For those of you who love winter sports... The ski season has begun! Step out of your comfort zone this year and find new challenges in new places. Top quality snow, modern facilities, stunning scenery and, last but not least, a great après-ski atmosphere! Here is a selection of the best ski resorts in Europe:
- Baqueira Beret (Spain)
This ski resort, situated in the Catalan Pyrenees, is the largest in Spain. It offers 153 km of pistes for you to show off your best skiing skills. Although it opened back in the early seventies, it has kept up with the times and today it boasts modern and well-maintained pistes. The resort has three areas: Baqueira, Beret and Bonaigua, with pistes that are ideal for both beginners and pros.
Après-ski. Make the most of the evenings to visit romantic towns in Val d'Aran, like Vielha, Bossot and Arties. And if you have enough energy left, there are amazing hiking routes in this area.
How to get there. The closest airports are Barcelona and Zaragoza, both about four hours from the ski resort.
- Zermatt (Switzerland)
Most of the pistes in this exclusive ski resort have a gradient of 60%, so you must be quite a good skier to come here. One of the highlights of Zermatt is heli-skiing. A helicopter takes you to the highest peaks, from where you can ski down the slopes – if you dare!
Après-ski. After spending the day on the slopes, you can chill out by taking a walk in the beautiful town of Zermatt. In this exclusive place you can find a wide range of luxury hotels, shops and restaurants.
How to get there. Zurich, about three hours from Zermatt, is the closest airport. There is a train that goes from the airport to the ski resort.
- Les 3 Vallées (France)
Les 3 Vallées is the largest skiing area in the world and is made up of four resorts: Courchevel, Les Menuires, Meribel and Val Thorens. Together they offer 650 km of snow for your enjoyment! Val Thorens is the most popular of them all. It is the highest ski resort in Europe and is surrounded by six glaciers.
Après-ski. The party starts in Val Thorens every day at 2pm, and lasts until 5pm. If you want more, there is entertainment in several places close to the piste after 5pm.
How to get there.The closest airport is Geneva, 160 km from the resorts. When you arrive at the airport you can catch an Aero-ski bus that takes you up to the pistes.
- Ischgl (Austria)
The skiable area of Ischgl, in the state of Tyrol, is connected with Samnaun ski resort in Switzerland. Together they form the largest ski area in the Alps. Bear in mind that it is impossible to get bored in Ischgl. There is so much to do!
Après-ski. This resort has the best après-ski atmosphere. Its motto is "Relax if you can"! At sunset, the local bars and pubs fill with people listening to live music, and there is also a great nightlife afterwards.
How to get there. The closest airports are Munich (229 km) and Zurich (235 km). You can get to Ischgl by train from both these airports.
