Italy

Italy is traditionally the most favorite destination for ski lovers. Both beginners and experienced skiers can enjoy different ski slopes with various levels of difficulty. Highly developed infrastructure and unforgettable scenery is what makes Italian ski resorts so attractive. Cortina d'Ampezzo, a town in the heart of the Dolomites, is considered to be the most popular ski destination and is called the Queen of the Dolomites. It features ski trails for beginners (61 km), experienced skiers (56 km), and professionals (23 km). Travelers can also dine in gourmet restaurants, visit museums, and walk down Corso Italia, the main street of the town, where they can meet famous people. Val di Fassa is another great ski resort in the Dolomites. The major resorts of the Lombardy region are Livigno and Bormio, and of the Piedmont region – Sestriere. As a rule, winter holidays in Italy are more affordable than in Austria, Switzerland, or France.

Austria

Austria is believed to be the world of Alpine skiing. This country has plenty of locations suitable for this sport. For example, Brixental boasts around 300 km of ski slopes, with 13 km devoted to the so-called “night ski track,” Austria's largest area for night skiing. This is the best place for anyone who loves this type of winter holiday as 48% of ski tracks are blue (easy) and only 6% are difficult routes for advanced skiers. Adrenaline seekers can try the Ischgl resort. The total length of the tracks is 238 km, of which 16% are “blue” for amateurs, 65% are “red” for experienced skiers, and 19% are “black” slopes for professionals. Other major ski resorts in Austria include Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Lech-Zürs, and Kitzbühel. The latter is located close to Innsbruck and Salzburg. Its idyllic Alpine scenery with chalets, boutiques, and luxury hotels make up a fantastic landscape. Kitzbühel offers housing for every taste and budget.

Serbia

Serbia offers a surprising combination of high-standard ski slopes and affordable prices. Today, Serbia can compete with other popular European ski resorts. The major ski tracks are located on the slopes of Kopaonik Mountain which is part of the national reserve 290 km away from Belgrade. Kopaonik has a variety of pistes, including 12 easy runs, 5 runs of medium difficulty, and 2 tracks for professional skiers. The resort also features a skiing school and a special ski area for children. Advanced skiers may find Stara Planina a more attractive option. This place has steeper slopes, and out of 9 tracks, 5 belong to the category of “red” and “black.” Imagine what a speedy descent this could be!

France

France is known for its top-rated ski resorts among which is the Three Valleys, the largest ski area in the world. It comprises 600 km of perfect ski runs and unique resorts such as Meribel, Les Menuires, Val Thorens, and others. Notably, the Three Valleys is a large connected ski area linked solely by ski lifts and slopes. Besides, at some resorts, visitors can stay at ski-in/ski-out hotels which enables them to access skiing right from the hotel room. This saves a lot of time and effort as you don’t need to get to the ski lift. Meribel, known as the ski pearl, lies in the center of the Three Valleys. It has several wide and safe slopes which makes it a friendly place for beginners. Professional skiers prefer Val Thorens high-difficulty trails.

Russia

Krasnaya Polyana, a ski resort 65 km away from Sochi, is believed to be a European-class ski center in Russia. It is located close to the Black Sea coast and the Sochi Olympic Park. The place is 960-2,200 m above sea level, and the total length of its slopes is 30 km. The area consists of three resorts: Rosa Khutor, Gazprom, and Krasnaya Polyana, each featuring equipped ski slopes, ski lifts, and ski rental. There are 10 blue, 3 green, 14 red, and 9 black runs. One of such black runs is considered dangerous as its route goes through steep terrain, and only expert skiers with special equipment can use it.