Europe is the birthplace of the ski resort and the sport as we know it today. Some areas on the continent are virtually synonymous with the pasttime, most notably the Alps. A pristine region familiar to people around the world because of beautiful towns like Innsbruck, Salzburg and Gstaad, cozy little hamlets, gingerbread homes, swish resorts, fondue and apr?s-ski, the Alps lures in the lion’s share of ski tourists.
Europe however, is a big place. Other nations beyond France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria are terrific destinations for winter wonderland fun. Perhaps not in the same vein as the Alps in terms of magnitude and sex-appeal, Scandinavia is also a notable hotbed for the sport. Obviously, the wintry confines of Sweden, Norway and Finland provide beautiful landscapes to navigate on skis or snowboards as well. However, we thought it was high time to pay some attention to other parts of Europe that give downhill and cross-country enthusiasts a fair amount of chills, spills and thrills.
10. Fackovske Sedlo/Klak, Slovakia
The Lesser Fatra range of the Western Carpathians is a beautiful area of Slovakia with many wildlife reserves and national parks. Fackovske Sedlo/Klak is the prime ski resort of the Lesser Fatra and has a season that runs from December until March. With almost 6 km of runs, the resort can accommodate 1,800 people per hour.
The town of Arachova is a veritable base camp for many who want to ski the best slopes in Greece. Two resorts on the slopes of Mount Parnassos surprise many who consider the country a one-dimensional nation in terms of climate and geography. The fact of the matter is that Parnassos has a maximum capacity of 5,000 people per hour and over 30 km of runs.
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The village of Bukovel in the Ukraine has a tiny population of less than 1,000 people but serves the country at large with super ski slopes. With the Carpathian Mountains as the backdrop, a massive 278 km of runs provides the ski and snowboard resort with a strong argument to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
With 28,000 inhabitants in Lesser Poland Province, Zakopane is the de facto winter capital of the country. Poland is no stranger to harsh winters but for visitors to the dramatic portion of the Tatra Mountains, fun is the word of the day. The area has been host to several world and alpine ski championship events and hopes one day to win an Winter Olympic Games bid.
Smack on the border with Poland, the town of Harrachov is a pretty little community that draws native Czech residents to perhaps the best winter sports conditions in the country. A hotbed of alpine tourism, come here if you want to hike, ski and take in some spectacular scenery.
Iceland and winter: a no-brainer pair. Yet many forgo the country in favor of continental Europe. Oddsskar? proves that the trip is well worth it. The East Iceland landscape is raw, clean and as wild as it gets.
The historically heterogeneous town of Vatra Dornei is the best ski resort in under-the-radar Romania. With 18,000 people, the vibe is casual and Old Europe all the way. The Carpathian conditions provide a lot of excitement to novices and experts alike.
Most know the Pyrenees as a wonderful playground for summer and winter sports. Many however, have yet to discover a tiny slice of Catalonia on the border of Spain and France. Not only does the region receive an inordinate amount of sunshine, the skiing in the multi-ethnic and multi-lingual area is phenomenal.
2. Caucasus Mountains, Georgia
Forget the negative publicity about Georgia that has come about in the wake of recent struggles with Russia. The country has incredible tourist appeal, even beyond the beautiful capital of Tbilisi. The Caucasus Mountains provide rabid ski enthusiasts with world class conditions in some of the most exotic natural landscapes in Europe.
The record high mountain range in diverse and seductive Portugal provides the country with yet one more attraction: a top-drawer winter playground. The Vodaphone Ski Resort within Serra da Estrela Natural Park is ground zero for some of the best conditions for skiiers on the entire Iberian Peninsula. The proximate landscape is wild, lush and rather picturesque. In other words, don’t drop your camera on the ride up to the top.
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