If you are looking for the best beginner ski resorts in Europe, then you are in the right place! We have considered several aspects such as budget, the gradient and width of slopes and special beginner zones. We also have instructors available to book in all of these resorts so you know you will be well looked after for your lessons!
Read on to discover the best beginner ski resorts in Europe!
Les Arcs, France
Les Arcs is a very popular first-ski destination for beginners because of its gentle wide pistes. Much of the accommodation is ski-in ski-out, which means you walk out of your apartment each morning, straight on to the slopes, and the beginners area is right in front of you. The resort is split into four areas each with their own beginners area with gentle slopes and lifts designed specifically for ease of use for beginners to try.
If you are starting as a complete beginner you will benefit from nursery areas where a ski pass is not required. There are also a couple of offers on lift passes where you can buy 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 trips on the lifts, which means you don’t have to spend money on a ski pass for the whole week.
Cervinia, Italy
This ski area is linked to Zermatt, Switzerland, but as a beginner skier or snowboarder it is unlikely you will be crossing the border. You will be focussed on the extensive nursery slopes and wide blue runs. The beginner slopes are next to the main conglomeration of hotels and are gentle and sheltered. Cervinia is one of the highest resorts in Europe and you will typically find soft, forgiving snow on wide open slopes.
Cervinia offers a limited ski pass which includes the easy magic carpet lift on the beginners slope in the village. The progression slopes are just above and offer a gentle gradient that will help to build confidence. We think that Cervinia is a great option for beginners!
Courchevel, France
Courchevel has been a long standing favourite for beginners because of its wide open pistes with gentle gradients. Courchevel consists of five main villages situated at different altitudes where you will find free magic carpet style lifts for children and beginners in all five areas. You will find a total of twelve free lifts in the beginners zones so if you are a complete beginner you wont need to buy a lift pass at all.
If you are looking for some progression from the beginner lifts you are able to buy a ski pass for as little as 3 hours to explore the wider area. You will also be able to purchase a Courchevel only pass rather than the 3 Valleys ski pass (which includes the neighbouring resorts of Meribel and Val Thorens). The whole of Courchevel is accessible on blue runs, so as you progress you will be able to explore the wide groomed pistes where you can practice what you’ve learnt and build your confidence.
Book ski lessons in Courchevel
Avoriaz, France
Avoriaz is situated at the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area. This traffic-free resort is fantastic for beginners. You will find 4 green and 25 blue pistes in town and in the wider Portes du Soleil ski area, a total of 34 green pistes to help build your confidence. The runs around the resort are gentle and wide and you are able to travel across the whole resort on blue runs.
As a complete beginner you will start off in the beginner zones where a ski pass is not required. When you progress on from here you will be able to buy a ski pass for as short as 5 hours. You may want to consider buying an Avoriaz only ski pass rather than the Portes du Soleil ski pass (which includes the neighbouring resorts in France and Switzerland). Children under the age of 5 also ski for free which helps if you are travelling with young children. So don’t hesitate to book and enjoy the vast amount of beginner-friendly tracks!
Verbier, Switzerland
Verbier has lots on offer for first time skiers and snowboarders with its three beginners areas located relatively close to one another with easy access from the resort centre. These areas have free magic carpets and lifts where you wont need to worry about getting a lift pass. As you progress to more advanced slopes you have the option of buying a local Verbier only pass rather than the full 4 Valleys area. There are also half day or full day options on passes.
The Les Esserts area is the largest of the beginner zones in Verbier, with one drag lift and 2 magic carpets at your disposal. The short gentle slopes are situated next to the Hameau bus stop and a popular restaurant terrace which is great for anyone on foot or serves as a good rest or meeting point for your group.
So, what next?
We have plenty of fantastic independent instructors in all of these popular beginner-friendly resorts. On Maison Sport you have the luxury of reading reviews ahead of time so you will be able to pick an instructor that suits your exact needs. You will also be able to chat to your instructor before your trip and ask any questions you may have with regards to your lessons.
The Independent Instructors on Maison Sport are Waiting for You!
You might also like: The Best Ski Resorts For Beginner Snowboarders in France
For more ski resort inspiration, check out the skier review-based rankings of the Best Beginner Resorts in Europe from our friends at Snomad.
