The most budget ski resorts for next winter. The best ski resorts in Europe

We don't blame you at all for wanting to save money. Alpine skiing is already not cheap, but with the current exchange rate, it is cheaper to buy a nine than a new top-end snowboard. Well, if you finally bought a snowboard, you want to try it out in the mountains, and not in the park behind the house.

Let's see where you'll spend the least money on beer, ski lifts and lodging. We will compare prices for the high season (end of December - mid-March). And for lovers of freebies, we advise you to go in April.

Accommodation : From €169 per person. This is seven nights in a 4-bed room, including breakfast, transfers from the airport to the ski lifts and some evening entertainment.

Ski pass for 6 days: €199

A full meal costs less than €10, and Slovaks take their food seriously. A night in a hostel with breakfast costs around £20.

Fresh powder, official freeride area, beer for € 1.20, what more do you need?

Accommodation :From 1000 rubles per night without meals

Ski pass for 6 days:7600 rubles (8,000 rupees)

Few people consider India as a ski resort, but in vain. Gulmarg is one of the best backcountry resorts for little money. But be prepared for real altitude and altitude sickness, this is the Himalayas after all. The lifts reach higher than 4000 meters.

But tickets to Singapore cost a lot, but this is compensated by the reasonable prices for a ski pass, accommodation and food.

Accommodation:from £10 per night + breakfast

Ski pass for 6 days: 10,000 rubles

Bulgaria is one of the largest and cheapest resorts in Europe. The season here starts and ends a little later, so you can find inexpensive spring offers.

Over the past few years, a lot of money has been invested here, and Bansko has acquired tens of kilometers of slopes, joint hotels and ski lifts.

This is a great place for beginners, but also for off-piste lovers there is plenty to roam around.

Accommodation: From £17 per night + breakfast

Ski pass for 5 days:£160

The UK may not be on the list of the best must-visit resorts in the world, but it is an option worth considering. It can get quite windy, but there are about 30 kilometers of trails, 11 lifts and an endless backcountry area.

For a few days you will definitely have something to roll, especially if a fresh plump one has fallen out. But we wouldn’t recommend going here for more than a week.

Accommodation: from €25 per night + breakfast and lunch

Ski pass for 6 days: €84

The resort is located 10 kilometers from the city and is one of the cheapest in the world.

With a maximum altitude of 2,030 meters and around 30 kilometers of pistes, it may not sound like much, but it does receive some serious snowfall during the winter months.

Well, beer is around 1 euro as a nice addition.

Accommodation: from $25 per night without meals

Ski pass for 6 days: $324

Extensive ski area, lots of snow and no queues. That's what Bridger Bowl is. At an altitude of 2,650 meters the chances of heavy snowfall are very good.

Tickets, of course, are a little expensive, but compared to Aspen and other American resorts, the prices here are ridiculous.

Accommodation: Apartments on Airbnb from £65\night for three

Ski pass for 6 days: €194.50

If you want to ride in the European Alps without overpaying, then this is the place for you.

The resort is located in a wide valley, near the Swiss border, and has long been chosen by European lovers of saving money.

For several years, off-piste skiing was prohibited here, now, thank God, this is a thing of the past, and now heliskiing is thriving here at very competitive prices.

The Livigno ski pass gives you a 50% discount on a one-day ski pass to St. Moritz if you want to see what the famous Swiss resort is like.

Accommodation: From €20\night

Ski pass for 6 days: €168

Few people outside Germany have heard of this place, but many world champions in alpine skiing are from here.

About 34 kilometers of pistes and 16 lifts are just an hour's drive from Munich.

Prices here are very reasonable compared to other European resorts. A seasonal ski pass, for example, costs €400 rather than €900. There are fewer queues on weekends, and it’s generally calmer here.

Accommodation : from £13 per night

Ski pass for 6 days: €139

Perched high above the beautiful Lake Bohil, this Eastern European resort is a real gem.

People have been skiing here since 1964. Vogel has 22 kilometers of pistes, excellent value for money, delicious home-cooked food and rivers of schnapps with stunning views of the Alps. Well suited for beginners who don’t need a whole web of lifts.

Accommodation: from £15 per night without meals

Ski pass for 6 days: €69

Popova Shapka is the main ski resort in Macedonia, just 35 kilometers from the capital - Skopje. The village has 200-300 chalets that can be rented and a couple of restaurants.

There's plenty to do on the slopes for both beginners and chubby connoisseurs.

For the second, you can contact the Eskimo Freeride company, they have the cheapest guides in Europe.

We haven’t looked at domestic resorts yet; we’ll talk about them separately.

Many people want to relax and go skiing in Europe. And it’s not surprising: is it bad to combine active recreation with pleasant walks through unique European villages and famous cultural places? And it turns out that you don’t have to visit expensive ski resorts for this. After all, countries like Bulgaria can also boast of Alpine peaks. At the same time, holidays there are cheaper than at the most economical ski resorts in Austria and Germany. In addition, you can go skiing and snowboarding on a budget in Slovenia, Romania and the Czech Republic.

For most tourists, Bulgaria is associated with a beach holiday. But nature has rewarded it not only with sea coasts, but also with mountainous terrain, spreading its network of massifs and ridges over almost half of the country’s territory. The Balkans, with a height not exceeding 3 thousand meters, have created excellent conditions for the development of ski tourism in southwestern Bulgaria.

Particularly popular ski resorts in Bulgaria are: And . The latter is the most prestigious and oldest Bulgarian ski resort.

	Bansko	Borovets
Location	at the foot of the Pirin Mountains 12 km from Bansko	northern slopes of the Rila Mountains, at the foot of Mount Musala, 72 km from the capital
Ski pass, adult/child	3 days – 95/55 euros 6 days – 160/94 euros	3 days – 100/75 euros 6 days – 160/94 euros
Ski season	December - May	November-March
	16 tracks, over 70 km	24 tracks, 58 km
Difficulty of trails	4 green, 3 blue, 7 red, 2 black	3 black, 18 red, 3 blue
Height difference	1810 m	1323-2540 m
Number of lifts	24	14
Services	ski schools, kindergarten, parking, skating rink, spa	more than 200 instructors, the best schools, skating rink, cross-country ski track, snowmobiles, sleigh rides, helicopter rides,
	Near the tracks – 70 euros, in the city center – 20-25 euros	30-50 euros

1. If you love active recreation in nature, but cannot live without big cities, then the Vitosha ski resort will be the best option for you. It is somewhat smaller than Pamporovo, but is located only 10 km from the capital Sofia and is its pride.
2. For those who like very mild winters, the best option is. Here the average winter temperature is -3 degrees.
3. For a trip to all Bulgarian resorts, it is better to choose February or March, since the rest of the time there are still problems with snow.

Look at photos and route diagrams of budget ski resorts in Europe:

Ski resorts in Romania: prices

Romania is an unspoiled European country, known throughout the world as the birthplace of the father of all vampires, Count Dracula. Despite this background, it is a very friendly country with beautiful nature, which has made it possible to organize several ski resorts. A third of the territory of Romania is occupied by the Carpathians. In total, there are almost 20 ski resorts in the country. Some of the most popular are ski resorts in Romania such as , Predeal.

	Poiana Brasov	Predeal
Location	the foot of Mount Postevaru, 13 km from Brastovo, 167 km from Bucharest	Prahova Valley, 147 km from Bucharest
Ski pass, adult/child	for 6 days – 68/39 euros	passes are issued for the number of climbs: 30 climbs -17/10 euros
Ski season	December-mid March	December-March
Number and length of trails	12 tracks, 14 km	10 trails, 8.5 km
Difficulty of trails	5 blue, 3 red, 4 black	1 green, 3 blue, 4 red, 2 black
Height difference	1020-1800 m	1060-1500 m
Number of lifts	10	10
Services	mineral water, medical procedures, artificial skating rinks, riding centers, ski school and kindergarten, 2 jumps	riding centers and artificial skating rink, snow cannons
Accommodation, average price for a single room	25-45 euros	30-50 euros

Helpful information

1. The special conditions of the Predeal resort allow you to ski even in summer.
2. From Poiana Brasti you can go on an excursion to Count Dracula's Castle (Bran Castle).
3. An attractive feature of the entire network of ski resorts in Romania is their location on the same line, which makes it easy to travel from one resort to another.
4. Also, all resorts have direct road and rail connections to Bucharest.

Ski resorts in the Czech Republic: prices

In addition to excursion and health tours, the hospitable Czech Republic offers tourists the opportunity for active winter recreation at reasonable prices. Gentle slopes and fairly stable weather make holidays in the Czech Republic a pleasant pastime for lovers of not particularly extreme alpine and cross-country skiing and snowboarding and active family recreation.

The main ski resorts in the Czech Republic include Harrachov andRokytnice nad Jizerou.

	Rokytnice nad Jizerou	Harrachov
Location	Valley of the Beskydy mountain range, at the foot of Lysa Gora	Valley of the Mumlawa River, on the border with Poland
Ski pass, adult	1 day – 19 euros 7 days – 110 euros	1 day – 15 euros 6 days – 82 euros
Ski season	December – end of February	December-April
Number and length of trails	18 tracks, 18 km	8 trails, 9 km
Difficulty of trails	9 blue, 7 red, 1 black	5 blue, 2 red, 1 black
Height difference	540-1600	650-1020
Number of lifts	28	15
Services	Trail lighting, instructors, children's trails, cross-country trails, snow cannons	Springboards, special ski simulators for beginners, ski school, evening lighting
Accommodation, average price for a single room	18-20 euros – hotels, apartments – from 20 euros euros	20-50 euros per hotel room

Helpful information

1. Near the famous Karlovy Vary is the Ore Mountains ski resort.
2. Most resorts, including those described above, are located on the territory of the Krkonose National Park, which means tourists can spend time in an ecologically clean area not only with pleasure, but also with health benefits.
3. In Harrachov you can ski all year round.

Ski resorts in Slovenia: prices

Situated in the Julian Alps, Slovenia has become one of the excellent options for ski and snowboard lovers who want to save money, but enjoy the skiing and service. The ski resorts of this country have recently begun to be in demand among Russian citizens. Among the leaders in popularity are the following: Kranjska Gora and Maribor Pohorje.

	Kranjska Gora	Maribor Pohorje
Location	Valley on the border with Italy and Austria, 65 km from Ljubljana airport	6 km from the city of Maribor, 147 km from the airport in Ljubljana
Ski pass, adult/child	1 day – 28/18 euros 6 days – 147/94 euros	6 days – 158/72 euros
Ski season	December - mid March	December-March
Number and length of trails	21 routes, 31 km	23 routes, 64 km
Difficulty of trails	13 blue, 6 red, 2 black	20 blue, 35 red, 5 black
Height difference	785-1623 m	336-1347 m
Number of lifts	23	20
Services	illuminated slopes, toboggan runs, ski schools, snow cannons, ice skating rink, horse riding	thermal centre, toboggan run, artificial snowmaking, kindergarten and ski school, 5 km illuminated piste
Accommodation, average price for a single room	35-55 euros	50-130 euros

Helpful information

1. In Kranjska Gorka, the ski pass for low and high seasons is the same.
2. Mariborg Pohorje is the largest resort and is also perfect for those who do not like to leave large cities for a long time.
3. The closest resort to the airport is Krvavec. It is only 10 km away from Ljubljana.
4. The highest mountain is Bovec, on whose territory there is the famous Kanin peak with a height of 2548 m.

Ski resorts in Serbia: prices

This small European country attracts tourists with its history and excursion program. And the southern part, occupied by mountain ranges, allows you to combine a cultural program with active winter recreation at the ski resorts of Serbia.

The most popular ski resort in Serbia is Kopaonik.

Helpful information

1. While relaxing in Kopaonik, you can visit the ancient monasteries: Studenica, Zicha, Sopocani.
2. On the territory of Serbia is the highest mountain town in Europe, Zabljak, which houses a resort of the same name for skiers and snowboarders.
3. Today, the youngest ski resort in Serbia, Stara Planina, is rapidly developing, perfect even for extreme sports.

In conclusion, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• Ski Europe does not always mean very high prices for a vacation (a ski pass for 6 days does not reach 180 euros);
• almost all inexpensive ski resorts are located in Eastern Europe, which makes the journey to them cheaper;
• most of them are aimed at beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, making them an excellent option for family holidays;
• a holiday at any of their resorts can be combined with an interesting cultural program;
• Moreover, each resort provides difficult (black) slopes for professionals.

Bulgarian ski resort Bansko, video:

Interesting too

Now I wanted some more budget-friendly alternative, otherwise the previous article turned out to be quite bourgeois.

I know ski enthusiasts who go skiing to Chamonix and Courchevel with a suitcase full of cold cuts and other dry food, so as not to spend money there, because they fly to these luxury regions not because of the “show-off”, but because steep (in every sense of the word) trails. If you haven’t been skiing since you were 6 years old, don’t intend to freeride from helicopters, but just want to ski with your soul without straining too much, soak up the spa, relax in a good hotel with a view of the mountains and not spend a lot of money, then the information below is for you.

In Europe there are inexpensive ski resorts in the Alps, the Tatras, and the Balkans; we will try to talk about them briefly but succinctly now. We will talk about Slovenia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria.

Ski resorts in Slovenia

Little Slovenia, like its more popular neighbors Austria and Italy, has magnificent mountains - its entire northeastern part is covered with the Julian Alps, which are located on the territory of the Triglav National Nature Reserve. And naturally, thanks to this, there are also ski resorts in Slovenia, they are neatly lined up along the border with the “queen of slopes” Austria. There are quite a lot of them - Maribor, Kranjska Gora, Bohinj, Vogel. Let’s take a closer look at the largest one – Maribor.

Maribor, Slovenia

Maribor (Mariborsko Pohorje)

The place, you know, is not easy - the Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup is held here every year, and this already speaks of a certain level.

Pohorje is a mountainous area with trails, located on the outskirts of the town of Maribor, which is the second largest in the country (after the capital Ljubljana) and itself is very nice, with a large number of bars and cafes. This is if we talk about après ski.

And now about the skis themselves: The total length of the slopes in Maribor Pohorje is 33 kilometers. The absolute majority of the trails are green – 21 km (a note and joy for beginners), a small area with red trails – 8 km and very few black ones – only 3 km. And also, it was here, in Maribor, that the first illuminated track for night skiing in Slovenia (it doesn’t sound very epic, but still) was opened. Its length is 4.5 km.

Current prices for ski passes can be found at.

Don’t rush to think that you will quickly get bored here, however, Maribor still has:

• Long (20 km long) cross-country ski trail.
• Sleigh ride area.
• Snow park "Pohorje" on the slope of Mount Habakuk with equipment for snowboarding and freestyle skiing.
• Spa centers. Yes, yes, Maribor is one of the ski resorts in Slovenia with thermal springs. The largest such center is called Terme Maribor.

Where to stay in Maribor, hotels

• A very good option, located in the heart of Maribor Pohorje, literally one step away from one of the ski lifts. The hotel has a small spa, restaurant, bar and free parking.
• with a huge spa area: with indoor and outdoor thermal pools and saunas. This hotel is 100 meters from the main ski lifts.

Bovec (small bonus to the story about Maribor)

Another interesting and popular (in narrow circles) place is the Bovec ski resort. The total length of the slopes here is small, only 15 km, but the largest elevation difference among all Slovenian ski areas is 1800 meters and the slopes are at 2200 meters (some of them offer views of the Adriatic Sea).

And yes, just for reference, in Sölden, Austria, a 7-day ski pass costs 316 euros. Of course, the trails there are much more varied/serious and there are more of them (this is not discussed), but if you are just starting out, but already want to go to the Alps, do you need Austrian diversity if there is Slovenian Bovec. Also the Alps only for 130-150 euros per week.

Minuses

As I already wrote above, there are very few black tracks here.

Ski resorts in Montenegro

We are used to talking about this Balkan country mainly in terms of holidays on the Adriatic Sea, cute coastal towns drenched in the sun. On the coast here, even in January, in the worst case scenario, the temperature does not drop below 10 degrees C, but on average stays around 17 C. But, once you drive 2.5 hours inland, towards the border with Serbia, you find yourself in a completely different world, the landscapes more reminiscent of either cold Iceland, if we are talking about the Durmitor Nature Reserve, or the Urals or Siberia with their snow-covered spruce forests, if we are talking about the Biogradska Gora Nature Reserve. It is on the territory of these two reserves that two Montenegrin ski resorts are located - Zabljak in Durmitor and Kolasin on Biogradska Gora.

Winter in Montenegro

And here is a paradox - the natural data for organizing a ski center are much better in Durmitor, but despite this, it was Kolasin with its modest elevation changes (only 500m) that became one of the most comfortable and developed ski resorts in the entire Balkans. They have been directly involved in it, and as far as I know, they continue to do so and invest in it. Let's tell you more about both places.

Kolasin

When I studied the reviews of other travelers about Kolasin, it was very striking how from 2012 to 2017 the opinion of ski lovers about this place changed, from the dismissive “boring hill for locals” to “perhaps the best slopes in the Balkans.”

The resort is developing, acquiring new features and becoming more and more like a serious ski center every year. Here are the numbers:

There are a total of 14 trails with a total length of 30 km, of which 5 are blue, 7 are red and 2 are black.

There are 6 lifts, including a new modern elevator with a capacity of up to 5,500 people per hour and another amenity - a special baby elevator. Artificial snowmaking guns are working (by the way, on the Kolasin website, I’ll give the link below, there are webcams from the slopes that can be used to check the level of snow cover).

In addition to the slopes, the resort has a cross-country ski area, several restaurants at the foot and a ski school.

Here, in Kolasin, you can book a Ski-Doo snowmobile safari through the territory of the Biogradska Gora Nature Reserve.

Where to stay in Kolasin

It is considered the best and, so to speak, most fashionable hotel in Kolasin. A very worthy place - such a classic hotel in the mountains, with wooden rooms, a fireplace in the restaurant, a sauna to relax after a day on the slopes and panoramic views of the mountains.

At the Four Points Hotel, Kolasin

Zabljak

The main advantage of Zabljak is, of course, the Durmitor nature reserve itself, with its incredibly picturesque canyon of the Tara River, Dzhurzhevich Bridge, and Black Lake. And from the outside, Zabljak itself is quite nice, looking like a European ski town: hotels in the form of chalets, bars with an après-ski atmosphere.

But the trails here are quite poor: 2 blue and one red, all of them are located in the area of ​​Mount Savin Kuk (one of the highest in Montenegro).

There are only two lifts here, there is another one that leads almost to the top of the mountain, but according to reviews, it often does not work (when we arrived, it also did not work).

The advantages are that these 2 blue trails are wide and long, well suited for beginners, and the cost here is even lower than in Kolasin (this is understandable, the infrastructure is worse) - 13 euros per day. It is possible to rent equipment for 8 euros.

Landscapes of Durmitor

There is one very nice one in Zabljak, we recommend it in almost every article about Montenegro :) It is small, with very comfortable modern rooms, a sauna and a delicious restaurant with a fireplace.

Minuses

On the red slopes of Kolasin you need to be careful, there may be stones, and in Zabljak there are no snow cannons and therefore its slopes are very dependent on the weather. We arrived one weekend - everything was covered in snow, it was beautiful, we returned a week later with a snowboard, and that’s it - the snow decided to melt :)

Ski resorts in Slovakia

Here's the thing, but Slovakia is not very favored by tourists, neither in the summer, nor even more so in the winter. But in vain. Part of the territory of this small country is covered by the Tatra Mountains. These mountains have a lot of lakes, rivers, noisy waterfalls, rocky peaks (the highest point is Mount Gerlachovsky Stit, 2665 meters). In winter, there are several ski resorts here, the largest of which are Tatranska Lomnica (just at the foot of Gerlachovsky Štit), Smokovci, Jasna, Vratna. Let's take a closer look at the last two.

Vratna

One of the largest ski resorts in Slovakia in the Lower Tatras on the territory of the Mala Fatra nature reserve. The European Cup stage in parallel slalom was held here (and I consider the holding of major sports competitions to be one of the signs of a good resort infrastructure).

Vratna lifts

The total length of the trails is 17 km, of which 8 km are blue trails, 2 km are red and 6 km are black + a bonus of 1 km of very easy green trail.

In total, there are 5 ski areas on the territory of Vratna: Pasek (popular for family holidays, there are easy sections of the slopes, there is a ski school and a restaurant), Prislop (here the slopes are of medium difficulty, the best area in Vratna for snowboarders and a picturesque view of the Mala Fatra ridge + panorama valleys), Khleb (an area with black pistes and a panorama restaurant “Panorama”), Poludnevy Grun (the most “diverse” zone, there are blue, black, and red pistes + a restaurant in a cozy chalet), Oshchepkova Mulda (northern zone with difficult routes).

Vratna trails

In addition to the ski slopes in Vratna there are areas for freeride, a Snowpark for freestyle (it is located in the Paseka area), and spa hotels with panoramic views.

Where to stay in Vratna

Our choice is 3-star in the Apiary area. Its main advantage is a good spa center. There is a panoramic swimming pool overlooking the snow-capped peaks and spruce forests of Lesser Fatra, a Finnish sauna, a fitness room and a massage area.

Restaurant at the Boboty Hotel

Jasna

In fact, Jasna is recognized as the best ski resort in Slovakia, but we put it in second place because the price of a ski pass for a week is quite high - up to 250 euros for a week in high season. But at the same time there are quite budget restaurants and hotels.

Jasna has 50 km of trails: 20.5 km of blue, 17.8 km of red and 7.3 km of black + there are 4.5 km of cross-country skiing, 12 freeride areas and one snow park in the Otupne area.

In addition to the slopes, there is a rope park (something like a panda park) Tarzania and a children's park MAXiland.

Minuses

Both resorts sometimes get quite crowded (the local population, they know that their resorts are good and much cheaper than the Alpine ones :)).

Ski resorts in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is not only about beer and red tiled roofs of postcard cities. Here, not far from the border with Poland, there is the “Giant Mountains” mountain range and on its territory one of the best inexpensive ski resorts in Europe - Spindleruv Mlyn (oh, the great and mighty Czech language J).

Spindleruv Mlyn

The resort includes 4 ski areas (Medvedin-Gornye Misechki, St. Peter-Gromovka, Stoch and Labska), the total length of the slopes is 25 km (interestingly, this is exactly what they write on the official website, but if you add up the length of each slope separately (also indicated on the website), it will be 23.4 km, but let’s forgive this “rounding”, perhaps it implies additional zones).

Landscapes of the resort Spindleruv Mlyn

Now in more detail: 13.7 km of red slopes, 2.7 km of black and 7 km of blue. There is an area for night skiing and a snowpark for freestyle.

In the town itself there are many restaurants and cafes where you can eat boar's knee and drink beer or mulled wine. In addition to the ski slopes, there are also areas for sledding and a snow tube track (descent from a snow slide on special rubber circles, fun and safe). All the tourist sites also write about the local Water Park, which “will give an unforgettable experience for the whole family,” but the reviews of 100% of tourists who have been there are negative - there are few slides, there is a strong smell of bleach, and, in principle, it’s sad, so spend your time outdoors better. entertainment.

Minuses

There are a lot of people, which is why there are often queues for the ski lifts and the slopes go down quickly. During snowfalls, black and sometimes red slopes are often closed.

Where to stay in Špindlerův Mlýn, hotels

We continue to promote our theory that if you come to the mountains, then you have to enjoy them to the fullest, not only on the slopes, but also while falling asleep and waking up, which is why at the Czech ski resort we selected a hotel with panoramic views almost from each window – .

Swimming pool at the Orea Horal Hotel

The hotel is located within walking distance from the ski lifts and has an excellent view pool, sauna, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and children's play area.

Ski resort in Romania – Poiana Brasov

In the Romanian Carpathians there are not only castles of world-famous gloomy rulers with oddities, but there is also one very good ski resort - Poiana Brasov. A place among picturesque rugged mountains and fluffy pine forests with the ancient city of Brasov nearby and with friendly Romanian staff who try very hard to make your holiday here a European-level holiday.

Panorama of Poiana Brasov resort

The total length of the tracks is 14 kilometers, of which 5 kilometers are blue, 5 kilometers are red and 4 kilometers are black.

There are several jumps. In Poiana Brasov, snow cannons are very active, because the weather is like this, it can get warm, but the minimum required layer of artificial snow will always be there.

Prices for ski passes can be viewed at. Remember that Romania does not have the euro, but its own currency - the lei.

At this ski resort you can not only ski, but also go horseback riding, soak in the spa, or book a tour of the country at the tourist center (located in Brasov Town Hall).

Hotel in Poiana Brasov

Brasov was definitely beyond competition - modern, stylish, a piece of Austria or Switzerland among the Romanian mountains.

At the Hotel Teleferic

I honestly didn’t expect that there could be such hotels in Romania (I underestimated, so to speak, I apologize). The hotel is within walking distance from the ski lifts and has a large spa center.

Minuses

In Poiana Brasov there is often heavy fog and snowfall, which makes skiing dangerous.

Ski resorts in Bulgaria

The last on our list of European countries where you can go skiing inexpensively is Bulgaria. And you know, there are many good ski centers here - Borovets, Pamporovo, Vitosha, Bansko. Let's take a closer look at the latter.

Bansko

This is a mountainous region that includes several ski areas: Shiligarniki (the main one), Chalin Valog (mostly with difficult slopes), Todorka and Balkaniada. The slopes are located quite far from each other, but there is a bus between them, free for ski pass holders.

The total length of the tracks in Bansko is 47 kilometers, of which 20 km are blue, 24 km are red and 3 km are black. In addition, there is a cross-country skiing area - Banderishka Polyana, about 8 km long.

There are quite a lot of lifts - 14, but they are sorely lacking due to the large number of skiers. Bansko is one of the most popular ski resorts in Eastern Europe (if not the most popular). There are especially many people here in the first two weeks of February (the time of the European holidays) and, of course, on New Year's Day.

Bansko

People come here mainly to hone their skills, to train with instructors (in Bansko this is inexpensive and very productive), so there are many training groups and beginners on the slopes.

In the vicinity of Bansko there are thermal centers - in the towns of Banya (that’s the telling name J) and Dobrinishte. And you can spend your evenings in colorful Bulgarian taverns.

Minuses

Queues at the lifts. During the season they can be very long and tiring. On one of the forums, a certain cheerful and resourceful skier shared her way to avoid the queue - take a taxi to the Chalin Valog zone (this is not too expensive), it is already freer there than at the very bottom.

Where to stay in Bansko, hotels

Here the choice fell on an apartment hotel - a quiet place near the ski lifts with several swimming pools (one of them outdoor heated), sauna, hammam, free secure parking and Russian-speaking staff.

Conclusion

We hope that many of the places we have talked about here have become a discovery for you and you will decide to try out these still inexpensive, but already well-equipped European ski resorts.

As it turns out, winter sports enthusiasts don’t necessarily need to go abroad to have great skiing or snowboarding. Russia is a great country, and domestic peaks are also capable of satisfying the needs of skiers of any level. Therefore, TravelAsk decided to prepare a list of the best Russian mountain resorts, which also have quite reasonable prices.

Belokurikha, Altai Territory (mountains of the Cherginsky range)

The ski resort is located in the river valley of the Altai Territory at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level. Thanks to the presence of underground warm springs of nitrogen-radon water at the resort, people come here from all over the country not only to ski or snowboard, but also to receive medical treatment.

Trails

For beginner skiers in Belokurikha there are small training trails and a ski school. For everyone else, there are trails of a higher level of difficulty, their total length reaches 27 kilometers. The maximum length of the route is 2,500 meters.

Ski season

The ski season here begins in December and lasts until the end of March, the air temperature can fluctuate from −10 to −26 °C, and there is practically no wind. On average, the level of snow cover reaches one meter, but recently they began to artificially raise it to two meters, thanks to which the ski season was extended to six months.

Prices

On average, the cost of one day of accommodation at the resort, with ski pass rental and lunch, will cost you approximately 2,500 rubles.

If you want not only to ski or snowboard, but also to improve your health, then you should stay in one of the sanatoriums or boarding houses, where they additionally provide medical services and carry out various wellness procedures. Accommodation there will cost about 3,000 rubles.

When choosing a regular hotel, the price per room will start somewhere from 1,800 rubles.

How to get to Belokurikha

The closest airport to Belokurikha is in Barnaul. A flight to there from Moscow and back will cost about 19 thousand rubles.
From Barnaul to the resort can be reached by bus or minibus within four hours.

Sheregesh, Siberia (mountains Karitshal and Mustag)

How to get to Sheregesh

How to get to Sheregesh

The nearest airport to Sheregesh is in, a plane ticket will cost about 17,000 rubles. You can also get to Moscow from Moscow by train; a reserved seat ticket will cost around 7,000 rubles. Next you will need to go by bus or taxi.

Dombay, Caucasus (Mount Mussa-Achitara)

It is located in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic on the territory of the Teberda Nature Reserve and is one of the most popular ski resorts in Russia.

Trails

The resort is notable for its large differences in altitude; the ski areas have an altitude of 2,600-3,000 meters. The Dombay trails, with a total length of 20 kilometers, are suitable for both beginners and advanced skiers and snowboarders; they are of varying difficulty and steepness. Tourists and an instructor can be transported to the top of the mountain by helicopter; although this service is not cheap, it gives an unforgettable experience.

Ski season

The Dombay mountain valley is well protected from the wind, the climate is mild, and the average winter temperature is -5 °C. The ski season here lasts 6 months: from December to May.

Prices

Your budget for one day spent in Dombay will be about 4,300 rubles.

The optimal prices for hotel accommodation are 1,000-2,000 rubles per night. The cost of double rooms starts from 2,000 rubles.

How to get to Dombay

A plane ticket from Moscow to Mineralnye Vody and back will cost you about 5,500 rubles. Then you will need to order a transfer to the resort itself or take a bus or taxi. The distance from the airport will be 230 kilometers.

Abzakovo, Ural (slope of Krykty-Tau)

The modern Abzakovo ski complex is located 60 kilometers from Magnitogorsk and attracts not only fans of alpine skiing and snowboarding, but also professional athletes.

Trails

The resort features 15 trails with a total length of over 20 kilometers. Russian national teams train here and competitions at various levels are held.

There are both complex trails and simple ones for those who are just starting to ski. All trails are cleaned by snowcats, and many, among other things, are equipped with snow cannons.

Ski season

The climate at the resort is moderate, the ski season begins at the end of November and lasts until the beginning of April. It is best to come at the end of February or March, at this time there are no severe frosts and the temperature does not drop below -15 °C.

Prices

One day at a ski resort will cost you about 3,200 rubles.

Hotel prices are not high; the best option would be a room for 1,000-2,000 rubles per night.

How to get to Abzakovo

The cost of a flight to Magnitogorsk will be about 14,000 rubles.

You can also get to Magnitogorsk by train; a ticket will cost you about 4,000 rubles.

Elbrus region, Kabardino-Balkaria (mountains Elbrus, Cheget)

The Elbrus region has very wide opportunities for skiers and is one of the famous resorts all over the world. It is located in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria and borders on two mountain slopes: Elbrus and Cheget.

Trails

Elbrus is the highest point in both Russia and Europe. The eastern peak of the mountain reaches a height of 5621 meters above sea level, and the height of the western peak is 5642 meters. But at the same time, not only professionals, but also beginner skiers can ski on the slopes of Elbrus.

But as for Mount Cheget, it is suitable only for the most experienced skiers. On its slope there is one of the most difficult routes.

In total, in the Elbrus region there are 35 kilometers of trails and 12 kilometers of cable cars.

Ski season

Each high-altitude zone of the resort has its own climatic characteristics, but in general the skiing season for the region opens in November and lasts until mid-May.

Prices

One day spent in the Elbrus region will cost you approximately 3,900 rubles.

In more detail, the cost of a ski pass for the whole day will cost 1,300 rubles. For the lift to Elbrus you will have to pay 600 rubles per day, to Cheget - 800 rubles per day.

As for the hotel, the price for a room starts from 1,400 rubles per night.

How to get to Elbrus region

The initial route to the resort is the same as to Dombay - you need to get to Mineralnye Vody. And then 180 kilometers by taxi or bus, which will take 3-3.5 hours.

Many people in winter strive to go skiing and spend their holidays in Europe, which is not surprising: it’s not a bad idea to combine a holiday with walks through famous cultural places and unique European villages. And, as it turned out, for this it is not at all necessary to go to expensive resorts, since countries such as Bulgaria and Serbia can also boast of their ski resorts. You can also go snowboarding and skiing on a budget in the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, etc. In this article we will talk about the most inexpensive ones in Europe, the ratings of which are presented below.

20th place: Formigal, Spain

It is one of the most modern and cheapest resorts in Spain, which is located in the Tena Valley, not far from This ski resort includes 150 kilometers of slopes and routes. Many Europe, and this one in particular, allow skiing from December to early March. This resort is a great place for a family vacation. There are kindergartens, playgrounds and 200 instructors ready to teach children to ski. The lift ticket will cost 40 euros per day. You can purchase a ticket for the entire season, and its price will be 600 euros.

19th place: Ttsuma, Switzerland

The Four Valleys region offers luxurious and expensive holiday destinations. You can also find budget ski resorts in Europe here. Among them is Tsuma, almost unknown to Russian tourists. Based on the outskirts of this region, you can ride on the slopes near the popular Thion, Vaison and Verbier. In addition to the ski routes, it is famous for its 10-kilometer toboggan run. Accommodation here usually costs a lot, although you can rent a room for 80 euros.

18th place: Bansko, Bulgaria

There is an opportunity to relax in Bansko for 300 euros. At the same time, there will be plenty of impressions and emotions. This is one of the most modern and newest winter resorts, and it has already won the recognition of fans of active winter recreation, who have long chosen the ski resorts of Europe. Bansko offers 6 trails with a length of more than fourteen kilometers. They are located at an altitude of 2.5 km above sea level. Funiculars and ski lifts can serve 3,000 passengers per hour.

17th place: Schladming, Austria

It is number one among the resorts in Styria. This resort is located in the western part of the region at an altitude of 750 m above sea level. This is a town with colorful houses and incredibly hospitable residents. There is a free bus to take you anywhere in the region and 86 ski lifts. Many ski resorts in Europe, including this one, offer you skiing from December to April. The cost of a lift ticket for an adult is 31 euros, for children - 16 euros.

16th place: Livigno, Italy

More recently, Livigno was a small Italian provincial town. It is 35 km from Bormio, next to the Swiss border. In Livigno, the weather is always wonderful and there are practically no winds, and this speaks of the advantages of relaxing here. The snow cover in this place reaches 2.5 m. For an adult, a lift ticket will cost 36 euros.

15th place: Montgenevre, France

Anyone who chooses Montgenevre for a winter holiday will have access to 100 km of slopes of varying difficulty, and you can ski in both France and Italy, since the town is located 2 km from the border, and it is connected by ski lifts to the resort of Clavières. If we consider ski resorts in Europe for beginners, then it is worth noting that this one is ideal for them, since there are experienced instructors who will teach you how to stand on your skis correctly. Almost every hotel here has a category of 1-2 stars. The cost of accommodation in them is about 50 euros for a 2-bed room (you can find cheaper!)

14th place: Kappl, Austria

Few people can relax in the elite Ischgl: hotel prices are steep and can scare away anyone who does not consider themselves to be among the rich. But you can ride on the same slopes completely freely by staying in the town of Kappl, 5 km from here, where a double room in a hotel will cost 60 euros. At the same time, Kappl has its own ski area, so if you are still unsteady on skis, 40 km of slopes will be enough for you (and you will save money: a 60-day pass for this area costs 20 euros less).

13th place: Pinzolo, Italy

You can ski in Italy cheaply if you come to the town of Pinzolo, where hotel rooms cost around 50 euros. In the middle of the coniferous forest around the village there are 40 km of easy trails. For those who choose budget and high-quality ski resorts in Europe, this place is ideal.

12th place: Soldo, Andorra

The best ski resort in the area is located here. Everything in this place is new - ski lifts, hotels, and very few tourists. When looking for cheap ski resorts in Europe, you can also go to the neighboring town of Pas de la Casa, where there are 58 ski lifts at your service. By choosing any hotel, you will stay in a double room for 40 euros.

11th place: Saint-Gervais, France

When shopping for affordable ski resorts in Europe, look no further than the classic spa town, just a gondola ride away from Megève. You can also get here by tram, which goes on and then gets to this resort.

Here you can find a cozy little house that will cost you much less than in Megève, located next door. Accommodation in a double room will cost 40 euros.

10th place: Brides-les-Bains, France

This budget resort is located close to Meribel, a 25-minute gondola ride away. Of course, you will miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the small villages located on the peaks, the nightlife and the mountain atmosphere. However, you will not be able to ski back down, since you will also have to take a gondola to get to the hotel in the evening. Accommodation at the hotel during high season is quite inexpensive - from 30 euros for double occupancy.

9th place: Bohinj, Slovenia

This is a beautiful ski resort. It is located on the coast of the lake of the same name in the center of the Triglav National Park. This resort is ideal for holidays all year round. In winter, in this place, all those who are just starting to ski, as well as all who have been skiing for a long time, but who are interested in the cheapest ski resorts in Europe, will find a lot of impressions. The resort is divided into 2 ski areas: Kobla and Vogel, which are 12 km from each other. Lift tickets cost $20 and ski rentals cost $10.

8th place: Kopaonik, Serbia

In Serbia, Kopaonik is considered one of the best ski holiday centers. This is a modern resort located in Eastern Europe. It boasts a developed infrastructure. The Kopaonik resort is not inferior to more expensive resorts in many respects. In this place, a week's vacation will cost you about 20,000 rubles.

7th place: Popova Shapka, Macedonia

Popova Shapka is one of the cheapest places. Many ski resorts in Europe have high prices, but here a week's vacation will cost you 20,000 rubles. It is located in a picturesque mountainous area and offers beautiful views. Of course, this resort is inferior in terms of service and quality of amenities to the elite towns of Switzerland and France, but its main advantage lies in the low cost of the holiday.

6th place: Borovets, Bulgaria

Ski resorts in this country are always popular among fans of winter sports who choose an inexpensive holiday. Borovets is distinguished by high service and high-quality trails, as well as low prices. The resort is suitable for couples and young people. There is something to do here even in the evening: parties, etc. A week's holiday here costs about 18,000 rubles per person.

5th place: Jasna, Slovakia

If the best ski resorts in Europe (Austria, Switzerland and France) are too expensive for you, you need to turn your attention to the town of Jasna. Cheap and popular, it is located in Slovakia. Its advantages include modern ski lifts, reasonable prices, excellent snow cover, and a huge number of trails for professionals and beginners. A week's vacation will cost you 19,000 rubles.

4th place: Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic

A huge number of tourists combine excursions in the Czech Republic with active recreation at ski resorts. If you want to diversify your sightseeing in this cozy country with an active holiday, then the Spindleruv Mlyn resort will be the best option. It is equipped with modern high-quality ski lifts; this place has many trails of varying difficulty. A week's holiday here costs about 19,000 rubles.

3rd place: Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Assessing inexpensive ski resorts in Europe, we can say that Jahorina is one of the cheapest. It boasts trails of varying difficulty, designed for skiers and snowboarders of varying skill levels. A week's vacation in this place will cost you 19,000 rubles.

2nd place: Veghel, Slovenia

If you can’t stand noisy resorts with a huge number of tourists, but prefer a calm and quiet family vacation, then go to Vogl, located in Slovenia. It is a modern ski town with picturesque views, well-equipped slopes, and cozy small restaurants. In this place, a week's vacation will cost 18,000 rubles.

1st place: Poiana Brasov, Romania

This resort is the most popular in Romania. If you do not want to spend large sums, but still want to get a quality holiday, then Poiana Brasov is the best option. Several years ago the resort was completely reconstructed. For a week's holiday here you will need to pay 16,000 rubles.

As we see, the best ski resorts in Europe may not be as expensive as it might initially seem. Vacation expenses can be kept to a minimum by searching for cheap hotels and air tickets on your own.