Very soon winter will come into its legal rights according to the calendar and all ski resorts in Europe will open their trails for skiers and snowboarders. In fact, our citizens are facing an important question this year: “Where to go skiing in the winter of 2022-2023?”
And it is important not only because quarantine and restrictions have been haunting us for 1.5 years. And also the fact that everyone’s favorite Bukovel, which seems to be located relatively close, has long been on par with the best European resorts in terms of prices. But not for service yet. This means that we need to look for an alternative that will correspond to our idea of the service and its price.
Today we propose to consider 10 inexpensive ski resorts in Europe with good reviews. Compare all the pros and cons of the location, slopes and lifts and make a decision. We do not provide prices, they can be found on the official websites of the resorts.
Bansko, ski resort Bulgaria
Bansko is a Bulgarian city in the southwest of the country. It is located at an altitude of 925 meters above sea level. The city itself is located at the foot of the alpine-type mountain – Pirin. The highest point of this mountain range is Vihren Peak, 2914 m high.
The ski complex itself has 15 lifts – 1 gondola type, 9 chairlifts, 4 rope tows and 1 for children. 14 ski slopes with a total length of 48.2 km for skiers and snowboarders and 2 ski slopes with a total length of 8.1 km. The resort has 1 black, 8 red and 6 blue slopes.
The ski resort of Bansko is attractive at any time of the year. It offers excellent conditions for skiing and snowboarding, as well as the unique history and architecture of the old and new part of the city. Thanks to these characteristics, Bansko is a favorite place for skiing among Europeans.
The season of the ski resort Bansko is from December to April.
Poiana Brasov ski resort Romania
Poiana Brasov is one of the best winter resorts in Romania. It boasts 8 ski runs of varying difficulty (one dedicated slalom run, an Olympic run, three downhill and giant slalom runs). The total length of the trails is about 15 km. There are blue, red and black runs. There are 11 lifts in the Poiana Brasov ski resort – 2 cabin lifts, 1 gondola, 6 rope tows and 1 for children.
The resort is often called “Sunny Meadow”, as it is located in a large, well-lit valley at an altitude of 1030 meters. The complex is surrounded by coniferous forest and is located at the foot of the Carpathian mountain Postervaru.
The season of the ski resort Poiana Brasov is from December to March.
Jasna, ski resort Slovakia
The Slovak Low Tatras are known to most skiers and snowboarders. And the Jasna ski resort is one of the most favorite resorts of many Europeans. A wide selection of slopes, incredible views, a high level of service and affordable prices – all this makes the Jasna ski complex extremely attractive for our tourists. Not far from the complex, 14 km away, is the town of Liptovsky Mikulas, which is famous for its ski resort. It is also known for one of the largest water parks in Central Europe.
In total, 33 pistes of different difficulty levels are available on the northern and southern slopes. Among them, 5 are black, 14 are red and 14 are blue. As well as 6 ski slopes. The operation of the complex is provided by 18 lifts – 5 cab, 8 chairlifts and 5 rope tows.
The season of the Jasna ski resort is from December to April.
Spindleruv Mlyn, ski resort Czech Republic
Spindleruv Mlyn is the only premium 5* ski resort in the Czech Republic. It is located on three peaks – Medvedin (1235 m), Horni Misechki (1040 m) and Plan (1198 m). An excellent outdoor activity is guaranteed by the natural mild climate in these mountains, which are rich in steep slopes. In total, the complex has 16 lifts and 20 ski slopes of varying difficulty.
The complex is divided into 5 ski areas, which are connected by ski bus:
- St. Peter is the most important sports center in Spindleruv Mlyn. Many major international sporting events are held here every year. In the area of Svat Petr, two cable cars operate in winter, a heated six-seat lift Sveti Petr – Planj and a two-seat lift on the black slope of the World Cup of the International Ski Federation. St. Peter offers quality, technically snow-covered, daily prepared slopes for both demanding skiers and beginners.
- Ski resort Medvedin , connected by cable car to the ski resort Horni Misechki, is in great demand among skiers who prefer to relax skiing on the sunny slopes. There is a good black ski run, intended primarily for sports, and a red ski run up to 60 meters wide, which is one of the widest runs in the Czech Republic.
- The Gornji Misechki area is a suitable place for beginners and families with children. It offers both ski lifts and a 4-seater chairlift from Horni Misecki to Medvedin, as well as groomed slopes with a snowpark. In the area of Horni Misechki you will find cross-country skiing trails (1 km, 2 km, 5 km, 10 km).
- The gateway to the Spindleruv Mlyn ski resort is the Hromovka district , which will meet you upon arrival in the mountain town. A four-seater chair lift is located 50 m from the central area and connects the blue and red slopes, namely the Gromovka resort and the St. Peter resort. The long, steep slopes are in demand by experienced skiers. Fans of night skiing will find one of the longest and best-lit pistes in the Czech Republic.
- The small resort of Labska is located at the Elbe dam at the beginning of Spindleruv Mlyn. A three-seat chairlift with a red ski run winding its way through the forest and among the cottages, it is the perfect place for families with children, skiers and hikers looking for winter beauty. Cable car with a high station – ideal access to cross-country skiing tracks – Horni Misechki, Vrbatova Buda, Benecko, Rovinka.
The season of the ski resort Spindleruv Mlyn is from November to April.
Livigno ski resort Italy
Skiing in Livigno is an amazing experience for all winter sports lovers. The Alta Valtellina ski resort is one of the largest and best known, most important and beloved in the Alps and throughout Europe. It offers an incredible range of opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, freeride: modern lifts, world-class snow parks, skiing, slopes of all levels and fabulous snow for the ski season. The complex has ski coverage of more than 115 km of groomed snow, 74 slopes and a winter season that lasts from November to May. The entire complex is served by 31 lifts, including 6 gondola lifts, 14 chairlifts and 11 rope tows.
The ski area extends through a long valley of the village with numerous ski lifts, conveyor belts, children’s slopes and ski runs for beginners on both sides of the mountain: slopes of any slope, length and difficulty for skiers and snowboarders of all levels: from simple amateurs to professional athletes.
The season of the ski resort of Livigno is from November to May.
Schladming ski resort Austria
Situated between the Schladminger Tauern and the Dachstein Massif, the towns of Schladming and Rohrmoos are popular ski resorts.
If you’re a skier and don’t want to be limited to just one mountain, Schladming’s 4-mountain ski resort is probably what you’re looking for. It is one of the world’s top 10 resorts and combines Hauser Kaibling, Planai, Hochwurzen and Reiteralm to provide uninterrupted skiing on 123 km of perfectly groomed pistes. The entire Schladming ski area with 4 ski areas has 50 lifts and 81 slopes.
Schladming ski season is from December to May.
Bohinj, ski resort Slovenia
A unique, charming, surprisingly mysterious region of Slovenia, which is located in the heart of the Julian Alps. Bohinj covers the Nomen valley, the Upper and Lower Bohinj valleys, the lake basin, the Pokljuka and Jelovitsa plateaus, as well as a high mountain range. The most recognizable and amazing natural object here is Lake Bohinj – the largest lake in Slovenia.
It is one of the highest ski resorts in Slovenia with slopes up to 1800 m, and its position as one of the first mountains in this range ensures consistently good snow, with skiing usually until the end of April, even without artificial snow. Thanks to the new lift infrastructure in recent years, waiting times in queues have been significantly reduced and the overall experience of the resort has improved.
This ski region combines several ski centers at once, including:
Vogel is a high-altitude ski center with natural snow and plenty of opportunities for fantastic winter experiences.
- Height: 569–1800 m
- Access: by cable car (950 people/hour)
- Area of ski slopes: 78 ha
- Lifts: 8 lifts, children’s lift in the park
- Ski slopes: 22 km
- Snow: natural
- Suitable for: Beginners and advanced skiers
Soriska Planina is a ski center for families and beginners with a variety of additional offers.
- Altitude: 1307–1550 m
- Access: by car (parking place)
- Area of ski slopes: 25 ha
- Ski slopes: 8 km
- Lifts: 5
- Cross-country trails: 7.2 km
- Suitable for: families and beginners
- artificial snow system
Kobla is a ski center located 12 kilometers from the resort of Bohinj. There are snow cannons that guarantee a good snow cover.
- Height: 550-1480 m
- Total length of trails: 23 km
- Longest run: 2500 m
- Cross-country trails: 6 km
- Lifts: 6 (3 chairlifts, 3 rope tows)
- artificial snow system
- Suitable for: Beginners and advanced skiers
Bohinj ski season is from December to April.
Pal/Arinsal, Andorra ski resort
Vallnord is a ski resort in the Pyrenees in Andorra. Located near the border with Spain in the city of Tor, Pallars. Vallnord covers the ski centers of Pal and Arinsal, with a total of 63 km of marked pistes between the two sectors. The Pal-Arinsal area is connected by a cable car for 50 people.
Pale has short and wide pistes covered with greenery. Professionals will be interested after a snowfall to try out the off-piste area, which is located among the trees. Beginners and intermediate skiers will also find it interesting here. After all, the resort has several ski schools for beginners and schools for improving skills.
The resort has 42 slopes, including:
- Trails for beginners (green) – 7 pcs.
- Trails for the intermediate level (blue) – 15 pcs.
- Difficult tracks (red) – 16 pcs.
- Trails of increased complexity (black) – 4 pcs.
The complex is served by 26 lifts – 1 telecabin, 9 chair lifts and 7 lifts, 7 others. The ski center has 396 bulk snow cannons. There is a running track 8 km long.
The season of operation of the ski resort Pal / Arinsal is from December to May.
Formigal, ski resort Spain
Formigal Panticosa is one of the few ski resorts in Spain with a vertical drop of more than 1000 meters. The Panticosa sector is one of the best Spanish ski resorts. About 33% of the slopes are categorized as easy; 37% are moderately difficult slopes, and 30% of the slopes are “specialists only”.
Formigal Panticosa is one of the best resorts in Spain for passionate freeriders with controlled areas of virgin snow. Here you can experience pure emotion at every turn.
You will find areas marked “freeride” and mountain routes marked in orange, specially designed for freeriders. All elements are natural and not subject to control or intervention by the resort.
Formigal Panticosa is located in the Pyrenees, the largest mountain range in Spain, stretching from the northeast of the peninsula for 440 km. The place where the resort is located is called the Tena Valley, in the Alto Aragon region, one of the most beautiful areas in Spain.
The resort has a total of 141 pistes with a total length of 176 km. 11 beginner greens, 36 low blues, 52 intermediate reds and 42 advanced blacks. 36 lifts with a capacity of 50,005 people/hour.
The season of the ski resort Formigal is from December to April.
Kopaonik ski resort Serbia
The largest ski resort in Serbia with excellently prepared slopes offers its guests, from beginners to professional skiers, to test their strength. Ski center Kopaonik is about 64 km of ski and cross-country trails. Fans of night skiing will appreciate the beautiful illuminated slopes Panchichev vrh, Karaman ridge and Malo lake. The resort offers three protected “ski kindergarten” areas for young skiers and beginners with conveyor belts to help them learn basic skiing skills.
97% of the ski center is covered by an artificial snow system. The trails are connected by an excellent system of cable cars and lifts. Throughput is about 34,000 people per hour. Kopaonik has one gondola, 3 six-seater lifts, 7 four-seater lifts, 10 rope tows and a conveyor belt. A four-seat cable car brings guests who do not practice winter sports to the center all year round. It is part of a sightseeing tour of the center.
The Kopaonik Ski Center has a well-groomed snow park where domestic and international competitions are held.
