How do you weigh up, for example, the best ski resorts in Italy<\/a> vs. the best resorts in Canada<\/a>? Can you really compare aFrench<\/a> mega-resort with an abundance of family-friendly pistes to a tiny two-lift operation in the backwoods ofColorado<\/a>? And what about the towns? Do you prioritise ski-in, ski-out access, or chocolate box aesthetics? Is it all about theapr\u00e8s<\/a>, or about the growing number of fine dining restaurants popping up in ski resorts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n To a certain extent, the answer to all of these questions is subjective. Some ski resorts are great for families<\/a>. Some are ideal for beginners<\/a>. Some are particularly well suited to off-piste powderhounds.<\/a> Some people will just want a high-altitude resort<\/a> that gives them the best chance of snow-sure conditions for late season skiing<\/a>. Otherwise will prioritise the vibe in the village. In the end, everyone’s idea of what makes the perfect ski holiday is slightly different, and we’re not going to pretend that this list solves those all those debates (in fact, if anything, it’s more likely to spark new ones). Having compiled a long-list of over 100 resorts, from Avoriaz<\/a> and Aspen<\/a> to Zermatt<\/a> and Zell-am-Ziller,<\/a> we evaluated them on a wide range of factors including the quality of the skiing on and off-piste, the variety and the vibe of the town, the ease of access, prices and a multitude of other factors, including new lifts and services, and environmental initiatives. Finally, after much deliberation, we reached a decision. These, in alphabetical order, are our picks of the 25 best ski resorts in the world this winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Known as \u201cl\u2019Ile au Soleil,\u201d thanks to the town\u2019s south-facing aspect, Alpe d\u2019Huez<\/a> has long been a favourite for family ski holidays<\/a>. But there\u2019s more to this mega-resort than just kid-friendly greens and cruisey blues. Its vast ski area links four separate villages and contains some pretty serious off-piste, as well as La Sarenne, the longest black run in France. It\u2019s snow sure too, with lifts reaching up to the 3,300m-high summit of Pic Blanc. Andermatt, Switzerland<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a sleepy Alpine village, Andermatt was bought by US conglomerate Vail Resorts in 2022, and the company\u2019s deep pockets means there\u2019s a lot of investment\u2014and some big changes\u2014on the horizon. Vail Resorts has promised pump 110 million Swiss francs (\u00a395 million) into improving the ski area infrastructure, and the company has allocated a further 39 million francs (\u00a333 million) for real estate developments in the village itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, none of this would be worth diddly-squat unless Andermatt had the natural assets to make it worthwhile. Luckily, it was already one of the best ski resorts in Switzerland<\/a>, in our opinion, with extensive and varied terrain. There are 180 kilometres of slopes, 33 lifts and numerous peaks over 3,000 metres. In 2019, a gondola was built linking Andermatt\u2019s ski area with nearby Sedrun, expanding the ski area even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While intermediates who will be most at home here, it’s also something of a Mecca for freeriding. The Gemsstock is home to all manner of steep and gnarly descents. It helps too that Andermatt is one of Europe\u2019s most snow sure resorts, because of its position, which means it gets snow from both the south and the north.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our guide to Andermatt ski resort<\/a> here. It might seem a bit far-fetched to claim that Amirsoy<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> a new development in the Central Asian nation of Uzbekistan<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> is one of the best ski resorts in the world. But we reckon give it a few years and it could be. And we can honestly say that of all the ski destinations the team has visited recently, this is the one that excited us the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Built in world record time at a cost of \u00a375 million, Amirsoy marks the first attempt to construct a modern resort with French-made lifts, German piste-bashers, and Austrian standards of safety in the region. It’s still early days – the resort opened in late December 2019 – but the plans for this place are big, and with the country opening up to tourists and the abolishment of the previously draconian visa requirements, it’s significantly easier get to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As anyone who’s been skiing in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan will be able to tell you, the dry powder of the Tien Shan mountains really is like nothing else you’ll ever experience. Which is why we’ve marked Amirsoy as “one to watch”. Or, if you fancy heading a little further off the beaten track for your next ski holiday, one to head to as soon as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can read the full story of our trip to Amirsoy<\/strong><\/a> here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It might feel like a clich\u00e9 to include Chamonix<\/a>, but it’s hard to argue this legendary resort isn’t worthy of a spot on this list. Famous for the diversity of its terrain, the reliable snow conditions, huge ski area, and incredible views of the tallest mountains in Europe, including, of course Mont Blanc. The high altitude terrain here is obviously world-renowned, but this is also where you\u2019ll find some of Europe\u2019s best tree runs, complete with mellow side hits (one of the reasons French snowboarder Arthur Longo, the viral video king of side hits<\/a>, lives here). Then there’s the resort itself, which is less an alpine village than a proper town \u2014 with facilities and amenities you won\u2019t find in any other ski resort. Its proximity to Geneva<\/a><\/strong> and the airport, which you can reach in just over an hour, means the permanent residents are a more cosmopolitan crowd than you’d find in many places in the French Alps. This is reflected in the resort’s bars, which are hugely varied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, there\u2019s its history. Chamonix has been a winter holiday town since the late 1700s, when it was a staple of the Grand Tour which young aristocrats took around Europe. How many other ski resorts can boast that they’ve played host to people like Keats, Shelley, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron? The presence of Mont Blanc means that much of the history of mountaineering has been written in Chamonix, and alpine skiing was essentially invented here\u2014the first ski lift was installed here in the early 20th century, and next year marks the 100th anniversary of the the first Winter Olympics, held right here in 1924.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full resort guide to Chamonix Mont Blanc <\/a>here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If resort ratings were based on looks alone, Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo<\/a> would win hands down. It\u2019s surrounded by the impossibly-picturesque peaks of the Dolomites, while the town itself, with its 19th century centre and pedestrianised main street, is one of the oldest and most attractive ski villages in Italy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While not all the ski areas are linked by lift, there\u2019s a vast amount of terrain on offer locally, and the Dolomiti Superski Pass gives you access to dozens of resorts and 1,200km of slopes\u2014more than any other day or week-long pass in the world. Plus, there\u2019s the Hidden Valley of Lagazuoi\u2014a true bucketlist run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n During Italy\u2019s postwar boom years, Cortina was the place for well-heeled Venetians to be seen in winter. It drew the eyes of the world when it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, and excitement is already rising for the return of the Games in 2026<\/a>. Add in arguably the classiest collection of restaurants and cocktail bars in any resort and you can see why Cortina was a shoe-in for this list. It might be a new entry on this year’s list, but we’ve always rated Crans-Montana<\/a> one of the best ski resorts in Switzerland<\/a>. The thing that’s catapulted it into the big leagues as one of the best resorts in the world recently is a change of ownership\u2014marking perhaps the most significant shift in the resort’s history since the wave of post-war construction that created Crans-Montana as we know it today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the beginning of December 2024, the US conglomerate Vail<\/a> Resorts announced that it had acquired an 84 percent ownership stake in company which controls and operates all the resort’s lifts and mountain operations, including four retail and rental locations. The company had also bought one of the ski schools and all of the 11 restaurants located on and around the mountain. The amount they paid was undisclosed, but they estimated the total worth of their new holdings as CHF 118.5 million (\u00a3105 million). \u2028 At the same time, Vail have promised not to mess with what made Crans-Montana special in the first place. The resort has a long and rich skiing history\u2014over 100 years of it, to be precise. The first funicular opened in 1911, and that same year, the Edwardian ski pioneer Sir Arnold Lunn<\/a> organised the first ever downhill race, with a dozen or so members of his Kandahar Ski Club. You can still feel this heritage down in the pretty town, while the mountain itself offers a vast, varied and snow sure ski area, with a 1,500m vertical drop and some of the best views in Switzerland. \u2028\u2028<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full review of Crans-Montana<\/a> here. Although it\u2019s one of the world\u2019s most popular summer holiday destinations, Turkey isn\u2019t exactly full of famous ski resorts. But Erciyes easily earns its place on this list thanks to its amazing location, incredible terrain, and ludicrously low prices. Plus, of course, the ready availability of Turkish food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Built around three sides of Mount Erciyes, a spectacular extinct volcano with a collapsed crater at its summit, this relatively new resort (built since 2005) boasts 150km of pistes. These are served by 12 high-speed, Austrian-made lifts, the highest of which tops out at 3,400m\u2014higher than the top station in Val Thorens<\/a>. The lifts are widely spaced too, leaving plenty of space for powderhounds to plunder easy, sidecountry runs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The upmarket hotels in the resorts\u2019 base areas are international standard, but it\u2019s arguably more fun to stay in the ancient city of Kayseri, just half an hour down the road. Cappadocia, home to the iconic \u201cfairy chimneys\u201d and a UNESCO World Heritage site is only an hour away too\u2014easily reachable on a down day. Oh and did we mention the liftpass prices? A day\u2019s skiing will set you back the princely sum of 430 Turkish lira\u2014which is just under \u00a310. Japow, the soft, fluffy, delicacy cooked up by the unique weather systems over the sea of Japan, is undoubtedly best enjoyed on the country’s northernmost island. That said, there’s still plenty of the white stuff to be found further south. Take Honshu, Japan’s main island, which lays claim to the kind of couloirs and steeps that Niseko and the other famous resorts further north can only dream of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hakuba, one of the larger mountain towns in the range, offers easy access to several ski areas, including Happo One, Norikura Onsen and the slightly confusingly-named Cortina. Between them, these slopes offer pistes for every skill level, along with a huge variety of backcountry lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The terrain around here would be reason enough to visit, but there\u2019s another reason to visit the Japanese Alps – because they’re not as famous, they tend to attract fewer foreigners. So while an apr\u00e8s ski bar in Niseko is just as likely to be owned by an Australian as a local, in Hakuba, it’s easier to enjoy an authentically Japanese cultural experience – which, let\u2019s face it, is why most people come skiing in Japan<\/a>in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Hakuba resort guide<\/a> for more info. In a remote corner of Wyoming, the least populous state in America\u2019s \u2018Lower 48\u2019, lies Jackson Hole<\/a>. It\u2019s a long way away from the mainstream mega-resorts of Colorado and Utah, both in geography and in spirit. Unlike much of the Rockies further south, the terrain in the Teton Range is genuinely steep. The fact that much of it is \u201cin bounds\u201d (and therefore patrolled, unlike off-piste terrain in the Alps) doesn\u2019t make it any less challenging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrating 60 years as a ski resort this winter (2025-26), the town has moved a long way upmarket since skiing replaced ranching as the main source of income. But the ethos of the original frontiersmen lives on in pioneering locals like the boundary-pushing snowboarder Travis Rice<\/a>, or the team behind the world-famous Teton Gravity Research films. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, there are luxury condos and pricey restaurants aplenty these days\u2014particularly around the slopeside settlement of Teton Village. And yes, former Vice President Dick Cheney lived here. But Jackson still attracts enough of skiing\u2019s lunatic fringe to keep it interesting\u2014and the ride-hard, party-hard atmosphere is a big part of the allure. Kicking Horse<\/a> has long been famous for its off-piste. The ski area includes 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares) of skiable terrain, offering 4,314 feet (1,314m) of vertical, 121 runs, and 85 marked couloirs, accessed by five lifts. The terrain is laid out across five bowls which were once only accessible by helicopter, and offers plenty of variety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As is customary in North America, the bulk of the best backcountry terrain here is “in-bounds”, meaning it’s patrolled and controlled for avalanche risk. This also means the routes are marked, and Kicking Horse’s trail map includes numerous black diamond and double black diamond runs. The snow here is incredibly consistent, with an average of about 7m falling each season, and because it’s miles from the sea (the nearest coastline is 489 kilometres away), it stays dry days after a dump. Driving, of course, also gives you the flexibility to explore the rest of the ski resorts on the Powder Highway<\/a><\/strong>. While Kicking Horse is the pick of the bunch, Revelstoke<\/a>,<\/strong> which is just nearby, Red Mountain, and Whitewater, further south, are all well worth a visit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Kicking Horse<\/a> resort guide for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early 90s, Reto Gurtner, who essentially inherited the Swiss resort of Laax<\/a> from his father, made a bold choice: to differentiate it from their countless competitors in the canton of Graubunden, the resort would bet big on the new-fangled sport of snowboarding\u2014building one of Europe\u2019s first halfpipes, investing in an extensive terrain park, and hosting the European Open each year. Gurtner had learned to surf while studying in San Francisco in the 70s, and believed freestyle was the future. However, the real reason it makes this list (as well as our list of the best ski resorts in Switzerland<\/a>), is Gurtner\u2019s latest big bet: Laax is aiming to become not just net-zero, but actual zero carbon by 2030\u2014a world first. Their lifts and snow cannons are already powered by renewables, and they\u2019re investing more in things like building insulation and electrified piste bashers each year. This winter, they\u2019ll fully open the world\u2019s first \u201con-demand\u201d gondola\u2014another emissions-saving innovation. In a world of greenwashing, Laax is the real deal. It might seem perverse to include a place with only one lift and fewer than 500 visitor beds and on this list. But for a certain kind of skier, resorts don’t get much better than La Grave. It might be one of the smallest ski towns in France, but La Grave is one the best places on the planet for freeriding. Think Chamonix,<\/a> without the crowds, or Jackson Hole, but with gnarlier descents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n La Grave\u2019s only lift is a now iconic cable car made up of five brightly-coloured bubbles that stretches from the village at 1,500m to Les Ruillans at 3,200m. There\u2019s nearly 2,000m of vertical descent, but no marked pistes. It’s all just backcountry, left as God intended, for brave skiers to descend in whichever way\u2014and however fast\u2014they see fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The village is a no-frills affair mostly made up of hotels from the 70s, and the closest you get to \u201cski in, ski out\u201d accommodation here are the vans lined up in the carpark. There can be a lively apr\u00e8s ski scene in La Grave\u2014but if the snow’s falling, the bars will be empty. By some measures, La Plagne is the largest ski resort in the world, yet it is often strangely overlooked\u2014 written off as just a family friendly destination, whose runs are too flat for serious skiers (“plagne” is a variation on the French word for “flat”). The truth could not be more different. While there are flat sections, the resorts vast ski area, arranged around 11 villages, has literally every terrain type you could possibly wish for\u2014from the tree runs near Montchavin, to the high alpine glacier skiing beneath the 3,417m high peak of Bellc\u00f4te. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the resort’s 225km of pistes somehow aren’t enough, it’s also linked to neighbouring Les Arcs<\/a>, offering access to a further 200km on the other side of the chasm-spanning Vanoise Express gondola. Between the two, meanwhile, lies one of France’s great off-piste runs, the 2,000m-long Face Nord du Bellc\u00f4te. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, none of these natural riches are new\u2014the mountains of La Plagne haven’t changed since the resort opened in 1961. The villages, meanwhile, still maintain that 1970s moon-base aesthetic that characterises so many high altitude French resorts of the era. What’s earned La Plagne place on the list of the best resorts in the world this winter is a big new lift development\u2014a \u20ac26 million (\u00a322 million) new gondola that carries guests up to a caf\u00e9 overlooking that famous North Face. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The lift has made it easier to ski in the highest, most snow sure area of the resort, and opened up a ton of new, expert terrain\u2014perhaps helping to put La Plagne’s reputation as “mostly a beginners'” resort to bed for good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full resort review of La Plagne<\/a> here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Known as \u201cLittle Tibet,\u201d Livigno sits on a high-altitude plateau in Italy, near the Swiss border. It’s known for offering reliable snow, world-class freestyle facilities, and, more quirkily, duty-free shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The village\u2019s tax perks date back to the 16th century, when rulers encouraged settlers to what was then a remote border outpost. Getting to Livigno still takes time, but the drive is worth it. The resort spans two sides of a broad valley, with Carosello 3000 to the west and Mottolino to the east.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most slopes are forgiving reds with some blues for beginners and a few short blacks. The best descents are the long runs from Carosello down to San Rocco. Mottolino\u2019s snowpark, among the finest in the Alps, will host the Big Air,<\/a> Halfpipe<\/a>, Slopestyle and other freestyle skiing and snowboard events for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics<\/a>. There\u2019s also ample off-piste terrain and you can even go heliskiing in the area\u2014unlike in France, heliskiing is allowed in the Italian alps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Livigno has a long season which runs from late November to May, and its tax-free status means apr\u00e8s drinks, dining, and shopping are refreshingly affordable. Because of the snow park, the resort tends to attract a young, lively crowd of freestylers, meaning the parties can get good and rowdy here at times. But you’re not going to find the same enormous crowds that you would in Val Thorens or the other French mega-resorts. If Kicking Horse is the archetypal Canadian mountain resort, nowhere sums up skiing in Italy<\/a> quite like Madonna di Campiglio<\/a>. Italians from further south will try and convince you that people from the Trentino region are practically Austrian, such is their proximity to the Tyrolean border, but don’t believe a word of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stereotypes are two-a-penny on the slopes here, from women in fur coats and Gucci sunglasses, to the best-dressed snowboarders you’ll see anywhere in Europe. But this is precisely Madonna’s charm. Crystal Ski Holidays<\/a> have the resort on their books, but you’re unlikely to run into many Brits. In other words, if you\u2019re after the ultimate Italian alpine experience, it doesn\u2019t get better than this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start with the mountains. The Dolomites are famously stunning, but the peaks around Madonna, the Dolomiti di Brenta, are particularly beautiful. Jagged, red rock spires capped by bright white snow and flanked by forests of dark green pines. The ski area is large – the fifth largest in Italy, with over 150km of marked piste. At the top of the Grost\u00e9 lift, you’ll find the Ursus Snowpark, one of the best terrain parks in the country, if not the whole of Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the off-piste in the Madonna ski area isn’t world-class, the nearby resort of Passo Tonale, which can be accessed on the same Superskirama ski pass, boasts some of Italy’s best lift-accessible backcountry. As you’d expect, the food both on and off the hill is second to none. And while Madonna isn’t the cheapest by Italian standards, it’s still a snip compared to the most of the ski resorts in France<\/a>. With the cost of living making price a key concern for many this winter, this is all the more reason to include it in our list of the world’s best ski resorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Madonna di Campiglio<\/a> resort guide for more info. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What can be said about Morzine-Avoriaz which hasn’t already been said a million times? One of France’s most famous ski resorts<\/a> – particularly among Brits – it combines competitive prices with one of the biggest ski areas in the world. Quite simply, there’s something for everybody in the Portes du Soleil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 650km of lift-linked pistes, which stretch across the border between France<\/a> and Switzerland<\/a>, make this a magnet for fans of everything from high alpine skiing to blue run cruising. There are plenty of snow parks for freestyle skiers and snowboarders, while fans of off piste skiing will drool at the range of accessible backcountry terrain on offer \u2014 more than you could ever explore in a lifetime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Admittedly, the popularity of this vast ski area means that there are occasionally bottlenecks on the most popular ski lifts \u2013 particularly those in the resort itself, but there\u2019s a reason to many visitors choose to base themselves in the centre of Morzine. A proper town, rather than a purpose-built ski resort, it’s got a year-round population and plenty of independent businesses run by locals, including an excellent local craft brewery, the Bec Jaune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Somehow, the town has managed to avoid the worst of the imitation Bauhaus building spree which swept through France in the seventies, and it’s maintained its traditional, wooden chalet vibe. And while the British presence is strong (the fashion-conscious seasonaire set has even earned it the hipster sobriquet of ‘Shorezine,’ after London’s Shoreditch) it hasn’t overwhelmed what made this ski resort great in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Morzine<\/a> resort guide for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whittling down the world’s best ski resorts into a manageable list is a near impossible task\u2014as is shown, very obviously, by the fact that this is the only one of Austria’s excellent resorts<\/a> to make the cut. Yet if you have to choose just one ski resort which represents the all the best bits of the Austrian Alps, we’d argue that Obergurgl-Hochgurgl<\/a> is a pretty strong contender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A high altitude ski resort w<\/a>ith snow sure slopes, this twin-resort skiing destination has everything from challenging and high alpine off piste terrain, to cruisey blues and laidback tree runs. There’s an extensive network of cross country trails, and the two towns – and the scattered mountain huts between them – provide plenty of opportunities for schnapps-fulled apr\u00e8s ski celebrations Austria is famous for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prices are refreshingly low – especially compared to skiing in France<\/a>or Switzerland<\/a> \u2013 and if you buy a lift pass for longer than three days here, you automatically get access to the entire \u00d6tztal area. This includes the resort of S\u00f6lden<\/a>, just a short bus ride away (and where you can dial the nightlife up to 11, should you so wish) and the tiny, oft-overlooked village of Vent. The latter only has a handful of lifts, but they offer access to one of the best ski touring areas in the Alps, and multiple mountain huts. That kind of variety, at Obergurgl-Hochgurgl prices, is hard to argue with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Obergurgl <\/a>resort guide for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s a good pub quiz question: What’s the biggest ski resort in North America? Most people would probably bet on Whistler-Blackcomb<\/a>, the Canadian mega-resort north of the border. But the real answer, at least in terms of accessible in-bounds terrain (which is how they measure such things over the pond) is a humble little place called Powder Mountain, just outside a tiny village called Eden, in Utah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Powder Mountain has an incredible 8484 acres (3433 hectares) of skiable terrain, accessed by a mixture of lifts and snow cat tows. Like most US resorts, the chairlifts are old and slow compared to the ones you find in Europe. But the resort’s slogan is “uncrowded by design” and the place doesn’t really suffer from queues. Best of all is the light, fluffy snow that gives the place its name. The resort gets an average of nine metres a season\u2014all of it the kind of moisture-light powder that Utah’s tourist board likes to claim is “the greatest snow on Earth.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a resort, Powder Mountain doesn’t look like much. The base station is little more than a carpark, a guides’ office housed in a yurt, and a saloon-style apr\u00e8s ski bar call the Powder Keg. But Eden, Huntsville or one of the other nearby villages are full of rural charm and packed with stereotypical Americana. If you’re looking for a American ski holiday experience that’s less polished, but arguably more authentic, then PowMow, as the locals call it, should be on your list. Skiing started at Red Mountain at around the same time as gold and copper miners first arrived on the territory of the Sinixt First Nation in the 1890s. Many of these early white settlers were Scandinavians, and when they weren’t digging underground, drinking at the local saloons, or frittering away their earnings in dens of iniquity, they organised ski races. Records show that the first one took place on February 15, 1897, won by a Norwegian named Olaus Jeldness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first rope tow was built in the 1930s, and in 1947, Red Mountain Ski Club constructed the first chairlift, and the lodge which still serves as the base station of the resort to this day. While Red has grown considerably in the intervening years\u2014the lift system now offers access to five separate peaks, and 3,850 acres (1558 hectares) of skiable terrain\u2014it remains proud of its independent, pioneering spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The resort was operated by the ski club until 1989, and while it’s now privately owned, it has resisted selling to either one of the big North American conglomerates \u2014 Vail Resorts or the Alterra Mountain Company. The town retains its rustic, frontier vibe, and the mountain offers access to some of the best in-bounds powder skiing anywhere in North America. There’s even a cat-skiing operation offering one of lifts for people who want to dip their toes into the BC wilderness. Surrounded by no fewer than thirteen 4,000m-plus peaks\u2014a setting that has earned it the nickname “the pearl of the Alps”\u2014Saas-Fee earns its place on this list thanks to its combination of consequential terrain in the high alpine, intermediate-friendly slopes further down, and an unpretentious village that was one of the first in Europe to prioritise environmental initiatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The resort was one of the first in the Alps to go car-free, and takes its commitment to sustainability very seriously\u2014adopting various measures to cut its operational footprint and promote biodiversity. This response to the climate crisis is perhaps not surprising, given Saas-Fee’s terrain. The ski area includes several high-altitude slopes which run between glaciers. Up there, among the seracs and crevasses, the ravages of the climate crisis are all-too visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saas-Fee\u2019s altitude, with lifts that reach a spectacular, 70s-style revolving restaurant at 3,500m, means that the ski area is the very definition of snow sure. In fact, you can ski here all year round, which means pros often flock here in summer. In winter, the sheer amount of off piste terrain on offer is impressive, offering plenty for backcountry enthusiasts to get stuck into. It’s located in one of America\u2019s premier ski states, but Silverton has proudly stayed off the radar since opening in 2002. It’s not so much a resort as a lift-assisted backcountry skiing operation. There’s a single chairlift that drops skiers at a ridge, from which they can hike to reach a range of steep, off-piste descents. Every route feeds into a main trail that winds down the valley floor until you reach a waiting shuttle bus, ready to haul you back to the lift for another round. St. Anton, Austria St. Anton is one of those world-famous destinations whose reputation really is justified. The resort\u2019s vast ski area offers access to 304 km of pistes, with beginners, intermediates and experts all well catered for. It\u2019s not particularly high (the highest lift reaches is just 2,811m) but its position in the heart of the famously snowy Arlberg region, and its extensive network of snow cannons, means that\u2019s rarely an issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When the snow falls, the off-piste and touring is excellent, particularly in the lift-linked Lech area. The town has played a major part in alpine skiing history\u2014one of the very first cable cars in the Alps was installed here, and the Arlberg Ski Club was set up as early as 1901. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, of course, there\u2019s St. Anton\u2019s famous party scene. They say you\u2019ve never really experienced apr\u00e8s until you\u2019ve experienced the Mooserwirt terrace in full swing, and it\u2019s certainly true that no-one parties like the Austrians. But while the raucous crowd attracts the attention, St. Anton is big enough that you can always find a quiet alm if that\u2019s more your bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full ski resort review of St. Anton.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Colorado is blessed with a wealth of world-class ski resorts. Drive just a couple of hours down the Interstate west of Denver and you’ll pass the exits for Vail<\/a>, Breckenridge<\/a>, and Copper Mountain<\/a>, any one of which could stake a claim to a place on this list. Instead, we’ve opted to include Telluride<\/a>, further south. While it might not have the name recognition of some of its more famous neighbours, we believe it just <\/em>pips them when it comes to all-round excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What makes it so special? Let\u2019s start with the San Juan mountains. The peaks in this part of Colorado are steeper and more dramatic than the gently-sloping summits which surround the resorts in the northern half of the state. Not convinced? Take a look at a can Coors: the towering Wilson Peak, which features on the logo, is just round the corner from Telluride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All this makes for brilliant diversity of terrain, including some seriously steep couloirs and backcountry which feels wonderfully remote. Often the only signs of life are logging roads linking a few abandoned mining settlements straight out of a Clint Eastwood movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The town itself combines some of that same, old western appeal (it’s a former mining settlement, after all) with an unexpectedly bohemian vibe. Famously, The Grateful Dead sold out two nights here back in the 80s, and there’s an annual film festival that attracts almost as many Hollywood lefties and luvvies as Sundance. There’s serious luxury in Telluride too if you want it, especially in the newer Mountain Village development up the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you’re there, make sure you stick on Smuggler’s Blues<\/em>, by Glenn Frey of The Eagles fame, as you cruise around town, and listen out for the lyric about hiding contraband “up in Telluride”. Things have moved on since he wrote that tune back in the 80s. But while the gold they mined here might be gone, there\u2019s definitely no shortage of powder stashes hidden in these hills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Telluride<\/a> resort guide for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a big claim, given that the whole area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but we reckon that of all the Dolomiti Superski areas (including Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo) Val di Fassa<\/a> probably offers the most beautiful views. Gothic-looking spires of red, Dolomitic rock rise vertically from tree-covered hillsides on either side of the valley. Especially if you catch them in the morning or evening light, the vistas are breathtaking. Verbier <\/a>might be one of those places which needs no introduction, but let’s take this opportunity to bust a few of the common myths surrounding this celebrated Swiss ski resort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Firstly, that it’s just a posh hangout for minor royals, England rugby players and James Blunt. None of this is untrue. Blunt even has a lift named after him, and it’s still the only ski resort we’ve ever visited where one of the major ski schools is sponsored by an asset management firm. But Verbier is also home to Xavier de le Rue, arguably the most talented freerider ever to strap on a snowboard, Geraldine Fastnacht, a pioneering female wingsuit pilot, and the Verbier Xtreme\u2014the annual finale of the Freeride World Tour, and the gnarliest on-snow contest anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One reason they all choose to base themselves here is the easily accessible backcountry, which is among the most challenging anywhere in Switzerland, and indeed the world. Verbier also has one of the world’s largest ski areas, with the lifts from the main village offering access to a huge network that links La Tzoumaz<\/a>, Nendaz<\/a>, Veysonnaz<\/a> and Thyon<\/a>. Together, they form what’s known as the 4 Vall\u00e9es, which is home to some of the best skiing you’ll find anywhere in Europe, along with some of the longest ski runs anywhere in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Verbier isn’t cheap (the most expensive beer we’ve ever bought, anywhere in the world, was at Verbier’s famous Farm Club) but then which ski resort in Switzerland<\/a><\/strong> is? This doesn\u2019t mean skiers on a budget need to steer clear. The wallet-friendly Mont Fort, a hang out favoured by locals, is a good place to start, while Le Chable, at the bottom of the valley is usually pretty competitively priced when it comes to accommodation. And in the event your lottery numbers come up? Consider 67 Pall Mall a new members-only club which has the resort\u2019s only micro-brewery and a wine list offering thousands of wines (including 1,000 from Switzerland). The downside? Membership fees start from around \u00a32,500 per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In all seriousness, if you’re counting every penny, you’re missing the point of Verbier. The reason all those rich and famous folk love it here is the combination of incredible restaurants, epic powder, and some of the most naturally exciting slopes – both on and off-piste – you’ll find anywhere on the planet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read our full Verbier<\/a> resort guide for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nestled in the shadow of arguably the most famous mountain on the planet, the mighty Matterhorn, Zermatt<\/a> has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the world\u2019s elite mountaineering and skiing destinations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It offers access to a vast ski area which links with Cervinia<\/a> across the border in Italy, and has more than 360km of pistes. Around 90 percent of this sits above 2,000m, making it as snow sure as it gets in the Alps. The village, meanwhile, has been a popular tourist destination since the 19th Century. It’s got a pretty historic centre, and is home to some of Europe’s grandest alpine hotels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although it’s often listed as a resort for advanced skiers, Zermatt does offer a selection of gentler runs, and there are plenty of attractions for non-skiers too\u2014from browsing the upmarket boutiques in town, to taking a train up to the Gornergrat Observatory <\/a>3,100m above sea level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, Zermatt attracts almost as many non-skiers as skiers these days, with large numbers of guests from India, the Emirates, and China all year round. Zermatt isn’t cheap, even by Swiss standards, but you’d be hard-pushed to find better or more reliably snow sure skiing anywhere in Europe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What it does do, however, is represent the considered opinions of the SNOW <\/em>editorial team. Between us, we’ve racked up hundreds of years of skiing and snowboarding, and visited countless ski resorts on six of the seven continents (sadly, none of us has made it to Antarctica… yet). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Alpe-dHuez-Tomorrowland-Winter.jpg?t=1729255455912\")
Alpe d\u2019Huez, France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Down in town, the architecture reflects every era of French ski resort<\/a> development, from traditional farmers\u2019 cottages to the more \u2018adventurous\u2019 brutalist creations of the 60s and 70s. But it\u2019s not short on historical charm\u2014the first lift opened here in the 1930s, making it one of Europe\u2019s oldest resorts, and of course, its switchbacks are the stuff of cycling legend.
If it\u2019s apr\u00e8s you\u2019re after, Alpe d\u2019Huez checks that box too. It hosts the Alps\u2019 biggest music festival, Tomorrowland Winter, every March, attracting more than 20,000 attendees.
Read our full resort review of Alpe d’Huez<\/a> here.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Andermatt%20Hospental%20town%20covered%20with%20snow%20next%20to%20snowy%20mountain_Andermatt_CREDIT%20Valentin%20Luthiger.jpg?t=1729255780140\")
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Amirsoy%20-%20pristine-powder-uzbekistan-tristan-kennedy.jpg?t=1729256011192\")
Amirsoy, Uzbekistan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"chamonix-ski-resort-france\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/features\/top-tens\/Ski%20Touring%20Vallee%20Blanche%20Chamonix%20ski%20resort%20France%20CREDIT%20Chamonix%20Mont%20Blanc%20Tourism.jpg?t=1669735455126\")
Chamonix Mont Blanc, France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It might be best-known as a destination for serious skiers, but the reality is whatever level you’re at you’ll find your dream stomping ground in the combined terrain of Chamonix’s five main ski areas \u2014 Brevent, Flegere, Grands Montets, Domaine de Balme and Les Houches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Sunweb](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/banners\/Sunweb%20MPU%20Nov%2025.jpg?t=1763116905399\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Cortina_dAmpezzo_ski_resort_Italy_CREDIT_iStock.jpg?t=1729256189370\")
Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo, Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read our full resort guide to Cortina d’Ampezzo<\/a> here.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Skiing-in-Crans-Montana---Patrick-Guller.jpg?t=1723736996965\")
Crans-Montana, Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In order to help the deal over the line, Vail Resorts promised big investments, including CHF30 million (\u00a326 million) over the next five years. Like Andermatt<\/a>, just up the road, which Vail Resorts bought in 2022, this means a change is gonna come to Crans-Montana \u2014 with new and improved snow making, lifts and pistes and hefty investments in guest services and gastronomy. \u2028\u2028<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Ski%20touring%20Turkey%20CREDIT%20Dan%20Medhurst%202.jpg?t=1729256293296\")
Erciyes, Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can read the full story of our trip to check out Erciyes, and Turkey’s skiing scene<\/a>, here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Hakuba-japan-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World-IMG_2356.jpg?t=1729258496400\")
Hakuba, Japan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Jackson-Hole-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World.jpg?t=1729257062531\")
Jackson Hole, Wyoming, USA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read our full ski resort review of Jackson Hole<\/a> here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Kicking-Horse-Canada-Best-Ski-resorts-in-the-world---FWT23_DDAHER_KKH_0873.jpg?t=1729257377109\")
Kicking Horse, BC, Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Having said that, it’s not all about the gnar here. The lower flanks of the mountains, accessed via the Catamount lift, offer easy green runs that loop through the trees: perfect for beginners. You can stay in the tiny purpose-built ski resort village at the base of the mountain, or for the true Canadian Rockies experience, in nearby Golden, a 19th Century railway town that still maintains a healthy dose of its original charm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Laax-Switzerland---Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World-LAAXOPEN_22_KIM_Chloe_by_Ruggli_1308.jpg?t=1729257532025\")
Laax, Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the years since, the bet has paid off in spades as Laax has become the European destination for international pros to hang out and train\u2014and not just snowboarders, but freestyle skiers too. But there\u2019s more to this resort than just its freestyle facilities. The ski area is vast with 224km of pistes; there\u2019s a wealth of incredible backcountry terrain, and the village has something of a West Coast, California vibe that sets it apart from anything else in the Alps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read our full ski resort review of Laax<\/a> here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/La-Grave-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World-Skiing-SnowboardingTristan-KennedyIMG_2127.jpg?t=1729257677862\")
La Grave, France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read our full ski resort review of La Grave here<\/a>, and the account of our most recent visit here.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/La-Plagne-Freeriding.jpeg?t=1723737351322\")
La Plagne, France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Worlds%20Best%20Ski%20Resorts-%20Livigno%20Italy%20.jpg?t=1762514012276\")
Livigno, Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read our resort review of Livigno<\/a> for the full low-down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Madonna-di-Campiglio-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World.jpg?t=1729258460581\")
Madonna di Campiglio, Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Morzine-Avoriaz-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World.jpg?t=1729259180535\")
Morzine-Avoriaz, France<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/obergurgl-hochgurgl%20austria%20credit%20otztal%20tourismus_alexamder%20lohmann.jpg?t=1729259394185\")
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, Austria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Powder-Mountain-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World-Utah--Tristan-Kennedy-5086.jpg?t=1729259558583\")
Powder Mountain, Utah, USA<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Red%20Mountain%20-%20Best%20Ski%20Resorts%20in%20the%20World%20Christoph-Johann-pg-06.jpg?t=1729259732160\")
Red Mountain, BC, Canada<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Red Mountain features on our rundown of the best ski resorts in Canada<\/a>, which you can read here.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Saas-Fee--Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World-Tristan-Kennedy-IMG_0052_.jpg?t=1729259899105\")
Saas-Fee, Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read our full ski resort review of Saas-Fee<\/a> here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Worlds%20Best%20Ski%20Resorts%20-%20Silverton%20ColoradoiStock-532289151.jpg?t=1762522991721\")
Silverton, Colorado, USA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
With a strict cap on daily visitors, Silverton guarantees uncrowded slopes and a true backcountry feel. Most guests ski with a guide, and the guides are experts at “farming” the snow, like they would at a cat-skiing operation. This ensures each group gets untouched lines, even days after a dump.
The town itself is a former mining settlement that has preserved much of its 19th-century character. Though you\u2019ll find a few stylish updates, from upscale renovated lodges to an acclaimed craft rum distillery, Silverton still radiates the untamed spirit of the Old West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/st%20anton%20tvb%20st.%20anton%20am%20arlberg_fotograf%20wolfgang%20burger_w.jpg?t=1729260038624\")
St. Anton, Austria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Telluride-Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World.jpg?t=1729260173075\")
Telluride, USA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Val-di-Fassa---Best-Ski-Resorts-in-the-World.jpg?t=1729260504985\")
Val di Fassa, Italy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The area is made up of seven individual villages: Canazei, Campitello di Fassa, Mazzin, Moena, Pozzo di Fassa, Soraga di Fassa and Vigo di Fassa. While none has quite the elegance of Cortina, they\u2019re pretty little villages, packed with family-run restaurants and spa hotels, and they\u2019re convenient enough to get between\u2014linked by modern, high speed chairlifts by day, and regular busses by night.
The marked slopes are mostly reds and blues, making it an ideal destination for intermediates who want to get their piste miles in. But the Fassa valley is also brilliant for expert ski tourers\u2014full of itineraries which snake up to hidden rifugios, before descending down slopes that range from mellow tree runs to screamingly steep couloirs.
Read our guide to Italy’s best ski resorts here<\/a> and our individual resort guide to Val di Fassa<\/a> here.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Verbier%20Best%20Ski%20Resorts%20in%20the%20World.jpg?t=1729260682019\")
Verbier, Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.snowmagazine.com\/images\/Worlds%20Best%20Ski%20resorts%20-%20Zermatt%20.jpg?t=1762522451657\")
Zermatt, Switzerland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n