Beyond the Alps—7 alternative European ski regions to try

As options for the traditional chalet ski break have dwindled and prices risen, venturing to Europe’s far corners and beyond for a ski break can reap rewards. Costs are often lower, while luxury accommodation can be similarly priced to budget options in mainstream European ski resorts. As well as being potentially cheaper, skiing in territory off the beaten track can offer a rich cultural experience, plus better flight routes, less crowded slopes, sunnier days and a friendlier welcome.

1. The Pyrenees

Stretching more than 430km from southwestern France all the way to northwest Spain — with Andorra in their heart — the Pyrenees are home to dozens of ski resorts big and small. Standouts include Baqueira-Beret in Spain, Soldeu in Andorra and Grand Tourmalet in France — and all are known for being cheaper than the Alps and often snowier, thanks to their Atlantic-maritime climate.

How to do it: In the French Pyrenees, Saint-Lary is a pretty, traditional village with access to one of the region’s largest ski resorts. Heidi offers seven nights’ self-catering at Lagrange Vacances L’Ardoisière, sleeping two, from £888 per person including flights and airport transfers.

2. The Carpathian Mountains

Europe’s second-longest mountain range stretches nearly 1,500km beginning on the Austrian-Czech border and forming a crescent through Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Serbia. It sits at a lower altitude to the Alps, but hosts a very respectable number of small ski resorts, little-explored by the British market. Perhaps the best known of these is family friendly Jasná in Slovakia, the largest ski resort in Central Europe, with nearly 50km of slopes spread either side of Mount Chopok, and a top height of 2,024m.

How to do it: WeSki offers six nights in Jasná for £460 per person including self-catering accommodation, transfers and flights.

3. The Scandinavian Mountains

Spanning Norway, Sweden and jutting up into Finland, this border-hopping range has peaks that rise high above fjords and runs that shuttle skiers through snow-carpeted forests. And what Scandi resorts lack in downhill kilometres, they make up for off-slope activities, from cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to reindeer herding sessions led by local Sami communities and husky-sled rides. Head north to Narvik in Arctic Norway for summit-to-sea activities regularly lit by the Aurora Borealis.

How to do it: Ski Safari offers seven nights self-catering at Basecamp Narvik from £1,275 per person, based on a family of four sharing, including car hire and return flights.

4. The Caucasus

Some 60% of Georgia is covered by the mighty Caucasus Mountains, and with new flights from London to Tbilisi launched in recent months, skiing here has become more accessible. The main resort, Gudauri, was designed by Ecosign, a Canadian company behind some of the world’s best resorts. Just a two-hour drive from the capital, Tbilisi it’s surrounded by whopping 5,000m peaks with some 80km of pistes rising to 3,276m — and advertises itself as having Europe’s cheapest ski pass: six days for GEL340 (£92.60). Further afield (nine hours’ drive) Goderdzi, along with nearby Tetnuldi, are slowly garnering a reputation as Georgia’s best freeride destinations.

How to do it: Georgia is a boon for backcountry skiers. Catskiing Georgia offers six days of IFMGA-guided catskiing in the western Bakhamaro region from €2,350 (£2,048) per person including six nights in a fully catered lodge, one night room-only hotel accommodation and transfers.

5. The Balkans

Running through easternmost Serbia and Bulgaria, the Balkan Mountains are home to a number of resorts with a growing reputation for great-value skiing, lively nightlife and hearty food and hospitality. Bulgaria is the most established among British skiers, with Borovets, Pamporovo and Bansko the most popular. They regularly top the Post Office Travel Money Ski Report as the cheapest places to ski in Europe, offering less crowded slopes and good-value lift passes, ski hire and lessons compared with the Alps.

How to do it: Iglu Ski offers seven nights at Four Points by Sheraton Bansko from £631 per person B&B including flights and transfers.

6. Sierra Nevada

The Andalucian mountain range is home to Mylhacén, the highest peak in continental Spain at 3,479m, as well as Europe’s southernmost ski resort (also called Sierra Nevada). As you’d expect from the location, the area basks in a lot more sunshine than the more northerly Alps, but it’s high, which helps guarantee snow coverage from December to April. The main hub, Pradollano, is at 2,100m and the nursery area at 2,700m, while the resort’s 112km of pistes reach a lofty 3,398m. The region regularly hosts international sports events, including the Snowboard Cross World Cup in March 2024. And for sun-seekers, it’s perfect for a combined ski-and-beach break, with the seaside city of Málaga just two hours’ drive away.

How to do it: Crystal Ski Holidays offers seven-night packages from £1,067 per person at Hotel Mont Blanc, including half-board accommodation, flights and transfers.

7. The Apennines

For empty pistes, stupendous views and pocket-pleasing prices, our hot tip for the season is the ski resort of Alto Sangro in the Italian Apennine mountains. This resort in central Italy’s Abruzzo region rewards skiers with run after run all day long, without lift queues to pause exploration. The only concern is how weary your legs might get. Compared to, say, the French Alps in high season, Alto Sangro — Abruzzo’s largest resort, with a top lift height of 2,141m — is almost a ghost town.

Roccaraso, the nearest town to Alto Sangro and the name by which this ski area is often known locally, is served by just one UK ski tour operator. Italians come here to ski at the weekends, which leaves weekdays blissfully quiet. Friendly locals and low prices make Roccaraso easy to love. Airfares to nearby Naples are lowest in winter, and local hotels are mostly small, family run and great value. A slopeside expresso costs around €1 (86p), while lunches of pasta or polenta are around a tenner (€12) — prices you won’t find in the Alps.

How to do it: Naples airport is a two-hour drive from Roccaraso. Ski Abruzzo offers six nights at Hotel Trieste in Roccaraso for €2,399 (£2,078), based on a family of four (two adults, two children under the age of 12) including half board, transfers and daily ski shuttle.