Aug 27, 2020 BY Mark Barber
It is not easy to formulate a list of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe. This is mainly because it depends on what you want from a snowboarding trip. So to rank the best European snowboarding holidays we have broken it down into different categories.
We look at the biggest ski areas, best value resorts, top freestyle, best freeride and most banging après. Please note as with any top 10 (or in this case 35!) this is just the authors option. Furthermore, resorts are not listed in order of preference – that’s too hard to decide.
They say that size doesn’t matter. Well, you tell that to the following giants of the ski world!
If you want to clock up the miles snowboarding then we recommend the following. Snowboard for a whole week and we doubt that you’ll ride all the pistes at these big bad boys. If you get bored then there is something wrong with you!
There is plenty of controversy and difference of opinion regarding what are the biggest ski resorts. For example, some ski areas are not fully lift inked, and official resort sizes have been called into question by Christophe Schrahe who measured them independently.
For this article I have gone on the resort figures. I have included ski areas that are covered by a single ski pass with quick and easy transport where they are not lift linked.
For sheer size you do not get any better than The Three Valleys. Especially as the resort claims to be the biggest in the world! With 600Km of fully lift linked pistes and a whopping 105 Km2 of skiable terrain, it is not something you can easily argue against!
Not only that, the resorts that make up the Three Valleys are the equivalent to a summer blockbuster film full of A-listers. Check out the cast: Courchevel, Meribel, Val Thorens, Les Menuires, Brides Les Bains, St. Martin De Belleville and Orelle.
The Three Valleys provides one of the best European snowboarding holidays because there is something for everyone! You can join the well-heeled in Courchevel and Meribel, party in the lively Val Thorens and Meribel, or relax in the more family orientated Menuires and St Martin. If you want to do 3V on the cheap head to Brides.
Want you try something different? Not for the faint of heart the Tyrolienne zip wire starts at 3,230m. You fly a distance of 1,300m across the valley towards Val Thorens. It takes just 1 minute and 45 seconds and reaches speeds of 105 Km/h!
Squaring up to the Three Valleys is Paradiski, another powerhouse of the French Alps. The mega resorts of Les Arcs-Peisey Vallandry and La Plagne are connected by the famous Vanoise Express double-decker cable car.
In total, the area boasts of 264 runs covering 425 Km. You are almost guaranteed snow as 70% of the slopes are above 2000m. The ski areas of Les Arcs and La Plagne each have multiple resorts spread over the mountains. Each village has different characteristics and caters to a different crowd.
There are multiple snow parks and great freeride snowboarding in Les Arcs and La Plagne. If you like challenging off-piste head up the Aiguille Rouge above Arc 2000 to discover why Paradiski is considered one of the best resorts to snowboard in Europe.
Tucked away high up in the Pyrenees wedged between France and Spain is Andorra. Not just the budget holiday it once was. It is still a tax free haven and a lot more reasonably priced than it’s French neighbours but you will also find the largest ski area in Europe outside the Alps.
Grandvalira is made up of various towns that have their own unique characters and quirkiness. The town of Soldeu is good for families and the ski schools here have a great reputation. Pas de la Casa is a party town with some dubbing it Ibiza on snow. The other towns are El Tarter, Canillo, Encamp and Grau Roig.
Formed in 2003, Grandvalira has maintained a solid reputation for some of the best European snowboarding holidays. They have always welcomed sideways sliders with open arms and you will find a high portion of people on the slopes are snowboarders.
There are 210 Km of ski runs spread over 128 slopes. From the technical tree lined slopes of Soldeu, to the sweeping motorway size slopes above Grau Roig, Grandvalira really is one of the best resorts to snowboard in Europe.
With 650 Km of slopes, on paper Les Portes Du Soleil is bigger than the Three Valleys. But, this is a bit deceiving as the skiing is not completely linked by slopes. Most Notable is the walk or mini-train ride across Morzine.
Morzine and Avoriaz w have long been considered among the top resorts in Europe for snowboarding. With a mixture of easy runs, technical trails, great off-piste and kick-arse parks such as The Stash, combined with a friendly atmosphere, it is easy to see why.
They are also incredibly easy to reach whichever mode of transport you choose. If you fly, Morzine is an hour from Geneva airport! Driving it is 8 hours from Calais and you can get relatively close by train.
But Portes du Soleil is much more than just these three resorts. With 24 mountain areas and 50 summits, it stretches over both the French and Swiss border.
Resorts include Abondance, Avoriaz, Champery, Chatel, La Chapelle d’Abondance, Les Crosets, Les Gets, Morgins, Morzine Saint Jean d’Aulps and Torgon. I am exhausted just writing them down! Check out this review of a Morzine snowboarding holiday in Portes Du Soleil to find out more.
The largest ski area in Switzerland, the 4 Valleys has 412 Km to shred served by 93 ski lifts. The summit at Mont Fort is 3,330m. The ski resorts that make up the 4 Valleys are Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and La Thyon Tzoumaz.
Verbier is the gem of the 4 valleys – expect wild bars and ample off-piste. On the downside a lot of the pistes are fairly steep so it is not great for intermediates or casual piste riding. But experienced riders can enjoy one of the best European snowboarding holidays in Verbier particularly if you like off-piste and partying.
In a galaxy far, far away… For many years the Milky Way was a no-go area for snowboarders with many dodgy old rope lifts. But, thanks to the World Cup in 2006, the whole area is now serviced by a fast and efficient lifts making it one of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe.
There are 400 Km of pistes in the Milky Way – or Via Lattea as it is called in Italian. The area is made up of Claviere-Vialattea, Claviere, Pragelato, Sansicario-Cesana, Sauze d’Oulx and Sestriere in Italy plus Montgenevre in France.
The resort of Montgenevre is a lovely and quaint town that feels very French but with an Italian flair. The town is a great base for families. Especially, with the superbly run the ESF ski school.
As shown by this review of a family ski holiday in Claviere, the Milky Way is one of the best European snowboarding holidays in France for families on a budget. At the other side of the ski area a Via Lattea snowboarding holiday in Sauze d’Oulx offers more nightlife – it was known as Ibiza on snow in the 80s and 90s!
The Ski Circus includes the resorts of Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang and Fieberbrunn. Alone it boasts 270 Km of slopes supplied by 70 lifts. But it is also part of the Ski Alpin Card which includes the ski areas above Zell Am See and Kaprun, creating the biggest ski areas in Austria at 408 Km.
With the opening of new lifts in 2019 the Zell am See ski area is now lift linked with the Ski Circus. Currently you need a short bus ride to reach Kaprun and the Kitzeinhorn, but a new lift is scheduled for 2022 linking them all together.
During a review of Ski Circus snowboarding holiday in Saalbach one of our team declared the it to be his new favourite ski area. Heavy praise indeed and enough reason for it to be considered one of the best European snowboarding holidays.
For the adventurous there is the Freeride Park. This innovative park is the first in Europe and a dedicated freeride area with specially designed freestyle features. Who says you can’t have the best of both worlds! There are of course normal snowparks and plenty of freeride – the Freeride World Tour visits every winter.
With a relaxed and friendly Austrian vibe the resorts suit families. But they are also ideal for those wanting to experience crazy Austrian après-ski. Expect cheesy ‘anthems’ that everyone sings along to while stomping around in ski gear.
As the sun sets the rocks of the Dolomites glow with a red and orange hue that is spectacular to witness. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offer some of the best snowboarding in Europe – if you want something a little different. Think friendly and efficient Austrian style resorts combined with Italian flare and cuisine!
The Dolomiti ski pass gives you access to a whopping 1200 Km of slopes over 12 ski areas – but it is not all lift linked. The ski areas are Cortina D’Ampezzo, Kronplatz, Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Alpe Di Siusi, Val Di Fassa, Carezza, Arabba, Marmolada, 3 Peaks Dolomites, Val Di Fiemme, Obereggen, San Martino Di Castrozza, Gitschberg Jochtal-Brixen, Alpe Lusia – San Pellegrino and Civetta.
For a challenge snowboarders should try the Sella Ronda – at 27 Km it claims to be the largest lift linked circuit in the world. It can easily be achieved in a day by good snowboarders be sure to stop at some of the wonderful mountain restaurants along the way. It can be done in either direction offering a different experience.
If you think the best European snowboarding holidays are about beautiful views, great food, and a more slopes than you can ever explore the Dolomites are for you. Check out this review of Dolomites snowboarding holiday in Val Gardena to find out more.
With 88 ski lifts servicing 305 Km of slopes, Ski Arlberg is the largest lift linked ski area in Austria. From the party town of St Anton where traditional Austrian apres ski is part of the culture, to the up-market Lech and family friendly slopes of Zürs, there is something for everyone.
Also including the resorts of St. Christoph, Stuben, Schröcken and Warth all the pistes are beautifully groomed with a modern lift infrastructure. Uncrowded slopes and great ski schools make it good for beginners, although blue runs seem a little steeper than those in most in French resorts.
For the more experienced snowboarder there is plenty of challenging terrain to negotiate and some awesome backcountry to explore. There are many off-piste areas that are lift accessible – check out the unpisted itinerary runs on a powder day.
For the parks rats you needn’t look any further than Stanton Park. Packed with well thought out features, this is the perfect freestyle playground. Serviced by 2 ski lifts, you can lap till you drop!
Arlberg includes some of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe all in one huge ski area! Check out this review of Lech snowboarding holiday to find out more.
Lets get one thing clear, best value for money does not mean the best cheap or bargain basement snowboarding holidays. There are lower cost trips if you venture to the darkest corners of Europe. If you are looking for this check out the best cheap ski resorts in Europe for more information.
But in this article we are looking for the top resorts to snowboard in Europe that offer value money. This means a great snowboarding experience AND relatively low prices.
Jasna offers one of the best European snowboarding holidays without breaking the bank. For value for money it is hard to beat. Why? Well not only does Jasna have infrastructure that would put some well known resorts to shame, it has great parks and awesome freeride areas.
With 27 ski lifts in total, the lift system is modern with fast gondolas giving access to 50 Km of pistes. But any experienced snowboarder will love the amount of off-piste you can explore as we found out during this review of Jasna snowboarding holiday.
The spectacular gondola station at the peak of Mount Chopok has a lovely restaurant and even a hotel – so you can stay at the summit. The food in Jasna is high quality at low prices (or standard quality super cheap). A lot of bars have their own micro breweries and are rightly very proud of the beers – you’ll appreciate the low prices!
A 6 day lift pass is only 178 Euros! Also, getting there is easy as Wizz Airlines run three very cheap flights a day from Luton to Poprad. The airport is less than 45 minutes from the ski resort.
Try to avoid Jasna at weekends as it gets busy – with short transfers and good midweek deals it’s ripe for short breaks. Also try not to visit when it is Polish or Slovak national/school holidays as the slopes can get crowded.
How many of you knew that you can snowboard in southern Spain? Not only that, Sierra Nevada is a modern, delightfully characteristic resort near the city of Granada not for from the Costa Del Sol.
Ideal for families, Sierra Nevada oozes a typical Spanish relaxed ambience. And being Spain you can expect sun! It is the ideal location if you want to top up your tan whilst snowboarding. Advanced riders will appreciate the fabulous parks, and that when it dumps here there can be a lot of powder.
The accommodation in Sierra Nevada is quite expensive, so it is best to hire a car and stay in Granada. This way you can combine a snowboarding trip with city break. Food, drink and accommodation is very reasonable in Granada and an average ski pass for 6 days is less than 200 euros.
Andorra is not the duty free bargain basement snowboarding holiday is once was. However, it is still great value for money particularly in comparison to nearby French resorts.
Pas de la Casa has the reputation of being a party town and is slightly rougher around the edges than the neighbouring resort of Soldeu. But is ideal as a gateway for exploring the huge Grandvalira ski area.
Pas de la Casa is the highest resort of Grandvalira and is reasonably snow-sure throughout the winter. It is great for snowboarders of all abilities – many take their first trip here. Advanced riders will appreciate the motorway slope back down to the resort, with plenty of side hits and natural features to explore.
There are also some challenging and interesting black runs to tackle as well as a good park. It is best to explore the whole of the magnificent Grandvalira area for some wonderful runs, parks and ample off piste opportunities.
Although not dirt-cheap, food and drink is still a lot less expensive than it’s French neighbours. So, as far as value for money goes, Pas de la Casa is still one of the top ski resorts to snowboard in Europe.
From the late 1990’s Bulgaria was the king of the budget ski holidays. It was cheap and cheerful but the infrastructure of the main ski resorts were antiquated and did not offer much challenge for the more advanced snowboarders.
But Bansko has had a huge multi-million Euro investment and is by far the most modern of the three main resorts in Bulgaria. With 70 Km of slopes to explore it is also the biggest and has the longest runs. At only €221 for a 6 day ski lift pass, it’s one of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe if you are on a budget!
One thing to note is that the slopes are served by a 8 seater gondola. Queues in the morning can be long at peak times and there is no other access to the slopes. Which is problematic if the gondola is not running due to adverse weather conditions such as high winds.
The journey time also need to be considered as it is a longer flight. Plus the transfer from Sofia is more than two hours.
A good snowpark needs to have varied features and lines for different abilities. A beginner should be able to get started and there should be an easy transition between the features as they gain experience while still offering experienced snowboarders scope to get creative.
The Park shapers are king of the hill when it comes to freestyle parks. A well designed line will effortlessly take the rider from one feature to the next without skipping a heart beat. If you are a park rat then the freestyle element is vital for deciding what are the best European snowboarding holidays…
Out of the best freestyle resorts to snowboard in Europe, Laax tops most lists. Hosting events such as the Burton European Open, it is simply the Mecca for European freestylers.
The park is 2 Km in length and has over 90 features to play on. The P60 run starts off at 2,228m and drops down to 1,644m and is served by a fast chair lift giving riders a rest and more time to notch up laps.
Laax also has two halfpipes including the biggest in the world at 6.9m high and 200m long. The entire park is kept in tip top condition by the in-house shaping crew who are considered to be the best in the business!
The park is not exactly big being just 520m in length. And with 28 features and 1 pipe Mayrhofen is nowhere near the same size as Lax. But it does have a fast chairlift and alongside Laax, it is the pro’s park of choice in Europe. Riders who venture out the park will enjoy a vast ski area of natural side hitters to have fun on.
And no-one does Apres like the Austrians do and Mayrhofen is no exception. Enjoy a well deserved drink while dancing to their unique Euro trash dance tunes! To find out more check out this review of Mayrhofen snowboarding holiday.
A hidden gem on the sun blessed slopes of Sierra Nevada in Spain. Sulayr Freestyle is a park rat’s dream. Accessed from mid-mountain at Borreguiles in the Loma de Dílar area, the park can easily be lapped utilising a fast chair lift up to the top.
The park is 2.5 Km long has at least 70 features with wonderful flowing kickers that would suit levels of all abilities. It also boasts various shaped rails and boxes as well as an air bag so you can practice nailing those landings!
What I also love about the resort is that it is so quiet with a typically Spanish laid back and friendly atmosphere. Check it out before the rest hear that Sierra Nevada is one of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe for freestylers.
Avoriaz was one of the first resorts to welcome snowboarders and to feature a snowpark in Europe. So as the best European snowboarding holidays go this one comes with plenty of pedigree. And when it comes to parks there are five freestyle areas to choose from.
The famous Burton Stash is a park full of wooden features that cleverly merge with the natural wooded terrain. It has something for everyone and no trip through it is ever the same twice.
The Chapelle park has four lines of kickers from easy green to pro black and the same goes for rails. There is also a Kids Stash and flowing Slopestyle park. And if that is not enough in the wider Portes Du Soleil there are snowparks in Chatel, Les Crosets and a few features in Les Gets.
Avoriaz also boosts of two halfpipes. One for fearless intermediates plus a 120m superpipe. Find out more about the parks in the freestyle section of this review of Avoriaz snowboarding holiday.
Home of the annual ‘Spring Break‘ snowboard test week Kaunertal is a tiny resort that most people have never heard of. But they should as Snowpark Kaunertal is a favourite amongst experts for letting loose.
One of the five Tirol glacier resorts, Kaunertal has a long winter. You can ride here from October to June, so if you want to practice your freestyle early or late season it is the place to go.
The park has a half mile long jib-line and a great sequence of kickers for different abilities. The park is accessed via a T-bar and has enough boxes, benches and rails to keep everyone from beginner freestylers to dedicated park rats entertained.
Want to have a go yourselves and to see the pro’s at work? Then head out on the Spring Break snowboard test week which is held every year in May.
The famous Swatch Park used to host the European X Games so has seen the cream of the crop of pro riders over the years. With lines for beginners, intermediates, experts and pros, you can progress through the range of kickers and features. The Tignes Swatch Park also boasts of two boardercross courses.
Tignes is part of the Espace Killy ski area and linked with Val d’Isere where you’ll find another snowpark. Check out this review of Tignes freeride snowboarding to find out all about the resort.
Livigno is a fantastic place for freestyle with The Mottolino Park being it’s pinnacle. The innovative features stretch out over a 800m and it is considered one of the top parks in Italy and Europe. In fact it was one of the first snowparks created in Italy.
It boasts of over 60 features and has lines for beginners through to pros. The latest addition is a air bag so you can nail down those tricks. The Mottolino is served via a four seater chair lift so no you’ll get to rest your legs as you lap the park.
Freeride is what snowboarding is all about. There is no better feeling than floating across untracked powder, making fresh tracks through the trees or effortlessly shredding deep snow.
Lets face it off-piste is the holy grail of snowboarding! Although there are no guarantees you will get the right conditions, the top freeride resorts to snowboard in Europe are listed below. Choose one of these destinations and in fresh snow you will have an epic freeride experience.
A quick warning. Heading off-piste has many dangers. If you are unsure you should book a guide and always have the relevant avalanche safety gear.
Under the looming shadow of Mont Blanc, Chamonix is considered the birthplace of freeriding in Europe. For serious off-piste it is hard to find better! It can be very extreme making Chamonix the perfect playground for advanced freeriders.
There are so many famous routes to choose from but favourites include from the top of Grand Montets. Plus of course the infamous 22km Vallée Blanche from the Aiguilles Du Midi, it is regarded as the longest off-piste route on the planet.
While there is a lot of off-piste that is lift accessible there are many skiers and snowboarders looking to get the first turns on a powder day. So to make the most of it you should get into splitboarding so you can skin off into the backcountry.
Chamonix has always been considered one of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe. The town has a great vibe and energy that welcomes snowboarders. But its popularity for freeride means getting virgin powder can be competitive plus the level of difficulty means it is not for everyone.
Verbier will feature on any ‘Best European snowboarding holidays’ list! With typical Swiss chocolate box cover scenery and plenty of lift accessible off-piste it is a freeride snowboarders wet dream. It has even been claimed to have the best off-piste ski run on the planet.
For freeriding you should head up to the top of Mont Gele. Dedicated to freeride, Mont Gele will give you a headache on deciding on what line to take down as there is so many options.
With a decent snow record, Verbier is a good bet for catching a powder day or two. Plus of course the Freeride World Tour final is held here each year at the Xtreme Verbier event. But like Chamonix it will be busy on a powder day.
Located in the Piedmont region of Italy, Alagna is also known as ‘Freeride Paradise’ with good reason. There is just one main sequence of lifts that whisk you up 2000m and from the top there is only really one piste down – the rest is left for you to create your own tracks.
As part of the Monterosa ski area, Alagna was only pisted about 15 years ago. While it is ideal for the experienced snowboarder much is accessible to intermediates too. Unlike Chamonix there are not huge numbers of people so there will always be untracked powder to find.
There are plenty of treelines and valleys to explore and out of the way villages to pop into. Check out this review of Alagna freeride snowboarding to find out why it is one of the best European snowboarding holidays for those looking for powder.
The resort of Alagna is a small and fairly quiet village although after a powder day you’ll find a good vibe in the bars. If you splitboard you can find endless lines, and in good conditions you can even climb up Monte Rosa which at 4,634m is the second highest peak in the Alps.
When thinking of freeride the Portes Du Soleil is often overlooked. But this vast ski area of 650 km of pistes is very spread out with huge amounts of space between it’s managed runs. There are also many peaks that are easy to hike or splitboard giving you plenty of options for freeride snowboarding in Portes Du Soleil.
The mountains are lower and less steep than nearby Chamonix. But it gets a lot of snow and there is not a huge crowd of freeriders competing for fresh tracks. This means untouched powder can be found a short hike from pistes days after it last snowed.
Slopes are not as steep so less prone to avalanches – they still get slides here so follow usual safety precautions. But this means it good for beginner freeriders or those looking for backcountry fun without huge risks. Which for us makes it one of the best resorts to snowboard in Europe for freeriders.
Adding to that the Portes du Soleil is one of the quickest ski areas to access from the UK. It is about an hour transfer time from Geneva, and is one of the shortest journey’s if travelling by car. For the best freeride potential stay in Morzine, Avoriaz, or Chatel. The Swiss resorts are good too but much more expensive.
For beginners there are plenty of freeride schools to choose from and plenty of space in-between pistes to practice – check out this review of the Mint Snowboarding backcountry camp.
This small resort based in the Low Tatras of Slovakia is a hidden gem for freeriding. From the top of mount Chopok, there are many freeride zones that are easily accessible often without any hike. From the south facing bowls, to the technical and steep couloirs, it has something to offer for any ability.
For those looking for a budget freeride holiday the resort is affordable yet modern. To get to the top of Mount Chopok simply involves two fast gondolas. Then the whole mountain is your playground! Check out Jasna Adventures if you plan to visit.
One of the best resorts in Switzerland! Davos Klosters is well known as a freeride Mecca and is considered one of top freeride resorts to snowboard in Europe.
With no snow parks to mention, the resort has concentrated on the 5 mountains that you can freeride across. Davos is certainly suited to the advanced and experienced riders, but beginners and novices will enjoy the Madrisa and Pischa areas. Fantastic freeride tuition and avalanche courses can be taken in the resort.
St. Anton is a very popular Austrian resort with a huge reputation for freeride (and apres!). But make sure you get up nice and early on a powder day as the fresh snow gets tracked out quickly.
Your Arlberg ski pass gives you access to a huge ski area so it is best to hit the slopes with a guide. That said the many off-piste itinerary runs give access to unpisted terrain that is considered avalanche safe.
With miles and miles of fresh powder, steep drops and tree lines, it is not hard to weave out your perfect line. At St. Anton you can ride hard and party harder! It really is one of the top resorts to snowboard in Europe!
A beautiful and unspoilt corner of France. St. Foy is a far cry from it’s huge commercialised neighbours. Found in the Tarentaise Valley is is close to Les Arcs, La Plagne, Val d’Isere and Tignes. It is where the mountain guides go for fresh lines once the bigger resorts are tracked out.
Known for it’s natural beauty, St. Foy has avalanche safe freeride zones within the resort plus loads of backcountry. It is popular for splitboarding and you can heli-ski from here into Italy on the Ruitor Glacier and the famous North Face of the Foglietta.
At St. Foy it seems you are a million miles from anywhere. But in reality you are only a 20 minute drive to Val d’Isère or Tignes, and a 15 minute drive to to Les Arcs. Check out this review of freeride snowboarding in St Foy for more info.
It is no coincidence that the Freeride World Tour visits Fieberbrunn every season. After all, this is the freeride Mecca of the excellent Skicircus, which also includes Saalbach, Hinterglemm and Leogan.
The amazing backcountry adventures at Fieberbrunn centre around the summit of the legendary Wildseeloder. This is the playground for the best freeriders in the world. A true contender for the ‘best European snowboarding holidays’ if you want challenging off-piste.
For those who wish to get off-piste in safer conditions there is plenty to choose from. Between the pistes there is a lot of space throughout the Ski Circus, and there are many unpisted itinerary runs to enjoy. Plus of course not all the backcountry is only suited to experts!
Ride hard and party harder! Whether you like a warming gluehwein on the slopes, partying on top of the mountain at La Folie Douce, or feet stomping to umpa techno music in Austria, Après ski is an integral part of any snowboarding trip.
If for you the top resorts to snowboard in Europe have to include banmging Après Ski then read on.
The party begins at about 3pm in Ischgl. The DJ’s start pumping out what can best be described as Umpa Techno music in huge venues. Everyone is singing, jumping up and down and stomping to these crowd pleasing anthems.
It is cheesy but a lot of fun and strangely addictive. You can easily lose track of time and before you know it you will be singing along in German to these Austrian favourites.
The most popular après ski venue in Ischgl is Niki Stadl. Niki, the larger than life founder of the bar and was treated like a celebrity and was both DJ and entertainer almost every day until he sadly passed away a few years ago.
Traditionally, the party would be put on pause for a few hours in the evening while everyone would trundle off to their chalets, hotels and restaurants for a bite to eat, before resuming later in the evening. Nowadays, the party just carries on till the early hours of the morning!
If you like to party then Ischgl is one of the best European snowboarding holidays you can go on! Check out this article asking if the world’s best après is in Ischgl.
We cannot talk about Val d’isere without mentioning La Folie Douce in the same sentence. Situated on the slopes above La Daille, Folie has an exciting buzz and a swagger that is unrivalled elsewhere.
Expect the outside bar to be packed with revellers dancing on the tables in full ski gear. The DJ will mixing his tunes which are complemented by live sax, guitar riffs and performers dressed in crazy costumes.
Down in the town head to Dick’s Tea Bar. Do not be fooled by the name as this is a popular nightclub venue with a packed dance floor. Other bars worth mentioning are The Fall Line Bar, Café Face and many more. Believe me, you will not get bored even on a stag do in Val d’isere!
Fondly described as Ibiza on snow, Pas De La Casa is a party town and not for the faint hearted. This tax-free haven has been popular for many years for party goers, especially stag and hen nights.
A typical night may start out at Milwaukee or Paddy’s Irish Bar, then maybe move onto the Underground. The Underground plays a good mix of dance and typical British favourites to get the crowd going. Pas De La Casa is a lot of fun and probably best suited to the younger generation.
Mayrhofen has a reputation for partying loud and hard. It really is one of the best resorts in Europe for snowboarding and après ski. The party starts on top of the mountain in various bars mid afternoon and then moves into town.
Enjoy traditional and mad Austrian Après Ski at Bruck n Stadl. Not far the bottom of the main gondola, the party rages on from late afternoon to the early hours of the morning. Celeb DJ’s belt out the old favourites to get everyone going and before you know it, you will be jumping up and down singing along.
The Ice Bar is also popular and right next to the Gondola. Here they play dance and party anthems with a more British feel and certainly less tranditionally Austrian. The bar is long and thin and gets very crowded but is a lot of fun.
The Scotland Yard pub is fantastic for enjoying a beer with your mates while singing along to live music belting out covers from bands like Oasis. Even though it is a big pub it can get very rammed, but everyone is always in good spirits.
From sophisticated late afternoon dance ‘chill’ bars in the sunshine, to feet stomping dance music… Verbier is more like Ibiza than other resorts – including the prices so make sure you bring your credit card!
On the mountain you can start with a relaxing drink in the sun at Bar 1936. Then head on Pub Mont Fort and grab something to eat. Farinet is the place to be if you like live music.
Or for a touch of sophistication head over to the Farm Club. Originally opened in 1971, the Farm Club still remains the ‘go-to’ place for the Verbier’s rich and famous. Expect a nostalgic 70’s feel with the décor and ambiance.
With mainly British run pubs, après ski in Meribel has a more UK feel to it. Expect live music and feet stomping anthems similar to any holiday resort. So Meribel provides one of the best European snowboarding holidays if that is what you are looking for.
Up on the slopes there is Le Folie Douce. Just like the one at Val d’Isere, it involves DJ’s mixing tunes with live sax and guitar riffs. Expect people dancing on tables and flamboyant waiting staff and dancers.
The fun at the bottom of the slopes usually starts at Le Rond Point. With great live music and a good atmosphere, this place is usually heaving.
Then maybe head over to O’Sullivans which was formally the famous Dick’s Tea Room. Good music and a great atmosphere, you could waste many hours – and a lot of money – here!
Another big hitter from Austria, St Anton is renowned for its legendary après. The Mooserwirt and Crazy Kanguruh get the party started on the slopes fairly early. For slightly lower key fun go to Taps or the Underground which is a favourite hangout of the guides.
In town Basecamp is another early starter with DJs and a wild party. While the Anton Bar offers something more sophisticated. There are many more bars to explore plus clubs to stay out into the small hours if you wish.
We hope you have enjoyed our list of the top 35 resorts to snowboard in Europe. We feel it is a balanced list and hopefully included a few resorts that you may not have considered.
To be honest there are many other resorts we would like to include in each category. But this article is already over 6,000 words long so we have to draw the line somewhere.
So where are the best European snowboarding holidays to be found? Well any of the above are a good place to start, but really it is being in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. Any resort can provide the best days snowboarding of your life so the key is make the most of every moment you get on the snow.
What do you think? What resorts should we add to our list of the best European snowboarding holidays? Please let us know in the comments below. If you are ready to start booking then check out these Europe snowboarding holidays.
This summer I have been wearing some great two in one sport shorts and swim shorts with exceptionally comfortable liners. Read this review of Saxx shorts to find out...
At some point in the progression of your surfing, you’ll inevitably find yourself questioning the performance of your equipment. Of course, initial inquires will...
Need a new lid for mountain biking? Then check out this Smith Engage 2.0 review to find out how I got on with this MTB helmet with MIPS. I have tested the Engage 2.0...
Login
Register
