In many ski destinations across Europe, preparations are already underway for the upcoming ski openings. Just in time for the start of the ski season, the winter sports experts at the ski travel provider SnowTrex have gone on a search. They analyzed the 50 most popular destinations. The goal: to determine where you can find the best ski resorts in the Alps for 2024. The evaluation was based on 24 factors, including hard facts like overnight accommodation prices, ski pass fees, kilometers of slopes, beer prices, and hut ratings.

5: Chamonix, France

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Ski pass: € 348 for 6 days
Slopes: 172 km
7 nights at the hotel:  Doubles from € 1.450

The popular ski resort at the foot of Mont Blanc is widely renowned. With its numerous slopes of varying difficulty levels, it's especially popular among experienced skiers and snowboarders. However, the best ski resorts in the Alps offer more than just groomed slopes. In the case of Chamonix, it’s the challenging off-piste routes and deep-snow descents that stand out. In this regard, the Vallée Blanche is particularly popular. The 20-kilometer-long glacier descent is a classic among freeriders.

4: Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine Ski, France

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Ski pass: €320 for 6 days
Slopes: 250 kilometers
7 nights in a hotel: Doubles from €1,732

Five villages share this popular ski area: Alpe d'Huez, Auris-en-Oisans, Oz-en-Oisans, Villard-Reculas, and Vaujany. They stand out for their warm hospitality and exceptional cuisine. The slopes, however, are just as impressive. The Alpe d'Huez Grand Domaine is home to one of the longest black runs in Europe. The Pic Blanc mountain massif serves as the ski area, with its highest point at 3,300 meters, ensuring excellent snow conditions. Another highlight: Alpe d'Huez, with its 300 sunny days per year, is known as the "Island of the Sun." The infrastructure is also particularly family-friendly.

3: Tignes - Val d'Isère, France

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Ski pass: €426 for 6 days
Slopes: 300 kilometers
7 nights in a hotel: Doubles from €2,068

Known for its challenging slopes and diverse off-piste opportunities, this ski area, formerly known as "Espace Killy," attracts skiing enthusiasts from around the globe. Located in the French Alps, it spans elevations from 1,550 meters to 3,456 meters. The Grande Motte Glacier in Tignes and the Pissaillas Glacier in Val d'Isère ensure snow reliability, allowing skiing even in summer. Night owls also appreciate the vibrant après-ski scene. The Loop Bar and Folie Douce are legendary for their parties.

2: Les Portes du Soleil, France

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Ski pass: €403 for 6 days
Slopes: 580 kilometers (in France)
7 nights in a hotel: Doubles from €1,739

As one of the largest interconnected ski areas in the world, Les Portes du Soleil naturally earns its place among the best ski resorts in the Alps. Twelve ski villages make up the "Gateway to the Sun," spanning both the French and Swiss sides. Its diverse slopes have earned it worldwide popularity. What the geography (elevation between 950 and 2,466 meters) lacks in natural snow reliability is compensated by modern snow cannons. The appeal lies not only in cross-border skiing but also in the "Swiss Wall," one of the steepest and most challenging slopes in the Alps. Après-ski, fun parks, freestyle areas, and snow parks complete the experience.

1: Les 3 Vallées, France

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Ski pass: €320 for 6 days
Slopes: 600 kilometers
7 nights in a hotel: Doubles from €2,789

The largest interconnected ski area in the world takes the top spot on the list of the best ski resorts in the Alps—and deservedly so. With over 330 marked runs of varying difficulty levels, the area appeals to skiers of all abilities. The glacier in Val Thorens ensures snow reliability, taking winter sports enthusiasts up to 3,230 meters in altitude. Méribel's "Face" and Courchevel's "Combe de Saulire" are also well-known, having starred in the 1992 Winter Olympics. Many child-friendly facilities make Les 3 Vallées a favorite among families, with plenty to do off the slopes as well—like Europe's highest-altitude toboggan runs. Luxury seekers head to Courchevel 1850.