Choosing ski resorts with short transfer times means you spend less time on the road and more time on the slopes!
Ski resorts with short transfer times
To reach some of the best alpine destinations, you don’t need to travel too far from Europe’s biggest airports. You can hit the slopes of some of Europe’s leading resorts after just an hour on the road. Check out our choice of European ski resorts with short transfer times.
French ski resorts with short transfer times
Courchevel, France
Airport: Chambery
Transfer time: 1hr30
Courchevel has first-class skiing and is set within the vast Three Valleys (600km of pistes). Courchevel and six other resorts make up the largest ski area in Europe. The local ski area is made up of tree-lined slopes and wide, open runs above. Courchevel is linked up with other big names, including Val Thorens, Meribel and Les Menuires. Courchevel 1850 is a favourite of the rich for its luxury ski chalets, five-star hotels and high-end restaurants. Courchevel’s other villages offer more family-friendly options. All this is on offer only 1hr30 from Chambery! Courchevel is well-deserving of its place on out “ski resorts with short transfer times” list.
La Clusaz, France
Airport: Geneva
Transfer time: 1 hour
A popular weekend destination, being just an hour from Geneva Airport. This also makes La Clusaz a great option of a spontaneous trip after a powder dump. The traditional town has a charming centre and a good selection of amenities. The relatively low-altitude ski area benefits from snowmaking investment. The varied slopes offer something for everyone, but is perhaps suited to intermediates.
Morzine, France
Airport: Geneva
Transfer time: 1hr30
The large resort of Morzine is slap-bang at the heart of the Portes du Soleil ski area. This links 12 alpine resorts, including Avoriaz and Les Gets, and has a skiable area of 650km! The resort itself is relatively low altitude. But modern snowmaking and the huge ski area mean there’s plenty of good skiing. Advanced skiers have a good choice of steeps, including the infamous Swiss Wall. The resort is perhaps best suited to advanced intermediates with its endless red runs.
Chamonix, France
Airport: Geneva
Transfer time: 1hr30
You can’t call yourself an expert skier without having visited Chamonix. It is world-renowned for its extreme off-piste and challenging steeps. The four ski areas, Les Houches, Grands Montets, Brevent-Flegere and Domaine de Balme, also cater well to beginners and intermediates. The town itself is big and offers plenty of shops, accommodation, bars and restaurants.
Spanish ski resorts with short transfer times
Sierra Nevada, Spain
Airport: Grenada
Transfer time: 1 hour
How can a ski resort have views of the Mediterranean Sea while also having a good snow record? Well ski to to believe it! Sierra Nevada is set on north-facing slopes and has 100km of terrain stretching up to 3828m. While lower slopes are shady, the higher slopes are well above the treeline so there’s plenty of sunshine. To top it all off there’s extensive snowmaking ensuring reliable snow conditions throughout.
Austrian ski resorts with short transfer times
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Airport: Innsbruck
Transfer time: 1hr20
The name St. Anton is synonymous with partying and powder-packed off-piste. Thanks to the links with Lech and Zuers, two other Alpine hard-hitters, St. Anton makes up part of the Ski Arlberg (306km pistes). This is Austria’s largest linked ski area and, as luck would have it, boasts one of the best snow records. Skiers of all levels will find plenty to keep them amused. The Mooserwirt and Krazy Kangaruh are infamous apres-ski bars where you often see dancing on tables.
Zell am See, Austria
Airport: Salzburg
Transfer time: 1h30
Zell am See offers the best of both worlds: Alpine charm and modern ski infrastructure. It is is home to the snow-sure Kitsteinhorn glacier and the picturesque Lake Zell. The local ski area is perhaps best-suited to beginners and intermediates, but all levels will find plenty of terrain. The Ski Alpin Card combines 408km of pistes and popular resorts: Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang, Feiberbrunn, Schmittenhohe in Zell am See-kaprun and Kitzsteinhorn Kaprun.
Kitzbuehel, Austria
Airport: Salzburg
Transfer time: 1hr30
The charming town of Kitzbuehel has a large ski area (185km) which is well-suited to all abilities. The infamous Streif Downhill course has some world-class steeps. Intermediates are perhaps best catered for with plenty of blue and red runs in which to notch up the miles. The resort has made a serious investment in snowmaking and has an impressive lift system. Queuing is a thing of the past.
For more information on transfers, visit the ski airports. Geneva Airport, Chambery Airport, Grenada Airport, Innsbruck Airport and Salzburg Airport.
December 14, 2024
