The 11 Best Ski Towns in the World
Craving powder-soft mornings, roaring fires and villages where the snow seems to sparkle just for you? These are the ski towns that turn winter into something unforgettable.
There is a particular magic to a true ski town, a blend of soaring mountains, glowing chalets and the steady rhythm of days shaped by snow. These are places where mornings begin with fresh tracks beneath pastel skies, afternoons drift into long, lazy lunches on sunlit terraces and evenings unfold beside fires that crackle beneath timber beams. From high-altitude glamour to wild adventure, from family-focused joy to Michelin-starred decadence, these ski towns offer not just perfect pistes but winter worlds with their own personality, pulse and charm. Here are the destinations that define the season.
Best for High Altitude Glamour
Switzerland
St. Moritz has long defined the look and feel of high alpine luxury. Frozen lakes glitter beneath cobalt skies, horse-drawn sleighs glide through snow-covered promenades and terraces hum with the soft clink of Champagne flutes. Days drift between wide, sunlit pistes and spa sanctuaries scented with pine, while evenings glow in candlelit dining rooms and quietly exclusive après lounges. This is winter polished to perfection.
Handpicked haven: Kulm Hotel $$$$
Best for Michelin Star Skiing and Ultra Luxury Living
France
Courchevel is the Alps in their most decadent form. Wide, immaculate pistes sweep across the Three Valleys as if designed for effortless cruising, while the village sparkles with discreet chalets, designer storefronts and restaurants weighed down with Michelin stars. Long lunches spill out onto sun-drenched terraces, spa pools steam against snowy forests and the evenings unfold in a warm haze of velvet, candlelight and Champagne. It is winter indulgence at its most refined.
Handpicked haven: Les 3 Vallées $$$
Best for Romance in the Snow
Switzerland
Few places feel as quietly spellbinding as Zermatt. The Matterhorn rises like a painted backdrop above a car-free village lined with twinkling chalets, hushed promenades and restaurants glowing with lamplight. Skiers drift between Italy and Switzerland on sweeping high-altitude routes, always with that iconic peak in view. It is soft, intimate, powder-white romance.
Handpicked haven: Cervo Mountain Resort $$$
Best for North American Luxury
USA
Park City blends mountain wilderness with cosmopolitan shine. Designer boutiques catch the light along snowy streets, legendary lodges radiate old school charm and sunset is marked by Champagne sabering on outdoor decks. With vast terrain to explore and a town alive with galleries, music and chef-led dining, Park City offers a winter escape with both grit and glamour.
Handpicked haven: Grand Hyatt Deer Valley $$$
Best for Powder That Feels Like a Dream
Japan
In Niseko, snow arrives not as flakes but as entire clouds, soft, weightless and impossibly deep. Birch forests stand silent beneath white skies, steam rises from volcanic onsens and every run feels like floating through powdered silk. Between turns, warm up with bowls of ramen, soak in mineral rich springs and watch Mount Yōtei glow under a pale winter sun. Powder skiing at its purest.
Handpicked haven: Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve $$$$
Best for Family Magic
Canada
Whistler brings together everything families love about winter. Vast, varied terrain means no two days feel the same, from gentle learning slopes to bowls and tree runs that thrill seasoned skiers. The village is warm and walkable, dotted with hot chocolate stops, fire pits, ice-skating and cosy eateries that welcome everyone. Canadian hospitality carries through every moment.
Handpicked haven: Four Seasons $$$$
Best for Après That Turns Into a Night Out
France
Val d’Isère lives for the late afternoon. Slopeside terraces fill with music, laughter and clinking glasses as the sun dips behind the mountains. Ski long, winding blue runs by day, then move easily into a night of dancing, Champagne and Savoyard feasts. It is a resort where energy rises and the line between après and evening beautifully blurs.
Handpicked haven: Airelles $$$$
Best for Food Lovers on the Slopes
Italy
Cortina is the heart of la dolce vita in winter. The Dolomites glow rose-pink at sunrise, the slopes invite long, leisurely cruising and every break turns into a feast of truffle pasta, tiramisù and perfectly chilled spritzes. Terraces stretch along cliff edges, lunches linger and the joy of eating well becomes the true sport of the day. A winter escape with an Italian soul.
Handpicked haven: Hotel De Len $$$
Best for Adventure and Wild Mountain Spirit
France
Chamonix is the birthplace of mountaineering, a place where the mountains feel raw and alive. Skiers chase legendary off piste routes beneath the shadow of Mont Blanc, while adventurers scale ice walls, explore glaciers and hike high ridgelines. After dark, lively bars fill with guides, climbers and skiers swapping stories. It is winter for those who crave the wild.
Handpicked haven: Hotel Le Morgane $$
Best for Culture, Charm and Alpine Heritage
Austria
Painted facades, cobbled streets and a medieval heart give Lech a sense of timeless Alpine romance. The town balances storybook charm with serious skiing. Expect cosy stube dinners, horse-drawn sleigh rides, boutique shopping and pistes that weave through forests and centuries-old farms. Atmospheric and unmistakably Austrian.
Handpicked haven: Antony’s Alpine and Cozy $$
Best for Skiers Who Want It All
Switzerland
Verbier delivers scale, style and spirit in equal measure. Vast terrain unfurls across dramatic peaks, off piste descents challenge even the most confident skier and sunny mountain restaurants invite long, celebratory lunches. As the afternoon turns to evening, the village buzzes with an unmistakable international energy. It is the resort that truly has everything.
Handpicked haven: W $$$$
