These are the most underrated ski resorts in Europe

This quiet village just a stone’s throw from buzzing Verbier is linked to the wider 4 Vallées ski area via the lifts at nearby Le Châble. Bruson itself boasts 26km of pistes, including wooded runs and challenging terrain, and when you’re ready for more there’s a further 410km to explore in the 4 Vallées. Come 4pm, party in Verbier or retreat gracefully to Bruson where locally renowned raclette cheese will warm your cockles. 

Stay here: Hôtel A Lârze (3 stars) is a small, family-run hotel with just 10 double rooms. This cosy chalet-style bolthole is conveniently located near the shops, bars and ski lifts. Return after a day’s skiing to a traditional sauna and homemade cake. 

Price: Adult annual passes for the 2026/27 season cost CHF 1349 when purchased by 30 November, rising to CHF 1499 thereafter. Adult day passes for the full 4 Vallées area start at CHF 94, with six-day passes costing CHF 409. Online discounts are available for advance bookings.

Les Houches is one of the resort towns making up the Mont Blanc ski area and a hop, skip and a jump from world-renowned Chamonix. Its 55km of crowd-free pistes include blue, red and black runs, and a valley-wide pass gives access to other ski areas around Chamonix. The wide, uncrowded Aillouds blue run off the Maison Nueve lift is a dream for perfecting your style. Be sure to ride the Tramway du Mont Blanc, one of France’s highest mountain trains.

Stay here: RockyPop is a trendy hotel in the heart of Les Houches with a cocktail bar, brasserie, games area, and live music. Don’t be fooled by its hipster vibe, it’s very family-friendly.  

Price: Adult ski passes are available for one to six days. Dynamic pricing applies to online purchases, with rates varying according to demand and the period of activity.

St Christoph is St Anton’s calmer alter ego where chilled drinks prevail over raucous bars. It’s among the highest Alpine resorts meaning guaranteed snow and most accommodation sits right on the slopes—ideal for families. The resort connects to the entire Arlberg ski area which boasts 305km of green, blue, red and black runs. There’s also some fantastic off-piste terrain for thrill seekers. St Anton is a quick bus or taxi ride away. 

Stay here: Hotel Maiensee is a warm, chalet-style retreat right on the slopes, boasting a spa, three restaurants, indoor car park and rooms and suites to suit all needs. 

Price: Ski passes for adults at St. Christoph range from €85 for the day, €168 for two days, €251 for three days and €331 for four days.

Away from the better-known resorts of Zermatt and Verbier lies a chain of five villages which make up the Val d'Anniviers ski area. You’ll have 220km of unblemished ski runs to play with, a low-key après scene and accommodation options ranging from simple gîtes to luxury hotels. Train connections from Geneva (via Sierre) will get you there, or the same by car, and Verbier’s après bars are less than 30 minutes away by train.

Stay here: Hotel Grand Chalet Favre is a historic chalet-turned-boutique hotel at the heart of St Luc, Val d’Anniviers. Enjoy winding down after a day on the slopes in modern rustic charm or explore the shops and bars on your doorstep.

Price: Adult ski passes for Val d’Anniviers range from CHF 75 for one day per person up to CHF 386 for the full week. 

The spectacular seaside might get most of the tourist attention in Montenegro, but there’s a blossoming ski culture developing in the north. Kolašin is the country’s main ski resort, its answer to the big guns across the continent, but it comes without the crowds, the eye-watering prices, or the endless rows of designer chalets. The Kolašin 1450 and 1600 ski areas are linked and offer around 45km of runs, some reaching more than 2,000 metres above sea level, with options for beginners, intermediates, and more than a few challenging runs for experienced skiers. When you’re done for the day, Kolašin itself is a fascinating town, with decent traditional restaurants and more character than you might expect. Kolašin is also an excellent base for exploring the spectacular Biogradska National Park.

Stay here: Swissôtel Resort Kolašin is a proper ski-in, ski-out option at 1,600 meters, with a spa, hammam, sauna, restaurants and 116 rooms and suites.

Price: During the 2025/26 season, Kolašin 1450 adult day passes started at €15 (children pay €12). Two days cost €30, three days come in at €45, etc., but a seven-day pass represented good value at €80 (€70 for children). Prices for the 2026/27 season are yet to be released.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly resort, the Norwegian town of Geilo awaits with enchanting forest trails, dog sledding, traditional saunas and potential Northern Lights sightings. Geilo has just 34km of pistes but it packs a lot in—there’s a good mix of green and blue runs for beginners while intermediates can whoosh down reds or take it off-piste. Not to mention, it’s home to one of Norway’s longest toboggan runs. 

Stay here: The ski-in ski-out Vestlia Resort in 2km from Geilo and exudes modern Nordic charm. Amenities include a spa, swimming pool with water slides, restaurant, cafe-bar and some excellent kids facilities.  

Price: Early bird season passes go from 6755 NOK per adult and 5455 NOK for ages 7-17 and seniors ages 65 and up. 

Yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you; you can ski in Calabria. It might seem unlikely, but the Land of the Vines has never been one for the rules. Perched around the shores of Lake Arvo in Sila National Park, Lorica is pretty far removed from the standard image of an Italian ski resort, but that might be what makes it so much fun. There aren’t a huge number of pistes (around 7.5km in total), but Lorica packs in blue, red, and black runs, along with cross-country skiing, snowboarding, a bobsleigh run, and a cable car up Monte Botte Donato. It is all wonderfully accessible, meaning you can ski through the day and enjoy an infectious Calabrian village once the sun sets.

Stay here: Hotel Park 108 is a four-star hotel overlooking the lake, complete with a spa, restaurant, and contemporary rooms.

Price: Adult day passes cost between €26 and €35 depending on dates and ticket type.

Located in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria’s highest range, Borovets is a trio of ski resorts with consistent snow on its 58km of pistes. It’s ideal for beginners and very budget-friendly with accommodation, gear rental and ski schools at a fraction of the price of the likes of St Anton or Val D’Isere. Borovets is reachable from the capital of Sofia in an hour and a half.

Stay here: The alpine-inspired Hotel Rila is a ski-in, ski-out resort overlooking ancient forests and the mighty Rila Mountain. Find everything you need on-site including five restaurants, a spa, kids club and ski rental.

Price: Season lift passes go from 1994.95 BGN for adults and 1365.17 BGN for children. You can also buy passes for one to five consecutive days or six non-consecutive days. You can try night skiing here for 63 BGN per adult, too.

Nobody would suspect that just a short hop from the beaches of Malaga lie roughly 110km of buttery pistes. The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for ‘snowy mountains’) is Europe’s most southerly ski resort and has 134 runs to play on—a mixture of blue, red and black. When you’re ready to refuel, trade fondue for tapas and fresh seafood. As for après? In true Spanish style, the fiestas continue well into the night.

Stay here: The Mountains Hotel blends modern design with Andalusian aesthetics. It’s just a 3-minute walk from the lifts and amenities include two terraced bars, a swimming pool, spa and live music.

Price: You can still get early bird ski passes from €1120 per adult, €840 for ages 6-15 and €896 for seniors 65 and up.