Best places to learn to ski in Europe

It can be daunting to book your first ski trip, there are so many factors to consider, luckily travel insurance comparison experts at Quotezone.co.uk have created the Best European Ski Resorts for Beginners index to help those trying to pin down the perfect spot to test out the slopes.

The index features 10 of the most sought-after ski resorts from across Europe, looking at average annual snowfall, total length of beginner slopes, airport transfer time, the cost of a one-day ski pass and the length of a ski season.

Some of the world’s most famous resorts feature in the top 10 index, including Val Gardena in the Dolomites of Italy and Val Thorens in the French Alps.

Val Thorens, the highest ski resort in Europe, has topped the list for learners, boasting an incredible 336km worth of beginner slopes, and a season lasting 163 days between November and May.* Val Thorens, pictured below, also offers a huge 204km worth of intermediate slopes – helpful when travelling with a larger group with mixed abilities.

Thanks to its excellent location and elevation, Val Thorens unsurprisingly has the highest average annual snowfall on this list, which helps guarantee snow much later in the season, making it ideal for half-term and Easter breaks.

Despite its high location, getting to Val Thorens shouldn’t be too difficult either, with the nearest airport, Chambéry, just a 90-minute transfer away.

References:

*https://www.les3vallees.com/en/resort/val-thorens

All sources, conversion rates and information correct as of 10/01/25. Each ski resort was given a nominal score which was totalled up to give a final ranking.

Sources:

Average annual snowfall (cm) – https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/
Length of ski season (days) – https://www.skiresort.info/
Airport transfer time – https://uk.j2ski.com/ski_resorts/
Total length of easy slopes – https://www.skiresort.info/
Total length of intermediate slopes – https://www.skiresort.info/
1 day ski pass cost – https://www.skiresort.info/