‘The run ends in the centre of this beautiful village’: readers’ favourite small ski resorts in Europe
Free travel to a Salzberg gem Bad Gastein is a relatively unknown gem. The Austrian state it sits in, Salzburg, offers free local transport (the
Free travel to a Salzberg gem Bad Gastein is a relatively unknown gem. The Austrian state it sits in, Salzburg, offers free local transport (the guest mobility ticket) if you are staying in the state, so you can travel to the resort via train for nothing. The slopes are directly next to the station, too. Rob Owen Family fun in the French Alps View image in fullscreen Puy-Saint-Vincent. Photograph: Santiago Urquijo/Getty Images Puy-Saint-Vincent in France is a wonderful, small, child-friendly resort. Our grandchildren learned to ski each morning with great instructors on the gentle slopes under amazing azure skies. Three generations then made memories of a lifetime, skiing the wide quiet slopes together each afternoon. We enjoyed dog sleds and cosy hot chocolate in the slopeside cafes. A wonderful trip. Barbara Profile Readers' tips: send a tip for a chance to win a £200 voucher for a Coolstays break Show Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. A historic railway and superb skiing in Norway View image in fullscreen A ski lift in Gausta. Photograph: Alf Jacob Nilsen/Alamy Gausta, Norway, is such fun. Stay at Gaustablikk, the hotel built by Kirk Douglas’s stuntman, a wonderfully quirky piece of local history.
Explore Vemork, the historic heavy-water plant where British and Norwegian resistance fighters carried out their daring sabotage during the second world war. For families, the on-piste skiing is friendly and accessible; while the cross-country trails are simply stunning. Then there’s the real adventure: an old US military train climbs Gaustatoppen, opening up spectacular off-piste skiing with views and terrain that rival much of mainland Europe. It’s a brilliant mix of history, skiing, scenery and adventure, and somehow remains a wonderfully under-the-radar destination. Fiona Markets and gluhwein in the Austrian Tirol View image in fullscreen St Johann in Tirol, Austria. Photograph: Animaflora/Getty Images As a family of four, we loved St Johann in Tirol. It’s a comfortable Austrian village with Christmas markets, picturesque churches and gorgeous frozen valley walks – with little marmosets and weasels to look out for along the river. Wherever you stay, you can walk to a gondola. It’s really near to Salzburg airport, too. In Austria, kids get all-day lessons, which is a big bonus. Parents can just kick back or wander around and have a gluhwein or two. Prices were very reasonable in the Christmas holidays. Nick A locals’ favourite on the Italian border View image in fullscreen Monte Lussari village. Photograph: Jacques Decro/Getty Images Tarvisio-Monte Lussari on the Italian-Slovenian border covers 24km (15 miles) of skiable terrain interconnected across two main sectors: the historic and stunning Monte Lussari pilgrimage peak and the Priesnig area.
Used by local people and those in the know, it offers sufficient ski runs and good value ski passes and restaurants, and is much cheaper than neighbouring resorts in Austria. Neil Magic in the air at La Rosière, France View image in fullscreen Family-friendly La Rosière. Photograph: Real Image/Alamy Stay in the attractive resort of La Rosière in France, in the foothills of the Mont Blanc region. Enjoy the short forest walk to the village, with wind chimes and magic in the air, for an après-ski drink and a cheese fondue in a local tavern with the kids. Oliver skip past newsletter promotion Free newsletter | Twice a week Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays Enter your email Sign up after newsletter promotion Off-piste heaven in the Norwegian Alps View image in fullscreen Strandafjellet. Photograph: Glenn Pettersen/Getty Images About 50km (30 miles) from Ålesund, Strandafjellet has excellent pistes, but also some of the best off-piste skiing in Norway. Strap on a pair of randonnée skis and you can use the lifts to access spectacular backcountry skiing in the Sunnmøre Alps. The views down to the fjord make this truly special. Pistes are illuminated for evening skiing. Graham A charming village in Les Trois Vallées View image in fullscreen Saint-Martin-de-Bellevile in the French Alps. Photograph: Delpixart/Getty Images Saint-Martin-de-Belleville, in the French Alps (Les Trois Vallées), is low at about 1,500 metres, so go mid-season.
The single run ends smack in the centre of the village, which has retained its historical features along with small, friendly bars and places to eat. Plus, it gives access to the whole of the Trois Vallées ski area – absolutely amazing from one small but beautiful village. There are plenty of choices for accommodation, both expensive and cheap. Russell Walker Queue-free skiing for all in Italy’s Dolomites View image in fullscreen Christmas time in Brunico. Photograph: Nicola Simeoni/Alamy Brunico is tucked away in the Dolomites, just a 90-minute transfer from Innsbruck. I had a great week at the beginning of March. Unlike bigger resorts, queues were nonexistent here. There are runs for beginners through to experts. Great snow and plenty of opportunities to use it. Ian B Winning tip: Bavarian charm and quiet slopes View image in fullscreen A restaurant in Oberstdorf, Germany. Photograph: Harry Laub/Getty Images Oberstdorf in Germany continues to be my go-to for a quiet and restorative ski week away. There are 130km (80 miles) of pistes for all levels, stacks of Bavarian restaurants, a wide variety of mountain huts, plenty of hotels for all budgets and family sizes, and the novelty of skiing into and out of Austria daily. Neuschwanstein Castle is a short hop away for a day off. Unbeatable value. Daniel Stephens
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