The 10 Largest Ski Areas in the Alpes

There can' t be enough kilometres of slopes for you? Then your next skiing holiday should go to one of the 10 largest skiing areas in the Alps. The skiing areas extend seamlessly over several mountains, some of them even beyond national borders, thus offering unlimited skiing pleasure in the truest sense of the word. They are so large that one day of skiing is not enough to explore them completely. So if you are looking for variety for several days and prefer not to ski the same slope twice, these ski resorts are just right for you.

The largest ski area in the Alps extends over a total of 12 ski resorts in France and Switzerland. Situated near Lake Geneva, the winter sports area Portes du Soleil comprises an area of 650 kilometres of slopes and almost 200 lifts. This also makes it one of the largest connected ski areas in the world.

More than 450 slopes, 11 snow parks and almost 100 mountain restaurants provide a varied skiing holiday here. However, if you want to explore the entire ski area, you must bring enough time with you. Because winter sports enthusiasts have around 180 hours of skiing fun at their disposal here.

>> More information about the ski area Portes du Soleil

The eight resorts, which include Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens and Les Menuires, are seamlessly connected by more than 160 lifts. Les 3 Vallées 600 km of ski slopes are waiting to be discovered in the French ski area. 

The spectacular location also makes Les 3 Vallées a superlative ski area. Because from the slopes, winter sports enthusiasts have an impressive view of more than 1,000 peaks of the French, Italian and Swiss Alps, including the highest mountain in Europe, Mont Blanc.

>> More information about the ski area Les 3 Vallées

The third largest ski area in the Alps - 4 Vallées - is located in Switzerland. Around the villages of Verbier, Bruson, La Tzoumaz, Nendaz, Veysonnaz and Thyon, there are 412 km of slopes available to winter sports enthusiasts.

Around 75 percent of the slopes are marked in red or black, which is why advanced skiers in particular get their money's worth in 4 Vallées. With more than 100 kilometres of easy runs, however, beginners will also find enough opportunities for great days on the slopes.

>> More information about the ski area 4 Vallées

Via Lattea on the Italian-French border also offers plenty of opportunities for downhill skiing. About 70 lifts connect the ski resorts Sestriere, Saze d'Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana, Pragelato, Claviere and Montgenèvre. The ski area belongs mostly to Italy, only Montgenèvre is on the French side.

The 400 km of pistes in the ski area have become well-known, especially since the 2006 Winter Olympics, during which the majority of competitions were held there. Sestriere, the most famous part of the "Milky Way", is also a regular guest of the Ski World Cup.
 

>> More information about the ski area Via Lattea

Zermatt belongs to the top ski areas worldwide. The reason for this is not only its fantastic location below the majestic Matterhorn, but also its wide range of downhill skiing possibilities. A total of 360 km of pistes stretch from the Swiss town of Zermatt to the Italian Breuil-Cervinia.

Thanks to its location at an altitude of almost 4,000 metres, it is also particularly snow-sure. That's why at "Matterhorn Glacier Paradise" you can ski all year round.

>> More information about the ski area Zermatt

310 kilometres of slopes and 70 lifts connect the six villages of Le Corbier, La Toussuire, Les Bottières, Saint Sorlin d'Arves, Saint Jean d'Arves and Saint Colomban des Villards to the ski area Les Sybelles.

Together, the "six beauties" (French: Les Six Belles) are among the largest ski areas in France and the Alps. In addition to the approximately 130 different pistes, snow and fun parks, boardercross, freeride routes, tubing and toboggan runs provide variety.

>> More information about the ski area Les Sybelles

In terms of slope kilometres, France and Switzerland are ahead. But also Austria has some big ski areas to offer. Above all Ski Arlberg with the sub-areas St. Anton, Lech-Zürs and Warth-Schroecken.

Its 305 km of slopes make the Arlberg the largest connected skiing area in Austria. With a varied range of pistes, an additional 200 kilometres of powder runs and legendary après-ski, it is also one of the best ski areas in the world.

>> More information about the ski area Ski Arlberg

Two glaciers and 300 kilometres of downhill skiing pleasure await winter sports enthusiasts in the exclusive ski area of Tignes - Val d'Isère. At Espace Killy, as the association of the two French resorts is also called, especially advanced and sporty skiers will find a wide range of challenging slopes.

Experts should not miss the legendary "Germain Mattis" downhill run on the Massif de Solaise in Val d'Isère or the black "Descente" on the Glacier de la Grande Motte in Tignes.

>> More information about the ski area Tignes - Val d'Isère

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental also makes it into the Top 10 of the largest ski areas in the Alps. Between Going, Ellmau, Scheffau, Söll, Hopfgarten, Westendorf and Brixen im Thale there are 284 kilometres of slopes.

With predominantly blue and red slopes, SkiWelt is particularly popular with families and pleasure seekers. Skiing continues on the pistes in the evening too. Because in Söll, with 10 kilometres of floodlit slopes, the largest night skiing offer in Austria awaits you.

>> More information about the ski area SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental

The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn is one of the best ski areas in the world. With 270 kilometres of slopes and modern lifts, winter sports enthusiasts will find an enormous variety of offers here. Since the introduction of the Ski Alpin Card in the 2019/2020 season, the ski pass can also be used on the slopes on the Schmittenhöhe in Zell am See and on the Kitzsteinhorn in Kaprun, making a total of more than 400 kilometres of downhill runs available here.

If you want to experience the complete Skicircus, you shouldn't miss the ski round "The Challenge". However, for the 65 kilometre round, skill and endurance are required.

>> More information about the Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

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