Revealed: The most affordable European ski resorts to try this winter

A week on the slopes doesn't have to cost a fortune – but choosing the wrong resort could leave you paying more than seven times as much. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT A new ranking of some 265 European ski resorts reveals the cheapest places to hit the slopes this winter, alongside the luxury Alpine destinations where accommodation and lift passes really add up. Holidu, a search engine for holiday rentals, has released its ski resort price index for the 2026-2027 season, which looked at prices at the 265 ski resorts offering at least 20 kilometres of slopes. In terms of a destination’s price analysis, median holiday rental prices per person per night were taken from Holidu’s internal database, while travel periods examined were high season – from 21-27 December 2026 – and low season, which, for the purposes of this study, runs from 22-28 March 2027. Holidu also looked at the price of adult one-day lift passes, and the daily price per person for high and low season was calculated by adding the median nightly accommodation price to that lift pass price. The final ranking was worked out by calculating the average daily price per person across both seasons. In the end, it was revealed that nine out of Europe’s 10 least expensive options were in France, while Switzerland, Austria and Italy dominated the priciest spots for a ski break. The most affordable ski destinations in Europe Roubion les Buisses, France - €40.50 / day - Total slope length: 30km Réallon, France - €42.95 / day - Total slope length: 30km Gresse en Vercors, France - €49.00 / day - Total slope length: 20km Le Mourtis, France - €51.50 / day - Total slope length: 25km Sierra de Béjar, Spain - €53.00 / day - Total slope length: 26.8km Lans en Vercors, France - €54.98 / day - Total slope length: 24km Le Collet d’Allevard, France - €55.00 / day - Total slope length: 35km Chabanon, France - €55.20 / day - Total slope length: 40km Aillons-Margériaz, France - €55.40 / day- Total slope length: 24km Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, France - €57.50 / day - Total slope length: 24km The three most affordable ski destinations Roubion les Buisses, France Roubion les Buisses is pretty synonymous with affordable ski trips and for its ideal location, just an hour from Nice. It previously topped the 2023-2024 index and still makes for a break that won't break the bank, with a trip here costing €40.50 per day. The resort, in the hinterland of the Alpes-Maritimes, has a total slope length of 30 kilometres and boasts plenty of red runs, as well as a handful of green and blue slopes for beginners and two black runs for the advanced skiers who head here. Holidu found that a one-day lift pass costs €20 in both high and low season, while accommodation prices range from €15 to €26 per person per night, depending on the season. Réallon, France In the Hautes-Alpes above Lake Serre-Ponçon, you’ll find Réallon, which previously topped the affordability ranking for the 2024-2025 season. It still remains a wallet-friendly option, with a trip costing €42.95 per day. With a total slope length of 30 kilometres, it attracts those skiers who crave peace and quiet and a relaxed atmosphere. Réallon has the most affordable accommodation in the top three on the list, with beds available for under €20 per person per night. Some cost as little as €13 in low season. Expect to pay €29.90 in high season for a one-day lift pass, a figure which drops to €24 in low season. Gresse en Vercors, France Just 45 minutes from Grenoble and in the heart of the Vercors Regional Nature Park, Gresse en Vercors is the third most affordable option in the ranking, with a trip costing €49.00 per day. It climbed four places in this ranking and is a popular destination with families, beginners and cross-country skiers, as it has around 50 kilometres of Nordic trails to explore. With a total slope length of 20 kilometres, it’s actually one of two Vercors destinations in the top 10, as Lans en Vercors is in sixth place. At the foot of the Grand Veymont, the highest peak in the massif, a one-day lift pass costs €27 or €23 in the high and low seasons, respectively, while accommodation ranges from as little as €17 to €31 per person per night, depending on the season. Most expensive ski destinations in Europe Zermatt, Switzerland - €303.86 / day - Total slope length: 200km Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy - €290.50 / day - Total slope length: 120km Gitschberg Jochtal, Italy - €271.50 / day - Total slope length: 55km St. Moritz (Corviglia), Switzerland - €263.99 / day - Total slope length: 155km Obergurgl-Hochgurgl, Austria - €262.50 / day - Total slope length: 112km Ski Arlberg, Austria - €256.00 / day - Total slope length: 301km Hintertux (Hintertux Glacier), Austria - €255.50 / day - Total slope length: 64km Obertauern, Austria - €246.00 / day - Total slope length: 100km Madonna di Campiglio, Italy - €238.00 / day - Total slope length: 60km Val Gardena, Italy - €235.50 / day - Total slope length: 175km The three most expensive ski destinations Zermatt, Switzerland While there are plenty of affordable options for a ski trip in Europe, there are equally as many if you’re keen to splash some cash. At the top of the list of the priciest destinations is Zermatt, which will set you back a whopping €303.86 per day. Switzerland is notoriously expensive, so it’s no surprise that one of its most famous resorts has risen three places since last year and taken the top spot from Obergurgl-Hochgurgl in Austria. At the foot of the Matterhorn, the car-free villages provide access to one of the highest ski areas in the entire Alps and almost guaranteed snow – as well as some of the most high-end hotels in the country. With a total vast slope length of 200 kilometres, daily lift passes cost €111.28 in high season, and accommodation costs €244 per person per night. If you still want to visit on a relative budget, going in low season is a better bet. At that time, the lift pass price drops to €98.44 and accommodation prices fall to €154. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy Italy takes up four out of 10 places on the priciest destination ranking, and Cortina d’Ampezzo is the most expensive overall. Just months after hosting the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, this spot is set to attract ski fans or, at least, those who can afford to visit. A trip here will set you back €290.50 per day, but it does offer glamour coupled with world-class skiing over 120 kilometres of slopes, which range from gentle beginner slopes to demanding expert runs in the heart of the Dolomites. Daily lift passes here cost €84 in high season, while accommodation costs €308 per person per night. In low season, the lift pass price drops to €76, and accommodation prices fall to €113 - almost a third of the cost in busier times. Gitschberg Jochtal, Italy The third place in the priciest ranking is also taken by an Italian resort, although Gitschberg Jochtal is located where Puster Valley meets the Eisack Valley in South Tyrol. The destination has climbed two places from last year and has a cost of €271.50 per day. While it has the shortest total slope length in the top three, at 55 km, it’s known for its family-friendly atmosphere and panoramic platforms, which offer views of some 500 peaks, including the Dolomites. Expect to pay €73 for a daily lift pass in high season, and just €7 less in low season, at €66. Meanwhile, accommodation costs €238 per night per person in high season, and falls to €159 in less busy periods.