Laura Sanders

Growing up, I’ve been lucky enough to ski in some of Europe’s most sought-after resorts – St Anton, Saalbach and Chamonix, a family favourite. Driving to the Alps afforded us the luxury of packing up our skis and exploring what’s nearby and I’ve found that some of the most underrated resorts are often just around the corner from the big names, offering skiing on the same slopes without the premium price tags or crowds.  In other instances great skiing is where you’d least expect it, such as in southern Spain or high in the Bulgarian Dinaric Alps. Here are the off-the-radar ski resorts worth checking out. 💸 The best affordable ski resorts in Europe 📍 Ultimate guide to Europe Laura Sanders is an experienced travel writer who has skied regularly since she was a child. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

In my two decades of skiing, I’ve come to appreciate that while the basic concept remains the same (ski, drink, sleep, repeat), every resort has its own character. There’s no one-size-fits-all, and where you should go depends entirely on what you’re looking for.  And sure, there’s a hell of a lot of ski resorts in Europe. But we’ve got to start somewhere. Below, you’ll find my top picks for every kind of skiing holiday – from the most affordable to the bougiest, from beginner-friendly to off-piste havens, and from the best après ski spots to the best food in the Alps. Whatever kind of skiier you are, you’ll find your perfect spot on this list. Enjoy the slopes! RECOMMENDED:⛷️ The most affordable ski holidays in Europe🇦🇹 The best ski resorts in Austria🇮🇹 The best ski resorts in Italy🇨🇭 The best ski resorts in Switzerland Laura Sanders is an experienced travel writer who has skied regularly since she was a child. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.