Are These the 5 Best Ski Resorts in the World?
With the Ski Resort Score the team behind the Blacks Outdoors brand has determined the best ski resorts in the world. Here are the top 5.
November 28, 2023
In winter, anything with a slope and a lift is often referred to as a ski resort or a ski area. Superlatives are then quickly at hand. The highest mountains, the most gondolas, the longest descents: it's hard to keep track. The popular brand Blacks Outdoors has therefore now set out to find the best ski resorts in the world analytically and with hard facts.
The Ski Resort Score served as the basis for the study. This is made up of the length of the slopes, the number of lifts, the cost of a day ski pass and the length of the season. The daily operating hours, the number of ski huts and restaurants as well as rental stations and ski schools were also taken into account. In total, each ski resort could achieve a maximum of 10 points.
5: Alpe d'Huez, France
Kilometers of slopes: 250
Ski lifts: 71
Day pass: € 58
Total score: 7,70
© Unsplash
The winter sports resort in the French Alps is primarily known for one thing: as the mountain arrival point of the Tour de France. Nevertheless, it also has plenty to offer in winter. One of these is the relatively long opening hours of 142 days a year. With 250 kilometers of slopes, Alpe d'Huez doesn't offer the longest ski slopes, but there are 12 ski and snowboard schools.
Web: alpedhuez.com
4: Megève/Saint-Gervais, France
Kilometres of pistes: 263
Ski lifts: 81
Day pass: € 55
Total score: 7,74
© Unsplash
As one of the most famous winter sports resorts in the Savoy Alps, Megève was able to claim fourth place. There are an incredible 59 ski huts and restaurants to recover from the adventure of 9 hours of skiing a day. There are ten ski schools where you can improve or acquire your skills. And as a big plus, there are numerous luxurious accommodations.
Web: megeve.com
3: Zermatt, Switzerland
Kilometers of slopes: 360
Ski lifts: 51
Day pass: € 106
Total score: 7,84
© Unsplash
The Swiss-Italian ski resort is by far the one that charges the most expensive rates for day tickets in the 2023/24 season. But thanks to the Matterhorn, it's open 365 days a year. And on average 8.5 hours a day. With 57 restaurants and ski huts and 15 ski schools, this results in a solid third place in the ranking of the best ski resorts in the world this winter.
2: Les Portes du Soleil, France
Kilometers of slopes: 600
Ski lifts: 208
Day pass: € 62
Total score: 7,99
Reese Brams
Silver goes to the 600-kilometre ski resort of Les Portes du Soleil. It combines 8 French and 4 Swiss ski resorts. These are located at 1400 to 2400 meters and are considered to be particularly snow-sure. The price-performance ratio is definitely right, as the Sun Gates are one of the largest interconnected ski areas in the world.
Web: portesdusoleil.com
1: Les 3 Vallées, France
Kilometers of slopes: 600
Ski lifts: 156
Day pass: € 72
Total score: 8,25
© Unsplash
The Ski Resort Score actually ranks four of the five best ski resorts in the world in France. With Les 3 Vallées, however, they are relying on a top dog. The largest ski region in the world - according to its own description - comprises 600 kilometers of slopes and is an amalgamation of a total of seven ski resorts. Val Thorens, at 2,300 meters above sea level and therefore the highest resort in Europe, is also part of Les 3 Vallées, as are Courchevel, Méribel and Les Menuires.
Web: les3vallees.com
Further results
You might ask yourself where the partly world-famous ski resorts of the skiing nation Austria end up in this ranking. In fact, the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn (6th place), Ski Arlberg (7th place) and Mayrhofen in Zillertal (9th place) made it into the top 10. Therefore, with a clear conscience, it can be said that the best ski resorts in the world can be found in two countries in particular: 5 places in the top 10 are in France and 3 in Austria. Switzerland and Italy each account for one place.
© Shutterstock
However, the world was not completely left out. The study showed that the most ski resorts (678) are located in Germany, followed by Japan with 565 and the USA with 529 ski resorts. The most popular resort on TikTok is Ruka in Finland. It has 22.8 million views. Far behind are second place (KitzSki with 15.8 million views) and third place (Skicircus Saalbach, 13.7 million). However, most popular on Instagram is La Plagne in France with 102,931 posts.
Read more: These are the best chalets for this winter
