Best family ski resorts in Europe 2023: Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland compared
The best family ski resorts in Europe combine gentle beginner slopes, a big ski school for children and short walks from the hotel to the lift. Our top picks for 2023 are Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria, Les Gets and La Plagne in France, Alta Badia and Val Gardena in Italy, and Arosa Lenzerheide and Grindelwald in Switzerland. Below we compare them and share tips on travel, places to stay, food and rainy days.
Why now: the peak of the ski season
Mid-January is one of the best moments to book a family ski trip: the snow base is usually solid and the slopes are quieter than in February. Many countries in Europe have winter school holidays in February, so prices and crowds go up then. If your children are not yet at school, a week in late January or in March can be calmer and cheaper.
If you need to travel in the school holidays, book now. Ski school places for small children and family rooms close to the lifts are often the first to sell out.
Top 8 family ski resorts in Europe
Austria and Italy offer the best mix of kid-friendly slopes and good value, France has the biggest ski areas, and Switzerland wins on train access and scenery. All eight resorts below have ski schools with snow gardens for little ones and easy runs for the first days on skis.
| Resort | Country | Best for | Ski school from | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis | Austria | toddlers and first-timers | about 3 years | premium |
| Saalbach Hinterglemm | Austria | mixed-age families, big ski area | about 3 years | mid-range |
| Les Gets | France | short transfer, village feel | about 3 years | mid-range |
| La Plagne | France | ski-in ski-out, high snow | about 3 years | mid-range |
| Alta Badia | Italy | gentle runs, great food | about 3 years | mid-range |
| Val Gardena | Italy | beginners, Dolomites views | about 3 years | mid-range |
| Arosa Lenzerheide | Switzerland | train access, varied slopes | about 3 years | premium |
| Grindelwald | Switzerland | scenery, sledging | about 3 years | premium |
Price level of an adult day lift pass: budget = under about €50, mid-range = about €50–70, premium = over €70. Approximate values, prices change every season.
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Austria
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Tyrol is built around children. It has large ski kindergartens with snow gardens, themed kids' areas on the slopes and a small underground railway that carries skiers through car-free Serfaus. Saalbach Hinterglemm is a great choice when siblings ski at different levels: there are wide blue runs for beginners and lots of terrain for confident teenagers.
France
Les Gets is a pretty village in the Portes du Soleil area, about an hour and a half from Geneva airport. It feels calm and traditional, and the beginner zones are close to the centre. La Plagne is a high-altitude resort with reliable snow and many family apartments right on the slopes, so you can ski back to your door.
Italy
Alta Badia in the Dolomites is known for long, gentle red and blue runs and for mountain huts with excellent food. Nearby Val Gardena has wide beginner areas and is part of the famous Sella Ronda circuit, which older children can try once they are confident.
Switzerland
Arosa Lenzerheide links two resorts with a cable car and has plenty of easy slopes, plus a frozen lake for winter walks. Grindelwald sits below the Eiger and is wonderful for families who mix skiing with sledging and scenic train rides.
Find kid-friendly attractions in Switzerland on the Kid.ooo map
Getting there with kids: car, train and stops
Swiss and Austrian resorts are the easiest to reach by train, while French and Italian resorts are usually easier by car or airport transfer. Grindelwald and Arosa have their own railway stations. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and Saalbach Hinterglemm are a short bus ride from the nearest main-line station.
- By train: book family tickets early, reserve seats together and pack light. Ski bags can usually travel on board, but check the rules of each rail operator.
- By car: carry snow chains and check winter tyre rules for every country on your route. Plan a stop every two hours for snacks and a run-around.
- By plane: Geneva, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Zurich and Venice are the main airports. Book a shared or private transfer with child seats in advance.
Where to stay: family-friendly stays
Choose a family hotel or apartment within walking distance of the lift and the ski school meeting point. Carrying skis and a tired four-year-old for fifteen minutes in ski boots is not fun.
Many Austrian and Italian family hotels include childcare, a kids' club or an indoor pool, which can be worth the higher price. Apartments are often better value for larger families and make early dinners easy. Ask about cots, high chairs, a ski room and a drying room for wet gloves.
Where to eat with kids
Mountain huts and family restaurants in the Alps are used to children, and most have high chairs and simple dishes like pasta, schnitzel or soup. In Austria, look for a hut with a sun terrace and a kids' menu. In Italy, a plate of pasta or polenta at lunchtime keeps everyone happy.
To save money, eat a big lunch on the mountain and a simple dinner in your apartment. Kid-friendly restaurants in the resorts are on the Kid.ooo map.
Rainy-day plan B
When it rains or snows too hard to ski, an indoor pool, a thermal spa with a family area or a short train ride to a nearby town will save the day. In Tyrol, the Aqua Dome thermal spa in Längenfeld has a family area and outdoor pools with mountain views. Many resorts also have indoor climbing walls, cinemas or bowling.
Simple ideas work too: a sledging run, a walk to a frozen lake, or an afternoon of board games in a café. Pack a few small surprises for the days when the weather is not on your side.
Packing checklist for skiing with kids
Pack warm layers, good gloves and a helmet that fits; you can rent the rest.
- Thermal base layers and warm socks (two pairs per child)
- Waterproof ski jacket, trousers and mittens, plus a spare pair
- Helmet and goggles (rental is fine, but check the fit)
- Sun cream, lip balm and sunglasses, because mountain sun is strong
- Snacks and a small thermos for breaks
- Hand warmers for little fingers
- Indoor shoes and swimwear for the hotel pool
For more ideas on travelling with kids, take a look at @globetotting on Instagram.
Save your ski trip places in Kid.ooo
Kid.ooo is a free kid-friendly places map where parents share the spots their children love. Use it as your family travel app for Europe: save the ski school meeting point, a cosy hut for lunch and a playground in the village before you leave home.
Plan your family ski trip on the Kid.ooo map
Missing a place you loved? Add it to Kid.ooo and help the next family choosing where to go with kids this winter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ski resort in Europe for families with young children?
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Austria is often named first, because the whole resort is built around children, with large ski kindergartens and gentle slopes. Les Gets in France and Val Gardena in Italy are also excellent for beginners.
At what age can children start ski school?
Most ski schools in the Alps take children from about three years old, usually in a snow garden with moving carpets and playful lessons. Group lessons on real slopes normally start at four or five.
Is Switzerland too expensive for a family ski holiday?
Swiss resorts are usually the most expensive in this comparison, but trains go right into villages like Grindelwald and Arosa, so you can skip the hire car. Self-catering flats and picnic lunches also bring costs down.
When is the best time for a family ski trip?
January, outside school holidays, is often the quietest and cheapest time with good snow. February is the busiest month because many European countries have winter school holidays then.
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