The best cheap ski resorts to visit in Europe in 2026

Best for: Kids and families

Fly to: Sarajevo International Airport

The resort of Babin Do, which is the highest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, covers the north slopes of the Bjelašnica mountain above Sarajevo, and brags a total of 14.3 km of slopes in total. Heard of it before? That’s because it hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. However, despite this resort’s fame, and offering of slopes for both beginners and more advanced skiers, this place is cheap – considered one of the most budget-friendly resorts on the planet. 

Price: Adult day tickets for the 2026/27 season are approx £28 (€33), and for kids it's £18 (€21).

Best for: Beginner skiers

Fly to: Sofia airport 

One of another trio of resorts, this time in Bulgaria. Borovets, along with its counterparts Bansko and Pamporovo, offers some of the most underrated and budget-friendly skiing in Europe. Easy to reach from Sofia, Borovets enjoys reliable powder thanks to its prime location in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria’s highest range. Expect comfortable hotels, gear rental and ski lessons for less than half the price of the average trip to St Anton or Val d’Isere. With 58km of pistes, it’s smaller than many European ski resorts – but the slopes here cater mainly to beginners and intermediate skiers, making it ideal for those keen to try out the sport without breaking the bank. 

Price: Season lift passes go from £862 (€1020) for adults and £590 (€700) for children. You can also buy passes for one to five consecutive days or six non-consecutive days.

Best for: Sun seekers

Fly to: Granada airport

While Spain is the go-to destination for a summer holiday, you can also catch some fresh powder in the Sierra Nevada Resort, which is an hour from Granada. Located high in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this resort promises a unique combination of sunshine and views. Bright blue skies are common from February to April, and on clear days you can see North Africa. While snow can be inconsistent, there are hundreds of snow machines to guarantee ski days. This resort is best for beginner and intermediate skiers, but it also has several black runs and off-piste options.

Price: Adult 10-day passes for the 2026/27 season cost €488 (around £425) during the advance sale, rising to €610 (around £531) afterwards. Adult season passes cost €1,120 (around £974) in advance or €1,400 (around £1,218) at the standard rate.

Best for: Nightlife

Fly to: Toulouse, Girona or Barcelona airports

Andorra may be small but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in mountains – there’s one almost everywhere you look. Arinsal has 63km of marked slopes reaching over 2,500m. The resort offers runs for different ability levels, with more challenging red and black runs at higher elevations. The nightlife here has a bit of a wild reputation and Andorra la Vella is a day trip away for non-skiing days. Best of all, multi-day ski passes don’t have to be used consecutively. 

Price: Crystal Ski has seven-night packages available for 2026/27, starting at £517pp based on two people in catered accommodation.

Best for: Stunning Dolomite scenery

Fly to: Venice

In the Italian Dolomites, there’s one name that hogs the limelight in the skiing world, and that’s Cortina d’Ampezzo. However, right next door, the tiny town of San Vito di Cadore offers a low-cost alternative. With just 20km of runs, this place is ideally suited for those learning to ski or families with little skiers – there are nursery slopes, family discounts and an amusement park. San Vito di Cadore is, however, part of the Dolomiti Superski Complex, which covers a whopping 1200km of pistes. A local Skipass de Valle gives access to the Cortina–San Vito–Auronzo–Misurina ski area, while the full Dolomiti Superski pass opens up the wider network, including Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi.

Price: Ski passes at San Vito di Cadore for 2026/27 have not been released by time of writing but in 2025/26 it cost €37.50 (£31.45) per weekend for adults.

Read Time Out’s full guide to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

Best for: Extremely affordable skiing

Fly to: Podgorica Airport

Montenegro provides a refreshing alternative to the usual suspects dotted around Europe, and it does so at a scarcely believable price point. Kolašin is the place to go, tucked away in the north of the country on the slopes of Mount Bjelasica, and you’ll struggle to find better-value skiing anywhere on the continent. The two ski areas offer around 45km of pistes for all skill levels, all for the cost of a €15 day pass, making Kolašin one of the easiest places in Europe to enjoy an extra day or three on the mountain. The town of Kolašin itself is a charming place, with plenty of restaurants and bars, and the nearby Biogradska Gora National Park offers more incentive to get out and explore Montenegro’s magnificent nature. If you can drag yourself away from €15 skiing, of course.

Price: Adult day passes cost €15 in the 2025/26 season, while seven days costs just €80.

Best for: Foodies after great restaurants 

Fly to: Milan

Over 115km of slopes, a terrain park, challenging black runs and duty-free shopping are what draw most people to the slopes of Livigno, which is part of the Italian Alps. Food here is well-priced as is the comfortable chalet-style accommodation, and skiers with a valid Livigno or Alta Valtellina pass can get discounted lift passes for the Engadin-St Moritz ski area, where budget is a word not often heard. Livigno is a fairly easy drive from Milan and has loads of late-night bars and clubs, making it popular with a young, party-loving crowd. 

Price: Ski passes in the high season for 2026/27 are €406.50 (£354) for one week. Check hotel rates for your travel dates, as accommodation costs vary considerably by season.

Best for: Apres ski

Fly to: Geneva, Lyon or Grenoble airports

A slightly more affordable way to hit up France’s famous Les 3 Vallées (Three Valleys), Les Menuires is frequently overshadowed by the mighty trio of Val Thorens, Méribel and Courchevel. Sharing its ski area with the latter two, staying here allows access to 370 miles of world-famous slopes that have something for everyone, from those snowploughing on their first skis to experts wanting to go off-piste. Much of the resort was built in the 1960s and 1970s, giving it a more functional, high-rise look than some traditional Alpine villages. That lack of postcard charm can help keep accommodation prices competitive. Plus, when the days are spent out on the pistes and evenings are filled with apres-ski, aesthetics aren’t a priority. 

Price: Day ski passes for the 3 Valleys, including Les Menuires in the 2026/27 season cost €84.20, with six-day passes available for €421. 

Best for: A city break with a side of skiing

Fly to: Bucharest Airport

Skiing and medieval cities might not immediately sound like natural bedfellows, but Poiana Brașov isn’t your ordinary ski resort. The country’s best-known mountain resort sits high above the city of Brașov, with between 14km and 24km of pistes for visitors of all abilities, including some seriously testing black pistes for the experienced. A day at Poiana Brașov will set you back just 240 lei (around €48), and the city below Mount Postǎvarul is a fabulous addition to a day on the slopes. The city has a stunning medieval centre, lively restaurants, a fascinating history, and exciting nightlife, making Poiana Brașov an excellent, affordable option for those who can’t decide between a city break and a ski holiday. Why not have both?

Price: Adult day passes cost 240 lei (around €48) in the 2025/26 season, while six days costs 900 lei (around €173).

Best for: Skiers on a budget

Fly to: Poprad-Tatry airport or Krakow airport

The largest resort in Slovakia and definitely one of the most budget-friendly, Jasná, in the lower Tatras mountains, has all the goulash, fresh powder and quality gear you could ask for. With accommodation often coming in cheap, restaurants serving hearty eastern European cuisine and 50km of pistes, Slovakia might well be the best affordable ski destination in Europe. Runs range from beginner to expert, and activities that don’t involve snow include Tatralandia Aquapark and some popular nightclubs frequented by local tourists – we’ll say na zdravie to that.  

Price: Ski passes for high season in Jasná are €629 (£547.74) for the season. Prices for day passes for the 2026/27 season are not available yet, but last year they were €82 (£69) per weekday for adults.

Best for: Things to do besides skiing

Fly to: Innsbruck

Whether you snowboard, ski or simply après, Ischgl in Austria’s western Tyrol mountains ticks all the boxes for an action-packed ski holiday that comes in (mostly) under budget compared to other resorts. Ischgl has joined forces with the nearby Swiss resort of Samnaun, meaning there are 239km of trails for all abilities, along with excellent off-piste areas. This golden combination of resorts enjoys a long season, usually from November to May – and if you arrive at the start or tail end of the season, the lift pass is slightly cheaper. Accommodation is varied, with many ski-in ski-out options, but these tend to get booked up before the first powder even hits the ground. 

Price: A seven-day adult VIP lift pass for 2026/27 costs €427 (£372) at the regular rate, dropping to €362 (£315) during selected early- and late-season dates. The VIP pass requires a guest card from accommodation in Ischgl or Mathon.

Best for: Families

Fly to: Turin

Boasting one of the largest ski areas in the southern Alps – with more than 250km of pistes – the lesser-visited Serre Chevalier suddenly seems far more affordable when you consider the range of nearby accommodation options. Surrounding Serre Chevalier are the towns of St Chaffrey, La Salle Les Alpes, Le Monêtier-les-Bains, Briançon and Chantemerle, all offering plenty of places to stay. Although there’s terrain for all levels, Serre Chevalier is particularly family-friendly, with beginner runs, family passes and limited late-night après parties. 

Price: Six-day lift passes for the 2026/27 season cost up to €345 (£300) per adult and €283 (£246) per child aged 6–11 before applicable discounts. Family passes are available for groups of four or more skiing for at least six days.