Enjoying the snow is now a familiar tradition. There are many fascinating locations and well-organised ski resorts with important histories. Getting there is another small treat, because you can discover some really beautiful areas on the way there, criss-crossed by out-of-the-ordinary roads. That is why we decided to tell you about five ski resorts in Europe where as well as Alpine skiing, you can enjoy yourself in many other ways, on the slopes and also off them. In the daytime, in the evenings, and by night.
Timeless Cortina
The past, the present and the future render the ‘Pearl of the Dolomites' a place which is always worth the journey. It was a major attraction for the pioneers of tourism (already by the late 19th Century); it gave a major impetus to winter sports by hosting hundreds of competitions and the 1956 Olympics; it has been critically important in allowing thousands and thousands of people to discover the beauty of the mountains.
There have also been innumerable films which have used it as a set. Its mountain peaks have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites, for the unique view they afford, which changes according to the time of day. Whilst for ski enthusiasts there is the advantage of being able to exploit the Dolomiti Superski area between the regions around Venice and Trento, for tourists in general Cortina is an attractive location with a highly vibrant town centre and a surrounding area with lakes and slopes which lend themselves very easily to wonderful excursions.
But the Museum of the Great War 1914-1918 is also worth seeing. You can reach it from either the Puster Valley or from Cadore, via some fascinating routes, and Cortina is smartening itself up even more, in the run up to the 2026 Olympics. Its nightlife is entertaining, and its cuisine is of an excellent quality. It is worth taking a trip to the SanBrite restaurant where Riccardo Gaspari, in a refurbished farmhouse, serves delicious meals using inventive menus but consisting only of local fare.
“Monte Carlo in the snow”
Situated at the top of the French Alps, in the county of Savoie, Courchevel forms part of Les Trois Vallées (The Three Valleys), the largest skiing area in the world which consists of eight resorts linked together with ski-lifts for a total of almost 640 km of ski slopes. It is in a strategic position: it takes two and a half hours by car from Lyon, two and a quarter hours from Geneva, and three and a half hours from Turin. All routes come together at Albertville and from there you take the fine N90 to get to Courchevel.
The beauty of the location and its luxurious buildings have turned the place into a sort of “Monte Carlo in the snow”, frequented by enthusiasts from every country in the world. Courchevel comprises several villages named according to their altitude: at the top level is Courchevel 1850, beautifully kept with its chalets, charming hotels, luxury boutiques and hostelries of every sort.
The skiing area, as well as including some of the most spectacular ski slopes in the Alps, is renowned for its cuisine: from the welcoming refuges which serve substantial meals in the Savoie tradition to restaurants which rival those of Paris. We like 1850, which in its title celebrates the altitude of its famous central point: a splendid chalet in wood and stone, serving cuisine made from local organic products in elegant dishes.
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The queen of the Spanish Pyrenees
It is also the favourite spot of the royal family, an aspect which in Spain is always helpful. But even without the various Bourbons, it is difficult to deny the top ranking of Baqueira-Beret amongst the ski resorts of Spain. Amongst other things, it is the only one in the country to be located in the northern part of the Pyrenees, in the Val d'Arán, to be precise. You can get there in around four hours by car from Barcelona, and is in the innermost part of Catalonia, well-“protected” by a series of nature parks.
The valley is magnificent, and should be toured unhurriedly and with the maximum of respect for the environment: vast woodlands of deciduous and coniferous trees are spaced out between mountain meadows and rivers. The whole area is scattered with over 200 lakes. If you are looking for an unusual place to stop off, we can suggest that you visit Aran Park, where nature lovers can catch sight of the rich wildlife of the area.
The skiing sector, which is divided into four zones (Baqueira, Beret, Baciver and Bonaigua) and which provides ski slopes for every capability, is situated at an altitude of between 1,500 and 2,510 metres. The best restaurant in the area can be found ten minutes away from Baqueira-Beret, in the Garos locality: Es Arraïtzes (with its roots in the local language), behind the simplicity of its décor, hides a surprising cuisine combining Peruvian, Aranese and Catalan flavours.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Bavarian jewel
With its 108 km of ski slopes, including one 5 km-long run, and 30 km for cross-country skiing, Garmisch-Partenkirchen remains the skiing capital of Germany. It is no surprise that it hosted the 1936 Olympic Games or the Alpine World Ski Championships of 1978 and 2011, not to mention being a permanent stage for the World Cup.
The town is situated in the Southern part of Upper Bavaria, around 10 km from the border with Austria, while 12 km to the South-West you find the summit of the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany with its 2,962 metres, where the ski-lifts are hard at work. The fact that it is only one hour's drive from Munich has facilitated its fame amongst lovers of winter sports but also those who enjoy excursions on foot: you must not miss the charming Partnach gorge, which you can reach after just a twenty-minute journey leaving from the Olympic Stadium.
The town is extremely well-kept, a “postcard” for the Alpine style especially in the streets of the town centre, and also harbours several high-quality monuments in Gothic and Baroque styles. The eatery worthy of note is Joseph Naus Stub'n, with its rustic-chic style, which is able to offer fine Bavarian cuisine at competitive prices.
In the heart of Scotland, the CairnGorm Mountain
The idea of skiing in Great Britain might make you smile. And yet not only do the British have a keen interest in snow-based sports (from bobsleighing to snowboarding), but they also have ski resorts, all in Scotland, which are in no way inferior to those of the Old Continent. One of these is certainly CairnGorm Mountain, at an altitude of 1,245 metres, at the summit of the National Park of the same name, which is famous for its wild beauty.
You get there by travelling through Aviemore, a little town in the Highlands, which you can reach by motorway either from Glasgow or from Edinburgh in around two and a half hours. CairnGorm lies some 15 km away from Aviemore, a journey you can make by car, train or bus. There are some 35 ski slopes, served by 12 ski-lifts. One of these is the panoramic funicular railway (currently closed for refurbishment until Autumn 2022), which allows its passengers to overhaul the 462 metres up to the wonderful site of Ptarmigan where you can find a restaurant, an exhibition about the mountain, a shop and a fabulous panoramic terrace.
After your day's skiing or excursions on foot, treat yourself to supper in Aviemore, in the Scottish Steakhouse at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf & Country Club: an elegant setting, a menu based on delicious meat dishes, and the best Scottish beers.
