Best beginner Ski Resorts in Europe
La Plagne is the best beginner ski resort in Europe with beginner score 9.1/10, followed by Serre Chevalier and Villars-sur-Ollon. 10 resorts qualify.
10 resorts qualify, ranging from 9.1/10 to 7.3/10 for beginner score, across 3 countries.
Ranked list
- La Plagne9.1/10
Paradiski · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 63.46 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 13 lifts
- Ski schools in resort: 30 schools
195 km121.4 mi of pistes · 145 min145 min to Lyon Saint-Exupéry
- Serre Chevalier8.5/10
Serre Chevalier Vallée · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 60.01 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 14 lifts
- Easy piste km starting near the base: 23.8 km
150 km93.4 mi of pistes · 124 min124 min to Turin
- Villars-sur-Ollon7.9/10
Villars-Gryon-Les Diablerets · Switzerland
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 60.03 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 7 lifts
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
79 km49.0 mi of pistes · 90 min90 min to Geneva
- Courchevel7.7/10
Les 3 Vallées · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 57.94 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 11 lifts
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
151 km94.0 mi of pistes · 139 min139 min to Lyon Saint-Exupéry
- Les Arcs7.7/10
Paradiski · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 56.91 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 33 lifts
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
207 km128.5 mi of pistes · 169 min169 min to Lyon Saint-Exupéry
- Les Gets7.7/10
Portes du Soleil · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 57.37 %
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 4 lifts
75 km46.4 mi of pistes · 80 min80 min to Geneva
- Alta Badia7.7/10
Dolomiti Superski · Italy
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 64.14 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 8 lifts
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
115 km71.4 mi of pistes · 129 min129 min to Innsbruck
- Les Deux Alpes7.6/10
Les 2 Alpes · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 68.44 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 8 lifts
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
120 km74.8 mi of pistes · 139 min139 min to Lyon Saint-Exupéry
- Les Menuires7.4/10
Les 3 Vallées · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 70.71 %
- Magic carpets and rope tows: 7 lifts
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
107 km66.6 mi of pistes · 138 min138 min to Lyon Saint-Exupéry
- La Clusaz7.3/10
Massif des Aravis · France
- Green and blue pistes (share of total km): 58.82 %
- Nursery slope at village level: 1
- Easy piste km starting near the base: 11.7 km
103 km64.1 mi of pistes · 72 min72 min to Geneva
![500px provided description: With my friend K?vin Brenguier, we decided to wake up before the sunrise and go gatch the sun rising on the top of a mountain at La Clusaz in the french Alps. We hicked all the way up to a closed restaurant. The actual valley we chose in a ski station during the winter. Taken in La Clusaz, Haute-Savoie, France. Spring 2015. Shot with Minolta SRT101 loaded with Fuji Superia 200. [#trees ,#sunrise ,#morning ,#forest ,#mountains ,#spring ,#nature ,#sun ,#film ,#natural ,#minolta ,#france ,#35mm ,#woods ,#dawn ,#alps ,#outdoors ,#beginning ,#argentique ,#film camera ,#golden hours ,#pellicule ,#firstlight ,#believeinfilm ,#2015 ,#Analog ,#La Clusaz ,#Haute Savoie ,#Film photography ,#Fuji Superia 200 ,#justgoshoot ,#shotonfilm ,#letsgosomewhere ,#SRT 101 ,#keepexploring ,#packandgo ,#explorecreate ,#stayandwander]](/_next/image?url=%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F210%2Fthumb.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Compare every resort on this list
Best beginner Ski Resorts in Europe — full comparison
| # | Resort | beginner score | Pistes | Base | Top | Nearest airport | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La PlagneFrance | 9.1/10 | 195 km121.4 mi | 1,249 m4,100 ft | 3,050 m10,010 ft | Lyon Saint-Exupéry (145 min) | 6.3 |
| 2 | Serre ChevalierFrance | 8.5/10 | 150 km93.4 mi | 1,354 m4,440 ft | 2,769 m9,080 ft | Turin (124 min) | 4.8 |
| 3 | Villars-sur-OllonSwitzerland | 7.9/10 | 79 km49.0 mi | 1,125 m3,690 ft | 2,096 m6,880 ft | Geneva (90 min) | 4.6 |
| 4 | CourchevelFrance | 7.7/10 | 151 km94.0 mi | 1,262 m4,140 ft | 2,666 m8,750 ft | Lyon Saint-Exupéry (139 min) | 5.6 |
| 5 | Les ArcsFrance | 7.7/10 | 207 km128.5 mi | 809 m2,650 ft | 3,131 m10,270 ft | Lyon Saint-Exupéry (169 min) | 5.5 |
| 6 | Les GetsFrance | 7.7/10 | 75 km46.4 mi | 1,111 m3,650 ft | 1,947 m6,390 ft | Geneva (80 min) | 4.8 |
| 7 | Alta BadiaItaly | 7.7/10 | 115 km71.4 mi | 1,332 m4,370 ft | 2,521 m8,270 ft | Innsbruck (129 min) | 4.7 |
| 8 | Les Deux AlpesFrance | 7.6/10 | 120 km74.8 mi | 1,275 m4,180 ft | 3,501 m11,490 ft | Lyon Saint-Exupéry (139 min) | 5.8 |
| 9 | Les MenuiresFrance | 7.4/10 | 107 km66.6 mi | 1,564 m5,130 ft | 2,826 m9,270 ft | Lyon Saint-Exupéry (138 min) | 5.4 |
| 10 | La ClusazFrance | 7.3/10 | 103 km64.1 mi | 940 m3,080 ft | 2,449 m8,030 ft | Geneva (72 min) | 5.0 |
Range: 7.3/10 to 9.1/10 for beginner score.
Frequently asked questions
Which resort tops this list in Europe?
La Plagne, on beginner score of 9.1/10.
How is this list ranked?
By beginner score, computed from the data we hold for every published resort in Europe; nothing on this page is hand-ordered.
How many resorts qualify?
10 in Europe. A list only publishes with five or more.
What are the top three?
La Plagne (9.1/10), Serre Chevalier (8.5/10) and Villars-sur-Ollon (7.9/10).
Data updated · Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Open-MeteoRanked from piste km, altitude, snow and lift-pass data plus our own scores — no sponsored placements. How we score resorts.