no interest in skiing!
The resort is also home to many blue slopes, which are perfect for those beginners who wish to challenge themselves a little more, or for those who are not quite confident enough to start on the advanced slopes.
As with most ski resorts, there are a multitude of places within the resort where you can enjoy a nice warming meal and a good few drinks to wash it all down with.
Nearest Airport: Sion Airport (78km) is the nearest, but Geneva is the preferred option (227km).
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 28th October 2024 – 5th May 2025
6. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
Found high in the Dolomites in northeastern Italy, not too far from the Austrian border, is Cortina d’Ampezzo, an excellent ski resort for beginners.
With 120km of slopes dedicated solely to beginner and intermediate skiers, Cortina d’Ampezzo is a paradise for those who are new to skiing. Socrepes is regarded as the easiest slope to attempt, and many beginners are encouraged to tackle this gentle, flat slope first before moving onto any of the others.
The beginner slopes at Cortina d’Ampezzo are characterised by their wide nature, meaning that the chance of crashing into another skier is almost impossible. There are numerous ski lifts around the resort, too – but one thing that makes Cortina d’Ampezzo stand out amongst its competitors is that there is a beginners-only lift, meaning that beginners do not feel awkward stopping the ski lift at different points when the advanced and expert skiers want to go straight to the top.
There are numerous classes available to book with highly qualified instructors, who are only all too happy to help you learn the ropes of skiing, regardless of your ability.
Nearest Airport: Treviso Airport (137km) or Venice Marco Polo Airport (148km) are the best options.
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 29th November 2024 – 30th April 2025
7. Arinsal, Andorra
Andorra is not the most common destination to go for a winter break, but it is nevertheless well-known for its skiing. Arinsal is a resort village found in the west of the country, close to the Spanish border. With an altitude of between 1550 and 2560 metres above sea level, there’s little surprise that Arinsal is an excellent ski resort.
The reason why Arinsal is so good for beginners is that it advertises itself as a family-friendly resort. Smaller than many of the other resorts on this list, it's ideal for those who want a quieter skiing holiday. While the nighttime parties can be great fun, for some people, this can be too much, so if you’re looking for a quiet break away to enjoy some relaxed skiing, then a trip to Arinsal is a must.
There is a well-regarded ski school at the resort, complete with suitably qualified instructors who are bookable on a daily basis, as well as primarily gentle and child-friendly slopes. This is an excellent resort to visit if you have small children and want to get them into skiing.
As a result, there are lots of child-friendly activities to do at the resort aside from skiing, and even for those who might want to carry on doing outdoor winter sports, then there is even a freestyle snowboarding area at Arinsal, too.
Nearest Airport: Andorra-La Seu d’Urgell Airport (21km)
2024/25 Ski Season Dates: 30th November 2024 – 20th April 2025
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chester Ollivier
Chester is passionate about exploring new places through food, history and heritage. Whether he is uncovering hidden gems in North East England or travelling to exotic locations across the globe, his enthusiasm for food and history fuels his adventures. His love for writing, combined with his intrigue of different cultures and their histories has led him to pursue a career as a travel writer.