There are so many amazing ski resorts dotted across Europe, that it can be hard to know which one to pick. So why not strap in for a European ski road trip?
By exploring Europe’s mountain regions by car you can enjoy time in some of the biggest and best ski resorts in the world. And you can also explore some of the lesser known gems, of which there are many.
In fact, if you’re looking for smaller and cheaper ski resorts, these are often hidden down valleys and inaccessible without a car. But their inaccessibility makes them even more appealing, as here you’ll be able to ride pristine snowy pistes without the crowds, find powder lines that are still untracked and enjoy a more authentic apres ski experience too.
Sounds good? If you’re ready to get your European ski road trip going, we’ve put together some tips, a few suggested itineraries and even a few hidden gems you might want to go and explore.
What do you need for a European road trip?
First of all, of course, you’ll need a car. If you are taking your own car that’s fine, but you’ll need to consider the tips below too. If you’re hiring a car in Europe, which can be very affordable depending where you book your hire car, then you can usually add on snow equipment. Make sure to add some of these on when you’re booking hire car.
We recommend RentalCars.com for the best rates when booking cars in Europe.
Snow chains
On all European mountain roads, having snow chains available is a legal requirement. This is with good reason, even regular winter tyres won’t provide you with enough traction and control on snow-covered roads and the last thing you want is to be stranded on formidable mountain passes. You might be tempted to buy snow socks, but there’s no substitute for a set of sturdy snow chains.
A word of warning, make sure you have a dry run trying to put your chains on before heading off on your journey. Winging it by putting then on for the first time in a blizzard is a recipe for a lot of stress!
Kits & Equipment
Snow chains aren’t the only legal requirement for your vehicle. For example, France mandates that you should have high visibility vests for every traveller, whilst a first-aid kit and snow shovel are good practices to have on you.
You’ll also need a reflective warning triangle in your boot if you are travelling in the French Alps. Hire cars should come with these included.
Tolls
Tolls are standard across European motorways, especially in France and Germany. If you’re driving across Swiss or Austrian motorways then you’ll need a Vignette sticker which is an electronic toll tag.
If you cross into Switzerland with a car that does not display the vignette sticker then you will need to pay it there and then. It costs around CHF45 and is valid for a year. Hiring a car in Switzerland will mean that you already have the vignette.
In France, you can simply pay each toll as you go – but make sure that you factor these into your budgets. Some of these motorway tolls can really add up! You can save money by taking smaller roads and avoiding the expressways – which can be fun. But sometimes, you just need to swallow the fee and go for it….
Map The Journey
This sounds obvious, but make sure that you familiarise yourself with the journey before each leg. Many mountain resorts are hidden away up zigzagging mountain roads, meandering valleys and obscure villages. Don’t expect to rely on your mobile phone signal too, as coverage is often patchy.
Talking of which you may want to print out your routes or take physical maps for your journey too. Just in case.
Hidden gem ski resorts
If you’re planning your European ski resort road trip, you might be weighing up the options for the Alps vs the Pyrenees.
It’s a tough call, but if you want relatively snow-sure and some of the best known resorts in the world, then it has to be the Alps. But, the Pyrenees also feature some fantastic options and if you time it right you can get some excellent snow coverage too.
Hidden gem ski resorts in the Pyrenees include:
- Boi Taull (Spain)
- Baqueria-Beret (Spain)
- Masella-Molina (Spain)
- Formigal (Spain)
- Cerler (Spain)
- Candanchu (Spain)
- Ax-les-Thermes (France)
- Font Romeu (France)
- Peyragudes (France)
- Cambre d’Aze (France)
- Saint-Lary-Soulan (France)
- Pal-Arinsal (Andorra)
Almost all of these are best accessed via your own vehicle, as they have limited connections with public transport and transfer services.
In the Alps, some of the more obscure (but still awesome) ski resorts to access with a road trip could include:
- Alpe di Mera/Monte-Rosa (Italy)
- Borno (Italy)
- Monte Cimone (Italy)
- Disentis/Andermatt (Switzerland)
- Schwarzee (Switzerland)
- Bivio (Switzerland)
- Obersaxon-Mundaun (Switzerland)
- Orcières-Merlette (France)
- Les Karellis (France)
This is just a tiny selection of some of the more obscure yet still awesome ski resorts you’ll find hidden across the Alps. In fact there are tons of European cheap ski resorts which are just as much fun as the big guns, if you take the time to explore.
If you spend enough time driving around the mountains you’ll often stumble across a hidden ski resort, offering incredible terrain, mostly empty slopes and a much more authentic Alpine vibe than the bigger resorts.
Looking for a some ski road trip inspiration? Check out these itineraries…
Three Countries, Three Ski Resorts Alpine Road Trip: Innsbruck to Engelberg
Innsbruck
This route starts at Innsbruck, the charming capital of the Austrian Tyrol region with outstanding scenery of the Alps surrounding you. Innsbruck is a quaint city with charming boulevards, hearty warming food and no shortage of things to do.
Things to do in Innsbruck:
- Visit Europe’s highest zoo with animals such as brown bears and moose
- Visit the old town and admire the audacious architecture
- Ride in one of the city’s cable cars such as the one to Hafelekar Peak to get a scenic view over the city as well as the surrounding Alps
- Immerse yourself in the city’s Winter Olympic legacy at the old Olympic Village
Time to start your road trip – gear yourself up (and your car) and start heading towards the ski resorts
Innsbruck to Kühtai (~40 Minutes)
From Innsbruck, you can quickly reach the resort of Kühtai.
At 2017m high, the road up to this ski resort is a lengthy and windy road which sees you pass through stunning alpine landscapes on your way up.
Given the altitude of Kühtai, the season often starts as early as November and extends late into April making this a great snowsure option.
2 nights a week there is an option to go night skiing and it’s a great resort for families whilst providing enough reds and a snow park to keep upper intermediates entertained for a few days.
Kühtai to Liechtenstein – Vaduz & Malbun (~2 hours 20)
From Kuhtai, the tiny country of Liechtenstein can be reached. Liechtenstein is Europe’s fourth smallest country that’s well regarded for its medieval castles, pristine villages and awesome alpine scenery.
The capital of this tiny German-speaking country, Vaduz, is less than 2 and a half hours’ drive away from Kühtai and makes for an interesting stop for a day or two.
Just 20 minutes from Vaduz, Liechtenstein’s small but mighty resort of Malbun is within easy reach. Malbun starts at an altitude of 1600m and provides varied terrains of skiing up to 2000m. Providing 23 km worth of slopes, it’s by no means a resort that will keep you occupied for a week, but its three chair lifts and twin drag lifts provide something different for a day or two and are especially popular for families.
Liechtenstein to Lucerne (~1 hour 30)
After ticking off lovely Liechtenstein from your list, it’s time to head across to your third country: Switzerland.
Lucerne is a stunning Swiss city that’s built around a lake and overlooked by the Swiss Alps. This compact, medieval city will give you more than your fix for a few days before heading to your third ski resort of the trip.
Things to do in Lucerne:
- Meander through the Aldstadt (Old Town) where you’ll encounter painted façades, cobbled alleys and quaint squares.
- Switzerland’s city of music – Lucerne has music festivals all year round ranging from blues to trance.
- Take a walk on the prettiest bridge in Switzerland ‘Chapel Bridge’ – this bridge spans 170 metres long and is the perfect photo opportunity
- At the end of Chapel Bridge, you’ll find the charming water tower which was built around 1290-3000
Lucerne to Engelberg (~30 minutes)
In just over 30 minutes, you’ll arrive at the Alpine village of Engelberg. Originally a small village, Engelberg has grown over the years and boasts two ski areas, with the most prominent being Engelberg-Titlis.
Engelberg-Titlis has a huge variation of elevation, starting from 1003 metres and going all the way up to 3020m. Such variety is also reflected in the ski slopes, with 25% being marked as easy, 60% intermediate, and 15% difficult.
Engelberg-Brunni meanwhile is a smaller collection of runs totalling to just over 8.5km of runs with the majority being catered for beginner skiers.
A quintessential Swiss village, skiing for all levels and a high-altitude glacier with powdery snow, Engelberg is the perfect resort to spend a few more days and end your trip, before heading back to Lucerne or afar.
A Taste of the Pyrenees – The Pink City, The Royal Resort, and The Spa Town
Toulouse
One of the largest cities within arms reach of the Pyrenees, you might want to begin your journey in ‘The Pink City’ of France, beautifully named ‘La Ville Rose’ thanks to its pink terracotta buildings.
There is a young, vibrant energy to Toulouse which probably has something to do with its large student population and they’re particularly proud of their unique Occitanian heritage.
What to do in Toulouse:
- Discover local gastronomy (like Toulouse sausage and Cassoulet) and chefs at Toulouse’s best market Marché Hugo Victor
- Visit the exquisite Capitole building and admire its beautiful artwork inside
- Stroll along the River Garonne and find a spot at one of the many cafes/restaurants and spend your afternoon people-watching
Toulouse to Baqueira-Beret (~2 hours 30)
Baqueira-Beret is a popular resort with the Spanish royal family and the centre of Spain’s national ski team. With 160km, snowsure conditions and skiing up to 2,610m in altitude, the secret is slowly getting out on this Spanish Pyraneean gem.
Raclette and fondue in the usual European resorts is good and all, but do you know what else is good? Authentic Catalonian Tapas!
Baqueira offers something for everyone and there’s even a tractor that pulls skiers from the village to the lifts which is just one of the things that makes Baqueira-Beret a gem that’s worth visiting for at least a few days!
Baqueira to Cauterets (~2 hours 40)
Heading back towards the A64, but not quite ready to return to Toulouse, this drive sees you crossing the border back into France and heading to the Hautes-Pyrenees spa town of Cauterets.
From the town, a long gondola transports budding skiers up to the ski area of Cirque De Lys, providing 36km of varied skiing from an altitude of 1,730m up to 2,415m.
This area is one of the most snow-sure in all of the French Pyrenees and is best suited to beginners and intermediates given its smaller ski area, but nevertheless still offers a number of red and black runs, as well as some smaller ski resorts nearby such as Gavarnie and Grand Tourmalet.
From here, you can head back down to Toulouse (~2 hours 20), or keep exploring the rest that the beautiful Pyrenees has to offer!
Book your ski road trip
If you’re planning your European ski road trip, these are all useful resources to plan your route.
Plan your A to B with Rome2Rio
Find hotels on Booking.com
Book your hire car with RentalCars.com