The 7 best family ski resorts
It’s time. Time to get the kids on the slopes and show them just how amazing the ride can be. But where is best to ski with your family? You want it to be a place with awesome learning facilites and fun activities for your children but you also want some respectable slopes that you can carve up in the meantime! To help you get there quicker, we’ve put together our own list. We looked for ski resorts that provide lessons according to children’s ages and ability, where there are services close by and some après-ski entertainment to boot. These are also all great ski resorts for beginners.
Here’s our pick of the best resorts to suit all kinds of families, from the smallest snow adventurer to teens, parents and grandparents.
Discover the best family ski resorts now!
Obergurgl, Austria
A sure family favourite, it’s time to get acquainted with Obergurgl, Austria. Obergurgl is one of the highest ski villages in Europe, set at 1,930m in the Ötztal valley. It’s height above sea level plus the surrounding glacial slopes means that it’s pretty sure of snow and it’s winter season is long, lasting from mid-November until early May. Great for families with young children, Obergurgl is a low-key village built up around a beautiful church with no through traffic and lots of traditional hotels. This ski area makes a perfect adventure playground for the entire family thanks to 25 mountain lifts and 112 slope kilometers.
Open the piste map
More info: obergurgl.com
La Rosière, France
This French ski area is graced with gentle slopes and amazing scenery and the added bonus that you can actually ski across the border to Italy. La Rosière’s slopes are linked to La Thuile in Italy to form the 152km Espace San Bernardo. Both sides have some very wide, easy runs that are delightful cruises. The kids will love the fact that they’ve skied between two countries and you could treat them to some authentic Italian pizza when you’re taking a break from the powder. There are good beginner areas and longer easy runs to progress to, and there’s a fun run for kids with St Bernard dog-themed obstacles to ski through and around in La Rosière Centre. Pretty chalets make up a lot of the accommodation and there are fast lifts into the slopes.
Open the piste map
More info: larosiere.net
Méribel, France
Méribel is made up of pretty, chalet-style architecture, with wooded surroundings and a friendly, village atmosphere. It is centrally positioned within France’s huge Trois Vallées ski area. Together with the linked resorts of Courchevel, La Tania, and Val Thorens, this is the largest ski area in the world, with more than 600km of pistes! There’s good snow throughout the season. There’s plenty to enjoy here as a family, including child friendly slopes dotted with exciting features, like the Inuit Piste where the kids can combine skiing with building an igloo!
Open the piste map
More info: ski-resort.meribel.net
Grächen, Switzerland
The amazing region of Grächen is celebrating 60 years of winter sports this year, which means they’re putting on loads of extra entertainment to celebrate. Right in the heart of the Swiss Alps tucked away in the Matterhorn valley, Grächen has a reputation as a first-class resort for families, with great facilities, activities and children’s parks, making it the ideal location for the family ski trip. Thanks to its 3 glaciers, Grächen gets loads of natural snow and is known for it’s record number of sunny days.
Open the piste map
More info: graechen.ch
Les Gets, France
With its central nursery slopes and it’s pedestrian-friendly centre, this village in the giant Portes du Soleil ski area makes an ideal base for families and is super child friendly. Les Gets is an attractive, sunny village of traditional chalet-style buildings with loads of child-friendly activities like skating, farm tours and ten-pin bowling. There’s also the American Indian themed fun park ‘Grand Cry’ for some alternative fun on the slopes. The region has 286 groomed runs linked by 196 lifts to be pretty exact.
Open the piste map
More info: lesgets.com
Wengen, Switzerland
This low-key, family-friendly ski resort is a great choice for a getaway with the kids. The village sits on a sunny shelf with enchanting vistas and is made up of a mix of small chalets and hotels. Wengen is virtually car-free except for taxis. You reach this snowy gem by train as only taxis are allowed to drive the streets. At the village’s heart there’s a snow-covered meadow that serves as a combined playground and gentle nursery slope. It shares a ski area with nearby Grindelwald. An added bonus is that lift passes are free for the under-sixes and reduced for children aged up to 19.
Open the piste map
More info: wengen.swiss
Merano 2000, Italy
What better location for the perfect family ski holiday than the land that came up with pizza and pasta, and don’t forget the ice cream. Merano 2000 sits above the historic spa town of Merano in South Tyrol. Here you’ll find everything from good ski schools and professional childcare to exciting snow parks and great activites for the whole family. A kid friendly ski resort, the ski school provides lessons from the age of three and there are cheap lift passes for kids up to ten years old. And when you’re exhausted from your day on the slopes, treat yourself to some pampering at the Merano Thermal Spa and Pool complex. Perfect.
Open the piste map
More info: meran2000.com
Conclusion
So there’s our list of the best family ski resorts. Now you have some ideas on your ski holiday destination. How about following that up with finding snow outfits for you and the rest of the family? You’ll be needing clothing that keeps you warm, dry and ready for action. For that, we’ve got your covered. Check out our women’s trousers and jackets, men’s trousers and jackets and click on these links for boys, girls and toddlers snowwear. Time to work on that pizza wedge.