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Now that some general misconception of European skiing have been dispelled, it is time to see what destinations you will most want to hit when you travel to Europe to ski. Some of the primary countries visited in Europe are Austria, France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Austria
Some consider Austria “heaven” for skiers with its incredible skiing conditions. Both experienced skiers and those just beginning can find their choice of slope as there are difficult routes which lend for high speed acceleration as well as gentle slopes allowing wide curves. And, if you still do not feel comfortable, Austria is known for its exceptionally well-trained ski instructors.

A resort in Austria worth mentioning is Zell am See. Zell am See has over 150 kilometers of ski runs and offers an alpine paradise of both water and mountains. Of the two glacier ski areas, Schmittenhohe and Kitzsteinhorn, KitzsteinhoIt is open all year round so skiers can even plan to hit the ski trails in the summer. Zell am See is very kid-friendly and offers several great places to stay including Hotel Pension Daxer and Der Waldof Hotel.

France
Although skiing arrived in France much later than it did in the other alpine countries of Europe, swift and well-planned development has allowed it to become one of the best places to ski. Skiing occurs in two main areas within France: the Alps and Pyrenees (which is five times smaller than the Alps). The Alps are known for their natural beauty and allow tourists great variety in accommodations, depending on one’s spending budget.

Because French resorts are located 3300 meters above sea level, they have a long ski season (beginning in late autumn and ending the beginning of May). Skiers can stay in mature, traditional villages similar to Megeve or in more synthetic structures like Val-Thorens. Skiers should keep in mind that it is generally more expensive to spend the winter skiing in France than it is in Austria or Italy, however, the quality of skiing and service while here will remind you why its worth the extra money. The nice thing is that France, like other Alpine countries, has a policy of one ski pass acknowledged by many resorts so the skier has an amazing choice of trails to ski on.

Italy
Italy offers any skier great slopes due to its mountainous terrain. The best skiing is located in the Alpine region of northern Italy. Perhaps the most famous ski resorts in Italy are Cortina d'Ampezzo and Courmayeur. Courmayeur, which lies at the base of Mont Blanc, is one of Italy’s most prestigious ski resorts. The resort offers loads of downhill skiing and is open for both summer and winter skiing. Cortina d'Ampezzo is found in the Dolomites mountain range. Here there are twelve separate skiing areas joined together to create the 'Dolomiti Superski' network.

Visiting Italy provides a unique experience that skiers will not soon forget. Italian ski resorts have a distinctive charm all their own and Italians are extremely friendly. The city of Torino in Italy is even home to the 2006 Olympics. Although it may surprise some to find that Italy has incredible skiing slopes, once skiers experience the terrain they will not sure forget this country.

Switzerland
Some of the most renowned European ski destinations are found in Switzerland, with the most attractive Swiss winter resorts found in the Wallis Canton. The most famous peak of the Swiss Alps, Matterhorn, overlooks Zermatt at the height of 4478 meters. At 1800 meters, the Rigi Mountain is known as the Queen of the Mountains and possesses the oldest railway in Europe. St. Moritz is always worth the travel as it is famous for its extraordinary atmosphere and virgin alpine surroundings.
Although it was typically thought that Switzerland was an extremely expensive location to ski and visit, travelers can find a wide range of accommodation possibilities. You can be budget friendly by staying in a hostel or choose a more extravagant hotel. Wherever you stay in Switzerland, you are guaranteed to have a charming vacation in a quaint mountain village.

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