Europe’s all-round fantastic family ski resorts for all types of ski holidays

1/5  Arinsal, Andorra: Vallnord ski area

Arinsal is a typical Andorran resort; warm, friendly, and easy going. Also in-keeping with local tradition, it’s great value, and an excellent choice for first-time ski holidays.

A good range of green and blue runs, snow parks, loads of activities, and great freeriding at nearby Arcalis, gives older kids and teens plenty to get excited about. Learner terrain is outstanding, local ski and snowboard schools offer multi-lingual instruction, and Arinsal’s après-ski is nicely unpretentious with lots of lively Basque character in the mix.

Good for families

• Andorra’s Best Ski Resort 2016, World Ski Awards.
• Single Vallnord ski pass covers 93km of slopes across 1000ha.
• Baby Club & Nursery for one to four year olds.
• Supervised Snow Garden for four to eight year olds.
• Award-winning ski and snowboard school, starts lessons from age four.
• 200 multi lingual ski instructors, plus BASI accredited instructors.
• Arcalis Snow Park and freeriding park.
• Dog sledding; sledging; fat biking; snowmobiling; snowshoeing.
• Archery; aerial rope park; ziplining.
• Winter programme of kid’s activities and events.

2/5  Galtür, Austrian Tyrol: Silvapark Galtür ski area

There are better known resorts in Austrian Tyrol, but very few beat Galtür for toddler to teen, all-round, snow-based adventure. The skiing here is superb at every level, and family-friendly’s the rule from ski-schools to restaurants, hotels, chalets and winter-long activities and events.

At 1600m, Galtür is also the highest resort in Paznaun-Ischgl, and snow-sure from late November to April. As an added bonus, it’s incredibly pretty too, packed with traditional Alpine charm, and designated a ‘Climatic Health Resort’, thanks to the exceptional air quality – hay fever sufferers flock to the village in spring.

Good for families

• Home to Silvapark Galtür: one ski area divided into six ski-zones.
• Zwergerwelt (kid’s world): play and learn intro to snow from age four.
• Snow Kindergarten from age two.
• Adventure Land – themed kid’s ski areas from age four.
• Action Park – advanced skiing and snowboarding for teens and adults.
• Heroes’ Park – expert freeriding and downhill skiing.
• Piste Paradise – 40km of downhill runs, day and night skiing.
• Winter hiking; horse riding; sledging; skating; snowshoeing.
• Playground Snow at Ski School Silvretta Galtür teaches kids from age four.

3/5  La Rosière, Tarentaise Valley: San Bernardo ski area

The sunniest resort in the Tarentaise Valley, La Rosière lets you ski France and Italy, has masses of cosy Savoyard village charm, and brings the comfort of Famille Plus to everything kid-size, from ski-schools to winter activities.

Kite-skiing is just one of the adventures teen can get up to. Advanced skiers have plenty of cross border challenge between Savoie and the Aosta Valley. Wide runs for beginners are a resort speciality. And après-ski is bi-cultural, so there’s a good mix of French home cooking, pizza snacking, and easy-going atmosphere.

Good for families

• San Bernardo offers 160km of cross border French/Italian runs.
• Single San Bernardo pass covers entire area.
• Les Galopins Baby Club from 18 months to age three.
• Les Galopins Kid’s Club from three to 13 years.
• Local ESF and Evolution 2 ski schools start lessons from age four.
• Multi-lingual ski instructors, beginners’ ski lifts.
• Petit San Bernard Mini Snow Park, and Petit San Bernard Snow Adventure Park.
• Snow kiting; snow joering; dog sledding; skating; family snowshoe tours.
• Bowling; cinema; thermal spas.
• 40 minutes drive Les Tignes and Val d’Isère.

4/5  Saas Fee, Swiss Alps: Felskinn/Morenia ski area

Saas Fee holds the Swiss Tourist Association ‘Families Welcome’ award, and it’s twinned with Colorado’s legendary Steamboat Springs, so be confident that kids will love it here, both on and off the slopes.

Cute, car-free and reliably snowy all winter, the resort also sits in a valley ringed round with Switzerland’s famous 4000s (Alpine peaks of 4000m and over): imagine Zermatt’s drama, but with a relaxed atmosphere, and significantly lower prices.

Good for families

• 145km of runs (27% black to 32% beginner). Single CHF lift pass.
• World’s highest revolving restaurant, and highest funicular railway.
• Swiss Ski School Saas Fee starts lessons at age four.
• Ski Swiss Snow League instruction for kids from seven to 11.
• Saas Valley Centre offers childcare from 18 months.
• Kid’s Snow Park; Junior Fun Park Kreuzboden; Morenia Freestyle Park.
• Natural ice rink; sledging; snowshoeing; winter hiking; skidoos; snow bikes.
• Indoor climbing centre; leisure pools; spa; bowling; Kian’s Adventureland.
• Winter Kid’s Jamboree Days.
• World’s biggest ice grotto on the Mittelallalin Glacier.

5/5  Åre, Jãmtland, Sweden: Åreskutan Mountain area

In Sweden, skis are like shoes in winter, so it follows that the country’s biggest and best ski resort is going to be spectacular.

Raise expectations sky-high, and Åre comes good on everything from Scandi-village prettiness to local culture and Northern Lights, reindeer, fabulous skiing, enchanting forests, and stunningly cool (but coolly laid-back) places to eat, and stay.

The resort’s facilities are so good, it’s often described as a ‘city for skiers’. But don’t worry; it’s good on fairy-tale looks too, and the charming Swedes speak perfect English, almost without exception.

Good for families

• New direct flights from UK to Åre Airport take two hours, 55 minutes.
• Single Skistar Family Pass covers entire Åre ski area.
• Kids under six ski free.
• Valle’s Ski School starts lesson from age three.
• Childcare from age two; slope-side Pram Minding service from six months.
• Dedicated family ski area; four kid’s ski zones; freestyle Snow Parks.
• Copperhill Spa & Sauna complex.
• Holiday Club 2300m² indoor waterpark and wellness centre.
• Dog sledding; sledding; skating; cross-country tours; ice fishing; snowmobiling; ice driving. 

Want to refine your ski holiday search? Take a look at the best family-friendly ski resorts in Austria this winter.