As an American, I was surprised at how much cheaper (and better) skiing was in Europe than in the US. Lift tickets, ski rentals, accommodation and food were all cheaper, and overall it was all better. But because I was flying in, I found it hard to find places to ski in Europe without access to a car.
The first few times I was too young to rent a car, but most recently, I chose not to rent a car for the ease of it (and because it’s cheaper). Sure, there are some places to ski in Europe where having a car is easier. But there are some great ski resorts in Europe that you don’t need a car to access.
Before I went myself, though, I didn’t have certainty over whether it was possible to get to the ski resorts in Europe without a car. I don’t think it’s a popular way of going on ski holidays, but I’m sure there are others like me who want to know how (and where) to do it!
Since I found it difficult finding these places, I thought I’d share three ski areas in Europe where you can access world-class skiing without a car to make it easier for anyone else who is searching for that.
All of these ski areas are near international airports where you are likely to find cheap flights and the public transportation to the ski areas is affordable too. I’m sure you can find private transports to most ski areas, but this post is for those who want to access ski areas with cheap public transportation. Yes, it’s possible!
Find out where to fly, what public transportation to use, where to ski, where to stay and what to do on days off skiing in each of these three ski areas that you can access without a car.
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Aosta Valley is made up of several ski areas, and I struggled to find info on whether it is possible to access them without a car. I ended up choosing Pila and Courmayeur since they were easily accessible from Aosta without a car, but you might be able to access some of the others by bus from Milan (I can’t confirm though).
But the two ski areas of Pila and Courmayeur have plenty of skiing and great views. You will be able to see some famous mountain ranges, like Mont Blanc and Matterhorn, from a different perspective than across the border in France and Switzerland.
I flew into Milan because international flights were much cheaper there than to Turin (which is closer to Aosta).
From Milan, you have two options. First is to take a direct bus, second is to take a train with one change (the option I chose).
From Turin you can take a train as well, and it’s a shorter journey, so it’s a better option if you find a cheap flight here.
Aosta is a great place to stay if you want to ski in the Aosta Valley and don’t have a car. Not only is there good public transportation coming to and from Aosta, but you can also access a ski area by foot.
I stayed in Maison Besenval, and I can’t recommend this cute little apartment enough. It felt like home and felt super cozy after a day of skiing. It’s located right on the main square and was about 12 minutes by foot to the cable car to Pila ski resort.
If you’re staying in Aosta and don’t want to deal with public transportation, you can easily access Pila. You can take a cable car that is located just across the river from the town center (about 10-15 minutes by foot).
Worried about needing to walk those ten minutes with your ski gear? You don’t have to. The two rental places next to the cable car have free storage for your ski gear. And if you have your own ski gear, you can rent a locker at the cable car station.
Pila has great skiing for intermediate skiers. Although there are a few blues and blacks, most of the runs are reds. So although it’s not a huge ski area, all the runs are made for intermediate skiing and you won’t get bored easily.
And if you do get tired of skiing in Pila, you can take a bus to Courmayeur. It’s an hour to get there from Aosta and buses run regularly. (This will cost you around 7 euros roundtrip.)
While I preferred the skiing in Pila since it had more intermediate options, the views are what set Courmayeur apart. It’s right next to the famous Mont Blanc, and it was amazing seeing this famous mountain from the Italian side (keep reading to find out how to see it from the French side). The skiing was still pretty good for intermediates too.
Also, both Pila and Courmayeur have great snowmaking facilities, so you’re almost guaranteed snow even during snow lacking winters (like when I went).
In terms of après skiing, there are buses that take you from Aosta to Pila in the evenings. If you’re skiing in Courmayeur, there is really great après skiing options on the mountain, particularly near the gondola and cable car stations.
And if you want a day off from skiing, I’d highly recommend devoting a whole day to sightseeing Aosta. This ancient Roman city has lots to explore, and luckily you can buy one ticket to see it all.
There is a tourism pass that grants you admission to all the ruins left behind from the ancient city, namely the Roman theater, the forensic cryptoporticus, an ancient church, as well as the archeological museum with various finds dating back thousands of years.
Austria boasts some great skiing, even though the Alps aren’t as high as in other countries. The snow is usually great, and the area I’m suggesting you stay in (Innsbruck) has arguably the best ski resorts in Austria.
Depending on where you’re flying from, you might be able to snag a cheap flight to Innsbruck. I found one from Amsterdam when I was living in the Netherlands, but it wasn’t an option when I was looking to return to Innsbruck from Chicago.
If you can’t fly to Innsbruck, you can fly into Munich, Germany. From here, you can take a two-hour train to Innsbruck.
Once you make it to Innsbruck, you’ll be able to easily access all the nearby ski areas (and there are a lot). There are free buses running regularly to all of them from Innsbruck.
Innsbruck is surrounded by ski areas, so staying in Innsbruck is a great idea if you want variety. Best of all, there are free shuttles from Innsbruck to nearby ski resorts, so don’t worry about arriving without a car.
Take advantage of not having a car and stay right in the town center. Make sure you’re by the train station, which is where you’ll be taking shuttle buses from to ski areas. Hotel Sailor is a good option.
As I said, there are a lot of skiing options nearby Innsbruck, so have a look and see what options suit you best. The ones that stood out the most to me were St. Anton am Arlberg and Stubai Glacier, so I recommend those.
St. Anton am Arlberg is the largest ski area in Austria, so you’re not likely to get bored here. It’s really great skiing, and even better après skiing (like at the famous Mooservirt).
I think I enjoyed skiing at Stubai Glacier more though. Because it’s located on a glacier you won’t find trees there, but I quite liked that. It meant the runs were really wide and you were less likely to ski upon crowds. The views were pretty amazing too.
Innsbruck is a charming little city, with mountains in the background in nearly every cute little street. Have a wander around old town and find the beautiful old houses (like Helblinghaus and Golden Roof) and visit the old imperial castle. There are also tons of museums to keep you busy, like the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, Tyrolean State Museum, Tyrol Panorama Museum, Alpine Club Museum and more attractions, like an alpine zoo.
Innsbruck also has some day trip options; see some tours below.
You might think Switzerland is extremely expensive and disregard flying to Geneva. But flights are often very cheap to this Swiss airport, and anyway, I’m going to recommend a place just across the border in France.
(By the way, I didn’t find skiing in Switzerland to be expensive. In fact, it was cheaper than skiing in the US. But I’m not including a Swiss ski resort in this post because it’s not super easy or cheap getting to them without a car. If you really want to ski in Switzerland though, my favorite was Zermatt. But with a several hour journey from Geneva with several transfers on one of the most expensive train systems in the world, it was not an easily accessible or affordable ski destination without a car.)
Flying to Geneva is usually quite cheap. There are budget airlines flying here and flights from the US aren’t too bad either.
Once you arrive, it couldn’t be easier (or cheaper) to get to Chamonix. In fact, you can take a bus straight there from the airport. Alternatively, if you want to explore Geneva, that same bus leaves from the city center as well. It’s about an hour-long journey from Geneva to Chamonix, and I believe it still costs the same as when I was there: about $20 roundtrip.
Who said Switzerland was expensive? (Okay, it is, but read my tips for Switzerland budget travel here.)
I grew up hearing about the famous Chamonix, and I was not disappointed. I didn’t realize this, but Chamonix is actually made up of several ski areas. There are six of them, all geared toward different ski levels, so no matter what level you’re at, you can’t go wrong with choosing Chamonix.
It’s also one of the best places in the world for off-piste skiing, and the views of Mont Blanc are world famous. Honestly, I think Chamonix is the best choice of the three. (But more info below in the summary.)
If you’re on a budget, I stayed in a dorm room in Fleur des Neiges and quite enjoyed it (they also have private rooms). It has a hot tub and sauna that is perfect after a day of skiing. Although it was a bit of a trek into town (where the buses to the different ski areas are), it was doable.
If you have more of a budget, stay somewhere in town like Mercure Chamonix Centre. It’s right by the bus station so you can easily take the free shuttles to any ski area in Chamonix.
Well, Chamonix (the town) is a pretty posh place, and that means you won’t run out of shopping options. But even if you’re skiing without renting a car because you’re on a budget, you can still enjoy window shopping in Chamonix on your days off skiing.
You can also do things like snowshoeing or go on a horse ride through the town center.
Not sure where to go? Here I’ll break down where you should choose to go, based on what you’re looking for from your ski trip.
Why? Because Pila is mostly red runs. There are some blue and black runs, but most are red, so intermediate skiers will have a plethora of options.
Why? Because nearby St. Anton is world famous for it. You can easily take a bus back from St. Anton to Innsbruck when you’re done skiing and partying. In fact, it’s better if you ski here without having a car. That way, you can drink all you want and just take the bus back to Innsbruck.
Why? Because Chamonix has some of the most gorgeous views of the Alps, so if you’re most interested in beautiful mountain pictures, this is the place for you. And also, if you’re traveling with a group of skiers with different skill levels, Chamonix is the place to go. Since it’s made up of several different ski areas, you have a choice of mountains suited for different levels, from beginner to expert freeride skier.
So there you have it. Three places in Europe where I personally went on a ski trip without a car. It’s very possible to access these world-class ski resorts relying solely on public transportation, and I’d highly recommend it if you’re looking to save money or for the ease of not worrying about car rentals.
Do you know of any ski areas in Europe that you can access without a car? Let me know in the comments, because I’m always searching for ideas!
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I must say, as someone who is not a fan of winter, you are definitely opening up my eyes to skiing in Europe! I can't get over how mountainous and stunning it is. I'd love to visit Chamonix.
Skiing seems like such an iconic activity in certain European countries, but your list includes some places I never would have thought of, like Chamonix. Can't wait to go ski sometime!
This is such a great guide! I am glad you have included places that can be accessed without a car. Although I drive, I don't feel confident driving abroad and opt for public transport. I am saving this for future winter trips.
Gorgeous! Europe without a car is so doable!
These all look like incredible ski destinations! I love using public transport anyway, it's a great way to get a feel for the destination you're visiting.