What do Chamonix, Morzine, Whistler, Zermatt, Vail, Aspen, and Saint Moritz all have in common? They're just some of the best ski resort towns in the world. You've probably heard of a handful of them, and others, not so much. Nevertheless, if you want to go on a ski holiday, these are the best places to do it! What sets them apart from all the others is that they all provide the perfect ambiance, amenities, and more for the perfect ski holiday. And even if you don't plan on skiing at all, you'll still enjoy your time in any of these places!
Chamonix
You'll find Chamonix all the way in the
French Alps, specifically at the heart of the Haute-Savoie department. Situated at the base of Mont-Blanc, the highest summit in the French Alps, the town has long welcomed skiers, athletes, and vacation-goers alike. A huge part of its popularity is the fact that the ski lift can carry you up to 11 different ski zones, allowing for a diverse ski experience that won't require a lot of travel. At the same time, Chamonix itself is a charming town, one that upholds the fairytale-like appeal of the French Alps.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Morzine
Morzine is also in the French Alps but a lot closer to the Swiss border than Chamonix. As part of the Portes du Soleil ski area, you can take the Télécabine, or the ski lift, to get to other ski areas nearby. With that said, what separates Morzine from the rest of the ski resort towns, both in France and beyond, is that it's a lot more rural in nature. There are still a couple of commercial establishments here, but it's also a lot quieter compared to other towns on this list. If you truly want to see the
French countryside on your ski holiday, you ought to go to Morzine!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Zermatt
Since the list started with the French Alps, let's now move on over to the Swiss Alps. It's here where you'll find Zermatt, one of the world's most popular ski resort towns. How couldn't it be when it's so near the Matterhorn? You can see its iconic pyramid-shaped peak so clearly from this town. Imagine the kinds of selfies you'd take here! They'd fit well with any
travel inspo Instagram page. Moreover, you should go here around the holiday season too. When they put up the wreaths, twinkling lights, and serve the roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, the entire town turns into a Christmas wonderland!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Innsbruck
Technically speaking, Innsbruck in Austria isn't a standard ski town. At least not in the same vein as the other places on this list. While the other towns are conventionally smaller and some even have snow almost all year round, Innsbruck is practically a full-blown metropolis and only draws in the jetset skiers in winter. In any other season, the place is perfect for some sightseeing, a foodie tour, and getting to know Austrian culture in the countryside. And in truth, these are all part of Innsbruck's charm as a ski resort town. There are lots more to do here than just ski!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Whistler
If you're really serious about skiing, look no further than
Whistler, a municipality in British Columbia, Canada. Since it hosted the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, this place has the best slopes for you to really get your ski on! Or go snowboarding, bob-sleighing, sledding, ice skating, and more. No matter the winter sport you're into, you'll definitely have the time of your life in Whistler. The town has even retained many of the facilities used in the Winter Olympics. From the slopes to the rinks, you'll be playing in areas where some of the world's best athletes broke records and won Olympic medals.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Aspen
Aspen, Colorado is the quintessential ski resort town in the US. When the American jetset crowd goes on their luxurious ski holidays, most of them fly off to Aspen. Why? For one thing, the place is expensive. High prices for high quality is the name of the game here, and if you want a little bit of Aspen yourself, prepare to shell out a huge chunk of your bank account (that is if you're not a millionaire or billionaire!). From the exquisite chalets and five-star resorts to the high fashion shopping and first-class restaurants, Aspen is as much about the good life as
New York City and
Los Angeles are.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Vail
Aspen is such a popular place that many people forget about Vail. Unbeknownst to many, Vail is another ski resort town in Colorado, named after the nearby Vail mountain. Though it's not as glossy and glamorous as Aspen, it's still a great place to ski, snowboard, and do other winter sports. What separates it from its more luxurious counterpart is that it's considerably closer to nature. While Aspen brings about a cosmopolitan vibe to a ski resort town, Vail sticks to its more mountainside appeal. It even looks more like the rural municipalities in Europe than a regular American town.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Park City
All the way in the state of Utah, Park City is another of America's best ski resort towns. This is where the US ski team trains after all. The fact that these gold medal-winning athletes prepare for their games here means that there really is something special about the town. But you wouldn't need them to tell you that. Just check out lively things are here and you'll instantly realize why Park City is such a worthwhile destination. The high slopes are cool, sure, but the town itself has a lot of energy as well. Famously, Park City is also the home of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, among the most famous events in the movie industry.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Niseko
Let's not forget that Europe, Canada, and the US aren't the only countries that have exceptional ski resort towns. Japan also has a few. One of the most notable is Niseko, a town located in Shiribeshi Subprefecture of Hokkaido. Now this is a ski resort town that truly goes beyond skiing and other winter sports. Though they are still mainstays in the municipality, what truly sets Nisekoi apart is how they uphold the 'resort' part of their title as much as all the others. Here, you can enjoy natural
onsens (hot springs), sip
sakei (rice wine), and of course, indulge in authentic Japanese food.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Wanaka
Over in New Zealand, there's Wanaka, which is perhaps the smallest of all the ski resort towns on this list and possibly of the entire world. With a population of only 8,500 residents, most people would hardly consider it a standard town. But it remains a lively and vibrant municipality where locals live happily and tourists ski to their hearts' content. In fact, they take skiing very seriously here, offering different types depending on the slope and the abilities of the participants. And after a day of rigorous winter sports, the pubs and bars offer the perfect solace.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Get to know about the best ski resort towns in the world. If you ever want to go on the ideal ski holiday, these are the places you'll want to travel to. There's a reason why these places are so popular, especially among the rich and famous.
