Europe has a total of 3,960 ski resorts. Those looking for the perfect winter sports resort are therefore spoilt for choice. Sure, snow, lifts and slopes are everywhere. But the best ski resorts in Europe can do a bit more. They enchant with their ambience, score points with particularly modern lifts and gondolas and offer almost infinitely long runs. In addition, there are wonderful restaurants and mountain huts to stop off at. And you can sleep in unique hotels almost directly on the slopes. But the most important thing: the satisfaction of the travellers. Where this is particularly high:

10. Mègeve, France

Piste kilometres: 400
Day ski pass: € 52,-/adults, € 41,50/children
Web: lesportesdumontblanc.fr

With the Evasion Mont Blanc pass, guests can use the ski slopes of Combloux, Megève, Saint-Gervais, Les Contamines and La Giettaz. In total, they have over 400 kilometres of pistes at their disposal. The ski area around Mont Blanc offers slopes of all levels of difficulty. The highest point of the ski area is at almost 2,400 meters at the Aiguille Croche. A ski bus runs between the individual resorts. 

Hotel recommendation:

Les Chalets du Mont d'Arbois, Mègeve, a Four Seasons Hotel
447 Chem. de la Rocaille, 74120 Megève, France
Tel.: +33 4 50 21 25 03
Web: fourseasons.com
Price: from € 580,-/night

9. Val d'Isere, France

Piste kilometres: 300
Day ski pass: € 63,-/adults, € 38,-/children
Web: valdisere.com.

Val d'Isère is considered a world-class ski resort. What makes it so special is not only the varied pistes for all levels and the snow-sure location at 1,850 metres above sea level. It's also the unique charm that makes the resort so special. Situated in the Tarentaise Valley, this is where skiing challenges, luxury hotels, lots of design and the flair of days long gone meet. Although nothing is cheap here, Val d'Isère is still one of the more affordable ski resorts compared to other French ski destinations.

Hotel recommendation:

Le Yule Hôtel & Spa
Rue du Parc des Sports, 73150 Val-d'Isère, France
Tel.: +33 4 79 06 11 73
Web: 
Price: from € 340,-/night

8. Lech, Austria

Piste kilometres: 305
Day ski pass: € 66,-/adults, € 36,50/children
Web: lechzuers.com

The ski area on the Arlberg is considered the cradle of skiing. The first ski club was founded in this small Austrian community as early as 1908. In the meantime, several villages around the Arlberg have grown together to form a ski area. With more than 300 kilometres of pistes, Lech-Zürs now belongs to the most popular ski destinations in Austria. It is also one of the best ski resorts in Europe. A special challenge is the ski tour "The White Ring". Here you overcome 5,500 meters of altitude and 22 kilometers of ski runs in half a day.

Hotel recommendation:

Mail Lech Arlberg
Village 11, 6764 Lech am Arlberg
Tel.: +43 5583 2206
Web: postlech.com
Price: from € 570,-/night

7. Flims Laax Falera, Switzerland

Piste kilometres: 224
Day ski pass: from € 57,-/adults, from € 20,-/children
Web: flimslaax.com.

224 kilometres of pistes, five snow parks, 28 lifts and over 30 restaurants are available to guests of the ski area in Graubünden. Here, too, both beginners and advanced skiers get their money's worth. Night skiing in Flims Laax Falera is a special experience. On the descent from Curnius to Laax Murchetg you can make your tracks under floodlight until 10pm on selected dates.

Hotel recommendation:

The Hide Flims Hotel
Via Nova 80, 7017 Flims, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 81 911 15 11
Web: thehidehotelflims.com
Price: from € 307,-/night

6. Crans-Montana, Switzerland

Piste kilometres: 140
Day ski pass: online from € 24,-/adults, € 7,38/children
Web: mycma.ch

The ski area offers an exceptional variety of slopes for every level. Thanks to its south-facing orientation, skiers here enjoy sunny skiing throughout the season. Several World Cup slopes, 15 ski touring routes, a huge snow park on more than 100,000 square meters, more than 20 restaurants and an 8-kilometer-long downhill run from the glacier to the valley make the Swiss ski resort so diverse. Those who buy their lift passes online receive up to 50 percent discount.

Hotel recommendation:

Crans Ambassador
Rte du Petit Signal 3, 3963 Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 27 485 48 48
Web: cransambassador.ch
Price: from € 457,-/night

5. Kitzbühel, Austria

Piste kilometres: 188
Day ski pass: € 49.50/adults, € 24.50/children
Web: Kitzski.at

Top international brands in the boutiques on the village's main square, top international guests on the slopes: that's Kitzbühel. The romantic Tyrolean village attracts with first-class restaurants, such as the Gourmet Restaurant Tennerhofand the famous Hahnenkamm Race at the end of January. Away from the groomed slopes, winter sports fans can enjoy themselves on over 200 square kilometres of freeride terrain. As one of the best ski resorts in Europe, Kitzbühel has modern lift and snow-making facilities.

Hotel recommendation:

Hotel Grand Tirolia Kitzbühel
Eichenheim 10, 6370 Kitzbühel
Tel.: +43 5356 66615
Web: grand-tirolia.com
Price: from € 280,-/night

4. St. Anton, Austria

Piste kilometres: 305
Day ski pass: 
Web: arlbergerbergbahnen.com

The Galzigbahn has been in operation since 1937 and is always at the cutting edge of technology. In the meantime, more than 300 km of marked slopes are available to guests. 88 modern cable cars and lifts transport guests into the fun of the slopes. In addition to deep-snow runs, there are also snowboard fun parks, carving areas and permanent race courses. The Ski Arlberg App is particularly practical with all the information directly from the ski area.

Hotel recommendation:

Skihotel Galzig
Hannes-Schneider-Weg 5, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg, Tyrol, Austria
Tel.: +43 5446 42770
Web: skihotelgalzig.at
Price: from € 110,-/night

3. St. Moritz, Switzerland

Piste kilometres: 155
Day ski pass: from € 65,-/adults, from € 22,-/children
Web: stmoritz.com

When the Hotelier Johannes Badrutt 1864 brought winter sports to St. Moritz, he did not yet know that this small village in the Engadine would one day become the icon of a ski resort. Today, the haute volée and the international jet set meet here. There is hardly a celebrity who has not yet made his turns on the slopes. The mixture of extravagance, luxury and lifestyle at 1,865 metres above sea level is still popular. Even real winter sports enthusiasts don't miss out on the 87 slopes with World Cup quality runs.

Hotel recommendation:

Suvretta House
Via Chasellas 1, 7500 St. Moritz, Grisons, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 81 836 36 36
Web: suvrettahouse.ch
Price: from € 280,-/night

2. Gstaad, Switzerland

Piste kilometres: 200
Day ski pass: from € 47/adult, from € 27/child
Web: gstaad.ch

The mountain railways in Gstaad provide access to over 200 kilometres of pistes, toboggan runs and winter hiking trails. Gstaad relies on a dynamic pricing system. This means that the prices for day ski passes vary depending on when you book. Those who book wisely can therefore ski at particularly favourable prices in one of the best ski resorts in Europe. Enjoyment is a particularly high priority in Gstaad: first-class hotels and top restaurants await you, as do the many kilometres of pistes.

Hotel recommendation:

The Alpina Gstaad
Alpinastrasse 23, 3780 Gstaad, Bern, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 33 888 98 88
Web: thealpinagstaad.ch
Price: from € 760,-/night

1. Courmayeur, Italy

Piste kilometres: 100
Day ski pass: € 51,-/adults, € 30,-/children
Web: courmayeurmontblanc.it

The gateway to Mont Blanc, located in the Italian Aosta Valley, scores with tradition, good food, sports and entertainment. Add to that a wide range of shopping opportunities against the backdrop of the Mont Blanc massif. What more do you need? Oh yes, ski slopes. There are only 100 kilometres of them in total. That seems comparatively few, but travelers are convinced: this is number one among the best ski resorts in Europe. They give the mini resort top marks and over 97 percent are very satisfied with their stay. No wonder, after all, more than 70 percent of the ski area is absolutely guaranteed snow. There are great off-piste runs with views of Mont Blanc. And many of the runs face the sun.

Hotel recommendation:

Grand Hotel Courmayeur Mont Blanc
Str. Grand Ru, 1, 11013 Courmayeur AO, Italy
Tel.: + 39 0165 844542
Web: grandhotelcourmayeurmontblanc.it
Price: from € 261,-/night