Best Places to Ski in the World: Our Ultimate List

written by local expert Anna Faustino

Anna is a co-founder of Adventure in You and has been traveling the world for the last 9 years. She has spent time living in Thailand, Mexico, Indonesia, and Spain and is our local expert in these areas. Her expertise on travel, gear, and building businesses have been featured on Foundr, Business Insider, Yahoo Travel, and more.

I have a confession. I’m a big fan of lists. And while I know I won’t exactly win any literary awards for them, to me, they are fun and straight to the point. When I started compiling this list of the best places to ski in the world, my mind is immediately filled with images of cozy log cabins, powder fresh snow, and incredible resorts that make the entire ski experience so much more memorable.

With that in mind, let’s delve into the top ski destinations in the world which will hopefully inspire you to start planning your own ski holiday.

France

If you’re looking for a classic ski destination, the mountains in France have to make it to your list. Boasting of a plethora of top ski resorts and beautiful picturesque villages, the Frech Alps have it all. A few must not miss destinations while in the region are La Plagne, La Clusaz, Tignes, and Chamonix.

Apart from beautiful slopes, you also have the appeal of freshly baked croissants and other baked goodies and a warm cup of coffee in the morning which makes it a no-brainer for me!

Given its close proximity to London and other European countries, you can even go here on a short ski break to enjoy the slopes over a weekend. This is why France still remains to be one of the most popular destinations for those who want a quick getaway.

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United States

When I was looking at places to ski and snowboard, it was no surprise that the US had heaps of places within the country. Reading through the list instantly brought me back to the first time I tried Skiing in the mountains by Lake Tahoe. While the entire experience was pretty uneventful (I suck at the sport), I still had a blast.

Hopefully, your skiing skills are not as dusty as mine so you can check out these many amazing spots around the US. From the mountains in California, Montana, Vermont, to Colorado, the US has so many incredible spots.

Best Ski Destinations in the US

  • Aspen, Colorado
  • Vail, Colorado
  • Bend, Oregon
  • Park City, Utah
  • North Conway, New Hampshire
  • Ketchum, Idaho
  • Jackson Hole, Wyoming
  • Breckenridge, Dever

While there are heaps more of places worth mentioning, the bottom line is if you are looking for epic powder and beautiful landscapes, the US definitely does not disappoint. skiing-us

Canada

Located right next to the US are the beautiful powder white slopes of Canada. While I try to refrain from being sentimental when curating these lists, the slopes of Whistler in British Colombia, believe it or not, is the very first place I saw snow.

Although I was definitely too young to hit the slopes then, it didn’t mean I wasn’t mesmerized by the people effortlessly gliding through the mountains. Known for having steep vertical drops and large terrains, this place is an iconic spot in Canada.

Aside from the slopes in Whistler, listed below are other popular spots in the country.

Best Ski Destinations in Canada

  • Banff, Alberta
  • Mount Tremblant, Quebec
  • Revelstoke, British Colombia

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Japan

Although I am not a massive fan of being in Winter destinations, skiing in Japan is on the top of my list of things to do. Even for beginners like me, Japan is known all over the world to have some of the best powder skiing in the world.

Due to the massive amount of snowfall that comes to this place year after year, it is no surprise that travelers and adrenaline junkies all make the pilgrimage to this country just to experience their sweet powdery slopes.

Fun fact: Japan gets an average of 10 to 20 meters of snow per season!

If you’re looking for particular places to go to in Japan, your first stop should definitely be Hokkaido and the main island of Honshu. In Hokkaido, one of the most popular ski resorts is Niseko and is known all over the world for the large amounts of snow that they receive. In Honshu, popular resorts that are often frequented are Shiga Kogen and Hakuba. ski-japan

Switzerland

The Swiss Alps are known all over the world and are considered as a staple in the skiing community. Between the dramatically beautiful landscapes, sleepy mountain villages, and plush resorts, its no wonder that this place is still frequented by many year after year. It is one of our top picks for the best ski resorts in Europe and is worth visiting for those who want a little bit of everything.

While there are a plethora of resorts worth visiting (there are heaps!) listed below are a few of the most well-recommended places in Switzerland.

Best Ski Destinations in Switzerland

  • Zermatt
  • Laax
  • Wengen
  • Andermatt
  • Verbier

If you’re having a hard time choosing between them, Andermatt is known to have the best powder due its location. Laax, on the other hand, tends to attract a more youthful crowd due to their fun rails, boxes, and half-pipes that can be found within the park.

Austria

Naturally, the alps in Austria also deserve to make this list as it is part of the popular trifecta within Europe which include France and Switzerland. Home to 7,193 kilometers of incredible slopes and a total of about 423 ski resorts, it is no wonder why this place is so popular.

If you’re looking for destinations to visit within Austria, the slopes in Solden, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Ischgl, St. Anton, and Schladming are all fantastic destinations. The charm of skiing in Austria never gets old as its hospitality and beautiful mountain villages are nothing short of fantastic. ski-austria

Hopefully, this little list of mine has inspired you to start exploring the many incredible ski destinations where you can get your powder fix around the world. So what are you waiting for? Pack those ski goggles, book those flights, and have the most epic time!


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