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Feb, 26 - 2025 - 7 mins
Where to Find the Best Snow in Europe for Spring Skiing
Oh, spring shredding, how we love thee. The deals are cheap, the sun is shining and the goggle tans are glowing. Not only is spring skiing a great opportunity to squeeze in an extra end-of-season trip, but it’s also when ski resorts really come into their own. Every day is often a bluebird, and you can still score some pockets of pow if you pick your resort right. To save you the neverending search, we’ve browsed thousands of our community insights and reviews to tell you where to find the best snow in Europe for spring skiing. Each resort has been selected based on a range of factors including high-altitude slopes, glacier skiing, north-facing terrain, and reliable late-season snowfall.
Val Thorens, France
An obvious place to start is, of course, Europe’s highest ski resort. With lifts climbing up to 3230m, Val Thorens has a great snow record and forms part of the huge Three Valleys ski area. The season continues well into April, sometimes getting extended into May and the area is known for late-season snowfall, with the last week of April and first week of May seeing an average of 55cm between 2007 - 2024. Alongside the softer snow and suntan sessions, you can also enjoy extended après hours, quieter slopes, fun end-of-season events and later lift closing times. Every Wednesday from February until the beginning of May, the Funitel de Péclet closes at 18:30 p.m.
Resort closing date: The official date is 4th May, but this can sometimes be extended. Keep in mind that the neighbouring areas of Meribel, Les Menuires and Courchevel will close sooner, meaning only Val Thorens - Les Orelle may be open during your visit. Community comments: “I have skied Val Thorens for over thirty years, I can not say it enough, this is the best resort in Europe. Snow sure right until May, I've skied in late April with sun all day and good skiing. You don't have to spend a fortune, pizza and a drink can be had in the evenings for as little as €10 but you can also do €500 a person at the Fitz Roy Hotel. This resort offers everything to everyone. The best part is virtually no lift queues, ever. Great resort.” - Andrew, Jan 2025
Hintertux Glacier, Austria
Austria’s Hintertux Glacier is one of the best choices for spring skiing because it offers snow-sure conditions year-round, with slopes reaching up to 3,250 meters. Its high-altitude glacier terrain means it’s a good option for early and late-season skiing when the other lower resorts have closed or not yet opened. The lifts from the base station are very quick, holding around 30 people and the slopes are well maintained although the fact that it is a glacier means there is often a covering of snow on sheet ice. With a variety of well-groomed runs, a dedicated freestyle snowpark, and fewer crowds compared to peak season, Hintertux provides an unbeatable spring skiing experience. There isn’t a huge après scene here, but you can jump on a shuttle to Mayrhofen down the road if you’re looking to party.
Resort closing date: The Hintertux Glacier is open an impressive 365 days a year, however skiable slopes will differ between seasons. Community comments: “Easily one of the best glaciers in Europe. April is quiet and with winters getting later the conditions can still be excellent, making Tux a great place to end the season. There's a lot of variety of accom available and plenty of restaurants. There's a free bus that services the resort and it's hard to miss the bars at the bottom for some fun après. Very much recommended for an end-of-season trip.” - Mark, April 2024
Zermatt, Switzerland
With mind-bending views of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is world-famous for a reason. The experience here is reflected in the price tag, but where else can you experience a glacier paradise with an underground palace featuring ice sculptures, a cinema lounge, a viewing platform and a restaurant at 3883m above sea level? Historically, the month of April gets 2.37m of snow on average, meaning your chances of scoring a picture-perfect pow day are pretty high.
Resort closing date: As with most other high-altitude resorts, Zermatt is set to close on Sunday 4th May in 2025. Community comments: “Zermatt is like no other, the views of the Matterhorn are epic and the Swiss food is to die for. The slopes have something for every type of skier or snowboarder and the atmosphere on the slopes is calm and peaceful. Overall it's a beautiful resort.” - Winnie, Jan 2024
Cervinia, Italy
On the opposite side of the Matterhorn (and cheaper than its Swiss neighbour above,) Cervinia is another good choice for spring skiing. It offers high-altitude slopes, reaching up to 3,480 meters on the Plateau Rosa Glacier and has mostly north-facing terrain which helps preserve snow quality well into April and May. It also has a link to Zermatt’s Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (3,883m) meaning you can take a trip into Switzerland for the day all while enjoying the benefit of dining on Italian food, bellisimo. Between them, the two resorts are also home to Europe’s longest ski run, a 22km long red spanning from Klein Matterhorn to Valtournenche.
Resort closing date: Sunday 4th May 2025. Community comments: “Quality resort, receives good snow all season. Great food on the mountain and fun instructors. A good amount of terrain also Valtourneche and Zermatt nearby and easily accessible.” - Marcus, April 2024.
Tignes, France
Tignes boasts a perfect combination of high-altitude placement and largely north-facing terrain, which helps make it one of the best resorts in Europe for spring skiing. The Grande Motte glacier is easily accessible thanks to the funicular from Val Claret, followed by a cable car ride which lets you out at 3456m above sea level. However, you don’t need to climb that high for great spring skiing in Tignes - I’ve completed a few seasons there and spent all of April 2024 based in the village of Lavachet, when there was some unreal late-season pow. My top tips for spring skiing in Tignes would be to enjoy the fluffy piste-side powder beneath the Aiguille Rouge lift, hit up the Corner in VC (Val Claret) for lunch and head to either Loop Bar or the Langley Hotel terrace for sun-soaked après.
Resort closing date: Tignes is scheduled to close on the 4th May 2025. Community comments: “A huge ski area, easily accessible lifts, great runs, and lovely après. We went in April and loved the combination of solid snow and warmer sun. Afternoons got a little slushy later on, but the payoff was getting able to ride in simple gear like hoodies (or even tees on occasion). VC can get a little loud in the evening due to some of the bars. The advantage is how close to all the main chairs and lifts you are. Also, the only grocery shops (Local Sherpa) are eye-wateringly expensive. Food in restaurants is standard for the mountains. You can grab a well-priced and tasty burger meal from the Kiosk near the funicular. So good we are returning this year.” - Andrew, Jan 2025
Seek out snow-sure resorts for spring skiing with Snomad
Want to do your own research and find a resort that suits you and your group? With Snomad, you can browse thousands of unbiased reviews, rankings and ratings on ski resorts across the globe for things like the après scene, the lift infrastructure and terrain parks. What’s more, there’s even a Q&A and tips section for each resort, meaning you can ask questions, share insider knowledge and hear from other riders like you who have already been. Planning your next trip just got a whole lot easier.
