Best ski resorts for beginners

Best ski resorts for beginners

Resorts with the biggest beginner areas and the gentlest slopes, so first-time skiers can find their feet without fear.

24 resorts

How we picked

Learning to ski is a different sport from cruising blue runs, and the right resort matters: dedicated nursery slopes, magic carpets, a friendly ski school and easy access to long gentle pistes. These resorts have all of that, and our pick favours French, Spanish and Andorran domains where the marked green run system gives beginners safe terrain they can read.

Alpe d'Huez, French Alps
France
3,330 m

Alpe d'Huez

French Alps

Altitude
1,250 - 3,330 m
Pistes
250 km
Snow score
87/100
sunnyfamily
See hotels
Vaujany, French Alps
France
3,330 m

Vaujany

French Alps

Altitude
1,250 - 3,330 m
Pistes
250 km
Snow score
85/100
authenticbig domain
See hotels
La Plagne, French Alps
France
3,250 m

La Plagne

French Alps

Altitude
1,250 - 3,250 m
Pistes
425 km
Snow score
89/100
familyvalue
See hotels
Megève, French Alps
France
2,350 m

Megève

French Alps

Altitude
1,113 - 2,350 m
Pistes
400 km
Snow score
80/100
luxurygastronomy
See hotels
Saint-Gervais, French Alps
France
2,350 m

Saint-Gervais

French Alps

Altitude
850 - 2,350 m
Pistes
400 km
Snow score
80/100
thermalscenic
See hotels
Combloux, French Alps
France
2,350 m

Combloux

French Alps

Altitude
1,000 - 2,350 m
Pistes
400 km
Snow score
79/100
familyscenic
See hotels
Morzine, French Alps
France
2,277 m

Morzine

French Alps

Altitude
1,000 - 2,277 m
Pistes
650 km
Snow score
80/100
familyauthentic
See hotels
Courchevel, French Alps
France
2,738 m

Courchevel

French Alps

Altitude
1,300 - 2,738 m
Pistes
600 km
Snow score
90/100
luxuryfamily
See hotels
Les Arcs, French Alps
France
3,226 m

Les Arcs

French Alps

Altitude
1,600 - 3,226 m
Pistes
425 km
Snow score
92/100
familyfreeride
See hotels
Avoriaz, French Alps
France
2,466 m

Avoriaz

French Alps

Altitude
1,800 - 2,466 m
Pistes
650 km
Snow score
88/100
familyfreestyle
See hotels
Les Gets, French Alps
France
2,002 m

Les Gets

French Alps

Altitude
1,172 - 2,002 m
Pistes
650 km
Snow score
79/100
familyauthentic
See hotels
Méribel, French Alps
France
2,952 m

Méribel

French Alps

Altitude
1,450 - 2,952 m
Pistes
600 km
Snow score
89/100
familychalet
See hotels
Les Menuires, French Alps
France
2,850 m

Les Menuires

French Alps

Altitude
1,850 - 2,850 m
Pistes
600 km
Snow score
90/100
familyvalue
See hotels
Châtel, French Alps
France
2,200 m

Châtel

French Alps

Altitude
1,200 - 2,200 m
Pistes
650 km
Snow score
80/100
familyauthentic
See hotels
Les Saisies, French Alps
France
2,069 m

Les Saisies

French Alps

Altitude
1,650 - 2,069 m
Pistes
192 km
Snow score
82/100
familysunny
See hotels
Val Thorens, French Alps
France
3,230 m

Val Thorens

French Alps

Altitude
2,300 - 3,230 m
Pistes
600 km
Snow score
96/100
high altitudeparty
See hotels
Montgenèvre, French Alps
France
2,680 m

Montgenèvre

French Alps

Altitude
1,860 - 2,680 m
Pistes
400 km
Snow score
87/100
high altitudecross-border
See hotels
Les Sybelles, French Alps
France
2,620 m

Les Sybelles

French Alps

Altitude
1,100 - 2,620 m
Pistes
310 km
Snow score
80/100
familybig domain
See hotels
Tignes, French Alps
France
3,456 m

Tignes

French Alps

Altitude
1,550 - 3,456 m
Pistes
300 km
Snow score
95/100
high altitudeglacier
See hotels
Flaine, French Alps
France
2,500 m

Flaine

French Alps

Altitude
1,600 - 2,500 m
Pistes
265 km
Snow score
88/100
familysnow-sure
See hotels
Samoëns, French Alps
France
2,480 m

Samoëns

French Alps

Altitude
720 - 2,480 m
Pistes
265 km
Snow score
80/100
authenticfamily
See hotels
Val d'Isère, French Alps
France
3,456 m

Val d'Isère

French Alps

Altitude
1,850 - 3,456 m
Pistes
300 km
Snow score
93/100
luxuryfreeride
See hotels
Les Deux Alpes, French Alps
France
3,600 m

Les Deux Alpes

French Alps

Altitude
1,650 - 3,600 m
Pistes
200 km
Snow score
90/100
glacierparty
See hotels
Valmorel, French Alps
France
2,550 m

Valmorel

French Alps

Altitude
1,400 - 2,550 m
Pistes
165 km
Snow score
84/100
familyvalue
See hotels

Best ski resorts in Europe